Caddy's :: How much help is too much.

[madandra]

I was watching some highlights from the European Tour today and noticed a cadyy lining up his player then walking away just before heplayed his shot. I know this routine has been used regularly on the Ladies Tour but in my opinion I think this should banned as it is cheating. Could you imagine Alex Ferguson lining up Ronaldo for a free kick? Nope.

If a golfer cannot read a putt then he should try and learn how to read it or perhaps think about looking for another way to make a living.

A caddys duties should be carry the bag and clean the ball and give advice and opinion when asked but this should not include lining up a Pro who can't read a putt.

Have a wee vote :::::

 

[mansell]

I have not voted as a beginner to this wonderful game
I've not got the experience of whether it is right or wrong

 

[birdieman]

I don't mind as long as they don't take all day about it.

Not much good helping their pros line up putts if the Pros cant chip....just watched tournament leader Richard Finch totally duff 2 chips in a row from just off the green like a 25 h'capper. Made me feel better about my hopeless chipping last weekend!

 

[minty18]

Which pro is it that gets his caddy to stand behind him on his putts and tell him to step away from the ball if it isn't lined up properly?

I know they are not allowed to "line you up" so to speak but they can tell you to re-address i think.

 

[Robobum]

Marcus Brier's caddy got in the "brown & smelly" for not moving far enough away last year I think.

Agree with OP lining up is a step too far!!

 

[freddielong]

I don't think they should be allowed caddies, golf is an individual sport and they should not receive help from someone else. They should have a gps measuring aid and a trolley and left to get on with it

 

[KeefG]

I cant remember which one, but its either Zach Johnson or J B Holmes, one of those 2 has their putts lined up by their caddy too, to the extent the caddy will stand behind the player and tell him when he's on line....then walks away.

This is shocking IMHO.

 

[Wildrover]

Giving a read on a putt is ok IMHO, that's what caddies have done since the game was invented as they knew the course. But the lining up of the player to play any shot should be banned as the correct stance, posture and alignment are all part of the game. I think there are moves to ban this practice, seem to remember one of the commentators saying something a few weeks ago.

 

[GB72]

I am another one of the opinion that caddies should carry the bag and nothing more. Golfers at that level should judge their own yardages, pick their own clubs and line up their own putts.

unrealistic to expect that to ever happen but I agree that golf is a solo sport and the involvement of the caddie in so many elements is making it a team event.

 

[Pedro_Wedgitos]

semi OT but why do the caddies have to carry. Surely the player is already getting the benefit of not carrying their bag so why not allow caddies to push bags on trolleys.

 

[Leftie]

Didn't Fanny line Faldo up with his putts?

 

[Herbie]

Regarding OP, I think caddy involvement goes too far sometimes, I am sure if we wanted to watch the caddy play we would go to a caddy tournament, I dont see why they should do everything but play the strokes for the pro's, it just goes too far sometimes for me. In fact I dont think a caddy should be allowed to give any advice on greens.

 

[vig]

I've no issues with caddies carrying the bag or giving yardage advice. They shouldn't, however suggest which club to use. The pro's should know their own distances.

I've no problems with a caddy re-affirming a pro's thought on a shot. They shouldn't tell the pro what shot to play.

I've no problem with a caddy offering advice on a line. They should walk down that line indicating to the pro where it is and they should NEVER be allowed to line up a putt male/female, pro/amateur.
As has been said, if the pro's can't do this themselves then they are in the wrong profession.

 

[JustOne]

I don't mind if the caddie is asked for his advice on a putt but I think he should have to walk away BEFORE the putt is addressed by the player. Lining him up is a bit OTT for my liking.

 

[madandra]

I have seen Fanny line up her current boss Henrik Stensson on the green but the biggest culprits are the asian women on the ladies on tour.

I dont think it would take too much to put a stop to it. If th R&A and the PGA put out a directive stipulating that caddies could assist on the line but not able to actually stand behind the golfer and tell him when he is aiming correctly.

 

[Boabski]

I don't mind if the caddie is asked for his advice on a putt but I think he should have to walk away BEFORE the putt is addressed by the player. Lining him up is a bit OTT for my liking.

i concur with this quote , a player should only be allowed to ask for advice

 

[Herbie]

I view pro caddies differently than many in golf including R&A
A caddy today is actually part of a team even in an individual comp because that caddy can offer advice, information and even aid, so when we see any pro at the masters using caddy advice it is effectively a team effort and not completely an individual performance.

The request of advice or offer of advice between players can result in penalties because it is deemed as unfair in one way or another in certain circumstances, so why is a caddy not considered part of a team along with the pro they caddy for as that is what they effectively are, therefore the caddy should get an equal share from the team effort and equal recognission and a speech at the end when they collect their joint trophy?

If there are rules about advice between competitors, along with rules that allow team members to offer and request advice from each other, why is a caddy advice so overlooked, certainly in my view?

 

[vig]

I have seen Fanny line up her current boss Henrik Stensson

I'm so glad you put those words in the right order Andy

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I do think a good caddy is invaluable to the top players.Like him or not Steve Williams has been great for Tiger and I'm sure he wouldn't have won some of the events without the solid advice from his man on the bag.

I do think though that lining putts up is a step too far. If a pro golfer can't line himeself up or read a green they should suffer the loss of earnings from missed cuts until they learn the art. Or invest in a V-easy.

I have no qualms about yardage advice club selection etc as most caddy's do this at a reasonable (could be vastly improved but bearable) speed. Spending time looking at a putt and then lining the player up must add a good 20 minutes onto a round.

 

[SammmeBee]

As long as it's in the time limits allowed for each shot for the Pros then I don't see why not...

The problem with restricting caddies is it's very had to police - how, for example, could you stop a caddie telling a player what club to hit? Sellotape over the gob and make them wear mittens?