So, if you’re up for the challenge, here’s a few tips…
Take a caddy. They’re as much a part of the experience as the course, and they’re quite skilled at their jobs. They can tell you every twist and turn on the course, and are able to club you after the first or second hole. And they have this uncanny knack of finding your ball no matter how deep the rough, and that’s important because you will end up in very deep rough. They also understand the nuances of the game and take it seriously, and they respect the course, and expect you to do the same.
However, you will have to put up with their humor, which is often at your expense. After a particularly bad round by one in our group, his caddy casually mentioned to him, “I didn’t realize the course played that long.” On my first round, I got hooked up with Peter, who was about 70 years old and weighed no more than 130 pounds. After a particularly ridiculous shot, I said to Peter, “Well, that was pretty bad.” To which he responded in a very thick Scottish burr, “Oh, that’s awright laddy, you’re a good boy.” Hearing that, I said, “Peter, you’re with me the rest of the way!”
By the middle of the 2nd round it was obvious that Peter really wasn’t up to the task, so I carried the bag most of the next 3 rounds. But to make sure he still felt like he belonged, I brought along a bottle of Scotch so we could share a drink as we chatted and walked.
Caddies at St. Andrews
