Pay what you feel is deserved — anywhere from a flat $20, to 20, 30, 40, or even 50 percent of the caddie
Caddy
In golf, a caddie is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support, almost like a coach.
Full Answer
How much do you tip a caddie on a golf course?
The minimum tip per person to a caddie should be around $50. And of course, offer to grab them a snack or drink at the turn. Keep in mind caddies are probably receiving less than half of the property's caddie fee (which is usually $60-80).
How do you ask a caddie for tips?
“Talk to the caddiemaster or to someone in the pro shop, and they’ll fill you in on rates and standard tips,” says Sean Benz, caddiemaster at the Grand Golf Club at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego. Never, ever put payment questions directly to your caddie.
Would you pay $20 for a caddie?
Only if you're 5 years younger, a foot taller, 50 lbs. heavier and buff as an NFL linebacker. $20 and you may just get by with a mean look. All of the caddies at that course will refuse you the next time you show up to play.
Why choose Nemacolin Golf Club?
Elevate your game with Nemacolin. Take in the stunning vistas of the rolling fairways, enjoy a round at either of Nemacolin’s two on-property courses designed by the renowned Pete Dye, and perfect your swing at Nemacolin’s own Golf Academy.

What is the average tip for a golf caddy?
According to Whidden, a caddie should be tipped about 40 to 50 percent of the green fee. And the group should split the forecaddie tip evenly, usually between $50 and $100 in total.
How much do you tip a golf cart guy?
To be safe, $3 to $5 per bag should do the trick. Heck, even $5 per cart really isn't bad. If you do the math -- that's $10 per foursome -- and considering how many carts go out on the course, I'm sure the cart staff would be happy if they averaged that much per bag.
How much do you tip a golf bag drop?
Rule of thumb that most golfers go by is to tip the caddie at least 50% of the cost of the round.
Do you tip at the golf bag drop?
When tipping is expected at a golf course, expect to tip at bag drop and cart return and, if you are using one, to tip your caddie. Gratuities for food and beverage service are also typical.
How much do you tip a caddie master?
That's the starter and the caddiemaster. If the former squeezes your foursome into a crowded tee sheet, $20 is appropriate (think of it like a maitre d at a restaurant). Similarly, if the caddiemaster hooked you up with one of his top guys, $20 should be his reward.
How much do you tip a golf pro after a lesson?
Most of the time, a golfer will round up the fee of a lesson or simply give a cash amount at the end of the lesson. For instance, if your lesson was $40, it is appropriate to give $50, and the same can be said for an $80 lesson and paying $100.
How much do you tip the caddies at Pebble Beach golf course?
$60-$120A respectable tip for a single caddie is $60-$120 and $100-$140 for a double bag. The caddies at Pebble are what make the round(s) so memorable and they know the greens like no other and provide knowledge about not only the course, but the entire Monterey Peninsula.
Do golf cart attendants make tips?
At most courses, cart-return attendants earn a modest hourly wage. Gratuities are their lifeblood. You may find their work extraneous and the prospect of paying them irritating. But the services they provide comes with the territory at many courses.
What is the difference between a caddie and a Forecaddie?
Typically, a caddie works for just one golfer during the round, though they're not limited in doing so under USGA rules. What makes a forecaddie different? A forecaddie doesn't work for any one particular golfer. In other words, a forecaddie is a caddie employed by a group of golfers.
Should you tip a golf pro after a lesson?
Teaching pro Don't worry too much about tipping, unless you came back next week after shooting your career low round. Two teaching pros we talked to at prestigious clubs in Phoenix and Chicago say the tip isn't expected.
Are you supposed to tip golf instructor?
You still don't have to tip them. The lesson fee is plenty. Referrals are the best way to show appreciation. However, longtime students may get their instructors some sort of gift over the years or on a holiday.
Who was the gavel tipped by?
If etiquette questions were adjudicated in the court of public opinion, the gavel would come down against Matt Kuchar, who is widely seen as having stiffed his fill-in caddie after tipping him a reported $2,000 in the wake of his $1.3 million win at the Mayakoba Classic in November.
What rule does the Mayakoba incident have brought to the fore?
The first is a rule that the Mayakoba incident has brought to the fore: always get the terms straight before your round begins.
Can you ask a payment question directly to your caddie?
