You see golfers with their caddies everywhere you go. Whether it’s on television, at a public course, or even at your local home club, you can likely find a golfer and his caddie at any given time on any given day. However, many people who don’t play golf often have no idea what the importance of a caddie in the game is; why do these people have them? How do they help? And what exactly does a caddie do for his golfer?
If you’re wondering these things, read ahead to learn more about what a caddie does in golf and why he is so important!
Why do golfers have caddies?
Why do golfers have caddies? That’s a great question! Although many people don’t know the answer to this question, it’s actually a very easy one. The reason golfers have caddies is to help them with their golf game. Caddies can provide golfers with yardages, help them with their swing and putt, give them advice, and essentially anything else they need on the course. In other words, caddies help golfers play better golf.
Caddies are able to do all of this because, unlike the golfer, they don’t have to focus on their own game. Since the caddie is not playing the round, his primary focus is on the golfer’s game and helping him succeed. Caddies are able to do things that the golfer can’t do because he’s playing the round. Caddies can watch the entire course and see what the golfer can’t.
They can see the upcoming shots and distances, which helps the golfer make better decisions. They can also look out for hazards that the golfer may not be able to see.
What does a caddie do?
Now that we know why golfers have caddies, let’s talk about what a caddie does. In general, a caddie does pretty much everything that the golfer cannot do on the course. As we mentioned earlier, a caddie helps with yardages, advice, and more because a golfer can’t do those things while he’s playing as well. The following are some of the most important things a caddie will do on any given day.
![Jordan Spieth's caddie](https://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/07/20/55ad7cb8b01eefe207f71619_blogs-the-loop-spieth-caddie-550.jpeg.rend.hgtvcom.966.725.suffix/1588690658068.jpeg)
Yardages: As we mentioned above, the biggest thing a caddie can do is provide accurate yardages. A golfer’s ability to play his shots correctly is the most important factor in their game. Caddies can help a golfer know where to hit the ball, how hard he should hit it, and where it will go on the course. Caddies will also be able to help golfers know what club to use for every shot, which is often very important.
Advice: Caddies can offer advice on all sorts of things during a round. From what club to hit to what type of shot to hit in a certain situation, a caddie can help a golfer make the right decisions on the course. Caddies can also help with strategy on each hole. This includes things like knowing how to play the break, where to hit the ball, and what type of shot to use in certain situations.
Putting: Caddies are also able to help with putting because they can see the whole green and know where to place the ball. They can help with reading the green, too. A caddie can also help with things like reading the break and speed of the green, which are both important for putting. They can also help with putting strategy, like reading the pin, speed of the greens, and more.
Caddie duties and responsibilities
As we’ve discussed in the above section, a caddie does a lot to help his golfer on the course. However, there are some important things to remember about how caddies do their job and their caddie duties and responsibilities.
Here are the most important ones:
Know the course: Caddies need to know the course and know it well. Knowing the course will give them an advantage over the golfer, as they can help with strategy, tips, and more. If a caddie doesn’t know the course, they won’t be able to help his golfer and may actually hinder him. Caddies need to know things like pin placements, break on the greens, and where hazards are located. They also need to know which tees to play from each day so that they can get their golfer off to a good start.
Have a good relationship with the golfer: Caddies have to have a good relationship with the golfer. This is especially important if the golfer is a beginner. A caddie can often help a golfer improve and play better golf by giving him good advice and tips. If a new golfer doesn’t have a good relationship with his caddie, he may not receive the best advice and may not improve as quickly.
Know the rules of golf: Caddies need to know the rules of golf because they are responsible for helping their golfer with theirs. If a golfer is unsure about a rule, he may ask his caddie, who will be able to help him.
Is a caddie required to play golf?
You may have also wondered if a caddie is required to play golf. In most cases, a caddie is not required to play, which is good news for non-golfers who want to become a caddie! However, some clubs may have rules that require caddies to play, regardless of whether or not they can play golf. If you are unsure, it’s a good idea to call your club to find out.
![Why is caddie important?](https://golf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/golfer-caddie-1024x576.jpg)
However, caddies who can play do have an advantage over those who can’t, as they can better help their golfers and know what they are going through. In other words, if you can play golf, it will help your chances of getting a job as a caddie.
Tips for hiring a caddie
Now that you know what a caddie does, what he is responsible for, and what his duties and responsibilities are, you may be thinking about becoming a caddie. While there is nothing wrong with that, you do need to do your research before jumping into it. To become a caddie and land a job, you’ll need to prepare and know what to do and what to expect.
Research: The first thing you should do is research different golf courses in your area. You want to find out which courses hire caddies and the type of pay they offer.
Ask around: You should also ask around at golf courses and see if they have a caddie program. If they do, you can ask whether or not they take walk-on caddies.
Apply: When you find a course that accepts walk-on caddies and that you would like to work at, you should apply! You can find a caddie application form online, or you can walk in to the course and ask to speak to the head golf pro.
Final Words
Caddies are a very important part of the golf game. They help golfers with everything they can’t do while they’re playing, which is why they are so important. As you now know, they provide yardages, advice, and more because a golfer can’t do that while playing. Caddies need to know the course well, have a good relationship with the golfer, and know the rules of golf, among other things.
They need to be able to play golf, too, but it isn’t required. If you’re a beginner golfer and are interested in becoming a caddie, you now have some knowledge about what a caddie does and why they are so important. From here, you can do your research and learn more about becoming a caddie.