Two decades later Dean – originally from the tiny township of Beckom to Wagga’s north-west – can say he has been almost everywhere as he continues to rack up the frequent flyer points around the globe.

Dean chose the career path of a golf professional but it’s been his role as a caddie which has taken him all over the world.

He caddies for Ji-Yai Shin, one of the world’s best women golfers who has won 12 tournaments in the past year.

“The women’s tour takes you all over the world and it’s a great experience, although we don’t get a lot of time to go sightseeing,” Dean said.

“We spend so much time focused on golf but we try to set aside one day to have a look around.”

It’s not an unusual month for Dean to caddie in Bangkok and Singapore before heading to Mexico and then Phoenix and Palm Springs in the United States.

“We are together so much – usually about 10 or 11 hours a day – that we are almost like husband and wife,” Dean said.

“At the end of a tournament we are more than happy to wave each other goodbye.”

During the times when Dean gets a break from golf, he heads for his Wagga home.

“I come back here when ever I get the chance ... this still feels like home to me,” Dean said.