A great golf caddy does much more than just carry your bag and rake the sand. They are part guide, part strategist, part coach, and part on-course psychologist, all rolled into one. This article breaks down exactly what a caddy does, the different types you might encounter, and how having one can completely transform your experience on the course, helping you play smarter and with more confidence.
Most golfers think of a caddy as someone who lugs a heavy tour bag up and down the fairways, but that's only a small piece of their job. At its heart, the role of a caddy is to help their player manage the course and their game in the most effective way possible. Think of them as your personal partner for the round. Their single most important goal is to take a lot of the mental work off your plate so you can focus on one thing: hitting good golf shots.
When you have a reliable caddy by your side, you don’t have to waste energy pacing off yardages, worrying about the wind direction, or trying to guess the break on a tricky putt. Your caddy handles that. This frees you up to think clearly, stay relaxed, and commit to every swing. A good caddy provides the information and support you need to make smart, confident decisions from the first tee to the final putt.
The job of a caddy is varied and requires a deep understanding of both golf and people. While the duties can change slightly depending on the course and the player, they generally fall into a few key categories. Here’s a detailed look at what you can expect a good caddy to do during your round.
Let's start with the most obvious task. Yes, a caddy "carries the loop." But this isn't just about labor. By taking the weight of your clubs, they help you conserve physical and mental energy over a 4+ hour round, which can make a real difference on the back nine. After every single shot, a diligent caddy will wipe your clubface clean before putting it back in the bag. Why does this matter? Clean grooves are essential for generating proper spin. A shot hit with a dirty 8-iron won’t react the same way on the green as a shot hit with a clean one. They'll also often clean your golf ball on the green, ensuring a smooth, true roll for your putts. It's a small detail that shows they are paying attention to things that give you the best chance for success.
This is where a caddy truly earns their keep. A club caddy has likely walked their home course hundreds, if not thousands, of times. They know it like the back of their hand. Here's how that benefits you:
Reading greens can be one of the most difficult skills in golf. A good caddy is often a master green-reader. They have seen thousands of putts roll across those very surfaces and understand the subtle breaks and general tendencies. When you mark your ball on the green, your caddy will walk around the hole, check the line from behind, and give you their expert opinion.
Their read is often definitive and confidence-building. Instead of ambiguous advice, you'll hear things like, "It's a full cup of break from right to left, and it's a little quicker than it looks, so just die it in." This removes the guesswork and indecision, allowing you to focus completely on the speed and start line of your putt.
One of the most valuable things a caddy does is help you pick the right club. From watching you hit a few shots on the range or early in the round, they get a quick feel for your distances. But their recommendation goes beyond that. They are constantly factoring in external variables:
By giving you a clear recommendation, a caddy helps silence the doubt that creeps in when you’re standing between two clubs. It allows you to trust the decision and make an aggressive, committed swing.
A caddy is also a silent director on the course, making sure things run smoothly. They always have an eye on your group's pace, encouraging readiness without ever making you feel rushed. They are proactive - raking the bunker as you walk to the green, replacing your divots so the course stays in great shape, and finding your errant shots quickly to keep the game moving. They also understand the unspoken rules: where to stand so they are not a distraction, when to be quiet, and how to manage the pin on the green efficiently. This seamless management of the round contributes to a more relaxing and professional-feeling experience.
Perhaps the most underrated quality of a great caddy is their ability to be your emotional anchor. Golf is a hard game. You are going to hit bad shots. A good caddy knows this and is a source of steady encouragement.
After a chunked iron shot, they might say, "Shake it off, everyone hits one of those. We can still make a good score from here." Or if you're nervous over a tough tee shot, their calm confidence can be contagious. They serve as a vital sounding board, letting you talk through a shot and providing reinforcement that helps you feel certain about your plan. This support system is priceless and can often be the difference between letting a bad hole spiral out of control and bouncing back with resilience.
Not all caddies are the same. Depending on the setting, you might encounter a few different kinds.
These are the guys you see on TV, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best players in the world. Being a Tour caddy is an intense, full-time job. Their relationship with their player is a deep partnership, involving intricate course charting, strategy sessions, and often a percentage of the player's winnings. They travel the world and live and breathe professional golf.
This is the type of caddy you're most likely to hire. They work at a specific private club or a high-end resort course. Their expertise is specific to that one course, making them an invaluable guide. They typically carry the bag for a single player or will sometimes "double-bag" for two players in the same group. This is the traditional caddy experience that can make any round feel special.
A forecaddie is a great option for a group, especially at courses where players ride in carts. A forecaddie doesn't carry anyone's bag. Instead, they service the entire group of four. They will typically run ahead to a strategic spot on the hole to watch everyone's tee shots, find any balls that miss the fairway, and give yardages. Once everyone is on or around the green, the forecaddie transitions back into a traditional caddy role, reading putts and tending the flagstick for all players.
In the end, a golf caddy is much more than hired help, they are a partner dedicated to improving your game and enhancing your enjoyment of the round. From providing expert strategic advice and reading treacherous greens to simply being a supportive presence, their role is to handle the details so you can swing with freedom and confidence.
Of course, having a human caddy for every round isn't possible for most of us, but that’s where the right technology can make a huge difference. I help you get access to that same level of expert guidance right from your phone. When you're standing on a new tee and need a smart play, I can give it to you. If you’re caught between a 6-iron and a 7-iron, I'll provide a solid recommendation based on the conditions. What if you find yourself with a terrible lie? You can just take a photo and get instant advice on how to handle it. Caddie AI is designed to be your ever-present golf expert, taking a lot of the guesswork out of the game so you feel more certain and can focus on playing your best.
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