Throughout the program, attendees watched short skits highlighting figures such as Willie “Pappy” Stokes, Willie “Pete” Peterson and Willie “Cemetery” Perteet.

In one skit, an actress portraying Peterson described his role as caddie for Jack Nicklaus – known as the “Golden Bear” – who won the Masters in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986. Another actor portrayed Perteet, who served as caddie for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The opening skit focused on Stokes, known as the “Grandfather of Caddies,” who was the youngest caddie to be on the bag for a Masters victory. He went on to be part of five Masters wins with four different golfers.

“When we’re putting together this experience we knew it was one thing for the actors to tell the story, but was another thing to hear it from the caddies themselves and hear it from those who are connected to the game of golf,” said Corey Rogers, executive director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum.

The program also featured a panel that included former Black caddies Tommy “Burnt Biscuit” Bennett and Otis “Buck” Moore, along with family members of several caddies and Lawrence Bennett, who served as a chauffeur and caretaker of the green jackets at Augusta National for about 40 years.

“The green jacket, for many people, is very sacred,” Lawrence Bennett said. “Today, if you find one, it’s stolen.”

He described what happens when a member wants another jacket or a member passes away, explaining that identifying details are removed.

“Do everything you can to dis-identify the member,” he said.

The jackets are then cremated at local funeral home, though some members are buried with theirs.

Moore caddied for golfers including Olin Brown, Paul Azinger, K.J. Choi and Andy North, and worked as a caddie from 1961 until 2017.

Vanessa Peterson Fox, daughter of caddie Willie “Pete” Peterson, spoke about her father’s experience, including his time caddying for Nicklaus.