Bandon caddies thread

[Carpenter792]

Haven’t been able to find a thread started where frequenters gush about which caddies they’ve had and loved, which they could do without, and which courses are more helpful with them.

I’m heading up for my first trip first weekend of March. 2 days of 36 and taking a caddy all 4 rounds at SR/PD, PD/BD. 

so, suggestions? Names? Stories? Ranting? Raving reviews?

[puttnforthe8]

There are a few threads:

 

 

 

 

 

[puttnforthe8]

Oh...and my personal recommendation is Tyler Mulkey.  He is a local.  In my time with him, he was virtually perfect on line, speed, club selection, etc.  Plus, just a super guy.

 

I have him for 5 rounds in May again.  Not sure I will go with anyone else as long as he chooses to work there as a caddie.

 

But the one thing I will suggest you do before requesting someone, is determine what kind of caddie-golfer you are.  Are you: someone that doesn't want a lot of interaction (i.e. just tell me the line); or do you want a lot of interaction (line, speed, even selecting a club based on discussion); or one in the middle.

 

I have mates that did not like a caddie telling them how to play the shots to the point they had to change them out for the next round; to some that wanted pretty much every shot and detail shared.

 

OH...Also - make sure you understand whether you are the kind of golfer/person that is going to listen to what is shared.  Because if you want a lot of info, then don't listen - what's the point.  

 

Enjoy

[mallrat]

Can not recommend Kent enough (irony is that I forgot his last name). There are plenty of good ones though. 
 

To echo the above, also have you taken a caddie before? It took me a few trips to realize that I still had to make the shot the caddie wanted to see. I would just go cruise control and not play well. 
 

 

[Carpenter792]

I had one for 2 weeks in Pinehurst this July. It took me a while to figure out what information I liked and didn’t like, and how to approach each shot after he did the thinking for me. My reasons for the caddie is not for (though appreciated whole heartedly) shot saving/scoring. It’s to allow me to thoroughly enjoy the entirety of the scenery and take whatever pictures I want without having to feel like I’m holding the group up, and to have eyes on my ball and bag at all times.
 

at the end of the day, I’m still a 8-10 hdcp, and I’m recovering from 2 surgeries. I’m not expecting him to help me shoot in the 70’s (although I feel capable and would be elated). Also, I hope for cruise control; my best rounds ever have been in that mode/mindset/flow state. 
 

 

[jdcadkin]

19 hours ago, mallrat said:

Can not recommend Kent enough (irony is that I forgot his last name). There are plenty of good ones though. 
 

To echo the above, also have you taken a caddie before? It took me a few trips to realize that I still had to make the shot the caddie wanted to see. I would just go cruise control and not play well. 
 

 

 

Guessing you're referring to Kent Harper?  Great looper, fun guy.  We have him requested for our group's trip in about 10 days.

[payerasjl]

Cirian (Kirian maybe? Irish Lad who is quite the golfer in his own right) 
 

Gus (Alberts may be his last name- big beard and long hair) 
 

im not looking for bandon facts and resort gossip- I’m there for lines and wind guru’s. If you want a golfers looper I’d recommend these guys. If you are looking for more of a chat and a buddy, I’d look elsewhere. 

[mallrat]

So if you guys go in groups, especially big groups, here’s a fun game that can be played a few different ways of you take caddies. 
 

- Everyone puts $20 in a pot. Pick a hole a couple days into your trip, I’ve always preferred 17 on Trails. Caddies do a KP on the par 3 you choose for the pot. 
 

- Now you guys can do a side pot for yourselves or make bets or however you want. If the group is big enough it will be a big deal for the caddies. If I remember right there is one very large group where the pot gets up to like $1200- 1500. 

[DandyDon]

What is the cost of a caddy these days?

[dutz]

6 hours ago, DandyDon said:

What is the cost of a caddy these days?

