Will be playing Pebble in about 10 days. I will have a caddie, which is included in my golf package. Was wondering what the customary tip should be. Any input would be appreciated.

Tell him on his deathbed, he will receive total consciousness

Rate is $145 for a single bag caddie and $195 for a double bag caddie.

Based on that I'd say $50 would be my starting point adjusting up or down depending on how pleased I was with their service.

I tipped mine $100 or $150. Whatever the full rate was. I thought he was great. Awesome stories too.

This 100% depends on the value they bring. I have played Whistling Straits, Pebble, Spyglass and Pinehurst over the last 3 months and tipped drastically between the 4. It ranged from 125-50.

At Pebble they were struggling with a caddie shortage and I received a caddie who had only been there 2 weeks. Didn't offer a lot of advice!, was doing a double carry and putting clubs in the wrong bag and giving us wrong clubs. He got 50, our caddie at Pinehurst was a stick and literally saved me 5-10 strokes with reads/shot advice.

Pebble actually posts recommended gratuity, which are $35-60 per bag for a caddie carrying 2, and $45-80 for 1 bag caddie. Seems a bit low in my book. I typically go $50-100 depending on quality

aggolfer said:

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Tell him on his deathbed, he will receive total consciousness

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Can confirm.

My caddie at Pebble wasn't much in the shot advice department. However, he had some truly awesome stories. I tipped him $100.

Our caddie double-bagged and we tipped him $60 apiece.

TXAGGIES said:

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This 100% depends on the value they bring. I have played Whistling Straits, Pebble, Spyglass and Pinehurst over the last 3 months and tipped drastically between the 4. It ranged from 125-50.

At Pebble they were struggling with a caddie shortage and I received a caddie who had only been there 2 weeks. Didn't offer a lot of advice!, was doing a double carry and putting clubs in the wrong bag and giving us wrong clubs. He got 50, our caddie at Pinehurst was a stick and literally saved me 5-10 strokes with reads/shot advice.

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Humble brag.

I hate all of you …..

AgOutsideAustin said:

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I hate all of you …..

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Don't hate

Go do some more MISIG stretches.

I tipped $100 per bag per round at Erin Hills this summer, but that course is a heck of a walk.

$100

when you are playing a $750 round of golf (whether or not you paid for it), 15% is $112.50, 20% is $150. Anything less than that I would consider being cheap.

As far as mixing clubs in bags and such - they will use whatever bags they want - usually their own if yours is big/heavy clunky. It shouldn't matter what they carry your clubs in if. they are hauling the load. our caddie used his own bag and moved over everything for us before and after.

On a different note, do y'all like having a caddie?

I've had a caddie about 10 times in my life and I truly don't enjoy the experience. Some gave me unsolicited reads... Some pulled clubs for me without me asking (they have no idea what shot I intend to hit) and most didn't want to be there unless we were high roller who'd tip them handsomely. I don't really need someone to carry my bag.. I would rather just push my cart (for walk only courses) and I certainly don't need a forecaddie at a course I've played many times or if I'm playing with someone who knows the course.

What would I gain by having a caddie at say pebble or Bandon where I know the course?

Good stories?? I'm really not interested.. Until I'm done playing.

Yeah yeah... I know... " you must be fun at parties..."

CapCity12thMan said:

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when you are playing a $750 round of golf (whether or not you paid for it), 15% is $112.50, 20% is $150. Anything less than that I would consider being cheap.

As far as mixing clubs in bags and such - they will use whatever bags they want - usually their own if yours is big/heavy clunky. It shouldn't matter what they carry your clubs in if. they are hauling the load. our caddie used his own bag and moved over everything for us before and after.

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Not sure I understand the logic of basing a percentage off of the whole round of golf. Never heard anyone using that math before. I did a sanity check on the numbers I posted earlier and seems in line with what most courses recommend as tips for their caddies.

Caddie fee at Pebble is considerably more expensive than Bandon, Scotland, or anywhere else I've been so I guess that means you should tip more -- so maybe my number is a little light. But $150 on a caddie fee of $145 is pretty generous compared to anything I've seen recommended.

You are probably a ton of fun at parties, haha. I actually understand you, I am not a great golfer so the thought of having someone watch me every shot just makes me more nervous. The big appeal to me is being outside, relaxing and thinking things through. I know my game and my limitations and I would rather just be alone or with my playing partners. Are there course where you HAVE to have a caddie?

I do caddie for my 12 year old in Little Linksters and do enjoy that, even had to pass a test for it! Thank God it was open book!

AggieDruggist89 said:

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On a different note, do y'all like having a caddie?

I've had a caddie about 10 times in my life and I truly don't enjoy the experience. Some gave me unsolicited reads... Some pulled clubs for me without me asking (they have no idea what shot I intend to hit) and most didn't want to be there unless we were high roller who'd tip them handsomely. I don't really need someone to carry my bag.. I would rather just push my cart (for walk only courses) and I certainly don't need a forecaddie at a course I've played many times or if I'm playing with someone who knows the course.

What would I gain by having a caddie at say pebble or Bandon where I know the course?

Good stories?? I'm really not interested.. Until I'm done playing.

Yeah yeah... I know... " you must be fun at parties..."

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Having someone who knows where the danger is if you don't know the course is invaluable. If you don't need that then I agree that I don't get much out of it.

I've only had one really outstanding caddie and that was at Dornoch. Really helped me feel confident on every swing. Had I known the course, probably wouldn't have had the same effect.

Most of the caddies I've had have been meh. Thankfully never had an awful one.

I'm with you. I normally walk too, so having one is almost a distraction. Generally the only time I've done it is when it's either required or it's a course that I'm playing the first time or the style Is where local guidance would be a huge help. Particularly helpful on links courses

My first time at Pebble, I was the first tee time, by myself, and no one was teeing after me for another 30 minutes. I had elected not to get a caddy, and was glad I didn't because having Pebble all to myself was surreal

I've had caddies in Scotland, Ireland and a handful of times in the US. Have always been on courses I haven't played before, and in every case the caddie was a benefit to me. Maybe I've just gotten lucky, but I have yet to have a caddie I wouldn't use again. Yeah, if I was re-playing a course I had played a lot then I could get by without a caddie. But, in all cases for me, the use of a caddie has enhanced my enjoyment of the round.

And I'll add the caveat that everywhere I've used caddies has been at a nice, destination-type course. Would I use a caddie aside from that scenario? Maybe/probably not.

For me a caddie makes the round much more enjoyable on a premier course. I played the Old Course at St. Andrews four years in a row and used a caddie each time. There is just something really cool about having a caddie carry your bag on a course like that or Pebble.

MarylandAG said:

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Are there course where you HAVE to have a caddie?

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Yes, at Baltusrol and Plainfield in NJ.

I don't remember which course but my caddie was from Brooklyn, sweating profusely, mouth breather who I thought was going to have a coronary by 4th hole and kept on saying how broke he was and needed money.

Used caddies at pinehurst and at streamsong. $80-100. Single bag.

I love the caddy aspect. It's such a joy.