Players get most of the credit when it comes to golf. They hit the shots, get on the cameras and pump their fist when the ball rolls into the hole. But oftentimes — especially on the professional level — golf can actually be a collaborative sport. In big tournaments, you never see just one person up there reading the greens. Donned in a neon vest and usually strutting around the green holding the flag is the golf caddie — the other half of the team who is helping their partner win the tournament.
Sometimes we forget just how important caddies really are on the course. These are the people who work in the shadows, usually at the edges of your TV screen squatting down to read the greens and peering down at their notes to decipher the perfect shot. These are the hidden guardians of the game. They carry tradition and respect and are as nearly as old as the great game itself. Here is the ultimate guide to golf caddies.
What Is a Golf Caddie?
Traditionally, a golf caddie is someone who works on a golf course assisting players with their shots and carrying their clubs during the course of a round. Usually, a golf caddie will know a course intimately and thus be able to tell players where they should hit shots and how to putt on the greens. In theory, good caddies will be able to help players lower their scores on the course by using knowledge to their advantage.
Now, some players may be more willing to take the advice of their caddies than others. There is a certain amount of trust that must be formed between players and caddies, after all. Sometimes you’re standing on a green and the caddie tells you it breaks one way and you’re standing there thinking, it can’t possibly break that way. But then it does. And you hole out for birdie.
So if you’re able to find a great caddie who knows the course, you can significantly lower your score. On a pro level, caddies become even more important — many times, caddies are nearly indispensable because they have worked up such a great working relationship with the player.
Dustin Johnson famously has his brother caddie for him in pro tournaments. Tiger Woods and Steve Williams were a dangerous duo for a long time until they parted ways. Because the pros can hit it so precisely, the caddies are there to measure things such as distance, wind speed, course slope and any other factors that may affect the shot.
What Do Golf Caddies Do?
You may have wondered sometimes what a golf caddie actually does. It probably seems like the golfer is doing all the work, after all, so what is a caddie needed for?
In reality, there is a lot a caddie has to keep track of throughout the course of the round.
Man the Bag
The primary job of a golf caddie is to carry the player’s clubs and man the bag throughout the entire round. Obviously, this will differ somewhat if carts are involved (a la fore golf), but traditionally the caddie will walk the course and carry the clubs the entire round. Along with this, the caddie will also ensure that the player’s bag is stocked with tees and balls before the round.
On the pro level, there are certain rules to stocking the bag — you’re only allowed to stock balls before a round starts. After that, you can’t add anymore. So if you run out of balls, you’re out of luck. For the pros, this usually isn’t that much of a problem, as they’re pretty good at keeping their ball in play. Things do happen, however — there’s a famous story that Steve Williams tells about Tiger being down to his last ball after hooking one into the ocean.
Give General Information About the Course
Typically, a caddie will have been working at a course for a while, so they’ve gotten to know the course well and can provide some information about the layout, how long it plays and any other details that might be advantageous to the player. A certain hole might have a strange wind direction, for example, or a particular hole may have a hidden bunker. Knowing these secrets of the course makes a caddie a great help during a round and can help you shave strokes off your game.
Provide Distances
The caddie is essentially the old-fashioned range finder — because they know the course so well, they’re able to provide players with accurate distances from every spot on the golf course. Noways, the caddies themselves will have a range finder so that they don’t have to rely on estimations and scorecards to get the distances.
Give Club Recommendations
In certain cases, the caddie may recommend certain clubs based on where you’re at on the course. Now, some of this may depend on your specific preferences, as you may not hit a club a traditional distance. The caddie may give you a certain yardage and then you can pick the club that fits that range.
Understand Pin Placement
As you become better at golf, those small details will become more and more important. If you can understand the pin placement on a course, you can significantly improve your game. Knowing the pin placement can help you save strokes on the green and even keep you out of a hazard. The caddie should be able to tell you the pin placement on each hole.
Tell Players Where to Hit
Caddies will likely differ in their demeanor — in most cases, caddies will probably be relatively silent until you ask them a question. They’ll give you as much guidance as you’d like. They can tell you where to hit the ball, set you up the best approach shot and tell you how to play safely around the hazards.
