Short Fiction · Chapter
A Caddy's Diary explained
A 16-year-old caddy at the Pleasant View Golf Club begins a diary at the suggestion of Mr.
What happens
A 16-year-old caddy at the Pleasant View Golf Club begins a diary at the suggestion of Mr. Colby, hoping to improve his writing skills for a future career as a golf pro. The diary records his observations of club members, including the scandal of Chas Crane, who eloped with $8,000 and a bank stenographer. The caddy reflects on the hypocrisy of members who condemn Crane while cheating at golf themselves, and he discusses these thoughts with his friend Joe Bean.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Aspiration
The caddy aspires to become a golf pro and writer, while observing the moral compromises of wealthier members.
Disillusionment and Failure
The caddy becomes disillusioned with the hypocrisy of club members who condemn Crane's theft while cheating themselves.
Satire of Media and Business
The chapter satirizes the media's coverage of the scandal and the business-like mentality of the members.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Coles
A member who suggests the caddy keep a diary to practice writing.
- Joe Martin
The caddy's pal, a fellow caddy, who offers cynical wisdom about selling one's soul.
- Mrs. Green
A member who cheats at golf by moving her ball for a better lie.
- Mr. Green
A member who lies about his golf score to win prizes.
- Doane
A member who asks the caddy to move her ball out of a rut to win a bet.
Key passages
“Well said Mr Colby smileing you have certainly got the right temperament for a pro, they are all big hearted fellows.”
Mr. Colby jokes that the caddy's ambition to avoid paying a writer shows he has the selfish nature typical of a professional golfer.
Highlights the satirical tone regarding professional golfers' reputations.
“Well I said it seems to me like these people have got a lot of nerve to pan Mr Crane and call him a sucker for doing what he done, it seems to me like $8000 and a swell dame is a pretty fair reward compared with what some of these other people sells their soul for.”
The caddy points out the hypocrisy of members who criticize Crane for stealing money and running off with a woman, while they themselves cheat at golf for trivial rewards.
Central theme of moral hypocrisy and the value of one's integrity.