Caddie quiz

What is the single most important attribute that a caddie must possess in order to be successful on tour?

HB

You must be focused, that is, alert to and aware of your environment. You job is to keep your player on task, so you have to be optimizing his ability to function in that environment. Call it what you will, I call it focus. I'm an RN, and my job is conceptually very similar.

Perceptive . . . . . . . .

1. Show Up
2. Keep Up
3. Shut Up

Originally Posted by drewitgolf 1. Show Up
2. Keep Up
3. Shut Up

Drewitgolf,

Show up and keep up are the minimum requirement. Steve Duplantis used to show up late on Furyk all the time. The other caddies were so amazed that he kept his job that they nicknamed him "Asbestos" (fire proof). He got fired. He has a new nickname.

Shut up. I had a buddy who worked for a player who always yelled at him when he hit a bad shot. It got to the point where he was afraid to say anything. He got fired for not speaking up.

HB

Originally Posted by efnef You must be focused, that is, alert to and aware of your environment. You job is to keep your player on task, so you have to be optimizing his ability to function in that environment. Call it what you will, I call it focus. I'm an RN, and my job is conceptually very similar.

Efnef,

Good answer. I see a big part of my job as understanding how my player behaves at his best and striving to create those conditions. If he is flat, I would try to inject energy. Etc. Keeping my own eye on the prize will influence him to do the same. It does not matter what day you save the shot that wins the tournament.

HB

Yoda may have it the homerun with his response.....my first thought was competence....but maybe humility ranks way up there too. The caddie is in control of a fine piece of machinery...yet he must operate in the background and not attempt to take the spotlight off his star. This is not a typical relationship where compromise is the key...but there has to be communication and the caddie must know how to keep his player's confidence high especially during adversity.

We all know what happen to Tiger's first caddie when he tried to share in the spotlight.

Originally Posted by hg Yoda may have it the homerun with his response.....my first thought was competence....but maybe humility ranks way up there too. The caddie is in control of a fine piece of machinery...yet he must operate in the background and not attempt to take the spotlight off his star. This is not a typical relationship where compromise is the key...but there has to be communication and the caddie must know how to keep his player's confidence high especially during adversity.

We all know what happen to Tiger's first caddie when he tried to share in the spotlight.

HG,

Good answer. The best possible situation for a caddie to be in is one where the player makes the final decision and knows it. Then the caddie is free to speak his mind (being very careful to be positive and not create any negative thoughts or pictures) and know that the player will own the choice and commit to the shot. Whatever info the caddie has is useless if the player cannot handle input. Some players pull clubs by feel and don't want anything more that a "yes." The caddie can still influence the play by how he gives the yardage. He might mention a backstop (slope behind the hole) if he wants to err long rather than short (infinite options here).

One of the rules I came up with early on: "If the player looks like he knows what he is doing, stay out of his way." The caddie must sense when the player needs help and be ready with good advice. I will sometimes offer two suggestions: "It's a five iron up or a six iron down." It forces the player to make a choice.

Humility. The caddie must realize that all his success lies in the player's hands. If the player does not perform, there is no prize. Caddies are sometimes in a teaching or checkrein position. Inexperienced players need the caddie to encourage smart play. Some players need a firm hand to help them avoid going for broke when the situation does not call for it. At the end of a tournament, the caddie can save a player from making a critical error.

In the end, the definition of a good caddie is very subjective. Sometimes he must step up and sometimes step back. He must always realize that it is the player who hits the shots.

HB

OK may have more input on this one.

Still looking for the answer.

Originally Posted by Yoda First and foremost, the caddy must be trustworthy. This includes the ability to act independently as necessary to fulfill that trust.

Trust is the all-encompassing attribute. A player has many concerns, and his caddy serves to minimize or eliminate many of them. He should never add to them.

For example, the caddy must be trusted to show up -- on time -- at each event and on each day of the event (and, most certainly, for tee times). When entrusted with the player's clubs, they must be there, too (but no more than 14 before each round!). He must be trusted to perform, with a minimum of oversight, all his assigned duties (and some unassigned). Most of all, he must be trusted to 'handle with care' (and confidentiality) his player's innermost thoughts and emotions -- both on the course and off -- as revealed under competitive and personal stresses. We all have vulnerablilites, and the professional golfer is no exception.

In short, the player-caddy relationship is like any other. For there to be any chance of long-term success, there must be trust (both ways).

