Flener makes Masters – A golfer’s dream come true

Jennifer Moonsong 

Central Division 

General Manager 

Jobe Publishing, Inc. 

 

“When you grow up in a small place like Glasgow, you never think that it’ll be you,” said pro-caddy Aaron Flener, who just got to be part of the Masters‘ Tournament. 

 That’s not to say that Flener didn’t spend plenty of time in his youth playing golf and dreaming about the possibilities. 

 Golf Beginnings 

“As a kid, I always liked driving the golf cart,” Flener said. “And if I thought there was a chance I might get to drive the car, of course, I wanted to be out there on the golf course.” 

 Growing up in Glasgow, his father and his grandparents were the golf players. By virtue of that, from an early age Flener had an opportunity to be on the golf course learning to swing clubs. 

 He recalled that his grandparents were part of the Caveland Country Club in the Rowlett‘s area of Horse Cave. 

 “I remember being there with them hitting balls,” Flener said. 

 Flener also spent a lot of time around the Glasgow Golf and Country Club growing up. 

 “I was very fortunate to know a lot of the members and the older adults there,” Flener said. “It was a very welcoming place with people around who wanted you to do good and wanted to help you. I don’t think that it’s like that everywhere.” 

 Flener also believes that one of the most compelling aspects of golfing during his youth was that he had a lot of friends his own age who played the sport with him and loved it. 

 “There is not a lot to do growing up in a small town like Glasgow,” Flener said. “So, playing sports with your friends is a big part of it, and I always had someone to come along and practice with.” 

 Golfing as an Adult 

After graduating from Glasgow High School, Flener signed with Lipscomb University in Nashville in 2001. 

 With the exception of a couple of years back home helping with a family business, Flener has called Nashville home ever since. 

“It’s where I wanted to go to school,” he said. “So, it all worked out.” 

 However, after a few years, Flener realized he wasn’t going to go pro and decided to focus on other aspects of his college education. He eventually took a job with the State of Tennessee, but golf was always a cherished part of his life. 

 “I worked for the Tennessee Golf Foundation, teaching kids how to play golf,” Flener said. “They started to Junior League, and I did that for three or four years.” 

 He also took any opportunity that came along to caddy but, considering his full-time job, caddying was sporadic. It wasn’t long before caddying led places. 

 “I started caddying some for Kent Bulle,” Flener said. “In 2015, he got a sponsor to pay for a full-time caddy. I quit my job with the state so that I could carry full-time on the Latin-America PGA tour.” 

 Having a caddy you know, according to Flener, is especially important when traveling to foreign places because of the communication barrier. 

 “It just takes the worry off of the golfer’s shoulders, and Kent didn’t have to worry about having someone to count on,” he explained. 

 A Dream Comes to Life 

Flener later worked for Stephen Yeager as a caddy and eventually crossed paths with J.T. Poston. He soon became Poston’s caddy, and in 2019, attended the Wyndham Championship. 

 Then came the opportunity of a lifetime. 

 “In April, we were invited to the Master’s Tournament,” Flener said. 

 However, like every other aspect of 2020, life was postponed and circumstances were different. Just last week, after a lifetime of golfing, Flener arrived at the Masters as Poston’s caddy. 

 “It was worth the wait,” Flener said. “It’s the thing you wait for your whole career. It’s the ultimate.” 

 Flener said that even though it was certainly a larger than life experience, it was bittersweet. Because of COVID-19, no fans or family were allowed to attend. 

 However, Flener added that nothing could take away his excitement about such a momentous occasion of a lifetime. 

 Ten days before the tournament, Flener got to play the course and stand on the green he had watched on TV for 25 years. 

 “It was surreal honestly,” Flener said. “I had seen it on TV so many times that in a way it almost felt like I had been there. In a way, it felt like I was watching myself like an out of body experience.” 

 He said that the once in a lifetime experience is something he will carry with him forever. 

 “The pictures from the Masters are some of my favorite photos,” Flener said. “I’ll frame them and hang them in my home.” 

 As far as the future goes, Flener loves life as a caddy. For any kid out there inspired by the story and who loves to golf, Flener said the key is having fun. 

 “Let it be fun. Don’t make it like a job as a kid,” he said. “You’ll have plenty of time to grow up and have a job. Just love it, and don’t worry about the outcome.” 

 Aside from the love of golf itself, Flener said the best thing about golfing is that you make great and lasting friendships. 

 Flener doesn’t have any children of his own, but he did buy his niece a set of golf clubs for her birthday this year. 

 “I think kids should really go after whatever their interest is, whether it’s golf or something else,” Flener said. “But golf is definitely a game you can play your entire life.”