Caddy Clubhouse

No matter what level of golf you have played at, everyone knows confidence and commitment are key.

Which is why we recommend caddies finish their conversation with their player with a positive thought or feel they associate with a good swing.

So much of this game is mental and if you can provide your golfer with confidence stood over the ball, you will go a long way to lowering their scores.

How do you get to a ‘playing number’?

It is something we are often asked and a lot of golfers are curious as to the maths behind us advising a golfer to hit a 172-178 shot to a pin that is 167 yards away.

How much do you allow for the wind? What about the lie? Does the temperature affect it enough to enter into the calculation?

Ultimately, it is an estimate and it is impossible to get it spot on with measuring all of the variables and ensuring the golfer hits the exact same shot every time.

However, with these principles, you are far more likely to hit it close and eradicate those approach shots where you either airmail the green or leave it 30 yards short.

As golfers, we all hit poor shots. Sure, some of us hit more than others but if we are playing or caddying, it is essential to ensure we don’t compound that error by making another one.

As an amateur golfer, you may have a shot or even two on a hole and therefore you need to mentally convert that 450 yard par 4 in to a shorter par 5.

We all hit poor shots, but it is how you respond to them that can be the difference between recovering or ruining a round.

💨 Is the wind really blowing? As a caddie, you have to really take the golfer in to consideration here and how the wind affects their ball flight.

Sure, that can be difficult with an amateur who you have only caddied three holes for but you will likely have the advantage of the driving range beforehand.

If you are caddying on tour, you will know your golfer in far more detail and understand what shots they like and can ‘see’ both in to the wind and when it is helping.

165 yards in to wind; how much does that affect your golf ball? Clearly, it depends on the strength of the wind.

So what about the difference if it is down wind? 💨

explains a rough calculation that will help every amateur golfer pick the right club more often than not and get you far closer to your intended target.

If you are wondering about speeds above 15mph, that is coming tomorrow. Drop us a follow to make sure you don’t miss it. 🏌️‍♂️

Playing golf in dry conditions can be so much tougher because the punishment for a miscalculation is that much more severe.

Miss the green by 5 yards in winter and you will still be pin high with a chip to get up and down. That exact same miss in summer could see you 30+ yards away where most amateurs may struggle to even make bogey depending on the lie.

So whilst your ball may travel that much further off the tee, the approaches in to greens become far more important and difficult.

Struggling to judge the wind on tree lined golf courses?

A lot of parkland golf courses have holes, or at least parts holes, where the wind appears to have stopped. One look up at the trees or even at the flag and that is clearly not the case.

So what is the best way to assess the wind in a situation where you cannot feel it? reveals all.

People believe dry conditions will make the golf ball carry further, but that’s not always the case.

Incredibly dry conditions, like the majority of the UK is currently experiencing, ensure spin is maximised with iron shots.

An increase in spin will generally reduce carry numbers and a distance that is around half a club shorter than a stock yardage.

Conversely, if the ball is in the rough in conditions like these, you are likely to get a ‘flier’ therefore it is essential to take this in to account whether you are a caddie or a golfer looking to improve their game.

As caddies, we are not there to tell you every shot to hit. We can certainly advise you on what shot is most likely to result in a positive outcome but there are so many variables.

Not every golfer can hit every shot, even on tour, so a caddie is not going to suggest you hit a 3 iron stinger through a 4ft gap. A good caddie with adjust their advice to match the situation, your ability and a whole host of other factors.

If you have never had a caddie, we understand there may be myths or misconceptions about what the experience is really like, so if you have any questions, feel free to drop us a DM. 👇

Augusta National is without doubt one of the toughest golf courses to caddie at.

The television cameras simply do not do justice to the sheer elevation changes and how tough the course is to walk, never mind with 20kg on your back.

With that being said, it is without doubt one of the best golf courses to caddie at. Coupled with the history of The Masters, it truly is something special.