A few caddie anecdotes from me:
- Most private clubs in Chicago are closed on Monday. I’ve played Sunset Valley, a public course in Highland Park adjacent to Bob O’Link, on at least two Mondays where I’ve noticed a foursome of well dressed golfers who actually brought their own caddie from their club (dressed in their club’s bib) to carry their clubs for them. God forbid they have to take a cart or a push-cart at a public course….or have their caddie not wear their club’s uniform while on the job.
- I’ve played the North Shore Amateur golf tournament at Sunset Valley twice. Both times I noticed multiple golfers who brought a caddie from their club. Not just my assumption, as they were wearing their home club’s bib as well.
I only have two “poor” caddie experiences:
1) At Beverly, I had a 14/15 year old caddie who spoke only a few words the entire round and seemed pretty uncomfortable, like he didn’t really want to be there. On the second hole he shot the flag with his rangefinder and told me 160 yards on a shot that seemed to me to be 95-100 yards. I asked him to try again, 160. I then taught him how to use the rangefinder (he likely was picking up trees behind the green). I think I paid him $80-90? I Would have rather carried my own bag than have to have this kid follow us around all day.
2) Royal Troon a few weeks ago with Open grandstands up. I was very excited to play, and the greens fee was $400+. Plus another 65 gbp + “tip”
Very nice guy, and apparently an accomplished senior amateur golfer, +2 handicap and had won a major amateur tournament earlier this year at Troon from the back tees. I couldn’t believe my luck at getting such a great caddie. I am a 7 index and told him on the first tee I’m not too concerned with my score today just excited to play the course. Multiple times he backed me off my own shot to give me some pointer, like play the ball further back in my stance, or you coming too steep down on the ball. The worst was a 30-40 yard pitch shot into #7. I ask for my 58 degree wedge, and he overrules me. “use your gap wedge, play it back in your stance and just run it up there”. I told him I’m a lot more comfortable with my 58 from here. “Trust me you don’t want to hit that club”. I should have just insisted but not wanting to have a confrontation I tried to hit the shot he wanted and over hit it into the back right bunker. He starts walking and I say hold on, I want to try with the 58….and I pitched it onto the center of the green.
Just unneccessary. Was a super friendly guy and I enjoyed our banter and his course knowledge but just give me the club I’m asking for please.
Thankfully I have too many positive caddie experiences to list. None higher than two rounds on the Old course this summer with two excellent caddies who I’m positive each saved me 3-5 strokes. One local 30 year old from Dundee who caddies at Tara Iti and Te Arai in the winters. One British transplant who lives in Carnoustie and is a member there. I can’t imagine playing the Old Course for the first time without a caddie. Forget reading putts and having your bag carried, you often need them as a traffic cop with all the chaos of incoming groups hitting shots into you…
Another anecdote from Trump Aberdeen. My caddie told me he’s caddied there four summers and only played the course three times, even though he’s local. I asked why, and apparently for each loop he completes he gets 1 “credit” and he needs to redeem 25 credits to play a round of golf. So he will do about 100 loops in a summer and finally have enough to invite his brother and two friends for a four-ball. Apparently it used to cost him 15 “credits” but Eric Trump (who he seemed to think was in charge) recently raised it to 25.