There is no substitute.

Yoda,

Good answer. Trust is critical in the player / caddie relationship. The player must trust the caddie to do his work and be ready to answer any and all questions regarding the course (Yardages to and over obstacles. Which side is OK to miss when playing a trouble shot. Accurate yardages. Etc.). The player will benefit from accepting advice from the player--two heads better than one. It also saves the player from having to do alot of basic learning of the golf course. I always want to see a new course before my player. By having a clear idea of how I think he should play a course, we can save time and create success from the first day. The player may choose a different play on a few holes based on visuals or feels rather than numbers.

"Handle with care." The player must be confident that his caddie is on his team--not out for himself other than as a result of aiding his player. The caddie is in a support position. Anything he can do to create the environment the player needs to be successful is job one. Professional golf is difficult. Everyday the player gets a grade. The mindset of the successful golfer has many dimensions. He must be driven yet patient. He must picture the best and accept the worst. He must be creative yet task oriented.

Often, breakthroughs are the result of mental preparation-- Dreaming bigger that your results might project. The caddie must be very aware of creating a positive environment while allowing the player to be himself.

HB

Originally Posted by Hennybogan What is the single most important attribute that a caddie must possess in order to be successful on tour?

HB

A cool sidekick name.

Other than that, I think the caddy needs to be a strategic thinker.

Originally Posted by Hennybogan What is the single most important attribute that a caddie must possess in order to be successful on tour?

HB

Professionalism.

Originally Posted by Hennybogan What is the single most important attribute that a caddie must possess in order to be successful on tour?

HB

Pair of shorts? No. Wait - I've got it! A great player!!!! YES!

Respect.
Mutual respect, preferably.

How about simultaneous capacity (and preparedness)? The player need to stay in the presence. He needs to focus all energy on the shot before him. Once the caddie has left the player to hit the selected shot the caddie can do noting but think ahead. So everything that does not relate to the present is the caddies business.

One hand close to the putter. If the green is hit he should hand the putter to the player within 2 seconds, then get the divot, clean & put back the 6-iron. Get the bag. If he or the player needs a rest room he need to plan for that. Get the yardage book. Start studying the notes on the way to the green. Catch up with the player. Prepared to provide any information the player needs or discuss any topic. Do we have enough water? Do we have enough balls? Is the scorecard updated? Is it time to put on and/or prepare rain gear? Will we use a new ball on next tee?

Once the player has started putting on his own: Start thinking about the next tee. Check for wind indications.

Just guessing.... A combination of simultaneous capacity, look-ahead and preparedness.

Originally Posted by metallion How about simultaneous capacity (and preparedness)? The player need to stay in the presence. He needs to focus all energy on the shot before him. Once the caddie has left the player to hit the selected shot the caddie can do noting but think ahead. So everything that does not relate to the present is the caddies business.

One hand close to the putter. If the green is hit he should hand the putter to the player within 2 seconds, then get the divot, clean & put back the 6-iron. Get the bag. If he or the player needs a rest room he need to plan for that. Get the yardage book. Start studying the notes on the way to the green. Catch up with the player. Prepared to provide any information the player needs or discuss any topic. Do we have enough water? Do we have enough balls? Is the scorecard updated? Is it time to put on and/or prepare rain gear? Will we use a new ball on next tee?

Once the player has started putting on his own: Start thinking about the next tee. Check for wind indications.

Just guessing.... A combination of simultaneous capacity, look-ahead and preparedness.

Metallion,

Good answer. I can shift out of the present to prepare for the next shot. I'm always surveying the conditions and linking them to following shots. I will pay special attention to those types of details when the conditions have changed which may call for different strategy.

Often the caddie should begin a conversation not related to golf to allow the player to relax his mind. Very few players can focus on golf throughout the round. The player just needs a trigger to re-engage.

HB

Originally Posted by Mike O Pair of shorts? No. Wait - I've got it! A great player!!!! YES!

Mike O wins the prize. Find a great player or one on his way to being great.

All the attributes discussed define a great caddie. They are attributes that make him sought after, do his job, and help him keep his job. Like any coach trying to put a team together, the single most important attribute a caddie needs to be successful is to be a good judge of talent. The players on the field make the plays. The caddies and coaches can inspire, advise, correct, teach, improve, etc. But the player is the one who gets it done.

My definition of talent would be different from the mainstream notion of powerful and pretty. The ability to make the ball go where you look is a precious one. The ability to do it when it matters is even more important.

