Golf East Gippsland in recent days announced with with deep sadness the passing of longtime East Gippsland Golf professional and identity, Dale Cadd.
“Caddy” as he was known to all, was a long time professional at Bairnsdale Golf Club before having to give away the pro shop to concentrate on raising his two young children, Adrian and Vivian.
Thousands of golfers can attribute their start in golf to Cadd, who liked nothing better than assisting a young player to learn the game he loved so much.
So popular were his junior clinics at Bairnsdale that the line attendees went lengthways down the practice fairway.
Always quick with a joke, he was always telling you that he had sorted his putting out and was playing better than ever.
If you got to play with him, you could be guaranteed it would take hours to play nine holes, as after every shot a conversation would develop.
He was never in a hurry to play but always seemed to be bustling about, spreading the golf word.
Cadd was justifiably proud of those juniors who started out with him who went on to turn professional and there were plenty.
Incredibly honest, Cadd just wanted to give back to golf and he did this in spades by conducting junior clinics at many East Gippsland clubs.
Last year Cadd was honoured by the Professional Golfers Association of Australia in recognition of his 50 years membership.
