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The ModGolf PodcastHost Colin Weston explores the future of golf through conversations with the visionaries and influencers that are shaking up the sport. Author: The ModGolf Podcast
The ModGolf Podcast talks with golf's top influencers, entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors about their vision and ventures that are re-imagining, transforming and growing both the game and 100 billion/year industry. The ModGolf Podcast has been ranked #4 on 20245s most comprehensive list of "Top 25 Golf Podcasts" (https://blog.feedspot.com/golf_podcasts/), based on our quality and consistency of posts, industry expert reviews and social media influence/popularity. Please subscribe to The ModGolf Podcast to help us grow and move up the rankings in 2026! We'd love to hear from you! Have any ideas or guests you'd like to hear on future episodes? Contact Colin directly here (https://modgolf.fireside.fm/contact) or on Instagram @modgolfpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/modgolfpodcast/) to start the conversation. Language: en-us Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Golf, Sports Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Inside the Caddie Lounge with 28-Year PGA Tour Veteran Don “Double D” Donatello
Saturday, 13 June, 2026
Do you ever wonder what the caddies get up to when the cameras stop rolling and the PGA Tour players head to the clubhouse? In this live episode from the RBC Canadian Open, host Colin Weston steps inside the Caddie Lounge (powered by [Levelwear](www.levelwear.com)) to uncover the gritty reality of life on the bag with 28-year tour veteran Don “Double D” Donatello. From carrying 42-pound golf bags up the equivalent of 60 flights of stairs a round to a dramatic "I quit" moment on the 4th hole, Don shares the wild, unfiltered stories of 650+ tournaments and why this lounge is a game-changer for professional caddies. Key takeaways in this episode with Don that you will discover: The Harsh Math of Caddie Economics: Don breaks down the financial gamble of being a looper - the low base salary, paying your own travel expenses, and how missing the cut means earning $0 for a week’s work. The Physical Toll of Looping: It’s not just walking. Don reveals the insane fitness stats: 18,000+ steps and 30-60 flights of stairs per day, all while balancing a 42-pound bag on uneven terrain. How the Caddie Lounge Was Born: Learn how a simple conversation over a Levelwear hat turned into a tour-wide movement, giving caddies their own space with massage therapists, video games, and the dignity they’ve deserved for years. The Caddie Lounge at The RBC Canadian Open is Levelwear's way of supporting their "Who's With You?" campaign to provide PGA Tour caddies with a space to unwind, rejuvenate and hang out with their fellow loopers. The Caddie Lounge is now at over 10 PGA Tour stops annually. Three Inspiring Quotes from Don Donatello On the old days vs. now: "28 years ago, I only got paid $400 a week. You drove in a car and slept three to a room. One guy would sleep on the floor and you had to stand outside in the rain. Now, thanks to Levelwear, we feel like we’re being treated like the players." On the secret to a long career: "Certainty out here is very important as a caddie. A lot of mistakes these PGA Tour players make aren’t because they not good - it’s because they’re uncertain. Knowing when to speak and when not to is a very fragile thing." On saving Webb Simpson’s career: "He had four holes to play to keep his card. I changed his read on two putts. He made both. He shot 63 to keep his card. He said, 'Those were some of the greatest reads ever!'" Episode Chapters 00:00 – Live from the RBC Canadian Open: Welcome to the Caddie Lounge 01:15 – Meet Don “Double D” Donatello: 28 years, 31 bags, 650+ events 02:30 – The Birth of the Caddie Lounge (and the “Who’s With You” campaign) 05:20 – Then vs. Now: **Sleeping on floors to massage tables **07:05 – The brutal physical stats: 42lbs, 18k steps, and 60 flights of stairs 09:15 – Don’s origin story: From best player at the club to caddie 10:20 – The economics of looping: Base salary, expenses, and betting on your player 13:05 – Don's Proudest moment: The Webb Simpson story (changing reads to save a card) 15:05 – The “I Quit” story: Walking off the course mid-round 18:05 – How new caddies get jobs (agents, veterans, and the Korn Ferry grind) 21:05 – Inside the prep work: How Don and Tom Hoge tackle a new course 24:35 – The therapist role: Knowing when to talk and when to shut up 26:12 – Wrapping up and wishing Don luck at The RBC Canadian Open
