Tina Han, caddie manager at Purple Clouds Golf Community in China, is working at St Andrews Links this summer as part of her Golf Studies and Golf Course Management Course at Elmwood College, Cupar. For six weeks Tina has been shadowing St Andrews Links caddie manager, Rick Mackenzie, to learn how to deliver the recently developed Caddie Connect training course in China.
By following the Caddie Connect course with Mr Mackenzie she will learn about the history of golf, etiquette of the game and the high levels of customer service offered by St Andrews caddies to the golfers. If she succeeds in attaining the St Andrews Standard she will return to Purple Clouds Golf Community in a position to deliver the Caddie Connect training scheme to the 200 caddies at Purple Clouds and aspiring caddies throughout China.
“Being at St Andrews gives me the perfect opportunity to learn about caddying at the Home of Golf,” said 27-year-old Tina. “With the experience gained here, I hope to be able to develop golf education in China and make the game more popular.”
Tina came to Scotland with two of her colleagues from Purple Clouds Golf Club. She studied for a Professional Development Award over a six-month period. During this period she also studied the Scottish Module System.
A keen golfer, Tina plays off 15. She has taken part in several big competitions in China and received very good results. In 2000 she won the “Tong He Cup” and in 1995 she was came 6th in the “Ladies Amateur China Open”.
St Andrews Links Trust www.standrews.org.uk