Having a caddy on the big day?

ShriekingSheet

Many of us play one or two quite competitive rounds a year, usually in interclub matches. It might be a 20 h'cap player in the Best Cup, or a 6 h'cap player in the Barton Cup. My query is not relvent to handicap, or specific to interclub golf for that matter.

On those bigger days in your own golf calender, do you ever get someone to caddy for you?

I notice in the likes of Junior Cup (5-7 h'cap range) roughly one or two in every team of five will have a caddie.

Do people feel that it sometimes might be unnecessary and might even add pressure or make the more tense environment seem even more alien to you. Or is it a major help? Do you have a mate who can calm you down and crack a few jokes? A better player who can guide you? Or do you reckon some guys do it just for show - to "act the pro"?

I've a few different experiences. Caddied for my little brother in one or two interclub matches and he played awesome stuff. Have brought a caddy out before and spent as much time worrying about him keeping up and not saying the wrong stuff as I did about the golf itself. I also noticed one particular guy in the Lord Mayor's this year, in the qualifying round when pretty much nobody would bring a caddy. This guy was striding, god-like down the fairway way ahead of caddy and playing partners. Saw him a couple of times about the place and I'm pretty sure he thought he was on SkySports

Interested to know what you guys think.

WHIP IT!

Every year we play a kind of mock Ryder Cup competition over a weekend, it's just a group of lads from my local boozer. We play the Dubs versus the Blow-Ins (Culchies!) and it's always a great bit of craic.

The original idea was that everyone would have a caddy. You qualified via your accumulated points total from the Golf Society throughout the year and the Captain of each team had two wildcards.

I only played in it once and got one of the lads to caddy for me in the Singles and I caddied for him the day before in the Foursomes.

I found it really helped me alot to be honest. The chap who caddied for me is a bit of a comedian and he was very helpful on the day overall. I was playing off 20 at the time, I think it was about four years ago.

Some people since choose not to use a caddy so it's all personal preference. You'll have fellas of all standards, from 1/2 to 25/6.

f22

I will always avail of a caddy if they know my game somewhat, even just to be there for company.

Have been in situations where opposition has a caddy and quite a following. I can block out most of it but sometimes having a giggle can ease tension.

Have also caddied a bit for a leading amateur in big tournaments and play to a decent standard mysellf so would like to think I am of some use.

Remember the golden rules of caddying though:

SHOW UP, KEEP UP & SHUT UP !

stephenoleary

Hi Sheet,

I caddied in the Old Head for five years, and at a number of tournaments in Ireland. I also caddied in Martha's Vineyard for two years, and learned a lot about the merits / advantages of having a caddy.

My main advice would be don't take a chance on a caddy in an important golfing situation without prior knowledge of his/her ability.

A caddy brings with them an array of advantages.

Physically, you don't have the weight of the clubs / trolley to worry about, and as a result, often feel much fresher on the back nine than usual.

Mentally, you can share the burden. The caddy can advise on distance, wind, grain, slope. You can get a second opinion in difficult situations, restore confidence if in doubt over a decision, and be reassured when the head drops.

Mister Sifter

I'm not a big fan of team competitions full stop, but a pet hate of mine is when my playing partner takes it upon himself to automatically help me line up putts / make shot decisions etc. I'd rather just get on with it myself.

It is nice to have a caddy, but the only person i've ever really liked doing it for me is my old man. Normally i'm just happy in my own little world. It was interesting watching the tour school... pretty much everyone with caddies and then there's Andy Coltart wandering round on his own with a pencil bag!

madds

Will always look for a caddy in interclub matches but it has to be the right person. Someone I will listen to, hits the ball approximately the same distance as me (or else knows how far I hit), plays at the same tempo as me, etc.

However I've found a caddy can be invaluable in situations where you are playing away from home and the opposition has a large group of supporters. It's pretty handy to have a second set of eyes/ears out there on the course when it gets to squeaky bum time coming down the final stretch.

Really looking forward to the team events this year. (Shriek - we have SC in the 1st round of the Metro).

gorfield

I think average players should not have caddies on a big occasion as it isnt what they would normally do, therefore upsetting their routine etc? Also some eejits that go caddy think they are geniuses and try to call the shots even though their player couldnt pull it off on a playstation!!!! Good players can handle this i feel and it can be good just to have a bag puller. I have a close friend who is a good player and caddies for me in all of the championships, the reason for this is i trust him and if i think its a 7 iron and he says 8 ill generally err on his side as its good to have an opinion from the outside. But only if hes tried and tested!!

JONATHANM

whodini wrote: »

Hi Sheet,

I caddied in the Old Head for five years, and at a number of tournaments in Ireland. I also caddied in Martha's Vineyard for two years, and learned a lot about the merits / advantages of having a caddy.

My main advice would be don't take a chance on a caddy in an important golfing situation without prior knowledge of his/her ability.

A caddy brings with them an array of advantages.

Physically, you don't have the weight of the clubs / trolley to worry about, and as a result, often feel much fresher on the back nine than usual.