Keep Equipment Clean
Caddies will also ensure that all equipment is cleaned — they’ll have a towel to wipe off clubs and balls after each shot.
Do Basic Course Maintenance
A lot of golf is about etiquette and making sure that you’re being respectful to the course. As a player, you’re often focused on your game and might forget to fix a divot and or rake the bunker once in a while. A caddie helps take care of those parts of the game for you, as they’ll help repair divots, rake bunkers and uphold the etiquette of the course.
Track the Ball
This is one of the best parts of having a caddie — they’ll help you find your ball. How many times have you had a perfect shot down the fairway, and it somehow gets lost? You spend ages looking for it just to have to take a drop. Caddies are well-versed in tracking the ball through the air and finding it on the course. You can take some stress off of your shoulders and rely on your caddie to help you find your ball after it leaves the tee box.
Read Greens
Another huge benefit of having a caddie is being able to consult them on the greens. If you’re on a course that has lightning-fast greens and wild slopes, you can rely on a caddie to help you rescue your round from destruction.
Provide Moral Support
Aside from all the more technical job duties of a caddie, a caddie is also there to provide moral support. They can be a calm and reassuring presence that keeps you on track even on the most challenging of courses.
What Skills Do You Need to Be a Golf Caddie?
As a golf caddie, you need to do a lot more than just carry a golf bag. If you’re considering becoming a golf caddie, check out this list to see if you have the skills to make you a great fit.
Golf Knowledge
A basic knowledge of golf is essential to become a golf caddie. Although you don’t need to be a scratch golfer to be a caddie, it’s important that you understand how the game is played, the various rules and etiquette.
Good Eyes
Make sure to get your eyes checked before becoming a golf caddie — one of the main functions of the job is finding the ball in the air or among a thicket of rough. It will help to have 20/20 vision so that you can help players find their golf balls.
Attention to Detail
Those who pay special attention to the details of the game will thrive as golf caddies. Aside from watching where the ball goes, you’ll need to read the greens accurately and remember all the different nuances of the course.
Communication Skills
One of the most important parts of being a caddie is communication skills. Sometimes at major tournaments, the broadcast lets us in on the intimate conversations between golfers and their caddies. It’s often fascinating how direct and short they talk to each other. Sometimes, it’s as if they’re speaking in code. Many times, these relationships have been built over several years, after having spent hours upon hours on golf courses together. It’s as if the caddie is acting like the golfer’s conscience.
Now, if you’re just a caddie on a course helping out different golfers every day, your conversations will likely be a bit different. Still, it’s better to give clear, concise answers to golfers and guide them toward the right shot effectively. This doesn’t mean you have to be a robot — but it’s important to give the golfer the information they need without cluttering their mind with useless facts.
Passion for the Game
Though it’s not mandatory, many caddies love the game of golf. You’ll be spending most of your day on a golf course, talking about shots, reading greens and building up a huge knowledge of the game. If you have a passion for the game, it likely won’t feel like a job at all.
Professionalism
Every caddie needs to have an air of professionalism on the course. You may come across a lot of different characters while you caddie. Some of them might be rude, or generous, or extremely nice. You’ll probably have all different kinds of skill levels that need varying levels of instruction. Throughout all of these different scenarios, you should keep the same air of professionalism.
Self-Awareness
As a caddie, you need to learn when to talk and, maybe even more importantly, when not to talk. Many caddies will be relatively silent until they’re asked a question. Silence is your best friend as a caddie — it will help you blend into the round while being effective when you need to be.
How Do You Become a Golf Caddie?
If you love the game of golf, then becoming a golf caddie is an awesome idea. You get to spend your day out on the course instead of being cramped in an office, talking about the wonderful game and helping players lower their scores. To become a golf caddie, you’ll need to follow a few steps.
Make Sure You Have the Right Skill Set
First off, you’ll want to make sure that you have a basic understanding of golf. If you don’t, brush up on the basics and go out and play some rounds yourself to familiarize yourself with the game. You should also be able to carry a heavy set of clubs for several hours, so you’ll want to make sure you’re in pretty good shape. You might want to do a test run with a friend before you start sending out applications.
