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

[Michael Blake]

O.K.  50 posts is long enough of a wait, so i'll be the first to ask:

Who's got the pictures of Sasha?


Joe B:  Is Bernie still caddying at Bandon?

[Sean_A]

Sean,

Forget the money. If a caddy doesn't help you enjoy your day any amount of money feel like too much, and if they do help you enjoy your day the top side pay is barely an afterthought.

If Jay owns a bag with the clumsy double strap that doesn't carry well on one shoulder he should expect it to be changed out every time he is taking a caddy. Caddies are in it to make a living, so expect them to carry two bags. Do the math, these guys are working hard, but they are not getting rich so carrying one bag so they can pay full attention to you is the most laughable thing I hear...who in the world needs a caddy to be able to focus their full attention on them? Get over it! Play golf.

Sully

What the heck does getting rich have to do with anything?  You don't think a caddies are well paid for what they do?  You make it sound as though the caddie is doing the player a favour.  Perhaps this is part of the reason carts are so popular.  Remember, caddies are there to serve their employer and for the money they are paid I don't care if a double strap makes it tough to carry two bags. 

Adam

Don't be silly.  I have seen caddies place their own strap on bags with or without taking off the old one.  In fact, I have done it myself - it ain't difficult. 

Ciao

[Lloyd_Cole]

There is just so much that one has to remember when taking a caddy, it's almost not worth it - I always forget to mention something or other. However, having caddied much of my youth, I have no qualms in calling a bag carrier a bag carrier. Unfortunately, I'm not so good at asking them to pipe down.

At Hoylake in '06 when I couldn't do 36 a day without one I got stuck with an absolute fool,  full to the brim  with unwanted cab driver wisdom and frankly just not a good caddy. After two rounds of taking his reads and missing many putts low, I had a hunch what was up - I asked him - Are you giving me the read for the dead weight to die the ball in the hole? 'Yes, of course.' he replied. So I asked 'Did you ever wonder about my putts finishing 18' to 2 feet past the hole and think 'Maybe this guy isn't trying to die his putts in the hole'?' He shrugged...

Lloyd,
If the caddie was reading your putts to die in the hole (which would mean he was reading MORE break), and you were playing them to go 18-24 inches past the hole, why on earth were you missing putts LOW

The problem may not have been with your caddie

Thanks Jeff..

But I'm a marginally better golfer than I am a writer, or logician, it seems. I was missing them on the high side.

[Matthew Hunt]

If anyone is at RCD or near-by courses give me a buzz!

[Jordan Wall]

Jay,

As a caddy myself, the most important thing a caddy can do is develop a good relationship with the player.  Even if the caddy stays quiet, learning quickly what the player wants out of the caddy is important.  Sometimes I caddy for people who prefer to interact with the group, and thus I hardly end up saying a word the entire round.  I stay quiet until I know for sure it is ok with my player to put in a word.

Most of the time I dont read greens for players - I never even try to unless asked.  There doesn't seem to be a worse thing to do then suggest a club or read a green for a player that doesn't want it.  However, I am more then willing to offer suggestions to my player when asked. 

The truth is, at least for me, caddying is a lot different when at a public course versus a private club.  At a public course, players are generally a lot more outgoing, and ask for advice a lot more.  I always think this is because at a club, the member has played the course plenty of times enough to know how greens break, what clubs to hit, etc.  As long as I can get quick feedback out of the player for what he expects out of me for the round, I accomodate those needs to the best of my ability.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Jordan

[George Pazin]

Show up
Keep up
Shut up

And dont' read the putts unless I ask.

Also just tell me the basic yardage and let me figure out the rest.  If you've only caddied for me one time, what makes you think you know more about my game than I do.

I putt much worse with a caddie who is telling me it breaks 1.5 cups from the right than one who might just say it breaks right.  And if he tells me to hit it half way to the hole, I've been known to do that, leaving another fun putt.

Sorry, I get cranky when I have a caddie.  Probably because my back hurts more when I'm not carrying my bag.

I'm pretty close to my good friend JohnV.

Can't say my back hurts, but I want as little input as possible.

[JESII]

Sean,

It seems you are the one bringing the poor attitude...

What is it about your bag and your strap that are so fundamentally important to the success of your day?

Remember, caddies are there to serve their employer and for the money they are paid I don't care if a double strap makes it tough to carry two bags. 

Good luck to you...

[JESII]

And no, this is not part of the reason carts have become popular...there are several very clear reasons and anything to do with caddies are not among them.

