[Tim Martin]

I played a well know MET section course recently and took a caddie as required. I will preface my comments with the fact that I was a caddie and generally am a fan of the profession and the guys that do it. We played in a twosome and our guy carried two bags which doesn’t bother me in the least. That said he had no range finder and was not using the sprinkler heads for yardages but rather “guesstimating”. I don’t need exact yardages because I don’t play well enough but the guy I was with was a low digit handicap and said the guy was constantly wrong. For the price I paid I expect better. Rant over.

[corey miller]

Sounds like you got what many in the MET area might expect for $100 as that seems to be on the low end pay for a well known club in this area.  Perhaps the fee should be more for the members and guests?

[Cliff Hamm]

I too was a caddy in my youth.  Well before even yardage books, never mind GPS devices.  I don’t even recall any type of yardage markers - stakes to mark 150, bushes, sprinkler heads, etc.  My game also does not require exact yardage to be exact and my eyes are usually quite accurate.  I understand expecting a caddy to give you exact yardage for what you’re paying. Or at least an accurate ‘guesstimate’.

That being said I find it ironic that so many on this site want to play ‘pure’ golf’.  Walking only, maybe even hickories.  Yet, they will use a gps for distance.  Isn’t there a level of hypocrisy here?

[Brian Finn]

That being said I find it ironic that so many on this site want to play ‘pure’ golf’.  Walking only, maybe even hickories.  Yet, they will use a gps for distance.  Isn’t there a level of hypocrisy here?

Only if it is the same person.  There are hundreds of posters on here, and many seek out pure golf, hickory golf, hipster golf, etc.  Tim Martin isn't one of those guys, so there is zero hypocrisy.  Caddies should be able to provide accurate yardages to anyone who wants them, regardless of the $.  Second to carrying the bag, it is their most important responsibility.

[Tim Martin]

I too was a caddy in my youth.  Well before even yardage books, never mind GPS devices.  I don’t even recall any type of yardage markers - stakes to mark 150, bushes, sprinkler heads, etc.  My game also does not require exact yardage to be exact and my eyes are usually quite accurate.  I understand expecting a caddy to give you exact yardage for what you’re paying. Or at least an accurate ‘guesstimate’.

That being said I find it ironic that so many on this site want to play ‘pure’ golf’.  Walking only, maybe even hickories.  Yet, they will use a gps for distance.  Isn’t there a level of hypocrisy here?

Cliff-I don’t consider myself a “purist hipster” golfer. Whatever method the guy uses there should be more science involved than a guess at the yardage. I don’t feel cheated on the experience for asking my caddie for yardage and reads on putts especially when it’s a first time play. As to Cory’s notion that my service was commiserate with the pay scale seems a stretch. I’m a when in Rome guy and am happy to pay the going rate plus for good service . The rate can vary in the MET section in my experience by as much as $20-$40 a bag depending on what club you are at. I fail to see how sub standard service rules the day at a club where the going rate is less than it’s neighbor.

[Cliff Hamm]

My post was not aimed at Tim.  Just a general comment to the ‘purists’ including those who abhor carts. I get it that carts diminish the ambience. But if you want to play golf, as it is meant to be, is it consistent to use a GPS device?

[Tim Martin]

My post was not aimed at Tim.  Just a general comment to the ‘purists’ including those who abhor carts. I get it that carts diminish the ambience. But if you want to play golf, as it is meant to be, is it consistent to use a GPS device?

Cliff-We have played together and you know I don’t have a problem with carts. I like to walk but if it’s a cart course with long green to tee walks or it’s super hot/humid I ride. As far as a GPS device I could care less as long as they don’t slow down play. I still can figure out yardage with no gadget and just a 150 pole but when I have the services of a caddie it’s on them.

[Bill Seitz]

That being said I find it ironic that so many on this site want to play ‘pure’ golf’.  Walking only, maybe even hickories.  Yet, they will use a gps for distance.  Isn’t there a level of hypocrisy here?

I mean, I could take my range finder with me when I'm playing hickories, but I'm not sure it would matter, since I have no idea how far I hit any of them, and even if I did, hitting to that general distance would require me to hit them well, so it would just be foolish.

[Cliff Hamm]

Sounds like my game with graphite

[corey miller]

Sorry Tim...I forgot the little smiley face but what I have learned on this site is to never question the value proposition of expensive caddies in the Met area. 


I had a caddie (actually two caddies) in a friendly match (did not matter) that failed to forecaddie and when my ball plugged in a soft area noted that "I think it plugged" as if that was supposed to help me?


Love to think of the caddie ( standing 200 yards away) that  "thinks the ball is in the hazard" .  "Guys I will drop here, the caddie thinks it is in the hazard"... works well.

[BHoover]

This is why I prefer to walk and carry myself. Obviously I understand that some clubs have rules for unaccompanied visitors, and I am happy to comply. But I do wish caddies would just be blunt and tell me what the typical rate is. I don’t mind paying the rate, but tell me what you expect. Don’t be coy and then complain if you don’t get what you think is appropriate. Just tell me.

[Tim Martin]

Sorry Tim...I forgot the little smiley face but what I have learned on this site is to never question the value proposition of expensive caddies in the Met area. 


