Speaking of caddies

[Jim Franklin]

I had the best caddie at Ballyneal last Monday. Charlie was a terrific guide and knew the course as well as anyone. He made sure I drank a bottle of water every two holes at least, which certainly helped me maintain my focus. It was a terrific way to spend my 50th birthday. 3 birdies and 2 doubles for a smooth 72.

I heard them talk about caddies a lot on the tube over the weekend and I firmly believe a good caddie will help your score. It was funny that almost none of the ex-pro golfers want to say what a good caddie was worth in stroke savings.

[Melvyn Morrow]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31wLZcVPq8I&feature=player_embedded

[JR Potts]

[Edited - see below]

[JR Potts]

It was funny that almost none of the ex-pro golfers want to say what a good caddie was worth in stroke savings.

From Twitter

DAPoints D.A. Points
@Ryan_Potts I think a real quality caddie, if paired with the right person can help MAYBE a half shot a round. 2 shots a week. My opinion
Aug 08, 8:49 AM via Echofon

In reply to…
 
Ryan_Potts Ryan Potts
@DAPoints - Steve Williams clearly adds something to the players he manages. How many shots a rd do you think a great caddy saves/gains?
Aug 07, 5:01 PM via UberSocial for BlackBerry

[Terry Lavin]

For us mere mortals, a good caddie on a great but unfamiliar course is worth at least four shots.  I've had some spectacular caddies at great out of town clubs I've played, including LACC, Riviera, Pebble Beach, Bandon, Pinehurst.  It has made a big difference in how I played.  Obviously, a great caddie also makes a difference in how one sees the course, how one appreciates the course and how one remembers the course.  The quality of the caddie doesn't make that much difference in courses that I'm quite familiar with, but there's nothing like a great caddie on the road.

PS:  Mr. Franklin, in honor of this thread, I will make sure that you get the best caddie at Dunes Club next week!

[Jim Franklin]

For us mere mortals, a good caddie on a great but unfamiliar course is worth at least four shots.  I've had some spectacular caddies at great out of town clubs I've played, including LACC, Riviera, Pebble Beach, Bandon, Pinehurst.  It has made a big difference in how I played.  Obviously, a great caddie also makes a difference in how one sees the course, how one appreciates the course and how one remembers the course.  The quality of the caddie doesn't make that much difference in courses that I'm quite familiar with, but there's nothing like a great caddie on the road.

PS:  Mr. Franklin, in honor of this thread, I will make sure that you get the best caddie at Dunes Club next week!

Thanks Terry, I can't wait to play the Dunes Club.

For all of the visitors to Ballyneal this summer, please request Charlie as your caddie. Very knowledgeable and we had a great time. It was pretty cool having someone know every little bounce of a course. It was a perfect way to start my day and then seeing my 5year old at the airport was a great way to finish it.

As an example of what a great caddie can do for you, let me tell you about the 3rd hole. As many people know, there is a large ridge that starts a few feet in on the left side and runs to the center of the green. The flag was in the back portion toward the middle. I did not hit a good tee shot and was short of the ridge. In order to have any chance of making the putt, I would have to start the ball well left and if I did not hit the hole, I would be looking at 6 feet or more for par. Charlie told me to play right of the ridge and thereby right of the hole which would leave me at worst a 4 footer if I play the right speed. I hit a good putt, leaving 4 feet and made it for par. Without Charlie, I am going for the big breaking putt trying to hole a bidie.

[Kalen Braley]

For us mere mortals, a good caddie on a great but unfamiliar course is worth at least four shots.  I've had some spectacular caddies at great out of town clubs I've played, including LACC, Riviera, Pebble Beach, Bandon, Pinehurst.  It has made a big difference in how I played.  Obviously, a great caddie also makes a difference in how one sees the course, how one appreciates the course and how one remembers the course.  The quality of the caddie doesn't make that much difference in courses that I'm quite familiar with, but there's nothing like a great caddie on the road.

PS:  Mr. Franklin, in honor of this thread, I will make sure that you get the best caddie at Dunes Club next week!

Thanks Terry, I can't wait to play the Dunes Club.

