There was a veiled shot somewhere in the two "Now...," (as if caddies weren't those things in a previous era) ***AND another bemoan of tradition lost, but JW has much credit in my account, and without further delay.... to address the authentic topic.
One great thing that comes from viewing the "classic" re-broadcasts is that you notice curious stuff. At the Masters (up until about 1968-69) there were "stationed" caddies at (each/many) greensides, whose only three functions were to A. fix ballmarks once all were on the green; B. to tend or hold the pin off the green (interestingly during some of those 60-67 Masters I've seen, the pin was allowed to be struck by the stroked ball ON the green{???
when did that change 
} and C. Rake greenside bunkers.
I don't know if the same procedure (maintenance caddie-stewards) existed in the fairways and such, but combined with other glimpses of other old action and different tournaments, I know that at one time this wasn't such an odd concept.
And to honestly address it in the contemporary pro game, it seems a disappointing oversight that the tournament bodies don't have such a person with every group (and/or every hole). I mean what teen volunteer wouldn't rather be doing that, than standard bearing? (A very tedious job, that even adrenaline-filled youth quickly learn is not so glamorous). I mean if the course (and many of the Tour/championship sites do) uses caddies, they can easily hire (for less than a last place check of a 5 million dollar purse after expenses ) 20 - 40 caddies to either go with a group or 2 per hole covering a fairway/green (less the par 3s where only one is needed.
In the same vein, isn't their a Tour official/referee with each group (with roving, [specifically] Rules Committee officials)? I might understand that they don't want THOSE guys' eyes ever off the conduct of play, but I know, even the large local, governing bodies have interns and junior go-fers in ample supply. What better event experience can the youngster have than by watching their elders do their job, as they perform a limited, but necessary, adjunct of maintaining grounds conditions?
In any event, despite KB's unique take (which I can believe), I do wonder why there aren't "stewards" specifically designated to take care off divots, turf, ball bunkers, sand. At a baseball game, the umpire brushes off home plate several times, the crew sweep the field twice and re-lays the batter/catcher boxes once. The hockey refs put slush in and around the crease several times, and they zamboni the thing twice.
In mentioning that, I'm not trying to be obtuse; I recognize that golf is a unique sport in its largely self-governing ethos and what the local, non-TV traditions are, and what JW is citing as poor visual leadership, if not compromise of a level playing ground for all competitors.... But we're talking the pros here, playing for hundreds of thousands between three shots over 72 holes, not to mention their own achievement and their playing reputations. If we're going to give one expert such glory and treasure for winning and another expert derision and a "choker" label for losing, it's only fair to let them do it their way; and THEIR way is, truly, "fucking leave that divot...talk me through this putt..."
If I'm right on both counts (that's their way AND there's a healthy pool to perform this role) I think it's an excellent idea to create such "Stewards" for immediate course care...
cheers
vk