Never, ever put payment questions directly to your caddie. As the middle-schoolers say, that’s just awkkkkkward.
Can you pay for golf clubs on 18th green?
As for when to pay, you can wait until your caddie has cleaned your clubs and brought them to the bag drop, but it’s perfectly acceptable, even preferable, to hand over the money on the 18th green.
Which green enabled you to drain an impossible 50 footer?
Maybe it was the advice you were given on the 16th green which enabled you to drain an impossible 50-footer.
What is a walking caddie?
Walking Caddie. To start, most of us are familiar with your typical “walking” caddie. Traditionally, walking caddies are employed by upscale resorts and private clubs but sometimes, certain well-known public courses provide them as well.
What does the orange fan mean on a tee shot?
Think of forecaddies as the marshals in a professional tournament standing near the tee shot’s landing zone with their coveted highlighter-orange fan, indicating the direction of a tee shot.
How much does Bandon Dunes charge?
For instance, Bandon Dunes charges a fee of $100 per bag. The historic Pinehurst has mixed rates depending on whether you want a caddie assigned only to you, or if you and the gang prefer a forecaddie for your round. Finally, throwing $25-$50 to the group’s forecaddie though is the normal standard.
What is a forecaddie?
A forecaddie has a special role during your game. Instead of being assigned to one particular bag, forecaddies are generally assigned to the entire group. They are often employed through third-party caddieing services for corporate outings or fundraiser events.
What is a starter in golf?
Typically, most starters are retired gentleman looking to get out of the house and stay close to the game. They regulate the pace of play by ensuring tee times are perfectly adhered to.
Do employees get benefits from golf?
In any given round of golf, you are guaranteed to run into or receive the benefits from numerous employees. Below, let’s briefly remind ourselves who these people are, the services they typically provide, and a suggested tip you may offer them.
What should I tip a caddie?
Upon arrival, we were told we had caddies and we did what we thought was the right thing: we asked the head pro what the customary tip was here.
When should you tip outside service staff?
When should you tip the outside service staff? Generally speaking, you shouldn't feel compelled to tip until the end of the round, though some golfers certainly tip at the beginning once their bags are loaded. It's a tricky thing. The outside service staff will typically pool tips with their crew. So it's possible someone who helped you in the morning won't get your money if you finish after their shift. From my experience at the bag drop it all just evens out in the long run.
Do golf carts pay minimum wage?
Base pay for the persons working the cart is usually around minimum wage or possibly higher. The easiest thing to do here is to tip the beverage cart attendant like you would a bartender. If they're mixing drinks or set you up with a nice bag of ice, add a few extra bucks.
Can you tip a golf cart at a parking lot?
Lower-end or municipal facilities might have golf cart attendants but they don't really interact with you and you're allowed to take your cart to the parking lot to load and unload. In these cases tipping isn't expected. That said, if you get a clean cart stocked with divot mix and possibly even ice or towels, a couple bucks to the folks to the crew would certainly be appreciated.
Do golf courses have a tipping policy?
There are some private clubs that have a no-tipping policy besides caddies and their food & beverage staff (and an 18% +/- service charge is automatically added). Resorts with a membership might also automatically add 18% to any food & beverage charge; check your bill before paying.
Do golf courses have valet parking?
Some higher-end golf courses or private clubs have valet parking. Some even have mandatory valet. Valet parking is usually complimentary but in some cases there is a fee. The fee never goes to the valet (who usually makes close to minimum wage or is paid a flat fee by the shift) but to the company or property. You should only feel compelled to tip once after getting your car back. $5 a car to the valet should do the trick.
Do Americans tip?
No country tips quite like the United States. Americans are a generous and charitable bunch and that certainly goes for how many of us treat our service workers. But let's be real - tipping can also feel burdensome and even awkward. Most of us carry cash less often than we used to and ATM fees keep going up. Historians point to the proliferation of tipping in America during reconstruction in the late 1800s when ex-slaves took waiter jobs in city restaurants and porter positions on trains and their employers paid them very little. So the patrons' tips helped them make something closer to a livable wage. This model proliferated further during prohibition and the Great Depression and server minimum wages lower than other jobs was codified into law by FDR in 1938. ( Here is a great NPR podcast that goes into the history of tipping .)