program apart from their contemporaries at other
top-flight golf courses is their knowledge of what
lies beyond the links. As part of training, they also
learn more about the greater Monarch Bay area,
Salt Creek Beach right below the course and the
Southern California coast between Dana Point
and Laguna Beach.
As some of them are also surfers, they can give
golfers the lowdown on water temperature, swell
conditions and where to find a surf break that’s
perfect for newbies. They can arrange a surfing
or stand-up paddleboarding lesson, or a romantic
sunset boat cruise off the Orange County coast.
And that’s exactly why they decided to call it
“waterman.” This special breed of caddie works,
and also often lives, on or near the water.
Waterman Caddie Matt Burke is an excellent
example of those who have become a part of the
program. Born and raised in the nearby city of
Laguna Hills, Burke played football at Central
Washington University in the Pacific Northwest
before returning home and getting into the golf
business after graduation.
“I was [a] kicking specialist,” Burke says. “Field
goals, punts, kickoffs, onside kicks [and] anything
I could do to get my hands (or rather, my feet) on
the ball. Believe it or not, it was a lot like golf, a
very individualistic position, and really helped me
transfer from college football to the caddie side.”
Burke says that knowing the links like the
back of your hand, and being able to convey that
knowledge to golfers, is the single most import-
ant part of being a Waterman Caddie. But right
behind that, he adds, is your overall demeanor.
“For me, it’s all about positive attitude,” he
says. “Your friendliness and generosity and ability
to create the sunshine on people’s faces, that’s …
what sets us apart from other caddies. I think
a lot of the attitude comes from the fact that
we’re from this area, and the overall enjoyment
that comes from loving what we do on a daily
basis and the luxury of this location right next
to the water. It’s a prideful experience for us as
Waterman Caddies, being able to guide people
through a truly unique experience that you find at
very few resort courses around the world.”
This level of service is what makes Monarch
Beach Golf Link a one-of-a-kind experience. Player
reviews on the Golf Advisor website give Monarch
Beach a full five stars when it comes to friendliness,
well ahead of other oceanfront rivals. TeeOff.com
by the PGA TOUR ranks it as one of the top 10
courses in Southern California, while Golf Digest
magazine rates it No. 38 on a list of the top 50
places in the entire nation for women to play golf.
Another aspect of service, which Burke says is
The entrance to Club 19
another imperative Waterman Caddie skill, is the
ability to quickly adjust your style and advice to
suit the player. “You treat everyone like family,”
he says. Yet, there’s a subtle difference in caddying
for newcomers and those who have played the
links before.
“With first-timers, you really … [want to] cap-
ture their attention, make them realize how this
golf course separates from other[s],” Burke explains.
“Whereas a return golfer, … they’re already aware
of that. So, the challenge as a Waterman Caddie is
getting them to realize all over again how grateful
they should be to be playing here.”
FAVORABLE PLAY
Waterman Caddie Matt Burke shares his top holes at Monarch Beach Golf Links.
traps. Teeing off at hole 4, you have
the ocean right behind you. You
should take a moment, look around
[and] soak in the location. Hole 4
lets you savor the ocean location
for another 15 minutes.”
Hole 1
“It’s right next to [the] clubhouse
and resort property, so it’s everyone[’s]
first experience with the course. There’s
a clear ocean view when you walk
onto the tee box, which is a nice way
to get your golf round started.”
Hole 7
“In my opinion, this is the most chal-
lenging hole at Monarch Beach. A
very difficult but rewarding par 5.
Usually par 5s are not difficult holes,
but it takes three great golf shots in
order to be successful on this hole, in
order to make par or birdie.”
Hole 3
“Everyone always says ‘wow.’ It’s
directly next to … the beach. A
beautiful par 4 where green is only
around 15 yards away from sand;
you can see waves 50 yards away
from you when you’re putting. It’s a
very special place to enjoy the golf-
ing experience. It really opens your
eyes to the beauty of this course.”
Hole 4
“This is the next closest hole to
the beach and ocean. A pretty
straightforward par 3, although the
green is protected by five sand
Waterman Caddie Matt Burke
Hole 18
“A beautiful finishing hole with water
along the right side of the green; a
short par 4, but tricky because of
that water and the sand traps. …
Eighteen offers a nice combo that
brings that whole Monarch Beach
experience together.”
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