Don’t adjust your screen. That photo above is indeed of Danny Noonan … er, actor Michael O’Keefe … from Caddyshack caddying a practice round at the 2020 U.S. Open at New York’s Winged Foot Golf Club.
He’s on the bag for Danny Balin, the head pro at Fresh Meadow Country Club who will play this week.
But why is the actor caddying? There’s a very good reason for that: he grew up in Larchmont, New York and actually caddied at Winged Foot in the early 1970s. So he decided to write a post on Golf.com earlier this month aimed at anyone playing at this year’s Open, volunteering his services.
“Why now?” he wrote. “If not now, I may never have another chance! I’m 65 and not getting any younger, though my wife tells me I’m still devilishly handsome.”
So Balin took up NOONAN! on the offer, but just for his practice rounds.
From the New York Post:
“I try to take this somewhat serious, so I would never do this during a tournament round,’’ Balin said. “But I was like, ‘Yeah, this will be cool. Danny Noonan. Monday and Tuesday.’ It’ll be a fun couple of days. It’ll lighten the mood up.’’
And yes, he’s wearing a Bushwood Country Club hat in a nod to the iconic golf comedy. It’s so perfect.
Danny Noonan wearing a Bushwood hat at Winged Foot today. pic.twitter.com/6iBAeUNEtf
— Joe GolfTraveler (@GolfTravelerJoe) September 14, 2020
I can only hope he borrows some of Ty Webb’s famous advice and delivers it to the real Danny.
