Switching caddy during tournament?

[msd3075]

I was reading another topic on here about the rules concerning advice received while playing a round. The idea is that you can have anything written (or even a video/audio recording) that gives you advice, but you can't have someone other than your caddy come up and tell you any advice during the round.

During the Natiionwide tournament that comes through town every year here in Fort Smith, one of the caddies in the tournament started feeling sick (the highs were around 100* without a cloud in the sky) and asked one of my co-workers to finish the round for him. My friend carried the pro's bag for the last 4 or 5 holes during the final round for this pro (I don't know which pro it was). This got me to thinking; if a pro has his teacher following him around during a tournament, what's to stop his caddy from handing over the bag to the teacher and letting him give advice while "technically" being the caddy? Is this legal?

[goblue107501]

During the Natiionwide tournament that comes through town every year here in Fort Smith, one of the caddies in the tournament started feeling sick (the highs were around 100* without a cloud in the sky) and asked one of my co-workers to finish the round for him. My friend carried the pro's bag for the last 4 or 5 holes during the final round for this pro (I don't know which pro it was).

That happend to me once at our local Nationwide event. I got to carry for 12 holes. Good time.

I have no knowledge of a rule that is written and in place, just sort of spitballing here. Just using logic, I don't see how they could not allow someone to caddy based on their occupation or knowledge of golf. In the middle of the round, maybe, but what if that is the only person around who is capable? I come from a small midwestern town. If I qualify for the U.S. Open and my local PGA professional who has been my coach for years is my caddie, who is even going to know? No one outside my town/county would even know the guy. I don't think they do background checks on caddies. From what I can tell, the caddie just grabs the proper color bib and picks up the bag. I could be completely wrong, but I don't see how it could be prevented, except maybe in the middle of a round when the regular caddie could continue. I don't think that it would be allowed if Hank Haney picked up the bag for Steve and he caddied for a few holes to fix Tiger's driver woes, then gave the bag back to Steve. I don't know where the rule would be, but that doesn't seem logical that it would be allowed.

[plugged]

I've used to wonder why the pros didn't just pay their coaches to also caddy for them. I don't know if there is a rule against it or not. However, I have to believe based on my own game that coaching time is best left on the practice range.

[msd3075]

The main thing I was wondering was if there is anything to prevent someone on tour from having his teacher follow him around during a tournament and switch off with his caddie if his swing starts to have issues? I know it's not really practical to do this or even all that beneficial, but is there anything to stop it form happening? If there is a rule that prevents a player from gettign advice from someone other that their caddy, is there a rule to define who the caddy is?

[iacas]

The main thing I was wondering was if there is anything to prevent someone on tour from having his teacher follow him around during a tournament and switch off with his caddie if his swing starts to have issues? I know it's not really practical to do this or even all that beneficial, but is there anything to stop it form happening? If there is a rule that prevents a player from gettign advice from someone other that their caddy, is there a rule to define who the caddy is?

Nothing to prevent it, but:

a) a teacher's not going to follow a guy around. PGA Tour pros know that you use the range to work on your swing and you play golf on the golf course. b) teachers aren't caddies. They know this, the players know this, the caddies know this. No self-respecting caddie would step out of the way for a teacher. c) the pro would expose himself as mentally weak and/or be ridiculed by his fellow pros. And the other caddies. You can have whoever you want as your caddie. And virtually every pro would much rather have a good caddie - one who is equal parts swing doctor, psychologies, friend, punching bag, talking yardage book, menial laborer (rake bunker, clean ball, etc.) - than some guy who does one role well but sucks at the others. Frankly, I just wish more guys employed caddies who knew the Rules inside and out. That'd probably save them more shots (at least more time) than paying your instructor to walk around with you.

[zeg]

6-4/7 Changing Caddies During Round Q. May a player have more than one caddie during a round? If so, may each caddie give the player advice? A. A player may have more than one caddie during a round, provided he has only one at a time. He is entitled to receive advice from whoever is his caddie at the time — see Definition of "Caddie."

But

8-1/26 Player Briefly Changes Caddies for Exchange of Advice Q. In view of the fact that a player may change caddies during his stipulated round, may a player briefly change caddies for the purpose of receiving advice from the new caddie? A. No. It would be contrary to the purpose and spirit of the Rules for a player to change caddies briefly for the purpose of circumventing Rule 8-1 (Advice). Therefore, in equity (Rule 1-4), the player would incur a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for each hole at which the action occurred. (New)

I don't actually have anything to say beyond that, but I need some text outside the quote boxes...

[msd3075]

Nothing to prevent it, but:

I'm not trying to see if it's a good or bad idea; I was just wondering if there is any type of rule that prevents someone from switching caddies during a round, and if so is this in conflict with the rule that you can't get advice from someone other than your caddy (seeing your "true" caddy is now behind the ropes).

[msd3075]

But

Thanks. That's what I figures the rule would end up being.