How to Caddy at a Professional Level

Pro caddies must know pin placements.

The public perception of a caddy is someone who carries a golf bag and provides moral support for the golfer. It's quite the contrary; a good caddy is also well aware of the challenges and obstacles that their player will face on the golf course. They must know the course's overall yardage and each hole's pin placement to help the pro select the right club for each shot of the round.

Instructions

1. Learn the sport. To be successful at any profession, everyone must gain on-the-job experience to learn their trade. At an early age, apply to become a caddy at your local country club or offer to carry the clubs of your neighborhood golfers.

2. Study the course. You must pay attention to each hole's yardage and how the fairway breaks toward the green. Try to come up with your own game plan to attack the course.

3. Read the rule book. A surprising number of golfers on the PGA tour don't have a full grasp of the rule book, and often ask their caddy for clarification on rules.

4. Caddy for a wide range of golfers. Not everyone will have the same demeanor on the golf course. It's your job to keep them mentally focused for their upcoming tee shot after a difficult hole. This a great opportunity to use trial and error in your approach to calm down different personalities and prepare them for the next tee.

5. Look for that next Tiger Woods. It's very important to network yourself and meet as many upcoming golfers on the PGA tour as you can. Try to caddy at courses that host junior or collegiate golf programs. It would be great if the club also hosts a PGA event, since they could assign you to caddy for a professional on their practice rounds.

6. Travel to PGA tour locations. Not all professional golfers have a full-time caddy for each tournament stop, and some only hire one for a few months at a time. This is where your networking could come into play by gaining temporary employment to show your expertise on the course.

References

• My Golf Spy
• PGA Caddy Guide