HB

Kind of like how Mike O rides Bucket's coat-tails ; or is it the other way arround . Actually, I think they are both good judges of talent .

Originally Posted by drewitgolf Kind of like how Mike O rides Bucket's coat-tails ; or is it the other way arround . Actually, I think they are both good judges of talent .

Mike O has a talent for riding on short school busses.

Originally Posted by Hennybogan .
...the single most important attribute a caddie needs to be successful is to be a good judge of talent.

I would have thought it more important for the caddie to have some talent rather than just be able to identify it.

So to be a successful tour caddie it's not 'what you know' so much as 'who you know'.

John Cook told a radio show host the other day that a caddie can say three things to their pro:

1. Pro, you were right.

2. Pro, I was wrong.

3. Pro, you got screwed.

When I see the obvious talent and work ethic of Overkill and HB this perspective sickens me even more than it would have a couple of months ago. I am curious if this kind of ignorance is pervasive on tour or if there are only a select few idiots of this sort.

Matt

Originally Posted by mrodock John Cook told a radio show host the other day that a caddie can say three things to their pro:

1. Pro, you were right.

2. Pro, I was wrong.

3. Pro, you got screwed.

When I see the obvious talent and work ethic of Overkill and HB this perspective sickens me even more than it would have a couple of months ago. I am curious if this kind of ignorance is pervasive on tour or if there are only a select few idiots of this sort.

Matt

Matt

Thanks for the support; this is not the John Cook I know; I will ask him about it next time I see him. There are a few players who want very little input from their caddie, but they are few and far between.

Originally Posted by strav I would have thought it more important for the caddie to have some talent rather than just be able to identify it.

So to be a successful tour caddie it's not 'what you know' so much as 'who you know'.

Come on Strav- you're just jealous that I won the Jag! Ooh and it rides nice!

Originally Posted by strav I would have thought it more important for the caddie to have some talent rather than just be able to identify it.

So to be a successful tour caddie it's not 'what you know' so much as 'who you know'.

Strav,

I thought I might take some heat for my answer (the one I was thinking of when I asked the question), and as I read all the great answers, I thought about choosing a different one. I decided to stick with the one I started with rather than jumping the fence.

Part of the scenario I pictured was choosing a player on a lower tour to come up with, which is the best shot for a caddie to break in these days.

I stuck with my answer for another reason, as well. The better the player is able to hit his line and yardage, the more the caddies' information matters. If the player is just chasing his ball around the course (think Ben Doyle, "It's all smoke and mirrors out here."), knowing the precise yardage will not help much. The database will be scattered with abnormalities that make it difficult to apply analytical thinking. The only sensible play would be to aim away from difficult pins rather than figuring the shot so well that it becomes possible.

When a player is on and you tell him it is 169 to the pin, you better be right, because he will hit it the number. You want a player who is on more often than not.

One man's success might not satisfy another. Certainly, there is satisfaction in helping anyone improve. I was thinking more in terms of contending often, winning sometimes, and playing well in majors.

The better the player, the more useful the information the caddie provides. It's much more fun to try temper the player's excitement about having a chance to win than trying to pump him up to birdie the last three to make the cut on the number. Having a chance when you wake up Sunday morning is what all the work is about. Being out on the course and knowing that each decision could be the difference between winning and loosing.

I don't want to downplay the importance of the contribution a caddie makes. Finding a caddie whose skill set meshes with his will add a great deal to a player's results.

Analogy. Buying a stock low with the hopes that it will rise. Is the stock under-valued and primed for long term growth? I don't mean to suggest that the road to success should be as quick and easy as jumping on Tiger's bag (not that the job is easy, but success nearly a lock). One of the caddie's jobs is to see the leaks in a player's game and try to plug them. They might be mental, strategic, physical, etc. To provide an objective analysis of the player's game (shared or not) and contribute to the improvement. It could be a long road, but the caddie wants to know deep down that his man can play. That the player can acheive, in part, as the result of the caddie's diligent efforts.

All of the attributes that were descibed in earlier posts describe a great caddie. To acheive any success, the caddie must cultivate the player's trust by being professional, knowing the course, knowing when to jump in and when to back off, by keeping accurate notes, by thinking ahead, by knowing when the player needs a pat on the back or a whip on the butt, by making correct decisions/suggestions under the gun, etc, etc.

HB