how to become a golf caddie

^{How to Become a Professional Golf Caddy}

1. Get some official training, even if you've caddied as a youngster. The Professional Caddies Association (PCA) offers training and apprenticeship programs to get you started.
2. Talk with caddies. Attend a tournament in your area and after a round, ask a few caddies what the job is really like.
3. Work on your own golf game (but don't think you need to break 80) and learn the rules of golf as well as you can.
4. Get caddying experience through part-time opportunities associated with large tournaments or scrambles in your area.
Keep your eyes and ears open for country club caddy jobs. ...
Consider all options, such as the LPGA, the Champions (Seniors) Tour, and even the international circuit.
Network like crazy. Let everyone you work for and everyone you work with know that you're looking to move up as a caddy.

What does it take to become a golf caddy?

The Professional Caddies Association (PCA) offers training and apprenticeship programs to get you started. If you're still in school, check with golf courses in your area about caddying opportunities. Talk with caddies. Attend a tournament in your area and after a round, ask a few caddies what the job is really like.

How does someone become a professional golf caddy?

“How To Become A Professional Golf Caddie”

1. Becoming a Pro Caddie (Learning the Art) The first step to becoming good at anything you are trying to accomplish is through practice and learning all you can ...
2. Becoming a Pro Caddie (Make it a Job) Whether you choose to work part time or full time, this is the next step in your journey and a ...
3. Becoming a Pro Caddie (Make it a Career)

What are some tips for being a golf caddy?

What do you have to do to be a caddy?

• Have the Clubs Ready. Place the bottom of the golf bag on the ground and hold the top away from your body.
• Clean Clubs and Balls.
• Be Ready to Rake.
• Watch the Ball.
• Maintain the Golf Course.
• Tend the Pin.
• Stand in the Right Place.
• Wear the Proper Attire.

What makes a good golf caddy?

Who are the best caddies in golf, and what makes them great?

1. Steve Williams: This man is on pretty much everyone's list of best caddies, even from guys who don't like him. ...
2. Jim "Bones" Mackay: The epitome of "going to the tee with a great player" holds true in the case of Phil Mickelson 's longtime sidekick. ...
3. Mike "Fluff" Cowan: He has been caddying for more than 40 years! ...

More items...

How much does a golf caddy make?

A caddy's pay is a combination of a weekly stipend plus a percentage of a player's winnings. While every player/caddie agreement is different, generally speaking, most PGA Tour caddies make a base of between $1,500 and $3,000 per week.

What qualifications do you need to be a golf caddy?

Qualifications for a golf caddy job do not include formal education, but they instead focus on experience and knowledge of golf. Many job candidates get both through work as a groundskeeper at a golf course. This gives you opportunities to network and find temporary employment at scrambles or tournaments.

Is it hard to get a caddy job?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy Get started by signing up to be a caddie at a local golf course. Most of them have caddie masters who match caddies with players, and will tell you the requirements for carrying a bag there.

How much does a golf pro caddy make?

Caddies for professional golfers make between $50,000-$100,000 and 5-10% of their golfer's winnings on average. PGA Tour caddies earn between $1000-$3000 each week. For lower levels, salaries look like this: Beginner or amauteur caddy: $15-$20 per hour.

Can anyone be a golf caddy?

Learn as much as you can about caddying and the sport of golf in general. No professional golfer will ever hire a caddy who has no experience or does not know anything about the sport. It is important to understand not only every aspect of the game, including rules and scoring, but also how the clubhouse operates.

How are caddies chosen?

Caddies rely on their pro golfers because how much pro golfers pay their caddies is based on how much the pro makes. Pro golfers pay their caddies on an individual basis. As far as the PGA Tour is concerned, pro golfers and their caddies are considered independent contractors.

Can a 16 year old be a golf caddy?

Some states permit caddies to work at a young age. Golf course managers or head pros will typically be college graduates -- in their early 20s, at least -- while other positions at courses may be filled by 18-year-old high school grads. The youngest workers you're likely to find at a golf course will be caddies.

What age can you be a golf caddy?

At most places, caddies start at around age 14. However, some people may rather have more experienced or older caddies.

How much does a 14 year old caddy make?

A teenager can start working as a golf caddie right from 14 years of age. Teenage caddies make between $100 to $120. They will be required to carry 2 bags and help the golfer play 18 holes. Playing a 'loop' consumes approximately 4 hours, which means a teenage caddie can make $20 to $30 an hour.

Do caddies get paid if player misses cut?