For all of the visitors to Ballyneal this summer, please request Charlie as your caddie. Very knowledgeable and we had a great time. It was pretty cool having someone know every little bounce of a course. It was a perfect way to start my day and then seeing my 5year old at the airport was a great way to finish it.

As an example of what a great caddie can do for you, let me tell you about the 3rd hole. As many people know, there is a large ridge that starts a few feet in on the left side and runs to the center of the green. The flag was in the back portion toward the middle. I did not hit a good tee shot and was short of the ridge. In order to have any chance of making the putt, I would have to start the ball well left and if I did not hit the hole, I would be looking at 6 feet or more for par. Charlie told me to play right of the ridge and thereby right of the hole which would leave me at worst a 4 footer if I play the right speed. I hit a good putt, leaving 4 feet and made it for par. Without Charlie, I am going for the big breaking putt trying to hole a bidie.

Cmon Jim

Thats not story to gloat...you travelled all the way to Ballyneal to lay up on your birdie putts!!   

No guts no glory!!!

[Jerry Kluger]

Jim: Charlie is the best.  I also had a couple of other really good caddies at Ballyneal.  Lucas knows his yardages and the greens and is an interesting fellow - army vet with 4 kids who is able to support his family on his caddie earnings which shows how much more reasonable the cost of living is in that area. 

Another caddie I had is a University of Colorado sophomore who is attending on an Evans scholarship. He caddied for my first ever round using hickories and within a couple of holes he just handed me a club and told me where to hit it as I had no idea which club to hit.  BTW: The scholarship pays for tuition and housing and he earns free meals during the week by cleaning dishes at a sorority house - he told me his is now dating one of the sorority sisters which is very cool.

[Jim Franklin]

Kalen -

No guts, no glory, but a 72 is not too shabby. How is your putting philosophy working?

[Kalen Braley]

Kalen -

No guts, no glory, but a 72 is not too shabby. How is your putting philosophy working?

Thats besides the point Jim, don't change the subject!!   

P.S.  Speaking of caddies, I too had my best caddy experience at Ballyneal.  He was a kid going to UofC and was really great at being Johnny on the spot and very knowledgeable.  I can't recall his name, but it was a real pleasure!

[Doug Wright]

There are many great caddies at Ballyneal (as evidenced by the comments on this thread), but Nick Flaa is my man there--he kept me going through my 58 hole 1/3 Marathon on June 22, and we didn't lose a single ball.

[Jim Nelson]

There are many great caddies at Ballyneal (as evidenced by the comments on this thread), but Nick Flaa is my man there--he kept me going through my 58 hole 1/3 Marathon on June 22, and we didn't lose a single ball.

I kept biting my tongue, but now that you have mentioned Nick, I certainly second that nomination.  I just was being selfish.  There are lots of good caddies out there.  Cierra and Jarred are two of my favorites along with others mentioned above.  I really do like the Evans Scholarship program and think that Ballyneal being part of it is great.

[Jim Hoak]

A good caddie is great for we amateurs--especially on an unfamilar course.  But my experience is that most pros (not all, but most) think that caddies are overrated in importance by golf observers.

[JMEvensky]

A good caddie is great for we amateurs--especially on an unfamilar course.  But my experience is that most pros (not all, but most) think that caddies are overrated in importance by golf observers.

That would be my guess also.

It seems counter intuitive,but maybe the worst player would be helped the most by a caddie.I'd bet proper club fitting would fall under the same category.

[Doug Wright]

There are many great caddies at Ballyneal (as evidenced by the comments on this thread), but Nick Flaa is my man there--he kept me going through my 58 hole 1/3 Marathon on June 22, and we didn't lose a single ball.

I kept biting my tongue, but now that you have mentioned Nick, I certainly second that nomination.  I just was being selfish.  There are lots of good caddies out there.  Cierra and Jarred are two of my favorites along with others mentioned above.  I really do like the Evans Scholarship program and think that Ballyneal being part of it is great.

Nick was the co-holder of the previous Ballyneal marathon record of 100 holes in a day. Nick says Jim Colton's record needs an asterisk vs. his feat because he and his fellow caddy carried their own bags sans entourage (except for a dog for many of the holes) for 100 holes.

