Caddies
Where would the sport of golf be without the caddie? In the words of Bradley S. Klein, they are the ultimate insider in sports. They can get inside their player's head like no one else, and they know what their player is feeling on the course moreso than any coach or spouse.
Despite the proliferation of technology like the golf cart and yardage devices, caddies nevertheless endure. They are still used at many private clubs around the U.S. and are a fixture of the links golf experience in the United Kingdom and Ireland. They are commonplace in Asia but their roles are differently defined as golfers typically also take golf carts.
Organizations like Evans Scholars and the Western Golf Association continue to support the future of the caddie. Such issues as increased labor costs and a limited labor market as well as liability have led to their decline, but resorts like Bandon Dunes and Kohler have kept their job alive. Other resorts have implemented animal caddies like llamas or goats. We've covered the story and role of the caddie all over the world at Golf Advisor, as well as have included some articles on which resorts in the U.S. they are available. We also cover the tricky issue of what they should be paid and what to tip.
