Back to Ian's first question- the role of caddies has changed dramatically. I play a club with a long history of caddies. At White Bear Yacht Club we've had caddies since 1912, and from 1916 to 1936 Tom Vardon trained them. We still have a cadie program- though not this season. We have kids, 12-18 with the occasional olde caddie. But we have preferred kids since the Evans Scholorship program started decades ago. We usually have 1 or Evans scholars a year, though we are a small club. This is possibly the best scholarship around, as you get 4 years room & board at an associated land-grant college without having to avoid an education due to athletic requirements (I would point out that kids with golf scholarships tend to actually get real degrees). In any case, when I joined in 1989, caddies or a cart were required from 8am - 4pm. We now require caddies from 8am-1pm - if available. Interestingly, for at least a few years after I joined there were kids ready to go in the afternoon. Now I was young and cheap, so I wasn't sure that was so great. But now, basically there are no caddies after 9am unless you've reserved one ( and with coronavirus, as of now no caddies are planned this year). Where is this going? We don't have as many kids that want to do two rounds, though our program will survive because of the Evans Scholarship. I believe we are in the minority among private clubs; public tracks not named Pebble Beach or Pinehurst or Bandon Dunes or- you know what I mean- no caddies there. So I would argue that the traditional caddie we remember from the Ouimet era is gone. Caddies are gone from the traditional game, the game you grow up with. I was a caddie as a kid, I;ve taken lots of caddies, but the truth is when I play, I know my limitations. Caddies can be fun, and if I were doing the loner golf trip a caddie is a great companion. But, you know, I play with my friends. Why do I want to hire another critic? As to current times, I can report from the Monterey Peninsula that golf at Cypress Point, the Preserve and Tehama have continued even though Monterey County has declared golf "non-essential." Only Cypress Point has a strong caddie program. Of course, you really can't walk the other two. No caddies at Cypress now. They are even allowing push carts! Members only.
So I think caddies are becoming an anachronism, preserved at clubs and destinations where people want to pay for a companion. Which is great! But as a presence in the game as it grows for tomorrow, caddies are a non-factor.