Caddie Fees?

[bks110296]

I personally have never used a caddie while playing but would love the opportunity, however at most courses it seems extremely expensive. I was just looking at Streamsong's website and they charge $80-$100 per bag plus tip. What doesn't make a lot of sense is why I have to pay the course $80-$100 to use a caddie then tip him on top of that. Shouldn't the $80-$100 go to the caddie or at least 1/2 then the club get the other half eliminating the need to tip because the caddie just made $40-$50 for carrying my bag. What service is the club providing that they get $80-$100 for the work that the caddie is doing? Any and all comments are welcome. 

[Kenny B]

I am sure that it is different at different locations.  I have only used a caddie at Bandon Dunes.  The caddie service there is separate from the courses.  I believe that it was started by a dentist from Portland that saw an opportunity and loved golf.  The caddies are not just guys/gals that carry bags; they know how to interact with the golfers in a positive way, know the courses very well, and will probably save you a few strokes if you don't know the course.  They are trained which takes an investment by the caddie service.  I don't know what percentage the caddie gets from the fee, but like any other type of service industry, the quality of the service should be reflected by the tip.  

 

Think about it... this time of year a caddie probably gets one round a day, maybe two if they are lucky; later in the year two rounds for sure.  But that is really hard work, probably walking 15 miles a day carrying a bag, sometimes two bags; likely putting up with really bad golfers and being friendly about it.  That's $200 + tips, and they don't do that every day.  You could probably make that as a good server in the restaurant business.  

 

It's all about the experience.  Yes, it's expensive, but if you have never done it, I would recommend it even if it's just once.  JMHO

[RookieBlue7]

Streamsong is one of the most overpriced resorts in the US.

[PlaidJacket]

Like Kenny - Bandon is the only place I've used a caddie. It makes a round expensive alright. But I'm glad I had my caddie there. And if you've never played a round of golf without riding in a cart or carrying a bag-pushing a cart you're in for a real treat. There's nothing like hitting your tee shot and then... like the pros do; start walking and talking with your playing partners. You never clean you clubs or ball, lift a pin, or rake a bunker. They do all that. You'll have a whole new perspective on your round. When you look at what they make on an hourly basis it's not much really. I can promise you one thing. If I caddie for you I'd charge about 600/round. Call me.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

Typical caddie fees at Bandon are one Fun Coupon. ($100)  If your man does a great job, or you win all the bets because he reads the greens well...   Reach a little deeper.  

 

Playing with a caddie is one of my favorite things to do.  And I am not talking about someone who is lugging my bag around the course.  A REAL looper knows the course, the wind, and your tenancies as a player in just a few holes, and can adjust to help you.  In all the times that I have had a looper at Bandon, I have only had one below average experience. The rest were Top Notch.  

[DaveP043]

I've had caddies at Whistling Straits and Pinehurst, and a couple of courses in Ireland, and at the Old Course at St Andrews.  Each time, they were professional, knew the course, learned my game quickly, and were a pleasure to be with.  The only place that I know how it works is at St. Andrews, where the caddie gets paid the whole fee plus tip directly, but has to pay the St Andrews Trust a relatively small part of that for the privilege.  I'm not sure how small that cut is, and I'm sure the caddies wouldn't call it small.

Like kenny, buddy, and Plaidjacket have said, having a proper professional caddie is a real treat, and for me a treat that I rarely get to have.  You should really do it at least once in your life!

[Hula Rock]

The Caddy service at Pinehurst is a must.  I met Eddie Mac years ago and would pay him 10 fold just to listen to him tell stories, which he did most of the round.  Great Caddy.

[revkev]

Having a caddie at one of these resorts is different from having a caddy at a club.  The caddies at the resorts are pros and all that everyone has said about them is most certainly true.  They are a part of the experience and should be tipped unless they don't do their job. 