I had a caddie (actually two caddies) in a friendly match (did not matter) that failed to forecaddie and when my ball plugged in a soft area noted that "I think it plugged" as if that was supposed to help me?


Love to think of the caddie ( standing 200 yards away) that  "thinks the ball is in the hazard" .  "Guys I will drop here, the caddie thinks it is in the hazard"... works well.

Cory-No worries. It doesn’t matter to me what the rate is but there is as much as a $50 swing between lowest and highest rates in the MET(CT,NY,NJ) section. Just let me know what is expected.

[Kalen Braley]

I think Corey hits the nail on the head....i'm not seeing the value proposition at all.

If I want someone to carry my bag for 4 hours, and provide little utility otherwise, I can get a neighborhood kid to do it for half that... 

[Tim Martin]

I think Corey hits the nail on the head....i'm not seeing the value proposition at all.

If I want someone to carry my bag for 4 hours, and provide little utility otherwise, I can get a neighborhood kid to do it for half that... 

If you want to play a specific course that has a caddie program(required as certain times) then you are going to get who they give you. If you don’t like that scenario then like you say you can get a neighborhood kid to carry for you at your local public course. I don’t look at it as a value proposition but rather a when in Rome situation.

[PCCraig]

Do you guys complain this much every time the bill comes at a restaurant? Good Lord.

[Ian Mackenzie]

I think Corey hits the nail on the head....i'm not seeing the value proposition at all.

If I want someone to carry my bag for 4 hours, and provide little utility otherwise, I can get a neighborhood kid to do it for half that... 

This is basically exactly what I do at our club where caddies are obligatory before 4 pm.
Give me a 12-13 y.o. "mule" with a radar gun and I will train him. Sure, it's a $50 loop instead of $80-$100. But, since I read my own putts, have a radar gun - and now that you can leave the stick in - my use for caddies (at least at my home course) is not what it once was...;-)

[Kalen Braley]

Do you guys complain this much every time the bill comes at a restaurant? Good Lord.

Depends..

If you order a $100 surf and turf plate and they bring out a Tuna patty with ground beef meatloaf....are you gonna be fine with that?

[Tim Martin]

I have had more days enhanced than ruined by caddies over my lifetime. I am more than happy to take them for the going rate as it’s always a guest play. There is no caddie requirement where I play. My question has been answered in that regardless of venue or caddie rate giving accurate yardages to your player is a basic and expected skill.

[PCCraig]

I think Corey hits the nail on the head....i'm not seeing the value proposition at all.

If I want someone to carry my bag for 4 hours, and provide little utility otherwise, I can get a neighborhood kid to do it for half that... 

This is basically exactly what I do at our club where caddies are obligatory before 4 pm.
Give me a 12-13 y.o. "mule" with a radar gun and I will train him. Sure, it's a $50 loop instead of $80-$100. But, since I read my own putts, have a radar gun - and now that you can leave the stick in - my use for caddies (at least at my home course) is not what it once was...;-)

I tend to agree when it's at your home club. You kind of already know where you're going, generally what you'll hit, etc.


When you're traveling and playing a course you don't know much of, an experienced caddie who can tell you exactly where to hit it can be a huge benefit. Well worth the $$.

[PCCraig]

Do you guys complain this much every time the bill comes at a restaurant? Good Lord.

Depends..

If you order a $100 surf and turf plate and they bring out a Tuna patty with ground beef meatloaf....are you gonna be fine with that?

Kalen - when you go out to eat with another couple do you itemize your bill? Do you count how many mozzarella sticks the other dude ate vs. yourself?

[Edward Glidewell]

Caddies are required at East Lake, but they also all have range finders for yardages.


I would personally prefer to either carry my own bag or pay less and have them only carry the bag (I can use my own range finder), but c'est la vie.

[Michael Whitaker]

(I realized I should have posted this here instead of Lou’s 5-hour thread)

Are you guys of the opinion that caddies speed up or slow down the game?

My experience is they slow down the game... especially at places like Erin Hills or any high end facility. Whenever I’m following a group of four golfers, each with his own caddy, I know I can add 45 minutes (minimum) to my round. The player/caddy conversations about EVERY shot and EVERY putt drives me crazy!!!   

The players think they must consult with the caddy like a tour pro, and the caddies are trying to make their service meaningful, so the problem just feeds on itself.

[Daryl David]

Definitely slow the round.

[Kalen Braley]

Do you guys complain this much every time the bill comes at a restaurant? Good Lord.

Depends..

If you order a $100 surf and turf plate and they bring out a Tuna patty with ground beef meatloaf....are you gonna be fine with that?

Kalen - when you go out to eat with another couple do you itemize your bill? Do you count how many mozzarella sticks the other dude ate vs. yourself?

Been quite awhile since my college days where i probably have done some version of that.

But that's not what we're talking about here. Its about ordering and paying for a 12 oz New York Steak and getting a Big Mac...

[Mark Chaplin]

At St Andrews we weren’t allowed to use watches or rangefinders, just the course planner and sprinklers. It shouldn’t slow play if the caddies are switched on and planning before you get to the ball. I’d always say golfers should speak to the caddiemaster if they get a poor or lazy caddie.

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