Visit Your Local Course
When you become confident that you’re ready for the job, put it into action — visit some of your local golf courses and ask them if they need caddies. Usually, courses will be more than happy to put you to work.
Join Training Programs and Apprenticeships
If you find that you love caddying for your local courses, you might be looking to take the next step and hone your skills to become even better. You might even have your sights set on caddying for a pro one day. Get in contact with the Professional Caddies Association to participate in training programs and apprenticeships.
Improve On Your Game
Caddies should always make sure they’re working on their game. It will help you get a more intimate feel for the game and, in turn, make you a more effective caddie on the course.
Participate in Local Tournaments
Ask around or look online for nearby tournaments that need caddies. Tournaments are a great way to test out your caddying skills, earn a resume builder and also spread your name in the golfing world.
Network
If you want to become a professional caddie one day, then one of your biggest tools will be networking. Most caddies earn jobs by referrals from others and relationships they’ve built up over the course of years. When you’re at tournaments, getting training or caddying at your local course, make sure you’re presenting yourself well, being friendly and doing a great job. These simple skills can go a long way and earn you a referral in the future.
How Much Do Caddies Get Paid?
Amateur caddies at your local course or country club will usually start at around $20 an hour. This will vary by course and the experience of the caddie. Players will usually tip during or after the round, so this number can be significantly higher.
Professional golf caddies, on the other hand, can make upwards of $75 an hour. PGA Tour caddies will usually get a base salary of around $2,000 per week. They’ll then get a percentage — usually between 5% to 10% — of the player’s winnings at any given tournament. That means if a player wins a grand prize of $1,000,000, a caddie could take home $100,000 at the end of the day.
As you can see, a golf caddie salary will vary widely by what level they’re at and how good the player they’re caddying for is.
Is Being a Caddie a Good Job?
Being a golf caddie can be an awesome job. Here are some of the benefits you’ll experience by becoming a golf caddie.
Make Good Money
Golf caddying can be a very lucrative profession. Even if you’re only looking for a summer job to earn some extra cash, you’ll be able to rake in a lot of tips throughout the course of a day. If you leverage your skills to get to the next level, you could be making a lot more.
Gain Insights Into the Game
Caddying can also help you gain insights into golf and even reveal how to become better at your own game. Day in and day out you’ll be watching people’s swings and their tendencies — this will help you hold a mirror up to your own game and allow you to make the necessary improvements.
Learn Great Life Lessons
You meet all kinds of people as a golf caddie. Many of these people, since they’re on the course and likely having a good time, will want to tell you all about their life stories and give you valuable insight into their lives. While some may just be fun to listen to, you may also be able to pull some lessons from these conversations that can guide you in the future.
Stay On Your Feet
Many jobs today involve people sitting cramped at their desks under glaring fluorescent lights. As a caddie, the course is your office and you’ll be moving all day, helping you stay in shape and keeping your mood elevated.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about golf caddies.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Caddie?
You can start caddying pretty much as soon as you’re able to hold a bag. Many caddies started when they were young and continued throughout adulthood.
Is It Spelled Caddy or Caddie?
There seems to be a bit of confusion around golf caddies — even the way the job is spelled is up for debate. You’ll see the spelling of caddie and caddie used almost identically all over the internet. For our article, we decided to go with caddie. Caddies are also known as loopers. The term looper originated in olden times since attendants would often “loop” around the course all day long helping golfers with their shots, thus earning the term.
The name Looper also became famous in the hit comedy Caddyshack, where Bill Murray does an amazing monologue about his time as a caddie for the Dalai Lama. (It’s a must-watch).
Are Caddies Condisdered Independent Contractors?
Interestingly, many caddies working at golf courses are actually considered independent contractors. In some cases, the course may hire and train caddies and thus label them as employees.
Where Did the Term “Caddie” Originate?
The term “caddie” originated in Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries. Those who did odd jobs for a living were known as cawdys or caddies. At this time, many “cawdys” found jobs living near universities and working for students or carrying clubs for golfers.
Looper Life: The Bottom Line
Golf caddies are a sacred part of golf. Though usually understated and hanging around at the fringes of the round, they can be very effective at lowering scores and making you have a great day out on the course.