Caddies

[mono217]

I wanted to know quite a few things about caddies because I think that there job is cool I know that may sound stupid but getting to carry one of your all times heros bag meeting other pro golfers and getting paid for it.

How much do caddies get paid?
How to become a caddie?
Why is it always a big bag?
What does there job involve?
Is there an age limit?
Where do caddies start off?

thanks

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I ca answer that from a preety low perspective. I started at a course near me that have regular caddies. You start at the bottom and get any old bag. You basically sit around until the caddymaster gives you a call. Most of the regular caddies have members who use them everytime or they choose which bags they want.

As the lowest ranked you got a minimum fee (think back in the 80's it was around £10 per round). For that you'd carry the bag, attend to the flag and clean the clubs after. You were expected to keep up with play, not speak unless spoken to and not to give advice even if asked. As you got more experienced you eventually got moved up the rankings and the fee went up accordingly

In professional golf it is always a big bag to cover all eventualities. Most will contain at all times, waterproofs, spare jumper, water, energy drinks, snacks, gloves, balls, tees/markers, yardage chart for the week (plus pin positions) and during practice round will usually have GPS devices, practice aids and extra clubs.

A tour caddy will be expected to be there early on the practice day and to go out and mark pin positions and take a series of yardages over and above what is provided according to what the pro want. He'll need t have those ready for when the pro practices although sometimes he will be able to accumulate this information during the practice rounds and pro-am

There is no age limit but you obviously need to build your reputation first. You have to be physically fit (these bags are 30-40 lbs) to carry and keep up. Most tour caddies are on a weekly salary plus a negotiated win percentage (sometimes around 3-10%) depending on the player and caddy.

You can get more info here:
For information and to contact the European Tour Caddies Association please use the contact details below:
European Tour Caddies Association
c/o PGA European Tour
Wentworth Drive
Virginia Water
Surrey GU25 4LX
England

 

[roccokj]

The average tour caddie would be paid about £750 excluding bonuses

 

[mono217]

Thanks homer. That was a big chunk of info. Also do you know of any courses that use caddies in the north west.

 

[CliveW]

The average tour caddie would be paid about £750 excluding bonuses

Per round, day, week, competition, month, year? What?

 

[centuryg5]

Hey Homer,lots of info mate,interesting read,I had an uncle who lived in Virginia Water,had a chemist shop in Langley,house backed onto the Thames,own moorings,borrowed a canoe off him to go for a drink to the Bells of ouzley ? holed it when i got there,on a gravel bank and had to get the river pilot to tow me back,oh great joy. memories ha ha its the only thing ive ever holed.

 

[jammydodger]

The average tour caddie would be paid about £750 excluding bonuses

Per round, day, week, competition, month, year? What?

Per week plus % of winnings , something like 3% for a cut , 5% top 20 , 7.5% top 10 and 10% of a win.

 

[Cernunnos]

The average tour caddie would be paid about £750 excluding bonuses

Per round, day, week, competition, month, year? What?

Per week plus % of winnings , something like 3% for a cut , 5% top 20 , 7.5% top 10 and 10% of a win.

Sounds tempting enough to me even without the bonus's

 

[CrapHacker]

The average tour caddie would be paid about £750 excluding bonuses

Per round, day, week, competition, month, year? What?

Per week plus % of winnings , something like 3% for a cut , 5% top 20 , 7.5% top 10 and 10% of a win.

Sounds tempting enough to me even without the bonus's

Surely that's only a working week - if pro don't play, caddy don't get paid ? So if a pro works 40 weeks then the caddy gets £30K ??

 

[Marko77]

The caddies at Gleneagles get around £40 per round plus a gratuity which the company advice the golfer should be at least £20.

That is through Caddiemaster, a US firm they have got arranging the caddies.

St Andrews Uni did offer a course on becoming a caddie which involved caddying on the trust courses whilst studying although I don't think the course is run anymore.

If you've got long holidays and no plans it is something worth looking into at some of the larger courses. Try offering some of the members at your club your services and build up some experience that way if it is something you'd like to develop?

 

[Cernunnos]

The average tour caddie would be paid about £750 excluding bonuses

Per round, day, week, competition, month, year? What?

Per week plus % of winnings , something like 3% for a cut , 5% top 20 , 7.5% top 10 and 10% of a win.

Sounds tempting enough to me even without the bonus's

Surely that's only a working week - if pro don't play, caddy don't get paid ? So if a pro works 40 weeks then the caddy gets £30K ??

Which would still mean a good pay increase & better working conditions than I'm currently used to. Not to mention I could be involved in someting I'm pasionate about as well as enthusiastic & in a positive light.

With my current Job, things are going from bad to worse as far as conditions are concerned & essentially a cap has essentially been put on what we can earn over the year. I'm certainly not going to go into datails about all this, only to say I do need to be looking for something different to my current occupation.

 

[Wildrover]

St Andrews do still have the Caddie course, Caddie Connect it's called, there's info on the St Andrews Links Trust Website.