 |
|
Richard Dooda, golfing at Lost Canyons Golf Club in Simi Valley, Calif.
|
Buddhist Backpacker, Golf Caddie (110)Todd Traynor's life once revolved around his finance industry job in New York City and the constant quest for material gain. But after 12 successful years as an IT consultant, he yearned for a change and a deeper meaning to his existence. Traynor became a sort of "Zen adventurer," hopping a plane to Australia to find peace of mind. He is on a quest to backpack across the continent, giving away his belongings throughout the journey, and he hopes to finish his trip with just the clothes on his back.
Richard Dooda, a former publishing executive, traded in his fast-paced lifestyle for greener pastures. When a huge deal fell through for the one-time sales and marketing vice president, he reanalyzed his life and found he wanted fewer "things" and more "happiness." Thinking back to his younger, happier days caddying for a local golf course, Dooda decided to pursue his passion for golf. He left his high-paying, high-stress East Coast job to head up the caddie program at one of the country's most exclusive clubs.
Buddhist Backpacker Facts:
- Todd Traynor has lived in Germany, California and Arizona; he hopes to backpack through New Zealand and Tasmania. He eats peanut butter sandwiches daily as he travels.
- Roll your clothes before packing. It takes up less space and reduces wrinkling.
- Ayers Rock, also called Uluru, is the world's largest monolith with a height of 1,000 feet. It is estimated that two-thirds of the rock lies beneath the surface.
- A monolith is a large block of stone.
- Australia is the smallest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent in the world.
- Sydney, Australia, began as a penal colony in 1788. For the next 60 years, it received the criminal and persecuted people of British society.
- Australians speak English, and their slang is known as strine.
- Some hostels and lodges have logbooks that offer good travel information.
- International banks and large banks tend to offer the best exchange rates.
Resources:
Eyewitness Travel Guide to Australia
by DK Publishing
Northern Territory Visitor's Center
www.northernterritory.com
The Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs
www.bushwalking.org.au
Golf Caddie Facts:
- There are 26.7 million golfers in the US over the age of 12—19 percent of whom are female.
- The first American golf club opened in Charleston, South Carolina in 1786.
- The number of golfers in the US has increased 34 percent in the last 15 years.
- There are over 17,000 golf courses in the US.
- The state of Florida has the most golf courses (1,261), but Michigan has the most public access courses (817).
- Good caddies are physically fit and knowledgeable about the sport.
- A "forecaddie" is someone who marks the position of a player's golf ball, and is responsible for helping keep the game play moving at a comfortable, efficient pace.
- Dooda has a 3.6 handicap.
- Dooda is also an assistant manager of Caddie Services Inc., which manages caddie programs around the world.
Contact Information:
Richard Dooda
Lost Canyons
3301 Lost Canyons Drive
Simi Valley, Ca
805-522-4653
Resources:
And If You Play Golf, You're My Friend : Further Reflections of a Grown Caddie
by Harvey Penick, Bud Shrake
Professional Caddies Association
www.pcaworldwide.com
Golf Web
www.golfweb.com
)
