Caddie Conundrum
“They make it easier for the
players to get around the
course, help with course care
and aid in the speed of play.”
Mike Morrone, The Foundry Golf Club
In the early aughts I found myself at
The Cloister with a burning desire to play
the Sea Island course, a top-100 track on
everyone’s must-play list. In the pro shop,
I plunked down my $98 green fee, paid the
$45 caddie tariff and inquired—twice—
about expected caddie gratuity. Both times
I received a non-answer, and I left uneasily
for the first tee. The round ensued, the
caddie in his 20s was very experienced,
quite a player himself and even offered
my 10-year-old son playing tips. In the end
I tipped him; we shook hands and parted
ways. Almost immediately and to this day
I am confident I did the one thing I did not
want to do—I unintentionally stiffed him.
So, exactly what is the protocol for the
average Joe when he has to hire a caddie
at a high-level club? What should you tip,
what should you talk about with the cad-
die? And, how many VSGA clubs actually
employ them anymore?
The answer to the last question is very
few. “Carts have taken over,” reaffirms
Golden Horseshoe head professional
Glen Byrnes. Caddies are required when
playing Kinloch and Robert Trent Jones
Golf Club in Gainesville and in some
instances at The Foundry. At other facil-
ities like The Cascades, Country Club
of Virginia’s James River Course, The
Olde Farm in Bristol, Creighton Farms
and The Golden Horseshoe, loopers are
available but not required.
Mike Morrone, head golf professional
at Powhatan’s The Foundry, says the
club no longer has a mandatory caddie
program. “Members are only required to
take caddies in club events, and all tour-
naments must have a forecaddie in the
foursome. Unaccompanied groups and
all outside outings require caddies to
ensure guests adhere to all club policies.
Morrone defines forecaddies as those
“responsible for all tasks as a normal
caddie—getting yardages, reading putts,
18
tending flags, raking bunkers and wash-
ing clubs and balls. Since forecaddies
don’t carry bags, they primarily stay out
front of the groups as they tee off to spot
balls more easily.”
“The fee and gratuity for the caddies
are always handled in cash between the
player and caddie after the round,” he
says. “We do not include the fee unless
it is a large outside outing, then we
build it into the cost of the outing. The
posted fee hasn’t really changed over
the years, but what we recommend has
changed. The base fee for a forecaddie
is $100 and $50 a bag for a caddie who
is double bagging.
“If a caddie has to single bag for some-
one then it is time and a half ($75). All
of this is before gratuity is factored in.
These days, caddie usage is down slightly
but we still consider ourselves a caddie
club and a strong caddie program is
vital for us to differentiate ourselves
from others in town. It is how we were
founded and we will never go away from
it,” Morrone says.
He added that the club has started
recommending that groups pay a little
more than formerly—that $120 should
be the minimum a caddie receives
forecaddying or double bagging. Typ-
ically they are getting $150 to $160 a
loop. The course will tell unaccompa-
nied groups that the minimum with
gratuity is $150.
“We always strongly recommend that
our members take at least a forecaddie,
especially when they have guests,” Mor-
rone says. “We feel that the caddies real-
ly add to the experience when playing.
They make it easier for the players to
get around the course, help with course
care and aid in the speed of play. We
have always prided ourselves on fast
pace of play and the caddies really help
with that.”
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 17
Here’s a look at
some of the caddie
fees in Virginia
KINLOCH GOLF CLUB, MANAKIN-SABOT
• Mandatory for members (each player
expected to have a caddie)
• Bag fee is $65 per 18 holes
• Club recommends members pay $80–
$100 per bag
• 40 full-time caddies
ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF CLUB,
GAINESVILLE
• All golfers will be accompanied by a caddie
at all times
• Golf fees are the responsibility of the member
• Gratuities are done in cash between player
and caddie
• Check with a member for recommended
gratuity
• 30 full-time caddies, plus part timers
• Caddies supplied by 4 C Caddie, LLC
THE CLUB AT CREIGHTON FARMS,
ALDIE
• No caddie requirement, but it is
recommended
• 4 C provides caddies to Creighton Farms
• 4 C suggested fee for individual with
caddie is $80 including gratuity
• 4 C fee to Creighton Farms for a foursome
with a forecaddie is $120; $80 suggested
gratuity
FARMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB,
CHARLOTTESVILLE
• Not required
• Caddies work as independent contractors
and generally make $50–$75 for a loop
THE OLDE FARM, BRISTOL
• Walking players must have a caddie walk
or drive their bag
• Groups of three or more riding in carts are
required to take at least one forecaddie
• Caddie fee for one or four players is $120
THE HOMESTEAD (THE CASCADES),
HOT SPRINGS
• Caddies not required
• More than 20 caddies on staff
• Walking caddie; $50 per bag
• Forecaddie; $20 per person
• Gratuity based on service
COUNTRY CLUB OF VIRGINIA
(JAMES RIVER COURSE), RICHMOND
• Available by request
• $45 per round, suggested gratuity is $10-
15 per bag
vsga.org