"If the player misses the cut, the caddie still has to get a paycheck because the caddie pays for all of his own expenses - airfare, hotel, car, food, all of it." "If the guy makes the cut, the standard is 10-7-5 - 10% for a win, 7% for a top 10, 5% for everything else," Collins said.

Who is the richest caddy in golf?

1. Jimmy Johnson. What is this? Jimmy Johnson is currently caddying for Justin Thomas, but he has a successful history on tour.

How much does Tiger Woods pay his caddie?

According to Golf Week, a caddie earns five to 10 percent of a professional golfer's winnings on top of his base salary. A caddie makes between $1,500 and $2,500 in base pay per week during golf tournaments, Forbes reports.

How much does a golf caddy make at the Masters?

Most Money Made By a Caddie During the Masters 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.

How much does a top caddy earn?

Without a good caddy, it's tough for any golfer to win an event or compete with some of the best golfers. Top caddies can make six-figures, and 5 of them made at least $350,000+ in 2020.

How much do Masters caddies get paid?

The salaries of Caddy Masters in the US range from $14,283 to $59,840 , with a median salary of $35,710 .

How much money does the caddy of the winner of the Masters get?

The caddie earning the largest payout at the 2022 Masters was Ted Scott, Scottie Scheffler's caddie. With the win, Scott stands to take home $270,000 of the nearly $1 million pot available to caddies that made the cut over the weekend.

How to become a caddy?

Step 1. Get some official training, even if you've caddied as a youngster. The Professional Caddies Association (PCA) offers training and apprenticeship programs to get you started. If you're still in school, check with golf courses in your area about caddying opportunities.

How to get caddy experience?

Get caddying experience through part-time opportunities associated with large tournaments or scrambles in your area. See how it's done in less pressurized situations and find out if it's truly something you want to do full-time. Keep an eye out for upcoming tournaments and ask around at local courses that tend to host these kinds of events. You can often get started with no experience, as long as you have knowledge of golf and willingness to tote a bag.

What is a caddie program?

A professionally trained, knowledgeable and courteous group of caddies and a well-managed caddie program can help a club deal more effectively with slow play, significantly add to the number of enjoyable rounds of golf and enhance the club’s overall image of a first class operation.

What is a caddie manager?

THE CADDIE MANAGER. The Caddie Manager is pivotal to the golf club industry with many responsibilities, which can materially affect the welfare of the club. The Caddie Manager is charged with the task of recruiting and scheduling caddies.

Why is it important to communicate with other caddies?

Your ability to communicate with the other caddies in your group and work as a member of a team will help your ability to effectively service the members of your group and help the pace of play immeasurably. It will also make your job easier, more fun and could result in better tips.

How far to stand to watch a player's ball?

When you reach your player’s ball, stand the bag about three feet to the right of the ball. After the player has selected his club, quickly move out to a position at least ten feet to the right of the player and concentrate on watching your player’s ball in flight.

How to get rid of rattle on golf clubs?

Walk with your hand over the clubs so they do not rattle.

How many clubs can you put in a golf bag?

Carefully count the clubs in the bag (the rules permit a maximum of 14 clubs). If the player has more or less than 14 clubs, tell the player.

When to hand your putter?

Hand your player his putter as soon as his ball is on the green.

What major do you need to be a golf caddie?

When we researched the most common majors for a golf caddie, we found that they most commonly earn bachelor's degree degrees or high school diploma degrees . Other degrees that we often see on golf caddie resumes include associate degree degrees or master's degree degrees.

How much does a golf caddie make?

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a golf caddie. For example, did you know that they make an average of $11.46 an hour? That's $23,846 a year!

How Do Golf Caddie Rate Their Jobs?

Rate how you like work as Golf Caddie. It's anonymous and will only take a minute.

What are the best states to be a golf caddie?

The best states for people in this position are Connecticut, Alaska, New York, and Massachusetts. Golf caddies make the most in Connecticut with an average salary of $38,261. Whereas in Alaska and New York, they would average $38,164 and $35,749, respectively. While golf caddies would only make an average of $35,654 in Massachusetts , you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

Instructions

Get started by signing up to be a caddie at a local golf course. Most of them have caddie masters who match caddies with players, and will tell you the requirements for carrying a bag there. At most courses, they have a training session at the beginning of the season for new caddies at which they are taught the basic requirements of caddying.

About the Author

Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic." He graduated from the University of Louisville.

What is the role of a caddie in golf?

