What is the first duty of a caddie and who is your favorite?

[JESII]

Your issues run deeper than I ever imagined...

Sully, all I expect of a caddy is to know what the heck he's doing.

This actually covers it Shivas...could've saved a few chipped finger nails from banging out those last two posts...

[JESII]

But of course...so sorry...

[Matt OBrien]

IF a caddy does ALL you ask, does he get $200?

[Kyle Harris]

IF a caddy does ALL you ask, does he get $200?

Psst... you can't even remember your camera when asked... 

[Matt OBrien]

IF a caddy does ALL you ask, does he get $200?

Psst... you can't even remember your camera when asked... 

Haha sorry.. i was to excited to finally get to play on the greens finally!! It was the first time all year they were opened. You will have them next monday at 6pm.

[Jed Peters]

Jed--
As for Mr. Chanon Motheral (Cooter Brown on the bag, it was a joke name, remember?) it was 73, and it was a good round. 

Post modified.

And it was only good because sasha took the jacket off on 10....

[Tommy Williamsen]

Maybe we need to talk about the duties of the  player who has a caddy. 
1.  Be  a gentleman/woman
2.  Introduce your self and if he is in your estimation old enough tell him to call you by your first name.
3.  Help out with some of the small stuff.  Get the pin yourself if it is nearby.
4.  If you are in bunkers all day rake the damn thing yourself once in a while. This one may have to be done out of sight of the caddy master, however.  The caddy master at my club knows I will help out periodically. 
5.  Treat him as a friend and not as a servant.
6.  If he is wrong about distance or line acknowledge that it was an honest mistake.  We are not always correct either.
7.  Most caddies I have taken are serious about their job. At most clubs you work your way up from raw rookie, class B, to class A.
8.  At the turn ask him if he would like something from the grill room.
9.  At the end of the round thank him.  If he needs to work on something let him know.  Be honest it only helps him next time.

[Adam Russell]

Shivas- I actually think you're right on for the expectations. It sounds like alot, but its just common sense and quick thinking in practice. I just hope you peel an extra twenty off when it does happens, though.

BTW - You're not one of those guys that says "hey, I used to be a caddie...", are you? I always find that very, very creepy 

[Matt OBrien]

Tommy that is the best post I have read in a while. Yes I understand that the caddy is there to serve the golfer and make his day more enjoyable but the caddies are human and can be treated like humans also. If the golfers treat the caddies poorly then it wont be an enjoyable day for either of them.

P.S I do caddy

[JimFatsi]

they should count your clubs when they first get your bag, and then count your clubs at the end of the round, if one of them is missing check the other bags in the group, if the missing club(s) is not in anyones bag then they need to find them asap.

[Gerry B]

Tommy Williamsen:

You summed it up perfectly. I will not tolerate people who abuse caddies.

Sugar works better than salt everytime.

Put them at ease on the 1st tee  -
ie let them know what you expect of them as they are not mind readers -and everyone will have a much more enjoyable day.

Conversely, I have no time for caddies with attitude, are lazy, or have not been trained properly. The pro at my club  in Toronto often asks me to take out the 1st time loopers with one of the other members - we give them the mutt and jeff treatment to show them both ends of the spectrum - i am the easy one.

Most of us have numerous humorous caddie stories - this is one of my faves:
One of the  regulars at my home course was looping for me one day and i was playing terrible. On the 14th green  he commented: "Gerry - Your  game sucks today"  - to which i replied;:"You are correct sir": -and i grabbed my bag, made  him play the last 4 holes and i caddied.

[Matt OBrien]

agree with you 100% Gerry.
and how did that caddy play? did you get to tell him that he sucks?

[Paul Saathoff]

Here in Asia, the first thing I ask for in a caddie is that it be a cute female.  No dudes please.  Usually they don't know much about the game and speak little to no English, so might as well have something good to look at to keep my mind off of how bad my game is now.  Oh, and please let me mark my own ball...

[Wyatt Halliday]

What is the first duty of a caddie: To quickly adapt his/her advice to the strengths and weaknesses of your game.

This opinion is based on me not having a caddie on retainer.

Who is your favorite: K.C. Gonzales - Bandon Dunes.

A true professional in every sense of the word. I not only recommend him, he put the trip over the top for me.

[Gerry B]

Matt:

He played to a 2 - which i was aware of when i took over the bag - he played the last 4 holes 1 over on a very difficult golf course - especially the last 2 holes which are notorious round wreckers.

His caddy was exceptional (lol)- clubbed him correctly and read the greens beautifully. His lone bogey was a pull hook on a downhill par 3 on #15 which found the aqua - but he got up and down for an all world bogey. I attribute the errant tee shot to lack of warm up and a tough crowd.

One more thought - if you want a great caddie program you must allow the caddies access to the course - how can they have great course knowledge without having played the place on a regular basis.

[Sean Walsh]

Tommy,

Point 2 is a winner for me.  The worst rounds I had for the year were with players that obviously thought 34 wasn't old enough to know their first name.  It is the sure sign that the following hours are going to be a re-enactment of "The Butler Did It" with me playing the Butler.   

[Jay Flemma]

Maybe we need to talk about the duties of the  player who has a caddy. 
1.  Be  a gentleman/woman
2.  Introduce your self and if he is in your estimation old enough tell him to call you by your first name.
3.  Help out with some of the small stuff.  Get the pin yourself if it is nearby.
4.  If you are in bunkers all day rake the damn thing yourself once in a while. This one may have to be done out of sight of the caddy master, however.  The caddy master at my club knows I will help out periodically. 
5.  Treat him as a friend and not as a servant.
6.  If he is wrong about distance or line acknowledge that it was an honest mistake.  We are not always correct either.
7.  Most caddies I have taken are serious about their job. At most clubs you work your way up from raw rookie, class B, to class A.
8.  At the turn ask him if he would like something from the grill room.
9.  At the end of the round thank him.  If he needs to work on something let him know.  Be honest it only helps him next time.

excellent advice, tommy.  Those are all perfectly reasonable.

My fave of all is "treat him as a friend" - I treat him as a partner.

[Adam Russell]

Shivas, the EXTRA twenty, the EXTRA one on top of the hundred  I prefer  a mule or goat, but bag rat's not bad. I

[Eric Morrison]

First duty - Count clubs
Favorite - Woosnam's caddy who went to the first tee with 15 clubs in the bag...hilarious when Woosie blew a fuse.

[Norbert P]

What is the first duty of a caddie
 . . .  and who is your favorite?

 That they share their spirits.
     Jimmy at Prestwick.

[Adam Russell]

Shivas- If there were more guys that took that approach, I think you would have more caddies bust it all the time. At our home courses, too many guys get used to the same amount over and over, and production goes down because the ceiling seems lower. I bust sometimes just because i'm bored or want to stay in shape. But the idea that people like you exists keeps me humping. May you one day sacrifice your values and come to Reynolds Plantation. 

[Matt OBrien]

Wow Shivas. I will travel and caddy for you whenever you want. Wow a months worth of pay? 

[JESII]

Don't drool boys...Shivas has yet to find a kid that qualifies...

[Matt OBrien]

Im still waiting to loop for you at HV JES!

[JESII]

You deserve much better than me.