Jerry Rich Caddie Scholarship

Scholarships

Jerry Rich’s love for golf ignited at the age of ten when he had the chance to work as a caddie at his local golf course. Although he was uncertain about what the job would involve, his curiosity led him to see it as an opportunity to earn some money. Upon arriving at the course, he approached a staff member for guidance. With little knowledge of what caddying entailed or even what a golf bag was, he received about five minutes of instruction and some helpful golf tips. Soon after, Mr. Rich was off to caddie for a woman playing nine holes. At the end of the round, she rewarded him with $1.25, making him the happiest kid in the world. While the staff member could have easily overlooked Mr. Rich, he chose to invest his time by helping a child discover something new.

As Mr. Rich grew up, this experience remained etched in his memory and inspired him to create Rich Harvest Farms and launch the Kids Golf Foundation. He sought to give back to the sport that had given him so much. Rich Harvest Farms, a private golf club located in Sugar Grove, IL, not only boasts an exceptional caddie program but has also hosted over 50 amateur and collegiate events. Since its founding in 1998, the Kids Golf Foundation has positively impacted over 300,000 children across the state. Jerry Rich has devoted his life to nurturing and expanding the game of golf.

To further Mr. Rich’s mission of growing the sport, the Jerry Rich Caddie Scholarship was established to assist young caddies throughout Illinois in achieving their educational aspirations.

Scholarships will be awarded to two male and two female Illinois high school seniors who plan to attend an Illinois accredited university. Scholarship amount per student is $5,000 for one year, and is not renewable.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be an Illinois resident
• Regularly and successfully caddie at their golf club for at least two seasons
• Be a high school senior, graduating by June of 2025
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be accepted/enrolled in an accredited college or university
• Demonstrate excellent character, leadership, responsibility, and academic achievement

Applications and supporting documents must be received by April 1, 2025. Anything received after this date will not be considered. Finalists will be required to attend an in-person interview with members of the Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois

If you have any questions, please contact the Foundation at (630) 466-0913 or info@kidsgolffoundation.org.