What makes a great caddy?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 14, 2026
All golfers go through lows in their game. They get down in the dumps and have a tough time getting out. It happens often on the course and can even surface during a good round. The best caddies exude an air of positive confidence that makes players feel that even when they're not at their best they can be successful.
What skills does a caddy need?
The eight most common skills based on Caddie resumes in 2022.
- Golf Clubs, 13.0%
- Professional Relationships, 11.3%
- Course Knowledge, 11.3%
- Effective Communication, 10.2%
- Caddy, 8.9%
- Scholarship, 5.6%
- Customer Service, 4.3%
- Other Skills, 35.4%
How do I become a good caddy?
What Are Some Tips for Being a Golf Caddy?
- Overview. The overall responsibility of golf caddies is to make the game of golf more enjoyable for the golfers for whom they are caddying. ...
- Be prepared. ...
- Have the Clubs Ready. ...
- Clean Clubs and Balls. ...
- Be Ready to Rake. ...
- Watch the Ball. ...
- Maintain the Golf Course. ...
- Tend the Pin.
What is the role of a professional caddy?
The caddie is in charge of carrying the player's bag, keeping the clubs clean, and washing the ball when on the green, and walks ahead of the golfer to locate their ball and calculate the yardage to the pin and/or hazards.
What is a caddy master?
caddymaster (plural caddymasters) The manager of caddies and head caddie at a golf course.
25 related questions foundIs being a caddy a good job?
Caddying is a great job for high school students because:
Caddying is a part time job on weekends and fits within a busy high school student schedule. Caddies often earn free golf at the course they caddy. As a caddie you build relationships with your teammates, course staff, and business leaders.
Do caddies play golf?
Not surprisingly, there are plenty of caddies on the PGA Tour who are also excellent golfers. Some of them have even enjoyed stints on the PGA Tour. Loads of them played college golf.
Do caddies make good money?
But when there's work the pay is good, and in cash. Caddies usually make more than $100 for each 18-hole round, or ''loop. '' Most clubs set a flat caddying fee per round, but the real pay comes from tips. Most caddies say they earn an average of about $120 for carrying two bags 18 holes.
What do you learn from caddying?
I learned how people joke, lie, bully, brag, cheat, and relate to each other. Caddying helped me achieve my goal of making enough money to buy a set of golf clubs, but it taught me so much more because the lessons I took from those five years early in my life will be with me forever.
How important is a caddie in golf?
Great caddies aren't just handy with a rangefinder—they're accomplished sports psychologists, like corner men in boxing. Part of their job is to project confidence in their club selection or read of the green, so the player doesn't second guess himself when he steps up to the ball.
How much did Tiger Woods caddie make?
In 2007, the outlet noted that Tiger's former caddie Steve Williams made more than $1 million in earnings. Tiger made a whopping $5.4 million during the 2018 PGA Tour. Therefore, we can assume that Joe made somewhere between $272k to 544k in this year.
What does Tiger Woods caddy make?
Just ask Joe LaCava, Woods' caddie. Woods earned $5.4 million on the tour in 2018, so estimating LaCava's take based on the going rate is fairly straightforward. The caddie likely earned somewhere between $272,192 and $544,384 for the year, on top of the money he earned from weekly salaries.
What does a caddie make at the Masters?
This is the most amount of prize money ever at the tournament. With this in mind, the winning caddy will receive $207,000 for their efforts in addition to the weekly salary they agreed upon with their golfer. As a result, a caddy can make around $210,000 during the Masters.
Why do caddies wear white boiler suits at the Masters?
Masters caddies jumpsuits date back to 1930s
Interestingly, according to various sources, the white jumpsuits and green caps were implemented to create a uniform look and make the caddies look smarter. For years, the white jumpsuit has been standard with the local caddies working the bags.
What is a dog leg in golf?
A dogleg is a hole where the fairway turns somewhere before reaching the green, which makes the green not completely visible from the tee. It is one of the most common types of golf holes across all courses, from the local 9 hole course to championship-level courses.
How old do you have to be to be a caddy?
While minors under the age of 14 typically may not work in the United States, Illinois law permits caddies to work at age 13. In Wisconsin, 12-year-olds may be caddies but may not drive motorized golf carts.
Why do caddies wear shorts?
Starting in 1999, the PGA Tour started to allow caddies to wear shorts when the heat index (a combination of temperature and humidity) rises above 100. This was in response to an incident at the Western Open outside Chicago when a caddy suffered a heart attack during the summertime tournament."
How hard is it to become a caddy?
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Read as much as you can on the rules and how to play. Caddies need to be thoroughly versed in all aspects of golf. Frequent your local country club. Make connections with the people who work and play there.
How much do teenage caddies make?
Golf Caddy
On average, a teenage golf caddy can earn $100 to $120 carrying two bags for 18 holes, referred to as a “loop.” Assuming a “loop” takes around 4 hours, the hourly pay breaks down to $20-$30 per hour. However, the real money in caddying is in the tips.
How much can caddies make?
Caddies can range from $1,500-$3,000 a week. However, some caddies opt for a higher weekly paycheck in exchange for a lower percentage of winnings. "No caddie and player has the same deal," Collins said. "Everyone negotiates themselves."
How much money does the caddy of the winner of the Masters get?
The caddie's cut of the winnings is usually 10 percent, so a typical caddie would earn about $5,000 for a tournament victory. The caddie's share of the winnings from a major championship is usually higher, so a caddie could earn as much as $10,000 for a Masters victory.
How much do pro golf caddies make?
A caddie on the PGA Tour receives a base salary — usually around $1,000 to $2,000 — to cover travel expenses. He will earn 5% of the winnings if his golfer finishes outside of the top 10 and 7% of the winnings for a top-10 finish. The caddie earns 10% of winnings when his golfer wins a tournament.