My caddie was standing next to me as I was deciding what club to pick. He was figuring out the yardage. How far to the flag. He turns to me and says, “106 yards”. I look at him like he’s crazy and say “shoot it again, it’s way more than 106 yards”. He says, “No, it’s not 106 yards to the flag, that’s how far that other guy just hit it past you”.
I was playing in the Colorado Open qualifier, a professional qualifier, and my caddie was Chris Swinhart. He is a golf pro and I am an average amateur. Chris was the head pro at Thorncreek Golf Course and used to be the head pro at Legacy Ridge where the qualifier was being held. And he caddied for me. I honestly don’t know why. He had to take a day off work to do it and he was a golf pro and here he is caddying for me. And he really did it right. He showed up early, had my practice balls ready, a wet towel to clean the clubs and a plan for each hole. Because he knew the course better than anyone. He really did it right. Except instead of handing me my putter when we were on the green, he kept handing me the putter cover. We laughed about it the whole round. Never got it right.
I shot 76 that day. Not exactly great. About the same as my playing partners who were half my age and one of which was apparently able to outdrive me by 106 yards. He gave me a lot of grief over that EVERY time I saw him. Yet…even though I was just an average guy playing golf, he took the day off and did that for me and he was so encouraging to me the whole round.
Every time I would practice at Chris’s course he would come out of the clubhouse and stand with me while I hit balls. We would laugh and talk about whatever. He would make fun of me for always wearing so much purple and I would make fun of him for always wearing so much orange.
One time he heard one of the kids call me Dutch (a nickname from when the kids were little and couldn’t pronounce Chuck) and the next thing I know when I ordered my golf balls from him, they all came with the name Dutch imprinted on them. Still do it to this day. Every golf ball I play is the number 5 and Dutch. I just picked up my annual batch two days ago from Chris. One year he went out of his way to get me a huge TCU golf bag. One that could not possibly be carried. I asked him what I should do with it and he said it was what they call an “office bag”. A golf bag you put in your office for decor. I still have it in my office.
I bugged him to go to church for a long time. He finally went and loved it. Always went every Saturday night and always sat in the same seat. Gave his life to Christ about 7 years ago.
About 12 years ago I went through a hard time. My christian friends were for the most part great and kind and supportive. But…I remember telling him during that time that he was a better friend to me than most of my “christian” friends. He was always so kind to me.
It’s rare to have someone in your life that always wants to see you. Always so kind to you. Always thinks the best of you.
Chris was that someone…and he was that someone to everyone he met.
Chris died today. He was in his 40s. He was my friend. And I miss him. Terribly.
Rest in peace my friend. Rest in peace.
Brint's Blog 
Chuck, thank you for taking the time to write this post about Chris. We just found out of Chris’s passing. We have such heavy hearts. It is just so sad. I pray for his family and kids.
My teenage son, Wesley, began taking lessons and golfing with Chris two years ago. Wesley would go to Thorncreek almost everyday over the spring, summer, and fall. Chris was always there with a smile and a word of encouragement for him.
To Wes, Chris was one of his best friends he said. They spent countless hours on the course together. They talked about everything from golf to God, to Wes’s future.
The last time Wes saw Chris was at the end of Oct. An older man had fell down at Thorncreek in the parking lot and hit his head. I was just pulling up to pick up Wesley, and I saw Chris running over to this man to help him. That is what he did, he love helping and serving others. He was a great man of God!
I know Chris was a believer in Christ, and he now is with our heavenly father. I know that my son Wes will see him again some day. Chris will be greatly missed. Thanks for inviting him to church! You changed his life and so many others! Blessings to you Chuck! If you see a tall skinny kid on the course, that is Wes!
Wes’s Mom, Amy 🙂
LikeLike