Caddie profession and little-known secrets

Silent Companions

In the worldgolfCaddies are not just simply people who carry clubs. They are effective "assistants", contributing significantly to each shot. According to the history of formation, caddies were originally just local boys who helped carry clubs, but over time, they became true experts, with a deep understanding of the rules of the game, the terrain of the course and the psychology of golfers.

“To work as a caddie, we have to undergo a 2-3 month training course. Although we do not directly play golf, the knowledge a caddie acquires in the course will be equivalent to 60-70% of the knowledge of a coach. Therefore, we can support and advise customers who are just starting to play,” said Mr. Le Van The (name has been changed, Vinh Phu ward) - a caddie with more than 2 years of experience.

According to Mr. The, the importance of caddies does not stop at managing equipment. They are the golfer's second pair of eyes, the brain that calculates distance, wind direction, green slope (green area around the hole)... and gives valuable tactical advice. A good caddie can help golfers save shots, avoid tricky traps and, more importantly, create a comfortable, confident atmosphere for golfers to concentrate and maximize their abilities. It can be affirmed that caddies contribute to shaping the experience and results of each match. "Sometimes, just a slight change in wind direction is enough to change the ball's path, we have to feel that, then advise customers which club to choose and which direction to hit accordingly," said Mr. The.

At golf courses in Nghe An, caddies often work in shifts, and the first shift starts at 5am, and the last shift ends at 10-11pm. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tram (name changed, in Cua Lo ward) said: “The working time of a caddie depends on the number of holes the customer plays. In addition to 1 hour of preparation, if playing 9 holes, it takes about 2-2.5 hours. If playing 18 holes, it takes about 4-5 hours. On average, we only serve 1 customer per day, the remaining time is quite free, so some people can do other jobs in parallel.”

In the summer, in the harsh hot weather conditions of the Central region, the work of caddies is extremely hard. Following the guests, they not only carry a bag of clubs weighing from 10-20 kg but also carry a sandbag to fill in the marks left by golfers on the grass after each shot. For many hours, they continuously move for kilometers under the hot sun, at the same time, performing a series of other complex tasks such as ensuring that the clubs are always clean and ready for the next shot; reading the line (the rolling path of the ball) on the green; encouraging and reassuring the golfer's spirit; moving quickly between holes...

“We must strictly follow the rules of golf, remain absolutely silent when golfers make a shot, and always maintain a professional and respectful attitude in any situation. After the match, we check all equipment, clean the clubs and assist golfers in completing the necessary procedures,” Mr. The shared.

Pressure and gossip

Although the working time is not much, a caddie needs to combine many skills to become professional. Specifically, it requires good health, extensive professional knowledge of golf, communication skills and understanding of psychology, the ability to observe and analyze quickly, physical strength and endurance, patience, meticulousness and dedication.

In addition, honesty and confidentiality are among the top requirements of golf course managers for caddies. Since the main customers are people of high social status and successful businessmen, all information related to them is required to be kept strictly confidential. In some cases, caddies are not even allowed to know the identities of these customers.

With a basic salary of about 3-4 million VND/month, a caddie’s income usually comes from golfer tips after each round. Days when customers are generous and tip well are fun, but days when customers are quiet or customers do not tip much, the income is unstable. Despite having a companionship with the golfer, caddies do not always receive the proper respect.

“With thoseclientIf you are cheerful and easy-going, it is okay. If you meet difficult, unscrupulous customers, you just want to quit. I have met customers who blame their caddies for no reason when they miss a shot, even swearing and insulting them... For male caddies, this pressure can be overcome, but for women, it is more difficult. Many women cry because of resentment. In fact, even in major tournaments, many golfers have attacked their caddies because they gave them the wrong club or read the wrong distance. At those times, you should just stay calm and patient to explain or simply keep quiet and continue working," said Mr. Le Van The.

For women, the difficulty does not only come from psychological pressure. “We have to work outdoors, regardless of the sun, rain, heat or cold wind. Heavy golf bags, walking dozens of kilometers continuously every day causes many people to have back pain, joint pain. Afraid that the sun will darken and burn our skin, we always have to wear masks and wear gloves and socks. Not to mention, golf course grass is often sprayed with plant protection chemicals and growth stimulants to maintain the landscape, so the working environment is not really clean. In addition, for women, this is also a profession with many scandals. There are many bad stories in the profession that affect honest caddies,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Tram confided.

No matter how tired they are, the most important thing is that caddies must always stay alert while working. Only when they are alert can they swing the club, read the line, and make accurate judgments. Only when they are alert can they see where the ball will land, and avoid balls from other customers coming at them.

Mr. The confided: “Looking like that, caddies also have occupational risks. The first risk is being hit by a ball while working. In my 2 years of working, I was hit by a ball 3 times, each time leaving a bruise because the golf ball is quite heavy and the ball's flight force is very strong. In addition, caddies are most afraid of breaking their customers' clubs. When traveling by electric car, if the golf bag is not carefully secured, it can easily fall out, which can lead to broken clubs. According to regulations, caddies will have to compensate customers. If it is a club worth tens of millions of dong, they will have to work for free for many months.”