Caddying for a junior golfer

[NayaBKL]

So I am an amateur golfer but have PGA membership. 

 

One of my wife's friend has a friend with a 9 year old son who is an aspiring golfer. He has won many junior tournaments in the Northeast area and he's down in Augusta right now for the Drive, Chip & Putt event. I've played golf with him few times and i gave him few pointers on reading greens and aiming and whatnot. Since then he told his mom how much he enjoyed playing golf with me.

 

Anyhow, he's invited to another event in Pebble Beach in October for TGR JR (Tiger's junoir event) and his mother has asked me to caddy for him starting now until  that event. I asked her to look for other professional caddies but apparently her son is insisting that I caddy for him.

I've never caddied in my life. The only caddy experience i have is using  caddy at Bandon. What's a reasonable range to ask? She will be paying for all accommodations and has asked me how much I will be charging for being his caddy. She keeps telling me the money is not a concern to them and she asks that i tell her what i want to charge but do the best job caddying for him. 

 

Any input will be greatly appreciated. 

Edited March 15 by NayaBKL

[Shanks2424]

I would take the job and I would say for a junior golfer charge by the hour or the day. I would say charge 25 bucks an hour witch would be 200 a day plus expenses for food, drinks and ect...

[mrshinsa]

16 minutes ago, Shanks2424 said:

I would take the job and I would say for a junior golfer charge by the hour or the day. I would say charge 25 bucks an hour witch would be 200 a day plus expenses for food, drinks and ect...

 

Never paid for a caddy so no idea, but that seems kinda low, no?

I think fast food workers make that much these days...  

 

Golf lessons are $100~$200 an hour, so throw that into a data point,

[Shanks2424]

I don't know I was going off what I make an hour at my job witch is not golf. But sounded fair to me for a junior golfer. I would charge double if it was an adult golfer plus a % of the winnings.

Edited March 15 by Shanks2424

[golferdad8]

If you're actually giving lessons & tips before, during, and afterwards...I would suggest starting high, ie. $2500-3000 per day (or whatever your opportunity cost is).

 

Keep in mind, you're giving up quite a few extra days just for travel and idle time. Therefore, they should realize that while you might be paid for only 3 days of golf, you'll be losing 5 days of your "time."

 

If you're going as a friend & just doing them a favor and enjoy hanging out with them, then I would do a more nominal amount. 

 

P.S. If they get desperate and need someone who actually KNOWS Pebble & can help him do his best - check out & hire the caddie_whisperer on Instagram. He's more expensive than the standard Pebble caddie, but he's great & also captures videos which are priceless. https://www.instagram.com/caddie_whisperer/

 

[NayaBKL]

4 hours ago, golferdad8 said:

If you're actually giving lessons & tips before, during, and afterwards...I would suggest starting high, ie. $2500-3000 per day (or whatever your opportunity cost is).

 

Keep in mind, you're giving up quite a few extra days just for travel and idle time. Therefore, they should realize that while you might be paid for only 3 days of golf, you'll be losing 5 days of your "time."

 

If you're going as a friend & just doing them a favor and enjoy hanging out with them, then I would do a more nominal amount. 

 

P.S. If they get desperate and need someone who actually KNOWS Pebble & can help him do his best - check out & hire the caddie_whisperer on Instagram. He's more expensive than the standard Pebble caddie, but he's great & also captures videos which are priceless. https://www.instagram.com/caddie_whisperer/

 

 

 

He's got a great coach (taught many PGA/LPGA professionals) but his rule of thumb is coach should never caddy for their students and he is the one who suggested to his mom that she find someone that the son feels comfortable with that actually is good at golf thus this opportunity came along.

 

When you look at the house they live, the car she drives, and the luxury stuff that she puts on herself and her kids, they spend $1000 like i spend $1, so I think she genuinely means that money is not a concern. So I want to charge fair price that will make me want to give my 100% to helping him while not coming off as someone who's trying to take advantage of the situation. 

Edited March 15 by NayaBKL

[golferdad8]

A good caddie will be $500 to $1,000/day, and that’s for a generic guy who doesn’t know the kid (but who knows the course). 
Given what you described, $1k/day is reasonable. You can decide whether to charge for travel day - personally I think that’s reasonable. 

[kekoa]

Mediocre coaches charge about $150/hr for lessons.  I would charge her about that rate for the time you are with the kid.  Of course accomodations and food would be covered as well.  Isn't the TGR Jr. played on the 9 hole track?

[wegobomber31]

On 3/15/2024 at 10:10 AM, NayaBKL said:

So I am an amateur golfer but have PGA membership. 

 

One of my wife's friend has a friend with a 9 year old son who is an aspiring golfer. He has won many junior tournaments in the Northeast area and he's down in Augusta right now for the Drive, Chip & Putt event. I've played golf with him few times and i gave him few pointers on reading greens and aiming and whatnot. Since then he told his mom how much he enjoyed playing golf with me.

 

Anyhow, he's invited to another event in Pebble Beach in October for TGR JR (Tiger's junoir event) and his mother has asked me to caddy for him starting now until  that event. I asked her to look for other professional caddies but apparently her son is insisting that I caddy for him.

I've never caddied in my life. The only caddy experience i have is using  caddy at Bandon. What's a reasonable range to ask? She will be paying for all accommodations and has asked me how much I will be charging for being his caddy. She keeps telling me the money is not a concern to them and she asks that i tell her what i want to charge but do the best job caddying for him. 

 

Any input will be greatly appreciated. 

 

The Masters is 3 weeks away...they are down in Augusta already?!?

 

A caddie at a decent resort is going to get $150+ for a round, but I think you have to factor in your opportunity cost of what you could be doing with your time elsewhere.

 

It doesn't sound like they are very price sensitive, so charge whatever you want!