Han Solo had Chewbacca and Clark Kent had Lois Lane. Sherlock Holmes would have been caught in quite a few pickles without Watson, and, of course, you can’t have Batman without Robin. Sidekicks are important when it comes to superheroes and the like, and the same can be said in the world of Golf. While the sidekicks you see on the green may not have lasers and a leotard, they do have an important job that requires a very particular and important set of skills.
Golf can be a very mentally draining game. Sure, physicality is crucial and accounts for a good majority of the skill needed to compete, but staying focused on the greater goal is key in completing a course. Enter the Caddy, a golfer’s one stop shop for strategy help, support, scoring, and ensuring all distractions are silenced. The role of the Caddy for a golfer is extremely important due to the specific responsibilities of a Caddy, and the pair must get along very well as golf can be a physically and mentally demanding sport and there is no time for bickering.
What does it take exactly to be a Caddy? It may not be very glorious, but it is a necessity! All of the duties and expectations, as reported by Golfweek, are listed below, and some of them might surprise you.
Carrying Clubs
This is probably the role that everyone thinks of when they think, “Caddy.” This is the main job for caddies, along with understanding which club will be needed when and why.
Cleaning
A Caddy is responsible for the cleaning of all equipment, including the golf balls and the clubs. Typically, golf balls are cleaned before every hole.
Raking
If there’s a sand trap or bunker in the way, the Caddy will rake the area to help their golfer get the ball back out of the undesirable placement
Measuring
This is where a little more complicated skill comes into play. When a golfer needs to know the distance from the ball to the green, it is the Caddy’s responsibility to tell them. This means that each Caddy must pay attention to all distance markers, and have a feel for the course themselves.
Maintaining the Course
An easier task than measuring yardage, Caddies must smooth out all divots caused by a hard swing as well as any chunks of the course that may have been disturbed during play as well.
Placing the Pin
This responsibility comes after the golfer has hit their ball onto the green. The Caddy must then remove the pin after the ball has been hit. If a golfer cannot see the hole clearly from their position on the course, the Caddy is also responsible for standing near the pin and maintaining its placement until after the golfer’s shot is made.
Therapist
One of the rather surprising aspects of the role is more of an unspoken requirement than a real requirement. Many pro golfers rely on their Caddy to keep them calm, cool, and collected on the course. After all, they are witness to all of their golfer’s highs and lows during play, and having that extra voice of encouragement and expertise can make all the difference during difficult times.