 

The caddy at your local private club is normally a kid, I used to do it, it's how I got into golf.  He or she will carry your bag, keep your clubs clean and give you accurate yardage.  At most clubs you will not want his advice and in fact at some places he's not supposed to give it.  Generally speaking you will tip him for the round if you are a guest while there is some sort of general tip added to your bill if you are a club member at some point in time during the season that gets divided up proportionally among the staff.  We get assessed in November and everyone gets a Christmas bonus from it. 

[PlaidJacket]

Rev got me to remembering back.....

The club where my dad joined back in the 60's was a fun place and where I first started to learn the game. Me and my good buddy were little leaguers and played some golf during the summer. For a couple of years when the club would hold their big 2-man partnership we'd go hang around the pro shop and snag a couple of bags. These guys all had giant tour bags with a ton of stuff in them. Usually including a fifth of whiskey. Yeah... I know. Anyway, we'd lug those things for two days and get paid $20 bucks. For both days! I recall one evening after a round me and my friend Jimmy slipped away somewhere on the back 9 where we'd seen lots of balls hit into a gulch. There we ran into the assistant pro. He was drinking beer off the side of a tee box. He informed us kids that they leave the beer there over night so it's ready for the next morning. There was this large metal cooler stocked full of ice cold beer. Shortly after the assistant left. Me and Jimmy found a ton of balls and then proceeded to crack open a beer for ourselves. I think we were around 11 at the time. We kept our little secret to ourselves and enjoyed the next day caddying. Good times. Good times.

[Dhuck Whooker]

That first burp from the 1st beer, a rite of passage.

 

When I was 12, I canddied once with my friend who was like super caddy. I was so scared I'd screw up. But I got through it. Made 5 bucks went home and never went back. Those golfers didn't look like they were having any fun.

[JudgeSmails]

I've never had a caddy, always thought it would be an awkward experience......may have to try it sometime

[JudgeSmails]

I've never had a caddy, always thought it would be an awkward experience......may have to try it sometime

 

Well, other than Danny Noonan of course

[revkev]

That first burp from the 1st beer, a rite of passage.

When I was 12, I canddied once with my friend who was like super caddy. I was so scared I'd screw up. But I got through it. Made 5 bucks went home and never went back. Those golfers didn't look like they were having any fun.

And now you know that they weren't!

[bks110296]

Thanks for all the stories and experiences that were shared. There are a couple local clubs that have caddies that I may have to try out. I know Moraine CC has a caddie program that trains their caddies so hopefully they're pretty good. The only problem though is getting access. 

[Kenny B]

"Some people just don't belong."    

[Jmikecpa]

Looked at the caddy fees at my club and they were surprisingly reasonable at $50+ tip. Nice to have the option every once in awhile.

 

 

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[Dana]

I'm with JudgeSmails on this. Never had a caddie , think it would be awkward . So how much should the tip be? What does it cost?  I have no idea.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Have had a caddie a few times -- the first was memorable.  Through several strokes of good fortune, I was able to play in the Buick Classic's Celebrity Pro-Am at Westchester Country Club back in 1991 or so.  Loren Roberts was the pro, Dan Maloney (hockey player, husband of a super-model -who we met at the BBQ after) was the celeb. My buddy Mike and I were the am's. The club supplied us with caddies for the event and they were very helpful.  The Pro had his regular caddie, the rest of us had college kids who knew the course.  Can't remember how much I tipped my caddie but I'm pretty sure it wasn't nearly enough...

[revkev]

I'm with JudgeSmails on this. Never had a caddie , think it would be awkward . So how much should the tip be? What does it cost?  I have no idea.

Doesn't the judge customarily tip two bits?

[Sproutland]

Former caddie at Erin Hills: the caddie gets less than half of the caddie fee. They get in at around six am and wait until they get a loop, sometimes not until afternoon, sometimes not at all (sometimes once in the morning and again in the afternoon). When they are not on the course they are expected to help at the bag drop or work the driving range cleaning clubs. A normal day runs from 6 am to anywhere between noon and 6 pm. They only get paid for the bag fee (~$30) and tip. The minimum tip was $40 when I was there. That's $70 for between 6 and 12 hours of work.

 

 

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[Dana]

Thanks for the info Sproutland.  That's not  much money for a long day.