Male Caddies

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

Hi there,

just wondered what your experiences/thoughts are on male caddies.

My friend and I recently played Gold Canyon in Lamphun (350 B for the round, 250 B for the caddy) and we had two male caddies. My friend, just here visiting, was a bit miffed as he likes a bit of banter with a smiling lady. I assured him that I had had a male caddy in Udon once and he was brilliant - a golfer who knew the course.

These two guys were very different and were so poor that I think that I shall never have another male caddy again. I can forgive the fact that they were new (3 months) but most of the time they were inattentive and just plain crap. We lost several balls through terrible spotting and poor instructions (first time playing). It ended up with us taking our own clubs out and not bothering to ask for green advice. However, what we found the worst was the lack of course maintenance - they didn't repair pitch marks on the greens (they did after we pointed it out) nor pour sand on the fairway after our shots. They were so poor, that we tipped them 100B each instead of the 200B (I wanted to not tip them, but felt a bit guilty so I relented). There was no one there who I could speak to about them, apart from the waitress, so I didn't bother.

To sum up - if you go to Gold Canyon, DON'T GET A MALE CADDY!

Cheers

James

PS The course is very good and highly recommended for the price :-)

[Thailand]

I trust you told the management?

It's a course I like and current price is great although next month the Koreans are back and up go the prices.

[Wallaby]

I haven't played in Thailand but please tell me, do you REALLY get the caddy to repair your pitchmark?

I can understand having the caddy rake a bunker, and even replace a divot, but a pitchmark? That's the first thing I do when I get onto a green, repair mine and maybe others that weren't done.

[Forethat]

I haven't played in Thailand but please tell me, do you REALLY get the caddy to repair your pitchmark?

I can understand having the caddy rake a bunker, and even replace a divot, but a pitchmark? That's the first thing I do when I get onto a green, repair mine and maybe others that weren't done.

And here's the difference between a good caddie and a pretty much brand new piss poor one...

In Thailand, a majority of caddies assume you're a low-life vacational bastard with no other intention than to spend two weeks in Thailand with your mates drinking Singha beer and visit a couple of Pattaya style girly-bars every night. As far as they're concerned, they expect that you want them to repair your pitch mark and even mark your ball. For me, repairing the pitch mark and marking my ball (and replacing the ball, in particular) is part of my routine.

A good caddie usually figures out what you want after you've hit two shots, and if they don't - just tell them in a friendly way you want to repair and mark yourself. They usually go all giggly and say thank you while blushing if you repair your pitchmark, but there's nothing wrong with a smile, ey!?

:jap:

[hedonist44]

Actually it does not have anything to do with being male or female. It's all in their training (lack of in your case) their mental capacity and willingness to do a good job. A course that is professional will have a caddie master that will train all caddies male or female to do their job correctly and by somewhat of an international standard, depending on where your playing of course. In cases where there is no designated caddie master, it's the responcibility of the GM to ensure the caddies are taught correctly. I knew one GM at a Nicklaus course north of Beijing that played with a group of caddies every morning. He'd explain in detail what was expected of them and would also police the holes they played as they went.

Having said all this, yes, your still going to get a bad caddie now and again whether it's a male or female, just depends on the commitment of the owner/management of the course in regards making sure the customer receives the best treatment possible.

[kenny999]

Actually it does not have anything to do with being male or female. It's all in their training (lack of in your case) their mental capacity and willingness to do a good job. A course that is professional will have a caddie master that will train all caddies male or female to do their job correctly and by somewhat of an international standard, depending on where your playing of course. In cases where there is no designated caddie master, it's the responcibility of the GM to ensure the caddies are taught correctly. I knew one GM at a Nicklaus course north of Beijing that played with a group of caddies every morning. He'd explain in detail what was expected of them and would also police the holes they played as they went.

Having said all this, yes, your still going to get a bad caddie now and again whether it's a male or female, just depends on the commitment of the owner/management of the course in regards making sure the customer receives the best treatment possible.

my experience of the 2 courses I have played, caddies that have not got much idea and can not be bothered, caddies that have no idea and want to get back to the club house as quickly as possible, all have one thing in common they want a big tip!!! I have had caddies say "I want more" "is that all" I always give the standard tip which applies to the course less if they are crap which is pretty much all the time!!!

[longballlarry]

"We lost several balls through terrible spotting and poor instructions (first time playing)."

ha ha . nice one. Hit it is the <deleted> and its the caddy's fault. Poor guys were probably knackered walking in zig-zags all day. Bet they were well chuffed with their 2 quid tip though. Oh dear, did you share a small leo when you were done ?

[rusty1976]

I have had a fairly similar experience up at Karbinburi... didn't understand 1 word of english, couldnt tell me any distance at all.. gave me the wrong clubs.. etc, etc.

It did screw my round up, but there is no point sending the caddie back 3 or 4 holes into a round.

What can you do, still smile and give a tip.

[kenny999]

I have had a fairly similar experience up at Karbinburi... didn't understand 1 word of english, couldnt tell me any distance at all.. gave me the wrong clubs.. etc, etc.

It did screw my round up, but there is no point sending the caddie back 3 or 4 holes into a round.

What can you do, still smile and give a tip.

And the tip being, lay on your back you will probably be better at it lol