Growing up, Associate Principal Michael Franklin was never familiar with golfing. Nonetheless, Franklin found himself working as a caddie for a golfer, an experience he said he’ll never forget.

While he was attending Rockhurst University, he met a friend who attended the neighboring University of Missouri-Kansas City.

His friend, Robert Russell, was a very talented golfer who introduced Franklin to the sport. Later on, he asked Franklin to join him for an upcoming National Golf Association tour, the NGA Hooters Tour, as his caddie.

“I didn’t know much about golf. I had been on a golf course before, but I thought the job sounded fun because you got to travel all over the country and spend the weekend in different towns,” Franklin said.

Franklin traveled mostly across the southeast to states including Florida, Texas, South and North Carolina, Arkansas and Alabama. One state particularly stuck out to Franklin.

“North Carolina was by far my favorite. The scenery was beautiful and it had a lot of golf history which was very cool,” he said.

After three months of being a caddie, although he very much enjoyed the opportunity to travel, he decided to start working in his career field.

Nonetheless, Franklin still has a love for golf.

“I actually fell in love with golf when I was out there and I even still play because of that,” he said.