A GUIDE TO CADDYING
OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
We are excited that you are interested in joining the longtime tradition of caddying! The job of caddying is truly what you make of it. In addition to great pay and an outdoor office, it can lead to meaningful friendships, networking opportunities, and even future employment.
As a caddie, you will become part of a deep-rooted and storied tradition in Massachusetts. You will provide a key service to a club and its members which is a staple of the golf culture in this state. A unique benefit of this job is the commitment of the club members to the young people working in the game of golf. They partner with the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund to help kids working in the game of golf achieve their dreams of a higher education.
Since 1949, the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund has been dedicated to sending deserving young men and women who work at golf courses in Massachusetts to college. Named after Francis Ouimet, America’s first golf hero, the organization has blossomed into the largest independent scholarship fund in New England and has awarded approximately $55 million in college scholarships to more than 7,000 Ouimet Scholars. Caddying for a minimum of two seasons creates an eligibility for this scholarship and we invite you to check out the QR code at the back of this booklet.
Thank you again for your interest in learning the finer points of caddying. Many who came before you look fondly back on what they consider the best summer job ever. We encourage you to work hard and hope you look back on your time as a caddie as the opportunity of a lifetime!
Colin McGuire
Executive Director, Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund
WHAT IS CADDYING?
As a caddie, you’re in charge of carrying your assigned player’s bag around the course and performing other tasks to make his or her round as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Understanding your role as a caddie is crucial. Here are some of the key tasks that you will perform as a caddie:
• Carrying one or two golf bags
• Replacing divots throughout the golf course
• Raking sand after your player hits a shot from a bunker
• Determining the distance to the flagstick (measured in yards)
• Removing and replacing the flagstick on the green
• Tending the flagstick on the green when asked
When a shot is hit, you should always keep your eye on the player’s golf ball. If his or her shot is headed towards the woods, a water hazard, or out of bounds, make sure to track the flight to see where the ball lands. A helpful tip is to pick out a natural feature the ball may have landed near, making it easier to find.
There may be other caddies working in the same group and it is important that you work together to provide the best possible service to all players in your group.
Remember to never touch a ball in play.
THE GOLF COURSE
TEE BOX (T)
SANDTRAP (S)
The goal of golf is to get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible on a course of either 9 or 18 holes. Players start their round and each subsequent hole in an area called the tee box. A typical golf hole will include multiple tee boxes along with fairway, rough, bunkers, a putting green, and potentially water hazards. These features are shown below and explained to the right.
Players begin each hole by placing their golf ball on a tee between two markers. Markers are placed at various yardages to correspond with a player’s skill level.
FAIRWAY (F)
Shorter grass which is the intended target area that players will aim at from the tee box. The shorter grass allows for an easier next shot.
GREEN (G)
Closely mown area at the end of each hole where a putter is used to roll the ball. The golf bag should never be placed on the green, but rather in the rough.
Also known as “bunkers”, these are hazards located on the side of the fairway and around the green. You are responsible for raking sand after a shot.
ROUGH (R)
Grass that is longer on the outside of the fairway and green. Players try to avoid the rough as the longer grass makes the shot more difficult.
FLAGSTICK (FL)
Also known as the “pin”, this marks the location of the hole on each green. Caddies should ask if a player would like the flagstick in or out for his or her putt.
THE GOLF BAG
Each golf bag has separate compartments where specific clubs are placed and typically includes a stand. When receiving your assigned player’s bag, make sure to do an inventory, checking to see how many head covers, clubs, and accessories that you will keep track of during the round. You may be responsible for other equipment, including scorecards, tees, ball markers, towels, extra golf balls, and yardage devices. At the conclusion of the round, you will take another inventory to make sure you have all the items you started with.
CLUBS (C)
Clubs are placed with the grips down in the bag using separators. Most players place drivers, woods, hybrids, and putters in the top, irons in the middle, and wedges in the bottom.
STRAPS (S)
Most golf bags have two straps that can be worn like a backpack. Put the top strap on your shoulder with your right hand, then reach around for the other strap with your left hand. Caddies can adjust the strap length so it hangs comfortably around the hip area.
POCKETS (P)
Several pockets are located on either side of the golf bag for various items. The bottom pocket (B) in the middle is generally where players keep extra golf balls for the round.
TYPES OF CLUBS
Each player has a golf bag that includes up to 14 clubs. Bags have separate compartments where specific clubs are placed. Here are the different clubs you’ll encounter and where they go:
DRIVERS, WOODS, AND HYBRIDS
• Have larger club heads and are placed in the top pocket of the bag
• Typically the longest clubs in the bag, designed to hit the ball farther
• Most of these clubs will have head covers
IRONS
• Typically placed in the middle pockets of the bag
• Usually used after teeing off or on shorter holes such as par 3’s
• Lower numbered irons are longer and hit the ball farther
WEDGES
• Typically placed in the bottom section of the bag
• Used for shorter shots, around the green, and out of the sand
• Most players will carry multiple wedges with varying lofts
PUTTERS
• Typically placed in the top pocket with the driver and other woods
• Designed with little loft to make the ball roll smoothly on the green
• Used on the green or closely mown areas around it called the “fringe”
GETTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Clubs have their own rules about how caddies are assigned, so you should consult your club’s caddie manager for any specific instructions. Once assigned, find your player and introduce yourself with eye contact and a firm handshake.
