When a teenage Christian Czaja first heaved a golf bag over his shoulder as a caddy for Innis Arden Golf Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, he had no idea where the experience would take him.
Czaja, now a PGA teaching professional at Boca West Country Club for about twenty years, was recently named the 2010 PGA Teacher of the Year for the South Florida Section, in addition to being the PGA Teacher of the Year Southeast Florida 2009. He has worked in almost every aspect of the golf industry at various stages in his life, from a teenage caddy to an adult competitor and teacher.
It all began at 10 years old when Czaja’s parents bought a house off the 15th hole of Innis Arden Golf Club. At 13, he worked the summer as a caddy for the club. He loved it so much, he continued to caddy subsequent summers and even began playing in junior tournaments.
“It’s a very unique sport in that it’s an individual game,” Czaja said. “It’s you against the course.”
At the club, he met William “Billy” Mitchell, the course’s head pro. Mitchell’s influence went beyond golf pointers: he showed Czaja that golf was a large industry, with many different careers that could fit any walk of life.
“I was very fortunate to have grown up at a club where he was the pro,” Czaja said. “I would not have gotten into golf without this guy.”
With that in mind, Czaja took up golf at Greenwich High School, during which time his school’s team won two state championships.
