Do you use a caddy--and if so, what golf course?

[PEZGolf]

As we all know, caddies are a "vanishing breed", BUT at some courses, they are making a comeback. Bandon Dunes in Oregon, I believe, has caddies only. When I play in a tournament, I have a regular caddy, who is familiar with most of the courses in our area. The ones he does not know, I have played. His most important role is club selection, and course management. We discuss whether I should fade or draw the shot, etc. Do you use a caddy, and if so, where is your golf course?

[joshtpa]

Old Memorial in FL only uses caddies

[whip_it_out]

No, but it would be pretty cool if i was givin the oppurtunity.
We play at a local public course, not a bad course at all, but the way it's ran makes it one of the least favirote of the area, and i saw a foursome using caddies. For no reason at all, no tournament or anything, they just wanted to use one, and I didn't understand why they were using one, but it still looked fun.

If I did get to use one, he, or she, would have to be someone i know and can talk to comfortably and joke around with, but still know how to be a good caddie.

Picky, I know.

[PEZGolf]

No, but it would be pretty cool if i was givin the oppurtunity.

My caddy is like all other bag toters. When I win, he sez, "WE WON." When I fail to win, he sez, "HE lost."

[Billiam]

I caddied once from my friend on the back nine when I sucked up the front nine so bad I didn't want to play 18 :) haha

[thepiratedoc]

Used caddies on recent Scotland pilgrimmage -- a very good thing! Hired caddies at Troon, The Old Course, and Carnoustie, and had a forecaddie at Western Gailes (best course I'd never heard of). With a two to four club wind every day and no prior knowledge, they were indispensible, especially with reading putts and finding, um, 'errant shots'.

Still didn't break 90 all week, but that wasn't the caddies' fault.

[PEZGolf]

Used caddies on recent Scotland pilgrimmage -- a very good thing! Hired caddies at Troon, The Old Course, and Carnoustie, and had a forecaddie at Western Gailes (best course I'd never heard of). With a two to four club wind every day and no prior knowledge, they were indispensible, especially with reading putts and finding, um, 'errant shots'.

I envy you. One of my dreams is to take a 2 week vacation touring Scotland and Ireland. The ideal schedule would be to watch the Open Championship one or two days, and spend the rest of the time playing the venerable courses that you nmaed, and Muirfield, Turnberry, etc.

[joshtpa]

I got the opportunity to take that very trip two years ago. It was definately worth it. Golfing in Ireland was a pleasure and something I will never forget.

[thepiratedoc]

PEZ- stop dreaming and start planning! Make a 3-5 year plan and put aside $20-$30/week and you will get there. I still get goosebumps remembering how I felt after hitting the center of the fairway on the 1st @ St Andrews. Check out www.hiddenlinksgolf.com for some short videos that will put ideas in your head. Also go to www.fergusongolf.com . Alan Ferguson wrote the book, literally, on planning a golf trip to Scotland. You will never regret going, only that you couldn't stay and keep playing!

[PEZGolf]

PEZ- stop dreaming and start planning! Make a 3-5 year plan and put aside $20-$30/week and you will get there. I still get goosebumps remembering how I felt after hitting the center of the fairway on the 1st @ St Andrews. Check out

You are right, and I will start now. Our son and daughter are grown and out of college, so my wife and I no longer have to come up with money for tuition, etc. The most difficult golfer that I ever caddied for was my son. In the finals of the Men's Club Championship (which John won when he was 15), he threatened to fire me after the first hole. He was intense because it was a 36 hole match, and he was playing a tough, experienced veteran. When I did not put his clubs in the bag EXACTLY the way he wanted, he told me he could do better and I was getting on his nerves. "Keep it up and I will fire you." "Good," I said, "Then carry your own freakin' bag." His opponent looked at me and smiled. We walked the next three holes in complete silence, but he never formally canned me, so I did finish the job. He won, becoming the youngest to ever win the Men's Championship, AND GAVE ME NO TIP!!!

[worst_shot_ever]

I have always wanted to try golf with a caddy, but haven't had the opportunity. And then there's always www.caddychicks.com .

[PEZGolf]

I have always wanted to try golf with a caddy, but haven't had the opportunity. And then there's always

I had NO IDEA there was such a website. What a great way to "inspire" people to use caddies.

[JessN16]

I'm going to be the contrarian in this post, I guess -- no, I've never used one, and I don't plan to.

The only way I would is if someone knocked me over the head and I suddenly woke up at Augusta National, the Old Course, Merion, etc.

I say "no" for two reasons. One, I'm not very good, and the only thing I'm going to do with that poor caddie is frustrate him or give him reason to laugh at me. Secondly, a bad knee makes walking a golf course a chore and really takes the fun out of a round. Since golf is expensive, I'd prefer to keep as much fun in it as possible.

Since I don't have to worry about ever playing Augusta, I don't qualify for the Old Course (handicap too high -- I've heard you have to be below a certain number to get on out there) and I don't know anyone at Merion, I'm safe.

Relatively new courses that don't give you the option of renting a cart kind of tick me off. Voluntary caddies, fine; caddies at historic golf courses, also fine. Caddy-only at a 2-year-old resort? Insipid.

Jess

[Scott_Tee]

No, can't afford one, but wish I could have a 'good' caddy' beacause sometimes I play 'stupid golf', and need to be reminded of such !

[thepiratedoc]

Go get 'em PEZ! You won't regret it. In our group of 8 we had two father-son pairs. I will go back with my older son one day (younger not into golf somehow - questioning his parentage!). The caddies do arrange your clubs the way they see fit so they can draw what you need easily, so let your son be advised if he's going too!

One last Scotland story: When our first group was preparing to tee off on the 1st at the Old Course, there was a crowd of people and a handfull of photographers. Having never been there before, they assumed this was the norm and felt a little extra pressure to perform well with so many people watching. Turned out there was another father-son group just ahead of our guys that was the cause for all the commotion - A guy named Archie and his three sons Archie Jr, Eli, and Peyton ... MANNING! You never know who you'll see playing golf on the Auld Sod.

[iacas]

Unfortunately the modern "caddie" isn't truly a caddie. It's someone who carries your club and might rake a bunker. That's it. And half the time it's just a forecaddie, too.

If I ever get the chance to have someone who can fulfill the duties of a caddie of old, I'll take one. I used one (a friend, so he did more than the first paragraph) in last year's local mid-am championship.

[HoboTrekker]

don't believe what you've heard the handicap limit on the old course is £150, if you can hold a club theyll let you play it, they just want your money really its a major major cash cow.

[ApocG10]

Originally Posted by JessN16

I'm going to be the contrarian in this post, I guess -- no, I've never used one, and I don't plan to.

The only way I would is if someone knocked me over the head and I suddenly woke up at Augusta National, the Old Course, Merion, etc.

I say "no" for two reasons. One, I'm not very good, and the only thing I'm going to do with that poor caddie is frustrate him or give him reason to laugh at me. Secondly, a bad knee makes walking a golf course a chore and really takes the fun out of a round. Since golf is expensive, I'd prefer to keep as much fun in it as possible.

Since I don't have to worry about ever playing Augusta, I don't qualify for the Old Course (handicap too high -- I've heard you have to be below a certain number to get on out there) and I don't know anyone at Merion, I'm safe.

Relatively new courses that don't give you the option of renting a cart kind of tick me off. Voluntary caddies, fine; caddies at historic golf courses, also fine. Caddy-only at a 2-year-old resort? Insipid.

Jess

The bolded part is completely untrue. As long as you are there in line in the AM to get a tee time, you can play. Whoever told you otherwise is either misinformed, or just outright lying to you.