Why do golfers need a caddy

There are not a lot of golf clubs left that still use professional caddies. Few people aspire to be caddies any more and many of the individuals who served in that capacity have retired, moved on or passed away. However, there is still a small percentage of private clubs that use professional caddies. These men and some women are experienced, know their courses like the back of their hands and can assess a golfer's game in a matter of three practice swings.

Many will have insights as to how to play a hole, but to get their advice you must ask the question. Listen carefully and you just may learn the secret. Most golfers will talk with their caddie, but some just want to focus on their game and in that instance just carry their clubs and keep out of their way. Except when on the green, you should have the golf bag ready for your golfer to be able to easily select their club.

Hold the bag so that it is standing upright and presented towards the golfer. If the golfer asks for a specific club then hand it to them. Otherwise have the golf bag ready so the golfer can quickly grab their club and approach their shot.

This is where a general knowledge of club distances comes in handy. If you know the golfer has a yard shot, then they should use a 6-iron based on average club distance. Instead encourage their decision and be an ear for them to bounce their thoughts off of.

This kind of knowledge and insight only comes after working with the same golfer a few rounds. Always watch where you golfers ball goes after they hit it. Use landmarks on the course to help keep track of the location, like a certain bush or tree. Nowadays this can be found by using an automatic range finder. Locate the distance marker then pace off the distance from the marker to the golf ball, then add or subtract to the distance respectively. That towel will be used to clean clubs and balls.

You may want to dip half the towel in water before the round for easier cleaning. As a caddie it is your responsibility to clean the golfers club after they use it.

Use the towel to wipe and dry the club; additionally you may use a tee to clean the grooves of the club. Caddies must also be prepared to provide advice to golfers when asked, like which club would be best for a particular shot. Before caddying, it is always a good idea to learn more about the golf course. They also need to know where the out-of-bound markers are located. Golfers will frequently ask their caddies how far it is to the green.

A caddy should be able to use the various distance markers on the golf course and know how to calculate the distance from the ball to the green. Alternatively, some caddies have gone high-tech and now carry range finders with them, which automatically calculates the distance by simply looking through the lens on the device.

Caddies have to clean up sand traps and bunkers after their golfer gets their ball out. They must leave the area as it was when they arrived by raking the entire area the golfer disturbed.

This way, when the next golfer gets their ball stuck in a trap or bunker, the conditions will be exactly the same as the previous golfer. Ball marks are any type of depression in the putting green that is made when the ball lands on it. Caddies are responsible for fixing ball marks, so the putting green remains smooth. With divots, they simply retrieve the chunk of grass, place it back down and step on it to push it back into place.

Caddies should track where the ball is going after the golfer hits it. They need to be able to know the exact direction where the ball went and landed. Caddies will use various markers and landmarks to help track the location of the ball, even when they cannot see it, like if it went into a sand trap. Golfers may ask their caddies advice on which club they think is best used to make a specific type of shot.

The caddy should be able to respond and provide advice on different club options. Yet, if the caddy is not sure, it is always best to tell the golfer they are not sure. Caddies that caddy for the same golfers should start to develop a sense of how the golfer golfs.

Caddies almost always carry your bag or two bags but some courses allow caddies to use a golf cart as well. Aside from carrying the players bag, a caddy does a lot more behind the scenes work. Specifically, caddies will help you…. One of the most important roles of a caddy is to keep their eye on the golf ball.

This helps keep up the pace of play and also not let their player waste shots from not being able to find their ball. The second thing caddies will do is help their players on each shot. One of the biggest responsibilities of a caddy is to know the distance to the pin and other areas of the green.

While having a caddy help with the tee shot and approach shot strategy is important, green reading is the biggest benefit for most golfers.

So many golfers struggle with green reading, but caddies walk the course almost daily, so they can help a ton.

Some caddies will use a green reading book, while others are so seasoned they know the breaks inside and out of each green. Finally, caddies need to always position themselves correctly to not distract their player. Players should let caddies know where you want them to stand on your shot or putt. Also, according to rule Finally, caddies need to stay positive and optimistic during the round. Professional caddies often act as part-time sports psychologists, trying to keep their player in the right frame of mind.

Plus, a good attitude almost always leads to a better tip too. After having several caddies when playing at a nice course and on vacation, I can say it makes a huge difference! Especially when you play difficult golf courses like Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, and others.

Having a caddy can literally save you strokes sometimes as they know the right aiming points on the tee, green breaks, and other local knowledge. Here are the best ways to find a caddy for your next round:. Depending on the golf course, they might carry your bag or have you put your clubs in a lightweight, caddy specific bag.