Caddies?

volvilla

I am thinking about entering a few golf open competitions this summer. I have never played or been to any amateur competition before and I was just wondering is it normal for players to bring a friend along to caddy on the day?

f22

volvilla wrote: »

I am thinking about entering a few golf open competitions this summer. I have never played or been to any amateur competition before and I was just wondering is it normal for players to bring a friend along to caddy on the day?

No

Fore Iron

For regular Open stableford competitions or similar to be found on any day of the week in various places - absolutely not. I would imagine the majority of clubs would not allow or forbid it anyway.

It's only interclub or high level amatuer competitions that you will find players with caddies and even then it's probably only 5% that have them.

ssbob

Fore Iron wrote: »

I would imagine the majority of clubs would not allow or forbid it anyway.

I understand that it is not the norm but why would they forbid it?

AGC

ssbob wrote: »

I understand that it is not the norm but why would they forbid it?

They are not insured in a lot of cases and if they got a smack of a ball

Fore Iron

Many courses simply forbid caddies. Whether it be for insurance reasons or otherwise. What their reasons are I can't be sure of.

Myksyk

Fore Iron wrote: »

It's only interclub or high level amatuer competitions that you will find players with caddies and even then it's probably only 5% that have them.

I have to say that it's almost tradition in our club to have a caddy with you for interclub matches. Purcell and Bruen anyway.

twounderpar

I used a caddy when I played for the club at first but found them a distraction and dont use one anymore. Dont use them for the rest of the year so found it strange having someone else in charge of my bag.In fact I ended up pulling my bag more than my caddy!! Dont think any club would allow a caddy in ordinary open competitions.

G1032

twounderpar wrote: »

I used a caddy when I played for the club at first but found them a distraction and dont use one anymore. Dont use them for the rest of the year so found it strange having someone else in charge of my bag.In fact I ended up pulling my bag more than my caddy!! Dont think any club would allow a caddy in ordinary open competitions.

It's handy to have a caddy in an interclub match if it's raining. nice to have someone to keep the clubs dry.

ssbob

Would be nice to have someone with you to remind you that you are not Tiger Woods every now and again, especially when in the tree's.:D

GreeBo

I find caddies more of a distraction than anything, part of my pre-shot routine is taking the club from the bag, a caddy interferes with that and messes me up.

Anatom

I agree with GreeBo. I was in Africa a number of years ago and played golf twice while I was there. The rule in both clubs was that you had to use a caddy (In fairness, it is their only source of income - they live on practically nothing).

I found it an incredibly difficult experience, perhaps because I felt a bit guilty about being a "rich" foreigner (I'm not, but everything's relative...), but moreso because both men were considerably older than me and I spent most of both rounds stupidly wanting to hold the bag for them in case they fell over with the effort.

I've never used a caddy over here. I'm definitely not good enough to warrant one, even if I ever do make a club team, which is highly unlikely. The lack of control and the thought that he'd be looking at me and wishing he was carrying a bag for someone who can actually hit the bloody ball properly would ruin the experience I think...

I have heard that on certain courses in the States (like Sawgrass I believe) you must use at least one caddy in your group. Apart from club selection and lines etc., they give you a "tour" of the course, filling it in with anecdotes of famous players or tournaments etc. Have heard mixed views on how desirable that is though...:rolleyes:

ssbob

Anatom wrote: »

I agree with GreeBo. I was in Africa a number of years ago and played golf twice while I was there. The rule in both clubs was that you had to use a caddy (In fairness, it is their only source of income - they live on practically nothing).

I found it an incredibly difficult experience, perhaps because I felt a bit guilty about being a "rich" foreigner (I'm not, but everything's relative...), but moreso because both men were considerably older than me and I spent most of both rounds stupidly wanting to hold the bag for them in case they fell over with the effort.

I've never used a caddy over here. I'm definitely not good enough to warrant one, even if I ever do make a club team, which is highly unlikely. The lack of control and the thought that he'd be looking at me and wishing he was carrying a bag for someone who can actually hit the bloody ball properly would ruin the experience I think...

I have heard that on certain courses in the States (like Sawgrass I believe) you must use at least one caddy in your group. Apart from club selection and lines etc., they give you a "tour" of the course, filling it in with anecdotes of famous players or tournaments etc. Have heard mixed views on how desirable that is though...:rolleyes:

Good story about being in Africa, I would like to try someone on the bag sometime to see if they would give me advice on when to go for it and when not to...................

Anatom

Ah ssbob, its the little inner voice that tells you to go for it the whole time, not the caddy. A good caddy might only hold you back!:D

bailey99

when you were in africa playing golf did you get the jamboys?

Anatom

bailey99 wrote: »

when you were in africa playing golf did you get the jamboys?

Ha! Haven't heard that one for a while. No, no signs of jam on faces at all. It was Kenya, but the days of White Mischief were well and truly over by that time!!