ROUND PREPARATION
A typical 18-hole round of golf will last between 4-5 hours. Here are some tips to prepare for your day on the course:
• Adhere to your club’s dress code and wear comfortable sneakers
• Bring plenty of water and stay hydrated
• Have a wet towel to wipe down clubs and balls
• Bring tees, ball markers, pencils and a scorecard
• Turn your phone to silent and only use in emergency situations
• Speak only when spoken to by the players
• Maintain a positive attitude and demeanor
ON THE TEE
• When your group is ready to tee off, place the player’s bag in the rough next to the tee box, not on the tee box
• Be ready to hand your player a club, which will vary based on the length of the hole; on longer holes, it will usually be a driver
• Ask your player the brand, number, and markings of their golf ball so you can identify it during the round
• Position yourself facing the golfer, behind the tee markers when a player is teeing off (as shown below)
• Remain still and quiet before, during, and after each shot
• After tee shots have been struck, be prepared to exit the tee box and keep pace with the group
FORECADDYING
During the round, you may walk ahead of the group to the next fairway on more difficult tee shots and holes where you cannot see the landing area from the tee box. This is called “forecaddying”. Make sure your player has his or her desired club before walking to the landing area. The proper hand signals for when it is safe to hit a tee shot and where the tee shot comes to rest are shown below.
DO NOT HIT
The group ahead has not cleared the fairway yet.
HAZARD
Ball has landed in a hazard (point down in the direction of the hazard).
SAFE
Ball is in play (same as a safe sign in baseball or softball)
OUT OF BOUNDS
Ball is out of bounds or in an area where it may be difficult to find.
ON THE FAIRWAY
• For your player’s next shot, you may be asked to determine a yardage; on most courses, sprinkler heads with numbers signify the distance in yards to the center of green
• One pace = one yard when marking off the distance between the ball and the number on the sprinkler head
• Stay adjacent and just behind your player when they are hitting their shot; be aware of all other players in the group
• After a shot, a piece of turf may have come out of the ground, which is called a “divot”; it is your job to replace this turf at the site of the last shot or fill the newly created divot in with sand
• Clean your player’s clubs each time they are used with the wet end of your towel
• If your player hits a shot out of a sandtrap, either near the fairway or around the green, it’s your job to rake the sand (see below)
RAKING A SANDTRAP
• Locate the area where your player’s shot was taken, marked by footprints and the area where the club hit the sand
• Use the rake to push sand away from you, then pull it back towards you to create a smooth surface
• Make sure to rake your own footprints when you leave the bunker
• Replace the rake where you found it, which is typically in the rough
AROUND THE GREEN
Positioning and planning is especially important when you reach the putting green on a hole:
• Avoid walking in the “line” of a player’s putt (the imaginary line between the ball and the hole as shown below)
• Remove the flagstick if any player in the group requests
• When players are putting, stand off to either side instead of behind a player or behind the hole to avoid distraction; make sure you’re shadow is never covering the ball, the hole, or the line of putt
• Never place a bag on the putting green; place it in the rough closest to the next tee box to save time between holes
• As you gain more experience, you may be asked to “read” a putt for your player, which means helping to determine the slope of the green that makes the putt roll to the left or right
In this scenario, the caddie should walk around the putting lines of Player 2, Player 3, and Player 4 to access the hole and remove the pin.
CADDIE
AFTER THE ROUND
When the round is complete, remove your hat and shake hands with your player(s) and every other player in the group.
At most clubs, payment is arranged directly between the caddie and player, but consult your caddie manager for specific instructions. The best caddies never count their payment in front of the player.
Clean your player’s clubs and do one final inventory to ensure that all the items you started with are accounted for. Ask your player where they would like the bag to be placed and return it there promptly.
BECOMING A OUIMET SCHOLAR
After performing at least two years of service as a caddie at any golf course in Massachusetts, you can apply to become a Ouimet Scholar!
Ouimet Scholarships are needbased and renewable for up to four years, with an average annual award of more than $10,000. You can apply as a senior in high school or as a college student.
Use the QR code on the back cover or visit ouimet.org/scholarships to start your application!
JUNE 1
Due MARCH / APRIL
JUNE 30
Documents Due SEPTEMBER 15
The Ouimet Fund awards $3.5 Million in need-based scholarships annually to caddies and other young men and women working at Massachusetts golf courses.
To join more than 7,000 Ouimet Alumni, scan above to start your application or visit Ouimet.org for more information.
