I was 11 years old in 1978 when I had my first brush with golf and more specially caddying at the famous Portmarnock Golf Club in North County Dublin in Ireland.

Lured by the promise of the chance to make a fiver or even possibly a tenner caddying I dutifully plodded my way to the imposing caddy shack where experienced boys and men were waiting for their callout. 3 hours of mindless boredom later, being the last lad in the caddy shack I got called to caddy for the president. The president of the club wow this should be worth a few quid I thought - even more surprised was I, when it was the president of the Country - Patrick Hillary. I couldn't believe my luck, Ka-ching I thought at the time I've struck gold. Even as the caddy master was busily looking for a more experienced caddy, I grabbed the presidents huge white golf bag and tore off in the direction of the first tee.

Such was my inexperience the president had to run after me and direct me away for the 18th green and towards the actual first tee box. Cut to the third tee box and the President leans down to me after I handed him the big wooden club, I didn't even know the names of the clubs, thats how green I was, he says "keep your eye on this ball now sonny I don't want to loose this, why don't you run off there down the fairway a bit and keep an eagle eye out". Yes sir President sir - I was like a trained gun dog. I tore off down the third fairway, without his golf bag, waiting for the big shot and determined not to loose the ball. The president swung a big shot and off the tiny white ball soared and I could see it coming straight for this sandy stuff that someone had left right in the middle of the grass. I immediately jumped into the sandy stuff and grabbed the ball and shouted with glee - I have it - I found it , its all right, it landed in this sand but its ok I got it. Disbelief on the face of my compatriot caddy, shock on the Presidents face, bewilderment on the face of his golf partner, there was a mallee and then orders from El Presidente , "put it down , what are you doing, leave it there". "

"You'll never hear the end of this in the caddy shack" said my caddy colleague with a smirk. Needless to say 18 miserable, long and lonely holes later of dropping the huge golf bag at inopportune moments and loosing about three of his wooly knitted, funny looking golf cover thingies there wasn't much tip money in the goodwill tank of the president and all I had to go home with was a story that I caddied for the president. So lessons learned at 11 years of age were 1. learn a little about what the hell your about to do, 2. Even the big fish when landed can end up not as great as first thought, 3. Know when to quit and never ever be seen in the caddy shack again in Portmarnock. 4. Move to a different golf club to continue young caddy career.