What are the unwritten rules of caddying was the question and a good one it was indeed. First, we had to determine the written rules, as they pertain to the PGA Tour. Be able to carry the pound golf bag, keep the clubs and golf ball clean. Have a clean towel. Have an extra towel. Know the pertinent details such as where to park, first-round tee time, starting hole, names of players in your group if that information matters to your pro — and it matters to some.
From there, give accurate yardages, pay attention to the wind and weather conditions. Speaking of weather, if it rains and it will one must be able to morph into an octopus who can hold the umbrella, a towel, an extra club and a putter cover, wipe grass and mud off the club-face, while of course carrying the bag, keeping the pro and the clubs dry.
What are the rules? Are there rules? Show up, keep up and shut up is a tired mantra — although those first two will always apply. Count the Clubs. On the practice tee, on the putting green, and by all means on the first tee. We all remember the unfortunate incident involving Ian Woosnam in The Open Championship when he suffered a two-stroke penalty in the final round because he teed off with 15 clubs in the bag.
It should also serve as a firm reminder to check, double check and triple check. Strange things happen. We could tell you a funny not funny story from a random Thursday on the PGA Tour involving a pro who stuck his putter in the wrong golf bag same manufacturer somewhere between the putting green and the first tee.
The story has a happy ending but we prefer not to discuss it further. Only after years of therapy can it be mentioned in such a public forum. On the PGA Tour, a simple head nod is sufficient.
But as a rule, say as little as possible. Ease into it. Understand how to rake a bunker. Practice if necessary on Tuesday or around the short game practice area. Mastering all the technical aspects of the course and the player is crucial to be a good caddy, but is also relevant to give emotional support and share a positive set of mind with the player.
Playing such a challenging game sometimes can be frustrating for the golfer, with balls that end in ponds or hazards that over-complicate the game. If you want to be a good caddy, you will have to keep the player optimistic and boost their morale, complimenting them as much as possible when things go right. To build the confidence to hear and say these things, it requires a lot of trust, especially considering they are the only person they speak to during some tense moments on the greens.
For this reason, it is easy to find a professional golf player having dinner and some good laughs with their caddy. Find yourself someone that tells you those things. Carrying the bag and keeping the gear in optimal conditions might be a small portion of the work and may be less exciting.
However, still, it must be done correctly, so the golfer can focus on the game. The rakes are located next to the bunkers and should be used after golfers hit their balls out of them. Rake all parts of the bunker the golfers disturb.
While most golfers will hit their ball then watch to see where it lands, you should, too. If golfers do not see where their balls land, caddies should be able to show them.
This involves replacing the divots golfers create when they hit the ground as well as their ball. Caddies should retrieve these chunks of grass and put them back. Golfers can take divots on fairways or in the rough. Caddies should be ready to tend or remove the pin when golfers are putting. Pins need to be tended when the ball is in such a location that golfers have trouble seeing the hole. To tend a pin, stand near it with one hand on it.
Remove the pin after the putt has been hit. If the ball is close enough to the hole so the golfer can see it while putting, the pin can be removed right away. When golfers are hitting their shots, caddies should be out of the way, and standing completely still and silent. Any movement can throw off a shot. On the green, caddies must be cognizant of where they stand and make sure they do not walk in the imaginary lines between balls and holes.
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