AmandaJR
Money List Winner
So we're off to St Andrews in April and wonder about the option of paying for caddies - or not! Any thoughts?
Old Course caddies...
- Thread starter AmandaJR
- Start date
Fraz
Assistant Pro
WE are playing there in April too amd I am having the same thought about a caddie. No one else in my 4-ball is going for one, but i just think it will add to the whole experience. Local knowledge and a bit of guidance could go a long way!
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Surely you want the whole experience and that for me would include a caddy. Apart from anything else you'll need their help navigating your way around on some holes as the line isn't always that obvious. What are they charging these days?
pbrown7582
Money List Winner
I think it would be advantageous even if it is to do a deal for 1 between the 2 off you.
Obviously the cost will have a bearing but given everything I've read and heard there is an awful lot of local knowledge required to enhance your Old Course expierience.
Obviously the cost will have a bearing but given everything I've read and heard there is an awful lot of local knowledge required to enhance your Old Course expierience.
ColchesterFC
Journeyman Pro
I was lucky enough to spend 5 years at university at St Andrews and the caddies were brilliant. Within a couple of holes they'd know your game enough to give you the right advice and are probably worth 4 or 5 shots per round. I don't know what they cost now but are well worth it as long as you don't forget the tip and the drink in the bar afterwards.
AmandaJR
Money List Winner
My thinking is it's worth it to maximise the experience. £45 per caddy plus tip (recommended £5-£10). Seems to be one per player.
Fraz
Assistant Pro
£40 + tip (£10-£15 advised) i think is the going rate. In high season you can get a junior cheaper but not available in April!
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Each to their own, but I've played carnoustie and St. Andrews without caddies, and was fine at both.
St. Andrews may have a few holes where a line to know is better, but most holes are just as you see them. I've seen some players have all the breaks and lines on every green explained to them, but personally I would like to play them as I see it, without help. If I hit a good score, I want it to be my own thoughts/work.
Maybe, it's just me?
Enjoy it though, I'm sure you will, no matter how you play.:thup:
St. Andrews may have a few holes where a line to know is better, but most holes are just as you see them. I've seen some players have all the breaks and lines on every green explained to them, but personally I would like to play them as I see it, without help. If I hit a good score, I want it to be my own thoughts/work.
Maybe, it's just me?
Enjoy it though, I'm sure you will, no matter how you play.:thup:
richart
Major Champion
We had two caddies for our fourball. One was a young American who was brilliant, and helped all of us. Especially helpful off the tee when you can't see the bunkers. On the road hole he gave three of us different letters on the hotel to fire over depending on our shot shape and how far we were hitting it. The fourth one of our group he told to go round the side.:rofl: One of our group hit the 9th green in one, and the caddie proudly said 'we' are putting for an eagle. Three putts later it was 'you' lost that hole.
We all gave the caddies a decent tip, and they definitely made the round more memorable.
We all gave the caddies a decent tip, and they definitely made the round more memorable.
In_The_Rough
Tour Winner
I would not bother with a caddy either TBH. The Old Course is not that bad to find your way round!! Particually from the tees you will be going off. Buy a course planned from the shop for around £7 and you good to go
Wayman
Tour Winner
Agree with you here want to do it myself
SimonS
Assistant Pro
One thing that might sway your view is to remember that trolleys are not allowed on the Old Course until after 2pm. Before that, either you carry the clubs or your caddie does.
Personally, I would take a caddie on the Old course but not on any of the others. As has been said, the caddie is worth about 5 or more shots.
Personally, I would take a caddie on the Old course but not on any of the others. As has been said, the caddie is worth about 5 or more shots.
Evesdad
Tour Winner
I would have one purely on the basis that it was a one off kind of thing and something I've never done before.
ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
I played St. Andrews for the 1st time last year, we played the jubilee and castle by ourselves, but shared a caddie between 2 of us on the old course, it definitely made it more enjoyable as he gave us line to play too that we simply would not have known if we were playing alone, we went for an assistant caddy who was a nice guy and was really helpful and made the day much more special. So it's a yes from me.
Shiny
Head Pro
If I was playing the Old Course I would have a caddie, just for the history and stories more than anything else.
Are you sure its as low as £40 for a caddie and only a £10 tip?
I say that as a couple of guys i know caddie at Castle Stuart and they get £50 and the same again as a tip most of the time, or so they tell me!
I say that as a couple of guys i know caddie at Castle Stuart and they get £50 and the same again as a tip most of the time, or so they tell me!
TXL
Q-School Graduate
I played the Old Course about 5 years ago and had a caddy. Cost was £50 + tip of £10 plus the cost of a drink and hot dog at the half way "hut".
Had I not had the caddy I would probably still have enjoyed the round, but I would have struggled with knowing where to go off some of the tees - it was not always obvious! I would always advise first time players to have a caddy, it is well worth it, and not just for the experience of the occasion.
Just beware if you see your caddy walking down the fairway with a club in each hand. According to the one I had, this is a signal to the other caddies that your player is a real numptie!
Remember to take your camera to record the day. The starter will take a couple of you on the first tee and the caddy will be happy to take any of you during the round if you wish, including the mandatory one of you standing on the Swilcan Bridge.
Here are a couple of the pictures from my visit:
1st tee:
Halfway "hut":
Had I not had the caddy I would probably still have enjoyed the round, but I would have struggled with knowing where to go off some of the tees - it was not always obvious! I would always advise first time players to have a caddy, it is well worth it, and not just for the experience of the occasion.
Just beware if you see your caddy walking down the fairway with a club in each hand. According to the one I had, this is a signal to the other caddies that your player is a real numptie!
Remember to take your camera to record the day. The starter will take a couple of you on the first tee and the caddy will be happy to take any of you during the round if you wish, including the mandatory one of you standing on the Swilcan Bridge.
Here are a couple of the pictures from my visit:
1st tee:
Halfway "hut":
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ColchesterFC
Journeyman Pro
My favourite story from a caddy at the Old Course was when he was caddying with 3 others for a Japanese 4 ball. It was two married couples and one of the ladies wasn't the best golfer in the world, or as he put it "she was ******* ****". On the first she had played 14 shots (including 3 air shots) and still hadn't reached the road across the fairway. The starter came running out of his hut and down the fairway to the group and physically removed the woman from the course telling her that she wasn't good enough to be on the Old Course. She stood there in tears while the other 3 in her group waved to her and then walked on to play their second shots to the green. When they finally finished the round 5 hours later the woman was still standing on the path beside the first fairway with her clubs.
ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
Pretty sure our guy was around £40 and we tipped him the same again + fed him at the halfway hut, still a bargain IMO
the caddies at our place get the same again tip wise, i wouldn't like to think of the look they would give you if you only got £10 as tip, when they have lugged a tour bag around for 5 hours