$100 a bag plus tip,  $40/player for forecaddy 

[DandyDon]

On 3/20/2021 at 4:09 PM, dutz said:

$100 a bag plus tip,  $40/player for forecaddy 

Is there a usual for the tip?  Prices have gone up since I was there 5 years ago...

[BG5]

Ive taken my fair share of caddies at places like Oakland Hills, Dunes Club, Lost Dunes,Erin Hills,  Whistling Straits, Streamsong, and Kingsley Club and have a wide variety of caddie experiences.  This is just my opinion and take it for what its worth.  We live in a society where everyone feels they are owed something.  You will have caddies who are outstanding....so they deserve a great wage....you will have some that are lazy....they deserve the basic $100......maybe in rare occasion $80 for a guys that is just rude and lazy 

 

Basic Rules.......$100 is bare minimum to pay a caddie even if the do a terrible job.  I have only done this 1 time and the guy was flat out bad.

 

Average Caddie = $120 and I think alot of guys fit into this category.  They are fine but not outstanding

 

Exceptional Caddie = $150-$200 - These are guys that are working their butt off

 

Just my opinion.....also if you have a guy double bagging then he needs to be hustling.  I have a great guy at Whistling Straits who was double bagging and really kicked some serious but so I threw him $200.  I have also had a double bagger at Erin Hills and he was terrible so I gave him $100....prob should of went to $80 but just could not do it.

[Slippin_Jimmy]

Bandon recommends $100 + tip as was mentioned above.  I typically pay $120 and it seems to be well-received, I'll pay $250 for 36 holes.  I rarely play with a caddie outside of trips to Bandon, but in the few times I have, usually $120-125 total seems fine.  Can't say I've had a bad caddie though, some better than others, but certainly never had anyone who's taken away from my experience.  I'd like to think I'd pay the $120 and request not to have him/her again, but fortunately haven't found myself in that situation.

[MileHighGuye]

Caddie question/ Do you guys recommend using the same caddies as you had last time? We had a good experience but didnt know if it would be best to get a new caddy for different experience.

[Slippin_Jimmy]

19 hours ago, bradleyguye said:

Caddie question/ Do you guys recommend using the same caddies as you had last time? We had a good experience but didnt know if it would be best to get a new caddy for different experience.

My opinion is if you had a truly great experience with your caddie, why fix what isn't broken?  If it was just good or OK, you may as well switch and see if you find a better match.  You can always change mid-trip if it isn't working out.  

 

I don't always play with a caddie at BD, but when I do splurge for one I've gone with Bryan Church who caddied for me the first time I visited.  Great guy and after several trips he knows me and my game, so there's a comfort zone there I guess.  I know exactly who I'm getting and I'm genuinely excited to catch up with him.  I've had a few other caddies either when Bryan wasn't available or I decided on getting one last minute, and no one has ever taken anything away from my experience.  They've all been good in their own way.  To be honest, I rarely play with a caddie so it's always a treat when I do.

[ehendy]

I’ve been looking at this incorrectly I believe...I was thinking a round with a walking looper was going to $100 for caddie fee to resort plus and additional $100 for tip, BUT now I think I’ve got it right in that a $50 tip to caddie would be a solid tip. Right?! 

[VNutz]

11 minutes ago, ehendy said:

I’ve been looking at this incorrectly I believe...I was thinking a round with a walking looper was going to $100 for caddie fee to resort plus and additional $100 for tip, BUT now I think I’ve got it right in that a $50 tip to caddie would be a solid tip. Right?! 

Caddies at Bandon get paid directly from the golfer and not the course. All money goes directly to the caddie and $100 is the suggested base rate if carrying your bag.

[ehendy]

Thanks! I plan on having more walking loops with this clarification! 

[Seamus_MacDuff]

Whomever you get for a caddy, I'd be insistent that they not double bag. I want my game to be the sole focus for the caddy, not having a caddy scrambling to keep track of two players. I'd rather hoof my own bag than be sharing my caddy with another player.

