Thinking about becoming a golf caddy is the first step toward one of the most unique and rewarding roles in the entire game. This guide will walk you through the essential qualifications, from the required golf knowledge and physical fitness to the vital soft skills that separate a good caddy from a great one. We will cover the clear, actionable steps you can take to turn this interest into a reality.
Let's clear this up right away: the a caddy does far more than just haul a 40-pound golf bag for five hours. While carrying the bag is part of the job, it's just the ticket for admission. A truly great caddy acts as an on-course coach, a psychologist, a strategist, and a trusted partner. You are your player's support system, responsible for everything from providing precise yardages to offering a calming word after a bad shot.
Modern players, from weekend amateurs at private clubs to touring professionals, rely on their caddies for expert advice that can influence every single shot. You are there to remove doubt, provide clarity, and help your player navigate the mental and strategic challenges of a round of golf. Your job is to handle the details so the player can focus on one simple thing: executing the shot.
At the heart of great caddying is a deep and practical understanding of golf. This isn't just about knowing the difference between a birdie and a bogey, it's about possessing a specialized knowledge base that you can apply under pressure.
You don't need to pass the bar exam, but you absolutely must have a strong working knowledge of the Official Rules of Golf. Your player will look to you for guidance in tricky situations, and providing incorrect information can lead to penalty strokes. You should be confident in handling common rulings for:
Knowing the rules instills confidence in your player. When they face a difficult situation, you can be the calm-in-the-storm who confidently explains their options, saving them from stress and potential penalties.
A caddy must know their player's bag inside and out. This means learning exactly how far your player hits each and every club in a variety of conditions. A player saying, "I normally hit my 7-iron 150 yards," is just the starting point. A great caddy adds the context: "...but it's 10 degrees colder today, there's a slight breeze into our face, and the pin is on an elevated green, so it's playing closer to 160. The 6-iron is the right play."
You become their personal shot calculator, constantly factoring in variables like:
This is where a caddy truly earns their keep. A round of golf is a series of strategic decisions, and your job is to help your player make the smart ones. Before the round even starts, top caddies walk the course to understand its nuances. For every hole, you should be able to help your player form a clear game plan.
This involves:
Caddying is a physically demanding job. It's an athletic role disguised as a spectating one. Do not underestimate the physical toll it takes to do this day in and day out.
A typical round of golf is four to five hours long and covers five to eight miles of walking. Now, imagine doing that while carrying a bag that weighs between 25 and 40 pounds. The terrain is rarely flat, you'll be climbing steep hills and navigating uneven ground. You need to not only keep up with your player but often get ahead of them to mark their ball, get a yardage, or clean the ball on the green. A solid level of cardiovascular fitness and core strength is not just a nice-to-have, it's a requirement to avoid injury and perform your job effectively from the 1st tee to the 18th green.
Golf is played in almost all weather conditions short of lightning. As a caddy, you are exposed to the elements for the entire round. You'll work in sweltering 100-degree heat, biting cold, windy conditions, and drizzling rain. Being prepared with the right gear (rain pants, sunscreen, warm layers, comfortable waterproof shoes) and, more importantly, the right mindset is absolutely necessary.
The best caddies in the world possess a powerful set of a soft skills. You can have all the golf knowledge in the world, but if you can't connect with your player, your value plummets. This is the "art" of caddying.
You have to be a master of communication. This means knowing how to talk, but also knowing when to be silent. Every player is different. Some want constant conversation and positive chatter. Others prefer quiet focus and only need information when asked. Being able to read your player's personality and mood is a superpower.
Your delivery matters enormously. You must be positive and encouraging, but also honest and direct when needed. Imagine your player has just made a bad double-bogey. They are frustrated and angry. A great caddy might say, "That hole is behind us. We can't change it. We've got a reachable par-5 coming up, let's go get one of those shots back right here." You are the steadying hand, a built-in circuit breaker that prevents one bad hole from turning into a disastrous round.
Your player will feed off of your energy. If you get flustered, anxious, or frustrated, they will feel it and it will impact their game. You must remain calm and composed, especially when the pressure is on or when things are going badly. A player might hit a terrible tee shot into a tough spot in the trees. While they're stewing, you need to be calmly walking to the ball, assessing the situation, and coming up with a clear, unemotional plan for the best way to recover.
Trust is built on competence, and competence is demonstrated through attention to detail. The "small" tasks are what show your player you're fully engaged and professional:
When you handle all these things flawlessly, your player can free up their mind and trust your advice on the bigger strategic decisions.
If you've read this far and feel excited about the challenge, here's a step-by-step path you can follow:
Becoming a golf caddy is far from a simple summer job, it's a skilled profession that requires a unique blend of deep golf knowledge, physical endurance, and exceptional people skills. It's a role where you can have a direct and positive impact on someone's enjoyment and performance in the game we all love.
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