Karl Bollnow

 

Inducted in 2021

Karl Bollnow has been a mentor, leader and ambassador at Riverside Golf Club for more than half a century.

Karl first came to Riverside in 1971, looking for a summer job as a caddie. He took to caddying very quickly and earned honor caddie status in less than two years. From caddying, Karl learned the game of golf and developed a passion for the game, which earned him a spot on the high school golf team for all four years.

After five years of caddying, Karl was hired in the golf shop in 1976, named caddie manager in 1977 and went on to become the assistant golf professional the following year. Upon the retirement of his longtime mentor and friend, Karl was named Riverside’s head golf professional – a role in which he has now served since 1996.

In addition to leading a large staff, running dozens of member tournaments each year, managing the golf shop and providing golf instruction to members, Karl continues to help oversee the caddie program that inspired him to pick up his first golf club.

Riverside is one of the country’s great caddie programs - and an original WGA member club. Karl continues to help an impressive number of caddies earn full tuition and housing Evans Scholarships. For his work promoting the important role of caddies in the game of golf, Karl Bollnow was inducted during a special ceremony on September 17, 2021.