Tour Caddies

[CarpeDiem]

This may seem like a daft question but how do you become one? I know that I don't have the ability to make it to a club pro level, let alone tour level, playing wise. But I wouldn't mind being a caddie, I think bar playing, thats got to be the next best thing.

So then, does any one know how to make it as a caddie?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

From my limited experience, you'd probably need to start at a local club and work up to becoming one of the top guys and maybe getting a few bags in top amateur or local pro events.

From the European Tour website
http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B97FB5ECE%2D646A%2D46C1%2D9278%2D0C195A99A48E%7D


HOW DO I BECOME A CADDIE ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR?
Answer: 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

 

[mono217]

From my limited experience, you'd probably need to start at a local club and work up to becoming one of the top guys and maybe getting a few bags in top amateur or local pro events.

From the European Tour website
http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B97FB5ECE%2D646A%2D46C1%2D9278%2D0C195A99A48E%7D


HOW DO I BECOME A CADDIE ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR?
Answer: 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

HJS I have searched this also as carpediem and in the north west there is a reraty of clubs that use caddies any ideas anyone.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm guessing if you contact them they'll tell you how to start and which clubs may be able to help

 

[Andy]

Mono

What language is reraty and what does it mean?

Andy

 

[mono217]

***Rareaty im quite unsure how to spell it and also it means that there are not many and I dont know of any.

 

[Marko77]

It would seem in a lot of cases the caddy has been known to the player for a long time be it friend / family or through playing connections.

Try and get associated with an up and coming promising amateur that has aspirations would be my suggestion.

Being a caddy must be one of the few jobs where you want to be working the weekend - means the chance of a decent pay!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think the problem with that approach is that it is taken that the good caddy will know about where to stand, know about yardages, raking etc and that no decent player will want someone who can't keep up, gets in the way etc. The only way to learn the trade is through experience.

 

[Marko77]

and by offering your services to up and coming players what do you get...experience.

I'm not saying its THE way but a way. Association with these players now may prove beneficial in the long term.

Paddy plucked his brother and law out of the bank of all places, but they had known each other for a long time before that. I dare say Ronan had caddied for Paddy in some of his amateur days but to the best of my knowledge he never done his 'time' learning the trade.

 

[The_Squire]

A couple of the young lads at my club carried the bags of some of the lesser known players at last weekends tour event at the 2010. This could be another way to go.

 

[vig]

Carpe & Mono. If you really fancy following that route. Starting at your club won't be the answer unless you are at one of the championship clubs.

If this is your chosen career path, you will need to travel to even get a sniff and be prepared to scratch around and work for peanuts when you can get a bag.

I would think that a good way to start would be at the tourist spots. Rich Americans, japanese etc... work off tips and work your way up.
If you were to be any good, people would recommend you and you would get bags for the tourists.

Don't expect to get a tour bag, it would be a looooong apprentiship.

 

[CarpeDiem]

Thanks guys, this has really opened my eyes. Will keep it at the back of my mind though

 

[mono217]

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[rgs]

Paddy plucked his brother and law out of the bank of all places, but they had known each other for a long time before that. I dare say Ronan had caddied for Paddy in some of his amateur days but to the best of my knowledge he never done his 'time' learning the trade.

[/QUOTE]

As far i am am aware Ronan never caddied for Paddy before becoming his official caddie.He would have been a bit young when Paddy was an amateur. In his amateur days Paddys brother caddied for him.