JUNO BEACH, Fla. – A good caddie does his work quietly, leaving his mark only on his player’s improved scorecard.
Brent Carlson, a.k.a “Shakes,” is a good caddie – one of the best at Seminole Golf Club – but he has left his work all over the course for this weekend’s 48th Walker Cup matches.
In addition to caddying for U.S. veteran Stewart Hagestad, Shakes, er Carlson, took it upon himself to build Walker Cup-themed tee boxes that adorn Seminole’s four par-3 holes. The tee boxes, which feature flags from the United States, Great Britain and Ireland, contain small tees to be used on the shorter holes and a place to discard the broken ones.
“Years ago, (head professional) Bob Ford asked me if I could make some tee boxes for Seminole,” Carlson said. “That night, I made a prototype in my garage and brought it to the course the next day. Bob couldn’t believe I made it so quickly. As I make new boxes, I try to get a little better each time.”
His most talked-about tee boxes are shaped like pumpkins that are used for Halloween. The 49-year-old Juno Beach resident didn’t want to use suggested red-white-and-blue themed tee boxes for the Walker Cup.
“I didn’t think red, white and blue was fair because we have two teams,” Carlson said. “I looked at the logo they were producing, and I thought I could fit all three flags on there. That was my idea.”
A tee marker during Foursomes at the 2021 Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida on Saturday, May 8, 2021. (Photo: Scott Halleran/USGA)
Seminole president Jimmy Dunne, who gave approval for the private club to finally host the Walker Cup, was amazed at Carlson’s finished product. He offered to pay Carlson for his efforts.
“I told him there was no way I would accept any money,” Carlson said. “I’m very blessed to caddie at Seminole, No. 1. And to caddie at the Walker Cup is beyond amazing.
“I’ve caddied in U.S. Opens and PGA Championships. But the Walker Cup is different. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Carlson caddied for Tom Gillis, Geoffrey Sisk and Justin Suh in the U.S. Open and Jason Caron in the PGA Championship. Carlson thought he had landed an up-and-coming star when he started working for Suh after the Southern Cal star turned pro two years ago. But Suh struggled with a wrist injury and they parted ways when Suh didn’t have any status on a major tour.
Carlson returned to Seminole, where he has worked for 18 years, and instead of spending summers at Oakmont Country Club he now goes to National Golf Links of America (N.Y.).
It’s not hard to spot Shakes this week. At 5-foot-2, he’s 15 inches shorter than 6-foot-5 Hagestad. Shakes doesn’t mind the constant abuse about being vertically challenged: He dresses up as an elf to caddie at Seminole during Christmas.
This weekend is as big for the 20 Seminole caddies as it is for the amateurs. Because of their local knowledge, the amateurs rely heavily on their loopers.
“It would mean a ton to win,” Carlson said. “To come away victorious on our home course would be unbelievable.”
Carlson spent four years in the Marines, but opted for the caddie life because “I never see the same day twice.” Going to boot camp taught him life-long lessons he uses on the course and in his garage.
“You don’t give 100 percent in the Marines,” he said. “You give 110 percent. That’s what I try to do.”
As for his “Shakes” nickname, Carlson earned that from former PGA Tour member Bob Friend because he was having difficulty using a rangefinder one day. A caddie’s nickname sticks quicker than Nick Price’s downswing (most Seminole members know him only as “Shakes.”)
Turns out Shakes is good with his hands.
“He’s very talented and creative,” Ford said.