[wsmorrison]

Sully,

I too have had the pleasure of going around PV with Rocco J. Carbone, Jr.  wind and yardage consultant extraordinaire, though not nearly so many as you.  The last time I was fortunate enough to be with Brian Phillips.  I suspect Brian beat me that day, though I know it wasn't a sweep.  Never before or since have I been teased and abused like that from Rocky...and by Brian come to think of it, but it is all in fun and we have a blast.

I didn't experience the event, but one day Rocky was caddying for a couple of Japanese guests, one who was a good player and the other not so good.  On a hole later in the round one of the fellows asked Rocky what club he should use.  Rocky handed him a club and the player proceeded to fly one over the green.  The guest remarked that Rocky gave him the wrong club.  Rocky reportedly replied (and it is easy to believe), "Right club, wrong Jap."

[Joe Bentham]

 

Most of the time I dont read greens for players - I never even try to unless asked.  There doesn't seem to be a worse thing to do then suggest a club or read a green for a player that doesn't want it.  However, I am more then willing to offer suggestions to my player when asked. 

Jordan--
Found this to be very interesting.  While I agree that a read shouldn't be given unless asked for I don't agree that you shouldn't be reading them.  You should read every putt and then wait to be asked.  Not wait to be asked and then read the putt.

There is also a huge difference between private and public/resort caddying.  I've been around Bandon Dunes 1,00 times, a first timer would be crazy not to ask for my help while we're out there.  At a private club where the member has seen the course more then me what help can I give him? 
Golfers could help out caddies by telling them BEFORE the round starts what they want.  Don't want reads on the greens?  Tell the poor bastard that before you start.  Only want yardages (any good caddie should only work in numbers, letting the player pull the club)?  Tell em.  Its your game and your buck, so remember that.  And remember you've played golf before you met your caddie, and you'll play golf after you leave so don't expect him to be some miracle worker, golf is hard.
As far as bags go, if you can't deal with a caddie changing your bag out to make his life easier (do you want him wrestling your bag all day or caddying for you?) then carry the damn thing yourself.

[Sean_A]

Sean,

It seems you are the one bringing the poor attitude...

What is it about your bag and your strap that are so fundamentally important to the success of your day?

Remember, caddies are there to serve their employer and for the money they are paid I don't care if a double strap makes it tough to carry two bags. 

Good luck to you...

Sully

So I have a poor attitude because I would like the person I pay to carry my bag to actually carry my bag?  Is this what things have come to in the States?  We can't  even expect a caddie to carry the golfer's bag?  My bag is special because its my bag.  Does the caddie need to know anything else where this is concerned?  I can't for the life of me think why its an unreasonable expectation that the caddie I hire will carry my bag.  If you are happy to leave your bag in the boot, thats fair enough.  I am not happy with that arrangement and if that means a caddie is unhappy I am better off carrying my own bag and I have no qualms with that.     

Ciao

[Joe Bentham]

Sean--
There isn't any logical reason for you needing your golf bag.  You need your golf clubs, balls and tees to play golf.  A wind shirt, wallet, cigars, water bottle and sun block will all fit into a change out bag and there isn't a caddie alive who will deny you those things.  But if your bag is deemed un-carryable by the caddie then so be it.  And if your not enough of a adult to get over it then like you said, carry it yourself. 

[wsmorrison]

Since I carry my bag about half the time (thankfully our club allows plenty of opportunities while still maintaining an excellent caddie staff), I kept in mind comfort for the caddy and myself.  I like a 1-strap in any case and the Titleist X81 is fine for everyday.  I appreciate the look in the eye of the caddie when he sees it. 

[Andy Troeger]

Do many caddies/courses change out bags? I've only experienced it once; its a minor inconvenience but really not a big deal. I thought it was a little odd at the time seeing as I have a carry bag anyway and it didn't seem like much of an advantage for the caddie, but evidently he thought so which was fine by me. Must have had something to do with the double strap I guess.

I could see it being important for double-bagging especially with riding or pro style bags especially. Those have to be a pain...

I very much agree with those that say caddies should just give the player a number and let them figure things out from there. For a first time player mentioning that a subtle hole is slightly uphill or something of that nature is helpful but I hate when you hear "play it like its 185."

[Sean_A]

Sean--
There isn't any logical reason for you needing your golf bag.  You need your golf clubs, balls and tees to play golf.  A wind shirt, wallet, cigars, water bottle and sun block will all fit into a change out bag and there isn't a caddie alive who will deny you those things.  But if your bag is deemed un-carryable by the caddie then so be it.  And if your not enough of a adult to get over it then like you said, carry it yourself. 

