Caddy or Cart?

[PiKapp23]

I have a previous thread about tipping bag boys, etc. that brought up the point about caddies, so I thought I would start a thread concerning the topic of Cart vs. Caddy.

If the cost were the same (counting standard tip), would you rather walk with a caddy who carries your bag and possibly offer advice at times (such as wind, break on green, etc.) or would you rather ride in a cart? What about if caddy was $10 more? $25 more? $35 more?

I have never played a course (to my knowledge) that even had caddies available so I'm personally not sure what advanages outside of physically carrying my bag they would present. I've always thought I would like it, though, just because I like to walk, but my back bothers me too much to carry (so I usually either use pull cart or riding cart). Futhermore, I think a good caddy could be great on a golf course at helping with things like unseen hazards, breaks on green, etc. If your local municpal course were to start offering caddies as alternative to cart would you consider it? How about a course you've never played before?

For me, it would come down to cost. If it was the same cost or within $10 I would be willing to at least try a caddy a few times and if I liked having one I would probably be willing to pay the extra $10 or so, but I don't think I would be willing to go beyond that extra $10. Golf is already expensive and while $10 may not sound like a lot, I'm a golfer on a budget so I cut as many expenses as possible to be able to play more often.

[iPutt]

I went to a country club as a guest once and the person I was playing with got a caddy for both of us. At first I thought it was gonna be cool but in the end I didn't like it at all. I mean it's my fault because I just didn't like having someone there who's only job is to watch all my shots. I was nervous as hell hahaha. In my paranoid mind I didn't want him judging me (He probably could care less because he's still getting paid lol) if I did bad. This of course made me play worse and led to probably my worst scoring round since i started playing. I guess I would do horrible in any tournaments with people watching.

[klaymon]

I'd rather walk and carry my own. The whole thing with a caddy that is actually doing the full job is, I can't execute what they would ask of me (at least right now). If he told me to hit toward a certain tree to get the landing location I needed, I don't know that I could do it. It would be a waste of both of our time.

[zeg]

^^ What he said. Right now I just need to focus on my swing. Generally the erroneous shots I hit are due to a bad swing, not misreading the lay of the landing area or not accounting for the higher wind above the trees!

If/when I improve my game, it might be interesting to have the advice of a caddy, but that'd be about the strategy/advice and not really a question of who carries the clubs. In a tournament situation, it'd definitely be nice to have help keeping track of equipment, cleaning balls/clubs, etc. Otherwise, I'm happy to do it myself.

[mkrolewski]

I played two rounds with caddies ( in Thailand ). The experience was wonderful.

The better caddie made the experience even better -- better at judging distances, breaks, your own personal cheering section. She could not even swing a club. But her knowledge of the course was great. It is interesting how the caddies have to build an almost instant rapport. If you are not comfortable after a hole or two, it is really all over.

I would say having a "good" caddie makes golf a bit easier. However, I cannot see paying $100 per round for a caddie, and I am guessing that is what you are expecting in the US. I hate paying $100 for a green fee.

[David in FL]

IMHO there is simply no better way to play the game than with a good caddie.

Unfortunately, finding a course......even a private club with a caddie program is almost impossible down in FL. A real pity.

[goblue107501]

I would rather just ride. Especially in the middle of summer when it hits 95 and high humidity, it is almost dangerous to walk. I could play all day in that weather if I am in a cart, walking, no way. It would take all the fun out of it.

I have never played with a caddy but I would like to go to a course that has them to use at some point, if the weather was right. I think it would be a neat experience.

[RC]

Playing a round with a competent caddie is one of my favorite things to do. Otherwise, I'll take a cart. A great caddie adds so much to your round. Your course management skills are shared with another opinion, your club selection is validated or questioned, and it is nice to fully commit to a putting line when both of you agree. The problem is finding a great caddie. Only a few places have them any more. Unfortunately, none near me now have caddie programs.

[RocktimusPryme]

Well trying to play as much as I do in this town keep me pretty well busted anyway. So Im not sure I could afford to play with a caddy everyday even if it were avaliable to me. Which it isnt here.

But in a perfect world where I could take a realy caddy every round, not a forecaddy. Absolutely i would prefer to walk and have a caddy.

[miller72]

I would prefer to walk and carry my own bags. I like to figure out all of my own shots, because i feel that it adds so much to my game. In highschool golf, we are our own caddies. This makes the game so much more fun. Also, if i asked a caddy what shot to hit, i would probably think about it too much, and if i doo that, it just doesnt work for me. I have my way of playing the game, and it is not to mull over each shot and ask twenty qwestions. It is step up to the ball, figure out the wind, the distance, etc... and hit the ball. i've been rtying this approach fo the last 5 years, and its working pretty dang well for me... I dont like to ride either, because that also throws my game off. As a 14 year old, i am not allowed to ride (drive) all of the time. I just feel rushed when i do.

[wesmcnew512]

I actually became friends with a caddie that plays the muny I do all the time. So we play a lot of golf together its pretty cool to play with some that knows every bump on every fairway and green!

[smith5606]

Only used a professional caddy once - at Bandon Dunes. Can't wait to get back and do it again. One of the greatest golf experiences of my life. You must try it at least once.

[Thaidave]

Often you can have both here in Thailand, its very cheap to have both and they have the course knowledge to hlp your round.

See some of my vids on youtube for Thao;land Golf;
http://www.youtube.com/profile#play/.../1/DK3326T9qQg
'
if that doesnt work type in canterburytalescafe in the youtybe search box

[Robiola the Monster]

If i was playing a comp or tournement i would rather walk and have a caddie in a tournement. But if it was a social round carts are fine.... puts me off not having time to think, chat and walk in a tournement (even though your not alowed to cart it in a tournement.

[lumpuckeroo]

Never got to play using a caddy, but have always thought that would be the way to play. My brother and I will play at my Dad's 9 hole country club, we play the same clubs so we will put one bag on his cart and we will walk while Dad plays and drives the cart. Closest I have come to a caddy!!!

[RandomRaiderTTU]

I have never done it, but really really want to try it.

I just think that having a caddy on a course would be immensely valuable. He/she could tell me what the distance is to carry bunkers, which side of the fairway I want to be on preferably, what is the bailout side on some shots, xxx to carry water, this par 3 plays about 8 yards shorter because of elevation change, this green breaks to the water, etc, etc.

I can't wait to buy a uPro and will as soon as I get the money, but having a caddy would even outperform a uPro in my opinion.

I may not be able to execute every shot they advise, but on the shots I did execute, I could be in a lot better shape.

[tjy355]

If the choice is simply caddy or cart and the price is the same? Caddy, everytime.

But that is not a realistic question (at least in the USA). Where a cart might cost $15-20, a caddy w/tip is going to set you back at least $50, and more like $75-80.