[Howard Riefs]

For us mere mortals, a good caddie on a great but unfamiliar course is worth at least four shots.  

Indeed. Reminds me of the first time I played Erin Hills, it was without a caddie. Big mistake as in 2008 they didn't offer a course map in the pro shop nor have a hole map sign on the tee box.

I can still remember approaching the blind tee shot for the 2nd hole, thinking: a) where is the green; and b) why didn't we get caddies?

[Carl Johnson]

Please bear with me. Question.  Caddie etiquette question.  In June I (USA traveling golfer) played with some traveling USA golfers in Ireland.  I never took a caddie.  Others did. At Royal Portrush I was in a group with three others who had individual caddies.  I pulled my trolley.  The other guys' caddies did help spot my errant shots into the rough.  Otherwise, they pushed the pace.  Either ranging far ahead (in which case I hoped I'd crown one) or coming up and standing close to me while I prepared and hit my shot, and on the green, quickly yanked the pin even though I was first to putt, without  a question as to whether I wished the pin in or out (I did then ask to have the pin attended if I wished).  Keep in mind, these were individual caddies for other members of my group, with all four or us playing a team Stapleford against the other four traveling golfers behind us.  My initial reaction was, now I know why they call it Royal PortRUSH.

Somewhat different exprience at Royal County Down.  Two members of our group had individual caddies, and myself and another pulled our own trolleys.  In this case, the caddies for the other players tried to help me, each sneaking over separately to give me advice, almost always different (e.g., right edge, vs. one ball out).  Now I have my assessment and two others to manage.  Imagine.

My questions.  When a caddy for player A is with a group of four players, and player B does not use a caddy, what should the caddy etiquette of the caddy for A be toward the member of the group, B, without a caddy: (1) when all four players are on the same team?  (2) when the player with the caddy is playing against the player without a caddy (e.g., in a four ball)?

I am not a player experienced with caddies.  Please keep that in mind.  I'm looking for answers for a novice such as myself.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Please bear with me. Question.  Caddie etiquette question.  In June I (USA traveling golfer) played with some traveling USA golfers in Ireland.  I never took a caddie.  Others did. At Royal Portrush I was in a group with three others who had individual caddies.  I pulled my trolley.  The other guys' caddies did help spot my errant shots into the rough.  Otherwise, they pushed the pace.  Either ranging far ahead (in which case I hoped I'd crown one) or coming up and standing close to me while I prepared and hit my shot, and on the green, quickly yanked the pin even though I was first to putt, without  a question as to whether I wished the pin in or out (I did then ask to have the pin attended if I wished).  Keep in mind, these were individual caddies for other members of my group, with all four or us playing a team Stapleford against the other four traveling golfers behind us.  My initial reaction was, now I know why they call it Royal PortRUSH.

Somewhat different exprience at Royal County Down.  Two members of our group had individual caddies, and myself and another pulled our own trolleys.  In this case, the caddies for the other players tried to help me, each sneaking over separately to give me advice, almost always different (e.g., right edge, vs. one ball out).  Now I have my assessment and two others to manage.  Imagine.

My questions.  When a caddy for player A is with a group of four players, and player B does not use a caddy, what should the caddy etiquette of the caddy for A be toward the member of the group, B, without a caddy: (1) when all four players are on the same team?  (2) when the player with the caddy is playing against the player without a caddy (e.g., in a four ball)?

I am not a player experienced with caddies.  Please keep that in mind.  I'm looking for answers for a novice such as myself.

My opinion is the caddy for player A should act as player A would act.  To me that means in situation (1) they should offer advice when specifically asked.  In situation (2) they can provide the preferred line of play when not on the putting surface and should offer no other advice.  

Side Note:  As a kid the course I played at would hold state am competitions and the junior members would serve as caddies for those who requested caddies.  The third and fifteenth holes have blind approaches and we would hike up and provide a line for all members of the group.  I remember one of my friends was caddying for someone who was upset about him providing the line for someone else on the approach.  I believe our actions and my opinion follows the rules of golf.