Anyone who has had the opportunity to play golf at one of the many ultra-exclusive private courses on the East End of Long Island knows how integral caddies are to the experience.
But for one day each fall, those caddies — who spend the summer season logging loops for the members and guests of their respective clubs — are honored with an exclusive tournament of their own.
Founded in 2000 as the East End Cup by Atlantic Country Club head professional and director of golf Rick Hartmann, the annual outing was created to celebrate the caddies from the area’s clubs with a day of friendly competition. But when Atlantic Country Club member Michael Berkeley tragically died in the World Trade Center on 9/11, Hartmann renamed the tournament in Berkeley’s honor. Since 2001, the Berkeley Cup has been played at many of Long Island’s most prestigious clubs, including Top 100 mainstay, Maidstone.
Last year, Hartmann passed away at the age of 66, so the 2025 edition of the tournament was played in memory of both Berkeley and Hartmann.
The Berkeley Cup’s format is unique: 10 East End clubs (Atlantic, the Bridge, East Hampton Golf Club, Friar’s Head, Maidstone, National Golf Links of America, Noyac, Shinnecock Hills, Sebonack and Westhampton Country Club) are invited to send eight players each. The team with the best cumulative score wins.
The 2025 Berkeley Cup was hosted by Friar’s Head — No. 23 on GOLF’s most recent ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the World — and the day out is one the caddies look forward to all year.
“It’s a really important tournament for us caddies, whether we have a competitive background or not, to have a chance to come out and compete in the game and kind of do what we help the members do all season long,” said Noyac caddie Connor Moulden. “It’s such a special place, Friar’s Head, here in Baiting Hollow. It’s it’s pretty remarkable experience.”
To honor his life, Michael Berkeley’s family founded the Michael J. Berkeley Foundation, which provides scholarship and sponsorship funds to the winning caddie (or a member of his or her family) at each year’s Berkeley Cup.
Berkeley’s wife, Lourdes, was on hand at Friar’s Head to support the celebration of competition and camaraderie.
“Michael, I’m sure, is smiling down on everyone,” she said.
To learn more about the Berkeley Cup, you can watch a full video of the tournament experience below.
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