Born from love of the game
Isaac Zapata with his mother and father, Leo, at the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship ceremony
My father, Leonardo "Leo" Zapata, immigrated from Colombia with one purpose — to give his children the opportunities he never had. He found his home at Fairmount Country Club in Chatham, New Jersey, where he managed the men's locker room for nearly 35 years with a pride that made it one of the finest in the state.
I grew up inside those walls. At 12, I was working alongside him — cleaning golf shoes, maintaining the locker room, watching him pour his heart into that place every single day. When I started caddying, something clicked. Through the bag, I earned a NJSGA Caddie Scholarship that made my college education possible. Coming from humble roots, that was proof that the work ethic my father modeled could open doors he never had access to himself.
"Golf taught me patience, integrity, and the value of showing up. Caddying taught me how to serve people — and how rare it is to truly be seen and appreciated for what you bring."
My father passed away in 2022 after a battle with cancer. He gave 35 years of his life to Fairmount — not for recognition, but because he believed that when you love what you do and the people you serve, the work speaks for itself. Loopz is built in his honor.
I still caddie today because I love it. And I built this because I want every young person who walks onto a golf course to have access to the same community, mentorship, and opportunity that changed my life.
"For my father, Leo. You paved a road with your life so your children could walk it. I am walking it — and I will never stop."
— Isaac Zapata, Founder of Loopz