This is 40: Joel Dahmen’s longtime caddie Geno Bonnalie celebrates birthday

Eight years ago, Joel Dahmen and his caddie Geno Bonnalie posed for a picture after the opening round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s now-defunct Chitimacha Louisiana Open. It was Bonnalie’s 32nd birthday, which Dahmen commemorated with a 5-under 66 en route to a T3 finish. Dahmen earned his TOUR card later that year, and he brought Bonnalie with him to the big leagues.

It was a simpler time back then, reflected Dahmen and Bonnalie on Tuesday, where the veteran caddie celebrated his 40th birthday in advance of the Valspar Championship. They’ve been prominently featured in the first two seasons of Netflix’s “Full Swing” docuseries, and increased notoriety has ensued. Dahmen, a veteran of 187 TOUR starts, has endeared himself to fans with his transparency and humility. Bonnalie has developed star power of his own, often asked to sign autographs and pose for pictures as he carries the bag.

Much has changed for the dynamic duo since that photo in Louisiana’s Acadiana region. One constant: they’re together.

“I get fired every week, but I manage to get re-hired by Monday or Tuesday, usually,” Bonnalie quipped Tuesday at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course outside Tampa.

“It’s been a few weeks since you’ve been fired, but you’re probably due for a good firing,” Dahmen confirmed.

This marks Dahmen’s 10th season with Bonnalie on the bag – the first two on the Korn Ferry Tour, and the last eight on the PGA TOUR. Their partnership began with a letter: After Dahmen finished atop the 2014 PGA TOUR Canada season-long standings to earn full 2015 Korn Ferry Tour membership, his longtime friend Bonnalie made a pitch to carry the bag, utilizing the written word. They hailed from the same home region near the Washington/Idaho border, both avid junior players and first bonding during a two-player team event where Bonnalie, 15 or 16 at the time, needed a partner and asked Dahmen, 12 at the time.

Dahmen accepted the written pitch, and the rest is history.

“Man, look how young we look,” Bonnalie said Tuesday as he examined the birthday photo from 2016.

“That is incredible,” Dahmen said. “You’re a little older.”

“Way older,” Bonnalie confirmed.

“I’m definitely skinnier and healthier there,” Dahmen noted. “We’re just kids … I remember we thought a three-star Priceline for like $60 was a good deal. Some Red Roof Inns back in the day. Every now and then, we’d sneak off to a Longhorn Steakhouse if we were feeling frisky.”

“That is if we had a really good week,” Bonnalie confirmed.

“We’ve come a long way since then,” Dahmen said. “It’s been a good ride.”

A ride that could continue for years to come.