When you arrive at an Asian golf course possibly the first person you will meet will be a number of smiling caddies.
Mainly female, they are well trained to look after you for all 18 holes, and hopefully may lower your score too.
Apparently in Thailand alone, the golf industry employs over 25,000 caddies.
They are mainly freelance and survive on part of the Caddie Fee that their club charges us golfers before we tee off.
They will pull the trolley or drive the golf cart, select your clubs, give you the yardage on the fairways and read the greens. If it is sweltering day, some will carry ice packs, and they will also hold your umbrella to protect you from the sun or perhaps during a tropical downpour.
It is worth taking their advice particularly on the greens. Remember they have played those holes for several years, so can read them like a paperback!
In fact, many play golfer too….they even have their own caddie championships.
It is customary at the end of the round to give them a tip and although they will say “it’s up to you,” we recommend a tip of between US$15-25.
As Thailand’s PGA star Thongchai Jaidee states, ‘ Caddies are Asian golf’s secret weapon!”
