Would you support a caddie day at your club or course?

I've often thought about, yet never acted upon, having a caddie day at my course.  If you have never played golf with the assistance of a caddie, you are missing a great experience.  Playing a round with a caddie, especially and experienced caddie, is golf at it's purest form.  I realize in today's fast pace world caddie's, at the majority of courses, are outdated and not practical.  But my question to you is would you pay an addition 10,15,20,25, or 30 dollars once a year for the experience?  I also believe this to be a possible alternative to the dieing charity scramble.  If your group or charity were willing to volunteer as the caddies and you organized it with the golf course, it could be a great fundraiser with a side of healthy exercise as a bonus.  Just a thought.  Tell me what you guys think.  And I thank you all in advance for your comments.

Playing with a good caddie would be fun, something I might pay a little for once in a while, and something I've never experienced.  But having semi-annual charity caddie days would mean you'd probably never actually get to play with an experienced caddie, and definitely not one with experience at a course that has caddies a few times a year.

I've had the opportunity to play a couple times at a friend's (very high end) club.  It still has an active caddy program.  Since I'm not familiar with the course I get the most experienced caddies.  Let me tell you - no better way to play golf than to walk with a caddy.  Of course this club is a very old layout and is intended for walking so it has that going for it.  Not sure what the caddy fee is but I always tip after and it's traditional to buy the caddy a sandwhich/hot dog and drink at the turn.

The big caveat here is, as MDL pointed out, that unless it is a regular program your going to get more of a bag carrier than a caddy.  Even though the caddies I've had are young (HS age) they have all been golfers and, with their experience, know the course.  They also are trained to take turns as forecaddies, how/when to tend the pin, how to rake bunkers properly, etc.

Only played using forecaddies and that was a great experience.  Probably didn't lose a ball or very few during the rounds we had a forecaddie.  It was also nice to have someone who knew the course to offer advice on the best way to attack the course and read the greens.

Playing a with a caddie is great and all the caddies I've had a lot of course knowledge. I agree with the other posters if you only do it a couple times a year I'm not sure the caddie experience would be that great. You'd have caddies with very little course knowledge so it would kind of defeat the purpose especially if it's at your home course.

Why on earth should a non golfer volunteer his or her time to caddy for a hacker?

When I was in my early teens I had to caddy every Saturday, but the caddies played at daybreak in their own competition. I was paid $1 to caddy but got access to the course in return.

I'm just wondering where  these caddies you're talking about are going to come from.

Seems to be very much a case of giving the have nots an opportunity to associate with the haves at their own expense. Very odd.

To raise money for charity.

I agree with others that having a "volunteer" caddie is nothing more than having a person carry your clubs, and would not be a "caddie experience".

I'd be willing to pay $20 NOT to carry some hacker's bag. I'm sure there are experienced players who'd pay as much as $40 per year to never have some random person carry their bag. That could also raise some money.

At first blush I would say no. It would be like paying someone to push my three-wheeler for me, which unto itself might not be a bad thing I guess. Someone to pull clubs, pins, rake sand, etc., might be worth a charitable donation. I guess I talked myself into it/changed my mind as I typed.

Actually now that you mention it, the pulling pins, fixing ball marks, cleaning clubs, and raking traps aspect would be good even for a solo round. It could be a real time saver if he or she could keep up. Yeah, I'd be down with that as long as they don't try to provide advice - pulling my own clubs.

When I said "pull clubs", I meant the actual physical act, not determining what to hit. That would be my job. :)

I still don't get it.

You are playing golf.

Someone you probably don't know "caddies" for you - as if they'd want to.

They do it for nothing.

How does a charity benefit from this?

How about just donating the $40 or whatever it is to the charity, then you have avoided wasting five hours of someone else's life and you've still had your game.

I think it's a bit odd that some people here are warming to the idea of having a servant (who is unpaid), but that they would have to meet their high standards.

It would just be a part of a charity event I assume, or a fundraiser like the OP mentioned.  The golfers would pay to be in the event (more for caddie service), and whatever portion charged above course fees goes to the cause/charity just like any charity outing.  Outings take a lot of people donating "wasting" their time to pull off.

Some may like it, others not.  To each their own.

I agree on 'well it's okay as long as you meet my standards'

Wow some great responses to this one, and I thank everyone on both sides of the aisle.  My original train of thought on this process was to coordinate with and use the youngsters in the first tee program or possibly even inviting several local high school teams and let the proceeds of their time spent benefit their programs.  These youngsters would likely not be experienced caddies but would have enough general golf knowledge to not hinder anyone and may provide an opportunity for a good learning experience for both player and caddy.  But I must admit that as my thoughts drove further down the road, I think it could be a viable charity fundraiser.  I am not suggesting this be coordinated soley between the course and charitable orginazation and when you show up at your club some Saturday that caddy day is sprung upon you.  It would be the charity's responsibilty to fill the alotted tee times with players willing to participate and champion the cause of the group.  Throw in trophies for the top five in net and gross and now you have a charity event where your playing your own ball.  Me personally, I problably play in 30 charity events a year of which 99% are scrambles, captain's choice, what ever you call select shot in your part of the country.  I would jump at the chance to play my own ball in a charity event.  I know you could have the same tournament without the caddies, but my opinion is that the novelty of the caddies would draw more players.  Anyway, thanks for the great responses both pro and con and keep them coming.

It's a hypothetical situation. In reality the response would be low. Just as it is with every charity event not involving a celebrity's child or where ribbons are handed out.

I'm not really sure why people volunteer for dunk tanks or car washes, or how they ever raise money, but they are volunteering and they do apparently raise money or we wouldn't have them. Unless being involved with a disastrous charitable event is a rite of passage every young person goes through on their way to becoming a fully grown cynical adult.

Id give it a shot.  Why not?  Especially on a course Ive never played before it would be nice to have the advice of someone who knows the lay of the land.

Well, I for one wouldn't use the services of a caddy without giving them something for their time.

Not everyone would stiff them, I'm sure. But there's always that 1%...

i've played with caddies on several occasions, and i love it.  walking a course without carrying anything, but maybe a single club.  getting advice on the green.  someone to clean my balls, clubs and rake the traps.  caddies are an excellent way to play.