Member Clubs
The ‘ Olde Pro ’ Shares Lessons in Golf , and Life
by LEONARD SHAPIRO
HIS BUSINESS CARD READS “ GOLF LESSONS WITH THE OLDE PRO ,” because Eddie Cassidy says he ’ s an “ old school ” kind of guy . That experience ? It ’ s precisely what his students are seeking when it comes to an instructor who can help improve their games .
“ Everyone is an individual ,” Cassidy said . “ And anyone can hit a golf club . I ’ ll give them a club and tell them to go hit it , and then I tell them ‘ I ’ m going to teach you how to swing this club . And if you swing it properly , it ’ s amazing , but more times than not , the club actually gets in the way of the ball .’”
Cassidy ’ s words of wisdom are mostly heard these days at Millwood Country Club , a nine-hole gem that ’ s been around since 1924 and located about 15 miles east of Winchester . There ’ s no practice range or formal teaching area , just two tees set up in front of a net about five yards away . So Cassidy , 73 , usually takes his students to a spot not far from the first fairway and has them hit their shots over toward two other adjacent fairways .
He can do that at Millwood , where he was hired in 2015 . On most weekdays when Cassidy is giving lessons , the course is sparsely populated at a facility where members like to say , “ We put the country in country club .” His clients range from
Eddie Cassidy ’ s golf career began as a caddie at age 13 .
teens to 90-year-olds , boys and girls , men and women . Or , as he once told his players on the golf team he once coached at a local high school , “ golf is a sport for ladies and gentlemen .”
His students are totally enamored with his approach .
“ His style is to take what you have and adapt it to what you want ,” said Andrew Stifler , a past president at Millwood who has taken a number of lessons from Cassidy . “ He doesn ’ t try to change your grip , your swing , your stance , unless it ’ s really horrible . He doesn ’ t try to make you over , as some people do . And the main thing is that he ’ s just low key . No tension around him . And he is very well-liked at the club .”
Cassidy initially got into golf at age 13 , when he caddied for $ 3 a bag at the Brockton Golf Club in Massachusetts . Back then , the town was best known for its shoe factories — many now closed down — and its
LEONARD SHAPIRO
8 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2022
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