How Much Money Does a Golf Caddie Make?
Working as a golf caddie has appeal for those who love the game and would enjoy working outside. Though lucrative jobs at the sport's top levels are very difficult to find and take years of work and a little luck, it's possible to earn a decent living at top clubs around the country, particularly if you're free to travel according to the seasons.
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Types of Jobs
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Most know of the traditional caddie work that involves carrying a bag of clubs, advising a player when needed and taking care of the course. That work earns a standard bag fee and tip at the end of the round. Some caddies will "double loop," or carry two bags at once, for double the earning power. Another caddie job is as a forecaddie, in which a caddie will serve an entire foursome. Instead of carrying a bag, the forecaddie runs ahead of the group to spot incoming tee shots, provides yardages, reads putts and takes care of the course. The fee and tips from each player may be lower, but the earning power can be greater if the group is a full complement of four golfers. According to a SalaryExpert.com survey across 10 U.S. cities, caddies average about $22,415 annually.
Minimum Fees
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Bag fees vary greatly, depending on the course and clientele. The revenue can also depend on whether the caddie works directly for the club or with a vendor such as CaddieMaster, which runs caddie programs at clubs and resorts across the country. For example, a vendor might charge $35 for a bag fee but deduct a percentage for uniforms or management fees, leaving the caddie with $25 per golfer per round. Working as a forecaddie might earn $15 per golfer, but tracking four golfers and their clubs means you'll have plenty of work to earn the extra pay.
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It's All About the Bonus
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Tips or commissions determine the true earning power of a caddie. At resorts and clubs, caddies earn a base fee per player, and players are expected to tip the caddie according to the level of service provided. That's why it's important at every level for caddies to have outstanding people skills, knowing when to offer guidance or helpful silence during the course of a round. Tips for resort and private club caddies can, of course, vary. On the PGA Tour, caddies' bonuses are a negotiated percentage of winnings. Dennis Cone, president of the Professional Caddies Association, told Forbes in 2007 that caddies make generally 5 percent of the player's share of the purse, 7 percent of a top-10 finish and 10 percent for a victory. The same Forbes article suggested that the best-paid caddie in the world was Steve Williams, who earned an estimated $1.27 million in 2006 for carrying Tiger Woods' bag. Another important way to increase tips is to know the greens. Caddies who can help a player sink putts that turn a match around are often compensated well after the round.
Nomads Prevail
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Caddies can stay put at a particular club if the weather permits. Bandon Dunes Resort, for example, has the largest caddie program in the United States, but its courses are so highly rated that it draws customers year-round. Caddies willing to stay mobile can earn more by following the seasons, working at northern resorts and clubs in the summer and heading south for the winter.
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References
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- Photo Credit Playing Golf image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
