Forecaddie Tip

[Newbie15]

I'm a new golfer and will be playing with a caddie for the first time on Friday. We will be at a private club in NJ. The member is getting four of us on to the course but he wont be playing with us. My understanding is that we will have 2 forecaddies who will hop onto the back of the carts with us. None of the 4 of us are competitive golfers so scoring well isn't our concern. But we will need help keeping an eye on where our balls ended up, raking, reading greens, etc.  What would be an appropriate tip for each caddie for 18 holes? Thanks

[Augster]

I would guess $100 apiece, but it depends on how “high end” the CC is. 

[ArtMBgolf]

The course probably has a standard fee.  Then you can add a tip to that.     

[denkea]

Check with the guys in the Pro Shop and ask what an appropriate tip would be.  They'll tell you straight.  

[Newbie15]

11 hours ago, ArtMBgolf said:

The course probably has a standard fee.  Then you can add a tip to that.     

Does the standard fee go to the Caddy?

[Abh159]

42 minutes ago, Newbie15 said:

Does the standard fee go to the Caddy?

 

Typically yes, but it's common and encouraged practice to tip on top of the fee. As someone else mentioned, just ask the pro shop what the suggested tip is.

 

Let's say they tell you is $50 per player... If you feel your caddie went above and beyond then tip over that. If all they did was spot your balls all day then the minimum suggested amount is fine. 

[Soloman1]

Sometimes only the caddie tip is exchanged at private clubs. It's rare that a guest pays anything, it's usually billed to the member's account.

 

Some private clubs even have a no tipping policy on site, including the restaurant, valet, etc. The member is billed for everything and gratuities are included in their monthly bill. Exclusive clubs consider it gauche to be handing out cash like in Caddy Shack.

 

Give 'em a call and ask straight before you go. They get those calls all the time from guests.

 

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by Soloman1

[Newbie15]

12 minutes ago, Soloman1 said:

Sometimes only the caddie tip is exchanged at private clubs. It's rare that a guest pays anything, it's usually billed to the member's account.

 

Some private clubs even have a no tipping policy on site, including the restaurant, valet, etc. The member is billed for everything and gratuities are included in their monthly bill. Exclusive clubs consider it gauche to be handing out cash like in Caddy Shack.

 

Give 'em a call and ask straight before you go. They get those calls all the time from guests.

 

 

Now that you say that, based on my brother's previous experience at this club I think the tip may be billed to the member.  We will feel them out. Thanks

[Ri_Redneck]

16 hours ago, ArtMBgolf said:

The course probably has a standard fee.  Then you can add a tip to that.     

Yeah, check this first. I've had them at some courses and that is the norm. A fee on the bill and tip is cash in hand.

 

BT

[slocagolfer]

We tipped our forecaddies $50 at Spyglass and Spanish Bay this year. FYI

[Newby]

On 10/21/2021 at 12:41 AM, Newbie15 said:

I'm a new golfer and will be playing with a caddie for the first time on Friday. We will be at a private club in NJ. The member is getting four of us on to the course but he wont be playing with us. My understanding is that we will have 2 forecaddies who will hop onto the back of the carts with us. None of the 4 of us are competitive golfers so scoring well isn't our concern. But we will need help keeping an eye on where our balls ended up, raking, reading greens, etc.  What would be an appropriate tip for each caddie for 18 holes? Thanks

Caddies and forecaddies are not the same thing. I think you mean caddies.

[llewol007]

My buddy and I played in an event that had a fore caddie for the whole group. We each gave $50 for the guy. Not sure if there is a set amount but I would imagine that is a good starting point. 

[caniac6]

I would think $50 would be a very generous tip for a fore caddy.

[Newbie15]

Just closing this post out ...

 

4 of us shared one forecaddy. The member took care of his tip with a phone call rather than with cash trading hands. I also stuffed some cash into his apron on the way off the 18th green. Thanks for the input.

[PoolPond]

at Bob-O-Link in IL, it was usually $50-$100 per player. And it was always one forecaddie. No need for two, that's kind of stretching it.  One good guy can easily handle 4 players. So I'd usually walk away with $200-$400.  If Ditka was in the group he was a $200 guarantee just for him. And you were guaranteed a 3 hour round. And neither of us had to wear a shirt, so a sun tan was usually in order. 

[rogolf]

As Newby said above, there is a significant difference between a caddie and a forecaddie.  A forecaddie walking away with $200-400 sounds like a heck of a deal for the forecaddie.  Now, for a caddie, that's fine (and different).

Caddie - person who carries clubs and provides advice to players, reads greens, give advice on direction of play and club selection.

Forecaddie - person who is always forward of the group (hence "fore") who watches where balls go and searches for them before the group arrives to play.