Mentally, you can share the burden. The caddy can advise on distance, wind, grain, slope. You can get a second opinion in difficult situations, restore confidence if in doubt over a decision, and be reassured when the head drops.

Very well said.Being a caddy myself, I'll have to say this about covers it.With emphasis(spell check) on the your knowledge of caddies ability.As we say in the business,"there are Caddies and there are bag totters".You surely would not want a totter on your bag when playing a serious event.Allthough they certainly arent the worst when it comes to social golf.What they lack in actual ability they can make up for in good company.

Jonathan

kagni

I've caddied for my brother in club competitions a few times and don't really enjoy it. I don't feel I have much to offer maybe calm him down if he is losing the rag or feeling the pressure but thats about it.
I've never considered having someone caddy for me, would rather do things my own way, and the less people who have to witness my swing the better.:)

soundsham

have to agree with jonathanm

I personally think its a good idea to have a caddy for the big day for many reasons but only someone that your comfortable with,

just to take the physical load off especially playing multiple rounds in a few days,
keep clubs clean and dry,
bit of chit chat to ease the nerves if needed,
give help if and only if asked,
also i have to say anybody who is new to representing a club should have a caddy just in case the guy your playing tries anything to wind you up,i know i've seen it happen.

also i have to say i won a club matchplay with my old man on the bag and he only got the call when my competitor turned up with a caddy,

even though after a few beers he reckoned he won it for me:D

good to share a win like that on the 18th.......on the spur of the moment!!

ShriekingSheet

Thanks for all the replies - interesting stuff.

I really took note of the point about away matches, or matches against an opponent who has a caddy and maybe a few followers. I've experienced it, playing without a caddy, you can feel a bit on your own. People are always polite to applaud when you win a hole but you know they're hoping you'll miss and it's off-putting.

On the more technical side, I wouldn't expect much from my caddy as I'd always have a pre-defined gameplan for the course so there's no decision making on tee-boxes. I consider picking the right clubs and getting the ball consistantly pin-high to be one of my strengths as a golfer but I guess in scenarios where you've ended up with a risk/reward situation, it'd be good to have a chat to a caddy.
What I would like is to have someone on my side, to chat to (as I would to playing partners in a sunday stableford). If it was a good golfer I would ask on the odd putt as regards line.

All in all, and largely on the back of reading what you guys have said, I think I will go with a caddy this year should someone be available. Cheers for that.

JCDUB

I've used caddies a handful of times in the past, only for the company though really.
I take full responsibility for all my putts etc, although it is nice to have a bit of reassurance when you're between irons on an approach shot. It can put your mind at ease.

As stated above though, it's important to have somebody who knows your game on the bag, no point in bringing somebody who doesn't know how far you hit a 7 iron out.Disaster.

Best caddy I ever had was a chick in Thailand, she watched me for the first hole and after that clubbed me perfectly for the other 17, an awesome green reader too, although she did know the course very well.
And before you ask, no I didn't..

ShriekingSheet

JCDUB wrote: »

Best caddy I ever had ....

....no I didn't..

Hahahahahahahahaha

f22

JCDUB wrote: »

And before you ask, no I didn't..

Well John, of course we believe you. From what you've said she was a dab hand in helping you get it into the hole

PhilipMarlowe

The only professional caddy I've had was in St. Andrews. I asked for the same guy for my return trip too because I got on well with him and liked his style and advice.
On certain holes he would pull iron out of the bag on the tee and tell me that's all you're getting when I'd be looking to hit driver...
Having seen some of the caddies that others in the group got though, there is a gulf of difference out there. Some of them don't even play golf I bet! My guy is a 4 handicapper so I could relate to him. Certainly others are just bag-carriers.

I have caddied a few times in Inter-club and generally enjoy it but only for someone who hits the ball something similar to myself. I hate when you're 150 yards out and the guy is thinking what wood he is going to use... it's just alien to me so I can't be any help whereas with someone around my own standard you have a fair idea with clubbing and what shots to take on or not.

Also, having a knowledgeable caddy can be useful if a rules situation arises as it often does in interclub....

JCDUB

f22 wrote: »

Well John, of course we believe you. From what you've said she was a dab hand in helping you get it into the hole

IIRC I think I got it into 18 holes that day in something like 80 strokes, not bad considering I had a hangover and it was very hot :D

Woodgate

I played Junior Cup last year and the team management insisted we all have caddies, but obviously it was our choice who we wanted. One of the reasons being just to have numbers there in support of our team, as most other clubs generally have caddies and lots of supporters, they felt if we had caddies we were matching our opponents and wouldn't be intimidated, personally I wouldn't be any way. In the trials for the team my mate & I agreed to caddy for each other in the event of one or the other making the team, I got on and he caddied for me. I found it a great help as I play with this guy every week, he knows my game as well as his own, we were able to crack jokes keeping things relaxed, club selection was great aswell as I usually take one club more than him, so we worked things out easily.

Overall I would recommend it, but not if someone is pushed on you who you may no like or dont know, ideally someone your are relaxed with and knows your game.