Who Is Joel Dahmen's Caddie?

Learn more about the man who caddies for 2021 Corales Puntacana PGA Tour champion Joel Dahmen

Joel Dahmen and his caddie Geno Bonnalie
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Previously an export coordinator, Geno Bonnalie has only ever caddied for Joel Dahmen, starting the role in 2015 after the golfer earned Korn Ferry Tour status. However, the pair have known each other for nearly 20 years, winning a two-man best-ball tournament in their teens in Idaho where they lived.

After Dahmen won the money list on the Mackenzie Tour, Bonnalie emailed a heartfelt application to Dahmen for the role of caddie, despite earning more in his desk job. 

Bonnalie helped Dahmen work his way onto the PGA Tour for the 2016-17 season, and the partnership is now heralded as one of the funniest pairings in the game.

It took until the 2019 PGA Championship though before Dahmen first played at a Major championship, which also happened to be Bonnalie's maiden Major, both as a spectator and as a caddie. 

However, he enjoyed the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, more, claiming it's his favorite Major to watch. "It's as big as the Masters to me," he said.

The pair enjoyed their first victory together at the 2021 Corales Puntacana. After tapping in from 18 inches for a one-shot victory over Sam Ryder and Rafael Campos, there was an emotional embrace between player and caddie, and the tears flowed. 

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Bonnalie also clearly enjoys himself off course, as witnessed through his social media activity. The caddie once created a satirical review of a motel room he stayed in for the US Open after his Airbnb cancelled, while he has also revealed details of how Dahmen pranked him by telling him to go to the airport for a tournament he didn't plan on playing in.

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Bonnalie made the headlines at the 2019 Players Championship after taking on the one-chip challenge - where the participant is required to eat a chip with some extremely spicy sauce. While suffering during the challenge, he exclaimed that the pain was worse than when he broke both of his arms at the same time during his teenage years.

Bizarrely, Bonnalie holds a Guinness World Record for the most holes of golf played and most birdies recorded in a single week. He played 2,000 holes, and made 497 birdies at Lewiston Country Club in 2011 to help raise money and awareness for the Cystinosis Research Foundation.

Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is Golf Monthly's E-commerce Editor.

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This takes the form of buying guides, reviews, supporting gear content as well as creating deal content.

This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for, at a good price.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

Additionally Sam oversees Golf Monthly voucher/coupon content which seeks to find you the best offers and promotions from well-known brands like Callaway, TaylorMade and many more.


Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a single-figure handicap. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Cobra LTDxLS (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 3/Cuater The Ringer
(For off the course he goes for Nike Jordan 1 Low G shoes as well)