Conference 7.286::golf

    
    
    I'd be willing to bet that it's around the 10% --> 15% range.
    
    Now, here you are. Doing something you love, getting a chance to play
    these courses, being in the public eye and get $45K for 4 days work.
    
    Now, that's America!
    
    Bob Montville

    
    Tony Navaro is Mr. Norman's caddy and he gets 10% of the total earnings
    plus other gifts (like cars) as the year (season  rolls on. I played golf 
    with Tony back in Moline, Ill.
     
    He attended Moline HS and I attended East Moline High School. He is a good 
    golfer and a great Guy. He caddied for Jeff Sluman for years prior to
    Loopin for Norman.
    
    Ed Stapf
    

    
    
    If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is...
    
    I spent some time partying with some of the caddies here for the 
    Seniors a while ago.  If they are taken on by a pro, they work for 
    a pre-arranged percentage of the take, they given courtesey golf 
    priv's at courses in the area, equipment discounts and some have
    'visor' sponsorships.  But they are responsible for their own travel
    and accomidations and are on the road for about 10 months out of the
    year.  And it sounds like they work quite hard scoping out the course,
    etc...
    
    The group I was hanging out with, three guys were traveling/rooming
    together in a motel room with two beds - if your player came in last
    you slept on the floor.... ;-)  They were an interesting group of
    'gypsies' - big partyiers.
    
    -Laura
    

    On the Euro tour i know 2 people who caddie they are brothers and ex
    roof tilers (Building is dead over here).
    
    Their pay is 375.00 a week plus 5% they get the 375.00 whether the guy
    makes the cut or not, also they get frebbies like towels and balata
    Maxflis, which are sold to close freinds for a nominal fee.
    The top caddies do well but its a tuff life for the others their
    hope is their guy wins 100k they pick up 5% for a weeks work.
    
    Fanny Suneson earns in excess of 100k per year as does Peter Coleman,
    
    Talking to this freind is really funny the conversation goes something
    like this,
    'I was doing Frank Nobilos bag WE started very well WE holed a 20fter
    for birdie the WE made a good par at the second, then he went and hit
    it out of bounds.
    
    He also told me about certain golfers he has caddied for who are famous
    but not world stars who pay him by cheque say 432.89p he gats paid the
    exact amount, i will not say any names as i cab not afford a libel
    bill.
    
    Joe

Most caddies are on a percentage of the earnings.  Somewhere in 
the 5-10% range.   The story goes that when Tony Jacklin won the 
British Open he gave the winner's cheque to his caddy knowing 
full well that he would get an awful lot more from sponsorship.

Caddies also make a lot of money from endorsements.  Allegedly, 
one caddy who's PRO endorses EBEL the watch maker, has �40,000 
worth of watches flying round the world at any one time.  These 
he sells to acquaintances and contacts for roughly 50% of their 
true price.

    
    
    Its a far cry from the 20 - 30 pounds I got for carrying a bag all day
    at Sunningdale as a youth. I bet also on tour they don't get abuse and
    clubs thrown at them (exception seve's caddy)
    
    The lines I gave in those days were perfect but with a 58 hcp lunatic
    on the end of the putter they were never going to hole a putt, ah happy
    days.
    
    It seems the flavour of the month for the lesser names on the Euro tour
    to get the wife carrying the bag. For you ladies, also on the ladies
    tour the husbans pick up the bag.
    
    Sounds like a good reason to carry your own ! 

    Speaking of Fanny, there is a *minor* controversy in the air regarding
    her role in helping Faldo line up his putts.  FWIW, She is doing nothing
    illegal, however, some people feel it is a questionable practice.
    

    
    re. Faldo and Fanny. 
    
    It sure as hell ain't helpin' much. He's still puttin' like s***!!! Why
    on earth do people like him, who are at the top of their game, try to
    get "better"??  It's all in his head now, I think he's askin' for too 
    much....
    
    IMHO
    
    Joe

    I think his best years are still ahead of him, as long as he starts to
    enjoy what he's doing for once.  He has such a beautiful swing and all
    that talent...  I think I heard someone (Miller?) mention that Nick
    hasn't won in the States since 1990.  That did surprise me.  (BTW, I
    have Faldo's book and really think it is top notch.)
    