[MileHighGuye]

21 minutes ago, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Whomever you get for a caddy, I'd be insistent that they not double bag. I want my game to be the sole focus for the caddy, not having a caddy scrambling to keep track of two players. I'd rather hoof my own bag than be sharing my caddy with another player.

 I think for the most part they require double bags.

[Seamus_MacDuff]

1 hour ago, bradleyguye said:

 I think for the most part they require double bags.

Probably depends on the supply/demand situation.  I spent five days down there last month and had my own caddy each day.  Likely a different situation in higher-demand months.  The caddies love to double-bag, as they make twice the money, but nonetheless I'd ask for my own caddy if at all possible.

[spud3]

Just ask for a single bag.  There's no requirement.

[flushem]

 

Has anyone done this "Group Caddie" deal?  I have 8 boys in my group.  I think this would work well for all.

[spud3]

Sounds like a forecaddie to me....

[duffer987]

Just me YMMV - but apart from being there to herd cats and keep you on pace for other golfers behind you and the resort's best interest in relation to that which is good - I find forecaddies pretty pointless.

Sure they can tell the group where to hit their teeball and what they think the playing yardage is for a par 3, but otherwise it's too much faffing about at the greens as they dart from one player to the next to give them a read and the general feeling they are minders as opposed to caddies.

[philsRHman]

On 4/7/2021 at 11:46 AM, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Whomever you get for a caddy, I'd be insistent that they not double bag. I want my game to be the sole focus for the caddy, not having a caddy scrambling to keep track of two players. I'd rather hoof my own bag than be sharing my caddy with another player.

The experience likely won’t be you as Phil and Bones chatting up every option on every shot. They’re there to club you, help find balls, read greens, judge wind, etc. Much more tour guide than what you see on TV. 
 

For an experienced, good caddie, double bagging isn’t only part of the job, it’s what they prefer. I looped at a major championship venue and all the top caddies (basically everyone who wasn’t a newb or in their 70s and winding down) would rather take a day off than single carry. It’s half the pay for the same amount of time. 
 

edit: I see you mentioned what I said in a follow up. Makes sense about demand. When I went as a single I had a single all week but he said March is a quiet time for caddies so he was happy for a week of work even as a single bag. 

Edited May 4, 2021 by philsRHman

[10&8]

I’ll resurrect this thread with some good caddie recommendations. Was just there 2 weeks ago. 
 

Donnie Hiebing

John the Baptist

Shane Morehead

Sven Nilsen

 

I’ve had Donnie for every trip to Bandon (3 times). He’s an unbelievable player himself and we just mesh so well. He gives lots of information before each shot, which I like, but lets you choose how to play it. Baptist is super laid back, but funny as hell. I think he’s been out there for at least 20 years….knows all the courses inside and out. Shane is another vet as well, I think he’s been there 19 years. He’s also caddied at Estancia and Nanea, but is now full time at Bandon. Super chill guy, and just a down to earth genuine dude. Also a great trash talker. He was riding me and Donnie all week, I think mostly because we won all our matches against him haha. Sven is a former attorney who hated corporate life and moved out to Bandon 9 years ago. A wizard at reading putts. The caddies really do enhance the experience at Bandon, and would recommend these guys to anyone. 

[kaschreiber]

Not sure if he's still there, but Jared Heman is a great caddie as well. Have played with him away from Bandon - he's a great hang and also knows those courses inside and out. Doesn't carry a rangefinder, every time we've tried calling bullxxxx on him he's off by 2 yards at the most, spot on more often than not.

[flushem]

I had Tyler Mulkey for my last one round though I requested him for 3 rounds.  Tyler was absolutely the best.  Other 2 caddies were cool but Tyler saved me so many strokes.   

[puttnforthe8]

On 11/30/2022 at 10:47 AM, flushem said:

I had Tyler Mulkey for my last one round though I requested him for 3 rounds.  Tyler was absolutely the best.  Other 2 caddies were cool but Tyler saved me so many strokes.   

 

I can't agree more....he is outstanding in every respect!