I’m Kobayashi, a member of the Corporate Communication Department at Kouno Seisakusho. It’s already been a year since I started this job, and now it’s my second spring.
Speaking of spring, I have to say it is the season of opening for various sports! And golf is one of them. The other day, Hideki Matsuyama, a professional golfer, was the talk of the town. Actually, Kono Seisakusho has a sponsorship contract with Mr. Gaku Tsukamoto, who is currently working as a caddie in the women’s professional golf world. Last season, he toured with the badge of Crownjun on his shoulder. Did anyone notice? Mr. Tsukamoto is a young and energetic caddie, which is very rare among caddies, many of whom are veterans. This time, we had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Tsukamoto exclusively for Kono Seisakusho.
Q. What made you start playing golf?
I started playing golf because of my father’s influence, and when I was 10 years old, I had a chance to play golf with a friend’s family. That was the first time I played for fun, and it was quite difficult and I couldn’t hit it right away. But when I hit it, I was very happy. After that, I was really into golf because I enjoy challenging things that are not easy to do. I went to junior high school and high school where there was a golf club, and then I went to Meiji University, which has a strong golf club. With the support of my coach, I tried to become a professional golfer.
Q. I’ve heard that you have the potential to become a professional player. Why did you choose to be a caddie?
I decided to become a caddie at the end of my junior year of college. When Erika Hara, a professional player I had known for a long time, was playing overseas, I was asked to caddie for one match because of my experience playing overseas. At that match, I saw Ms.Hara’s wonderful performance again, and I was so impressed by her golf that I thought she could win on the international tour. It was a very enjoyable experience for me, as I was able to fight alongside her as a caddie and achieve good results. I felt that Hara could make my dream of “becoming a player who can compete overseas” come true, and I began to feel that it would be great if I could be nearby to support her dream. After giving it some thought, I decided to take on the challenge of becoming a caddie, rather than becoming a professional golfer, to support and fight alongside the players.
Q. please tell me about the work of the caddie.
Professional caddies are a little different from regular caddies: each professional player is paired with a caddie. According to the rules, only caddies are actually allowed to give advice to professional golfers during the game, not coaches or family members. In other words, the caddie is the only person who can talk to the player during the game. Basically, I look at the direction of the wind and the remaining distance, choose the club to hit, and read the putting green, also, I give advice to the player considering her condition and what she is aiming for. Outside of the game, I will talk about lighter topics to lighten the mood and give mental support to the players.
Q. What do you enjoy about your job as a caddie?
When I exchange ideas with the players and they hit a good shot, I feel great. It is also rewarding for me when players trust my thoughts and hit good shots after listening to my advice. In America, professional golfers often contract with the same caddie throughout the year and compete together as partners. In Japan, it is more common to sign a contract for one match at a time. I was partnered with Hara for a year, which is rare in Japan. Through this partnership, we were able to build a relationship of trust, share concerns and anxieties, and tackle them together. As a result, the joy of winning is even greater, and I believe it makes my job more fulfilling.
Q. What makes being a caddie such an appealing job??
When you gradually are able to give the players good communication and guidance, you are able to inspire more potential in them. That is what I find attractive about my job. Caddying has allowed me to gain a more objective view of the game’s progress, deepening my understanding and making golf even more intriguing to me. While playing, I often find myself engrossed in my own game, making it difficult to see what’s happening around me. However, when I take a step back and observe from a different perspective, things start to become clearer. It’s truly fascinating when I can leverage that and create an engaging flow of the game.
Q. Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Though I still have a long way to go, I would like to improve my skills and become a top-notch caddie. I greatly appreciate your support as I work towards this goal.
Thank you very much, Tsukamoto Caddie. Seeing your sincere responses to our questions has made us even more eager to support you. We wish you continued success in the future and look forward to your ongoing collaboration with Kono Seisakusho.