    	Having a caddy line up your putts SHOULD be illegal!  If it is
    helping Faldo make more putts, then he's not as good a golfer as his
    scores show.  On the LPGA tour, Dottie Mochrie's (sp?) husband caddies
    for her and lines up all her full shots.  In this case, he doesn't have
    to move before she hits the ball.  If a golfer can't line up a shot or
    putt without their caddy telling them if the club face is on line, then
    he or she is not the golfer they appear to be.
    
    							JT

    I can remember this being a big issue when Johnny Miller was playing. 
    The rules were changed then so that the caddie has to move before the
    putt is stroked.  If you watch Fanny, she does just that.  She stays
    behind Faldo and ensures that he is perfectly aligned then walks away
    just before he stokes the putt.  It's all perfectly within the rules,
    but I never see anyone else doing the same.

    Many summers ago about 20, all the young lads used to caddie at
    Sunningdale for the wealthy members.
    In 1972 the going rate was about 2.00 per rd and as many wrapped
    Dunlops you could steal(Or so i was told)
    
    I knew one dishonest caddie who threw his mans driver in the bushes
    after the last drive and went back to retrieve it later.
    
    Also the caddie master would buy any pick up golf balls you managed to
    find on the round, in those days we were jsut doing it for the money
    the guy would say did you get a line on that in the rough, you would
    say yes then amble about if it was found he thought you were a good
    caddie.
    
    One summers day i was caddying in a 4 ball, the other caddies were
    smoking and on one hole thuy were throwing cigarette ends around,
    one of these dropped in one of the bags and in those times the bags
    were lined with material of some sort.
    A few holes later the bag started to smoulder and smoke, the caddie was
    frantic you have never seen anything so funny they were both pouring
    the clubs out on the fairway, the other golfers were trying not to
    laugh and us other caddies were crying with laughter, no i dont
    think that particular caddie got a tip.
    
    That is a true story and there are many others, i caddied for about a
    year.
    One of the caddies is now a famous golfer who played in the last
    Ryder cup.
    
    Joe. 

    	I did a little work as a caddie in the early 60's.  The going rate
    was $4/bag for 18 holes.  Most caddies would carry 2 bags and with a
    good round you could bring in $10 per round.  Being of small stature,
    I carried doubles a few times on hot Sunday mornings and decided I'd
    get a paper route instead.
    					JT 

    Double Humping they called that at Sunningadale and Wentworth only
    the men caddies could lift 2 bags we were about 14 or 15 so no chance.
    
    I do remember the bag cutting into your shoulder, some caddie would 
    lighten the load by lifting some of the wrapped Dunlops, but not
    me sir.
    
    There was this caddie at the course his name was Leigh, he was
    recognised as the worst caddie.
    Many times he gave the wrong line he would read left when it broke
    right, i have been told he is playing somewhere now himself.
    
    I remeber on the 11th at Sunningdale (Old Course) our guys had just
    driven it is a blind hole we were sent on ahead, as the ball landed in
    the fairway this chap Leigh came charging out of the bushes and
    picked up the balls.
    The guys asked what happened we said a tramp pinched them, if you see
    the way this guy ws dressed we were not far wrong!!!
    
    He once when clubbing a guy at Barton on Sea under clubbed and the guys
    drive ended up in the sea, they say he did it on purpose but i am not
    sure.
    
    He gives a club it is known in caddy language as a mystery club, the
    mystery is where the ball will land!!!!
    
    I hope for the Pros sake there are no mystery clubs or dodgy caddies at
    Augusta.
    
    Joe

    
>>    Double Humping they called that at Sunningadale and Wentworth 
      
    
      We called it the double loop. There was also the "suicide double",
      2 bags, 36 holes!!! You couldn't pay me any amount of $$$ to do 
      that now!!!!!
      
                                     
>>      I do remember the bag cutting into your shoulder, some caddie would
    
    
      We called those kind of straps "fish-line", and you're right, it did
      cut into your shoulders!!!
    
    
      The stories I could tell.........
    
      Joe

    
    
    as of 10-12 years ago I was getting $20 for carrying two bags
    at Worcester C.C. with tip $24-30 and on Sat and Sun. I would
    definetly go out twice , so for a 14-15yr old $50-60 (tax-free)bucks 
    for 8-9 hours work was great! during tourney like State, or PV pro-AM
    you could get as much as $60-100 for two bags for one round
    
    I'll tell ya, I can still remember how painful it was to carry two bags
    up the 18th at W.C.C. on a hot sunny day *&&^*&%^@%#^@%&
    
    
    BS

    Double Loops and fish lines tell me more , true caddy tales only.
    
