A caddie is someone who carries golf clubs and offers advice to golfers during a round. The word "golf" derives from the Dutch word "kolf" meaning "club". In Scottish dialect in the 15th century, it became "gouff" and later "golf" in the 16th century. A caddie’s duties include carrying the player’s bag, performing course maintenance like raking bunkers, and providing moral support. Caddies have appeared in films and TV.
Today, they manage the player’s equipment, carry clubs, keep gear clean and organized, ensure enough supplies, and potentially help lower scores. Caddies offer club selection advice, course information, shot suggestions based on their knowledge. They help find balls, rake bunkers, clean clubs, and enable smooth play. Many established UK golf clubs offered caddies, but now only about 10% do. Most UK caddies work at famous courses.
The Value of a Good Caddie
Good caddies provide different perspectives, smarter play, and prevent exhaustion. They understand the course from repeated observation, including best places to hit and how weather affects conditions. They also offer more personal help than forecaddies, who are hired by the course to keep play moving. If you want club carrying and advice, hire a caddie. If you want help with pace, hire a forecaddie.
Caddies should dress formally as golf expects. The main duty of a caddie is carrying the bag and handing clubs to the player. The term "caddie" comes from the French word “cadet”. On tour, caddies get 5-8% of finishes. They help golfers of all levels by saving strokes and utilizing their extensive knowledge.
Trivia and Compensation
What sport uses caddies?
Can you play on the PGA without a caddie?