The quintessential role of the caddie is to bring added value to the game for the golfer. There’s the obvious duty of carrying the golf clubs, but the caddie does much more than that. From making sure the bag is stocked with balls and tees to repairing divots and raking sand traps. We’ve compiled a list of some of the key tasks of a caddie.

What do you need to know before you caddie?

Golf Course Knowledge. Before you caddie at a certain course it is best to have some knowledge of the course. It is important to know where any hazards are like bodies of water and bunkers. You also want to be aware of where the out-of-bound markers are.

How to clean golf clubs and balls?

In the pre-round preparation you should’ve grabbed a towel. That towel will be used to clean clubs and balls. You may want to dip half the towel in water before the round for easier cleaning. As a caddie it is your responsibility to clean the golfers club after they use it. Use the towel to wipe and dry the club; additionally you may use a tee to clean the grooves of the club. Clean a golfer’s ball before each tee shot and on the green after it’s been marked. Ensure you check with your golfer about their ball cleaning preference because some golfers may have different habits than others, like they may not like their ball cleaned on the green. It is also in the realm of the caddie’s duties to keep the golf bag organized, so once the club is cleaned it should be placed in the same spot in the bag it was removed.

What to do when a golfer hits a divot?

When your golfer strikes the ball in a manner that leaves a divot it is your responsibility to replace that divot. Once the divot is created, leaving a chunk of grass missing, the caddie retrieves the chunk and places it back into the spot from which it came, patting it down with their foot. If the caddie can’t locate the missing piece of the divot, then they should use sand to fill the hole. When on the green, after marking the golfer’s ball, make sure to fix any ball marks made by that ball.

What do you wear to a golf tournament?

Standard golf attire should be worn, typically a collared shirt and nice dress pants. You may also want to wear a hat. A nice pair of shoes should be worn as well. For tournament play, caddies may be provided with a uniform or a caddie bib to wear .

How to keep track of where a golf ball lands?

If you don’t know the exact location, you should know the general area it landed. Use landmarks on the course to help keep track of the location, like a certain bush or tree.

How to stay out of line of sight in golf?

It’s important for you to remain out of the way and stay as still and quiet as possible . Once on the green you must stay clear of a players putt line, the line between the ball and the hole. Beware of your shadow on the green as well; you don’t want your shadow on a players putt line either.

How Can I Get Started as a Teenage Golf Caddy?

Make sure that you speak to your parent (s) before trying to become a teen golf caddy. Doing so we’ll ensure your safety and they’ll likely be able to help you in your efforts.

How Much Does a Teenage Golf Caddy Get Paid?

As a golf caddy, you can expect to earn somewhere between $10-$15 per hour. The biggest issue with this type of work though is that your day to day schedule can be unpredictable. Instead of working one type of task like other jobs, you’ll help out with various jobs. This would be great for someone who would get bored quickly, but it is also a problem as you will have to learn new skills quickly. You will also need to have golf knowledge, since you might have to help fix the golf equipment or adjust the golf course. But even so, if you start now and stick to it, you’ll earn a decent about over the summer.

What does a caddy do for a teenager?

What Does a Teenage Golf Caddy do? As a golf caddy, you’ll be responsible for day to day operations at the golf course. You will be supervised by senior staff such as the manager or owner of the golf course.

How to get a job at a golf course?

Find a golf course and apply. You can find your local golf course with a simple Google search. You can also apply to the same golf course that you golfed at. Do some simple research and find positions that suit you. You’ll want to find the seasonal jobs. Compile a small list of all the golf courses you will apply at, and then call them about the position or send them an email. They might interview you, and during the interview you should remain calm and nice. As the saying says, you don’t have a second chance to make a first impression.

What is the day to day operation of a golf course?

The day to day operations will most likely be , but not limited to these , greeting guests, cleaning, operating the golf cart fleet, rentals, and generally making sure the golf course runs smoothly. You will basically be someone who helps out occasionally with the managers on running the golf course and you will also help ...

Do you have a second chance to make a first impression as a golf caddy?

They might interview you, and during the interview you should remain calm and nice. As the saying says, you don’t have a second chance to make a first impression. Congrats, you’re officially a golf caddy. It might be hard at first, being in the sun and running different jobs the entire day, but it will be worth it in the end.

Do you have to polish your golf skills before becoming a caddy?

You’ll want to polish your own golf skills before you become a golf caddy. You don’t want to look like you’re bad at golf, especially if you’re working at a golf course. Also, golfers might want your help to become a better golfer, and it’s good to be able to provide them with help. Your own golf skills can also help you land a job more easily, ...