Joe

I don't really care if a caddie thinks I am "not enough of an adult" to have my bag dumped.  So far as I am concerned if the caddie can't handle carrying my bag which weighs all of 10-12 pounds he is not fit to do the job.  If the caddie is looking to double loop then he isn't serious about providing a good service.  In either case I am not too bothered about having him work for me.  At the rates caddies charge I don't think these requirements are unreasonable.  If you think these are unreasonable expectations - fair enough. 

Ciao

 

[JESII]

And that's the amazing thing...you think you need a caddy at your side for the entire round...astonishing, really.

[Jordan Wall]

Most of the time I dont read greens for players - I never even try to unless asked.  There doesn't seem to be a worse thing to do then suggest a club or read a green for a player that doesn't want it.  However, I am more then willing to offer suggestions to my player when asked. 

Jordan--
Found this to be very interesting.  While I agree that a read shouldn't be given unless asked for I don't agree that you shouldn't be reading them.  You should read every putt and then wait to be asked.  Not wait to be asked and then read the putt.

Joe,

I disagree.  As a caddy, I do what the player asks and nothing else - not because it is bad to go above and beyond during work, but if you dont know the player well, doing something (such as reading greens) that could be considered above and beyond to some might just annoy another player.

As far as reading greens is concerned, some players feel insuperior (for lack of better word) when their caddy reads greens without being asked.  It can make it seem as if the player is incapable of reading the green themselves.  Obviously as a caddy I can make a mental note of what the putt will do without actually reading it, but the last thing needed is five people reading a green when only four should be.  If a player needs help with a read, he can let me know and I'll be happy to throw in my two cents.  Until then, I'll hold the flagstick and wait until everyone has putted out.

[Kalen Braley]

After reading Jordans comments, he sounds like the perfect caddy for me.   

I also very much agree with Sean....golfers are the customer, and they are the ones paying the money.  By all means the golfer should be accomadated and not the other way around.  Should I suffer in quality of service because a caddy wants to double loop?  Should I be made to feel awkward because the caddy is stuggling to keep up? Everyone has thier bad day, completely understood, but that never justifies a caddy being abusive/inattentive towards the golfer and visa versa.

[Joe Bentham]

Sean--
Your stance about your bag is an emotional one, and its illogical.  Your paying him to be your caddie, not your Sherpa.

Jordan--
Your misspelling of caddie should lead to a review by the Evans committee. 

Kalen--
A caddies position on the golf course is in front.  A double bag caddies position is doubly in front.  You should be trying to keep up with them.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Joe
Re your comment to Jordan

Jordan--
Your misspelling of caddie should lead to a review by the Evans committee.

Caddie or Caddy are both correct

[Kyle Harris]

Sean--
Your stance about your bag is an emotional one, and its illogical.  Your paying him to be your caddie, not your Sherpa.

Jordan--
Your misspelling of caddie should lead to a review by the Evans committee. 

Kalen--
A caddies position on the golf course is in front.  A double bag caddies position is doubly in front.  You should be trying to keep up with them.

Joe,

Your misuse of the possessive form of a noun should lead you back to a 2nd grade classroom. 

[/playful jocularity]

[Sean_A]

Sean--
Your stance about your bag is an emotional one, and its illogical.  Your paying him to be your caddie, not your Sherpa.

Joe

A caddy ought to be bloody proud to be compared with a Sherpa.  The day I find a caddy half as good as any of the Sherpas I saw in Nepal and I will will shut my mouth forever about caddies. 

Ciao     

[Lloyd_Cole]

While we're bitching - A caddy carrying two bags is about as smart an idea as two players sharing a golf cart.  There can be no denying that it slows the game down. Let me carry my own bag and pay the caddy fee - he can yell approximate yardages to me from across the fairway, I'm not good enough for a few yards out to make a difference.

[Patrick Hodgdon]

While we're bitching - A caddy carrying two bags is about as smart an idea as two players sharing a golf cart.  There can be no denying that it slows the game down. Let me carry my own bag and pay the caddy fee - he can yell approximate yardages to me from across the fairway, I'm not good enough for a few yards out to make a difference.

Which is exactly why most experienced players who know how to play fast will pull clubs when they hit it wayward (i.e. off the fairway) and have the caddy yell the distance.

[Doug Siebert]

Yes, but what's the point of that?  Why have a caddy at all if I've got to grab a handful of clubs, find my own ball, and wait for the caddy to yell the distance?  How exactly is he providing a service any different than a golf cart under cart path only conditions where I have to do the exact same thing?