    I have some but i would not tell them some are so unreal no one would
    believe them, but they are true honest guv.
    
    I know a chap who plays golf at our club he is retired now but he is
    good friends eith the caddy master at Royal Berkshire and Swinley
    Forest.
    If there are good payers about he gives this guy a phone call, one Sat
    he got a call telling him to be at the Berkshire 9.00 on Sunday.
    He arrives at the course only to find he is caddying for Prince Andrew,
    he said he had 3 bodyguards one who was beside him and get this the
    other 2 went in the woods 150 yds ahead of the game left and right so
    he had ballspotters aswell, they were there in case of terrorist
    attacks.
    This is another true tale from caddy land. 
    
    Joe

    
    
    Well no Prince Andrew, but I did caddy for Cousy about 6 times
    he was a member at W.C.C. and at a pro-am I was in the same group
    as Jim Rice (my claim to caddy fame!)
    
    
    
    Bill

    I caddied at Turnberry in the 80s for some years and in those days I
    was getting between 10-15 pounds a round,now i think the lads are
    getting 15-20 pounds a round + tip.
    Not bad for walking round a golf course
    
    During that time there were some classic things that happened,here a
    some examples.........
    
    Imagine the scene,young lad (not me) out with a four ball,nice sunny
    dry day and its only his 2nd time out on the course.
    
    At the 4th tee (par 3) the big yank hits a cracker straight on to the
    green, happy with his shot he pulls out a BIG KING EDWARD CIGAR from
    his bag,lights up and carrys on towards the green.(already with putter
    in hand)
    
    On arriving at the green he eyes up his putt and just before he plays
    his shot he throws down his very expensive cigar,to the cries of
    
    
                " I'll GET THAT FOR YOU...SIR"
    
    
    
    And before he knew it his reward of a good shot was stamped in to the 
    4th green.
    
    So if any golfers out there ever get a chance or have played Turnberry 
    Ailsa,and you miss or have missed a putt on that green ...blame the
    young lad. 
    
    Yours 
    The Caddy Master
    
    
    
    P.S 
    His nickname was "Glum"
    
    
    
    
    2.
    
    Another classic tale was about 1 of the caddies getting a double carry.
    
    He was at the 16th on the Ailsa course,it has a burn (stream) running
    round the front of green and also the green sits up a little bit higher
    than the fairway.
    
    So the 2 golfers were hitting there approach shots to the green,1 of
    them did not reach the dance floor and his ball ended up in the water.
    
    When they arrived at the water it is quite a drop down so the caddy
    knows that there was only 2 holes left to make a good impression.
    
    Said "I'll get that for you ....sir               
    
    Down he went into the water as he bent over to pick up the ball both
    sets of clubs fell into the water.
    
    Now i would say that was a great way to make a good impression
    
    Needless to say both golfers had a mixed bag after that!!!!!!!
                                                                 

    
    In the late eighties I caddied for Glen Vines in the Australian masters
    as well as other Aussie tournies. On two occasions in the same group as 
    Wayne Grady. 
    
    The pay was about A$400 for the four days plus about %8 of the
    winnings.
    
    I remember the FORD (tournament sponsor) overalls we had to wear, these
    were brand new on the Thursday and dark blue. In the 32..35 degree
    centigrade heat these overalls were stinking hot so I wore very little
    underneath. At the end of a round though, my whole body was dark
    blue too!
    
    I think it was in the '88 (Australian) Masters when Glen chipped in on the 
    18th, on the Friday -- to make the cut. Good for Glen, good for me - it
    was another two days work/pay!
    
    The bikini girls who gave you the drinks every third hole were gorgeous
    - but took more interest in the pros than the caddies!
    
    GC 
             
    

    ** The bikini girls who gave you the drinks every third hole were gorgeous
    
    I gotta play this course.

    
    It was Huntingdale -not the best Melbourne has to offer but pretty good- 
    the bikini girls are only there during the four days of the Aust. Masters 
    - and it's difficult for a 16 handicapper (like me) to get on during this 
    period. 
    
    ;-)
    
    GC