What can be better than spending a summer on the golf course? How about making money while being there. If this sparks your interest, being a summer caddie may be the perfect job for you.
There is a misconception within the public that golf caddies simply just carry the bags for golfers while they play. The reality is that a lot more goes into it than that, regardless of what level of player you are caddying for.
Due to this, the answer to whether being a golf caddie is a good summer job or not is a complex one that can only be answered by looking at the pros and cons of the role. In this article, we will weigh these up in detail to give you a good idea as to whether this is the summer job for you or not. Keep reading below for a full outline of all you need to know about your summer looping job.
What Do Caddies Actually Do?
Most people know that a golf caddy carries a golfer’s bag, but this is just one of the many roles a caddy fulfills. In the simplest terms, a caddy is a golfer’s guide to conquering the course. They provide invaluable insights into how to navigate the course including club selection and shot strategy.
Playing a course well, requires an in-depth knowledge of the course. Caddies understand the subtle nuances of a course. From the slope of the greens to where not to miss a shot. A caddy needs to know their home course inside out in addition to having a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of the game.
Caddies will also provide services for there players such as keeping their clubs clean and ensuring they stay hydrated on the course. Caddies really are a one stop shop for a golfers needs while playing a round. The best caddies have a diverse skill set of the above skills that allows them to elevate the play of their golfers
The Advantages Of Becoming A Golf Caddie For The Summer
The advantages of becoming a Golf Caddie during the summer months are plentiful and range from simply being able to work outdoors, the above average pay, as well as the networking opportunity. Let’s take a look at the advantages in more depth in the article below.
Outdoor Work
One of the best things about being a caddie in the summer is the fact that you will more than likely be spending your days in the glorious sunshine in a wonderful setting. Golf courses are usually built in beautiful places and the clubs where caddies are required are going to be particularly nice.
When looking for a summer job, you don’t really want to find one which requires you to be indoors all day as you’ll end up missing out on the nicest days of the year. Becoming a golf caddie means never missing another sunny summer day.
Make Money Doing Something You Love
For starters, you should only even be considering becoming a golf caddie if you love the sport. If you don’t know the first thing about golf then this is not the role for you. Summer caddies need to understand the course and the game. As part of your job, you will need to recommend clubs selection, accurately estimate yardages, and motivate your golfer.
However, if you are a student of the game, then this is arguably the best way to make some money during the summer months. You get to spend your days with like-minded people, helping them to improve their score, and you may even learn a thing or two about your game at the same time. The best bit of all is you get paid for it!
Generous Pay
Caddies get paid relatively well compared to other jobs at a country club. Between tips and the rate per bag, caddies can bring home some serious cash by the end of the day. Keep reading below for a full breakdown of what a caddy could expect to make at a local country club.
The Disadvantages Of Becoming A Golf Caddie For The Summer
As it stands, many of you are probably ready to submit an application to your local golf club. Not so fast. Before you do that it’s worth looking at the other side of the coin. Being a golf caddie isn’t easy for a variety of reasons, including the tiring nature of the job, the inconsistency in shifts, and the pressure of performance. Let’s take a look below.
It’s Physically Demanding
Although we mentioned earlier about how great spending your time outdoors on a golf course can be, there is also a not-so-good element to that. Golf courses are typically huge with rolling hills. That means you will be clocking in a lot of miles each day. Add the fact that you’ll be carrying a heavy bag full of clubs around all day and suddenly the job seems very demanding.
Caddying is probably not the job for you if you are out of shape or are unable to do physical labor. Instead, a job as a golf beverage cart worker may be a better fit. If you are interested in this line of work, check out our article “How Much Money Do Beverage Cart Workers Make?”
The Job Can Put Pressure On You
The tough part of being a caddy is not just the physical demands of the job. The mental pressure that many caddies experience is also a demanding part of the job. It is up to caddies to ensure that their golfers are using the right club with the right swing for each and every shot on the golf course. If you get anything wrong relating to club choice or yardage, then the golfer you’re paired with is going to blame you.
Not only that, but caddies are an easy target for many golfers. It’s easier for them to blame their caddie for a bad shot than it is to just accept that they’re having an off day. With this in mind, you are going to need thick skin and the ability to cope with pressure well to become a successful caddie at any level.
Inconsistent Hours
Although the hourly rate is very good for summertime caddies, the reliability of that income is inconsistent. It’s not like your typical 9-5 where you know exactly what days and hours you are going to be working weeks in advance. Instead, you may be called up last minute to see if you are available or called up last minute to let you know that you’re no longer needed.
If you can find a club where they can guarantee you a certain amount of hours each week, then great. However, if you can’t, then you are going to need to accept that you may be called up or let down at very short notice.
There are, of course, summer jobs that can offer you more stability in terms of shift patterns, but they are unlikely to pay as much by the hour. It’s just something to consider before hitting that application button.
How Much Do Caddies Get Paid At Country Clubs?
As for as compensation, the pay that caddies receive at your average golf club in the US is competitive. On average, a caddie can earn around $60 to $80 per bag per round. If you complete two rounds a day and work five shifts a week for the three summer months, then you are going to be taking in around $12,000.
It is also customary for caddies to be tipped at the end of the round. This tip is heavily dependent on insights and effort provided on the course. If a good job is done, you should expect a generous tip of 20% to 100%. However, do not count on these tips as these tips will vary day to day and will be dependent on the golfer and their score.
How Much Do Caddies Get Paid Per Hour?
Making around $80 per bag plus tip sounds like a lot of money but a round of golf can take up to 5 hours. It takes a caddy a lot of time on the course to earn their bag fee and tip. To truly be able to understand how much a caddy can make, we need to look at how much they make per hour.
Caddies can expect to make between $25-$40 per hour when on the course. How much a caddy makes comes to down to how many bags they carry. If a caddy carries two bags during a round, a caddy can make close to $40 per hour. Now this will typically be the upper limit of what a caddy can earn. If a caddy carries one bag for one round they are looking at closer to $25 per hour.
The prestige and location of the course are other important factors that will impact a caddies hourly wage. More exclusive courses will typically allow caddies to earn more. Location also plays an important role. Courses in affluent areas will also command higher caddy fees and tips.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why becoming a golf caddy is a great option for a summer job. At the same though, there are reasons why this might not be the job for you. Ultimately, if you are a big fan of Golf, have a good understanding of the game and are in good, physical shape then you should go ahead and apply.
Hopefully you liked this article and found it informative. Check out our other blog posts if you liked this one!
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