starting a forecaddie business.

[pkrueger86]

hey guys,

 

My brother and I golf about once a month, but would love to get out more. We are always looking for people to golf with but none of our friends want to bother. This got us thinking of ways we can attract new golfers and please current ones. my grand idea is to start a caddie company. With each fore some, you would get a caddy to continually wipe your clubs after each shot while advising you on course conditions and giving general advice. the other caddie would forecaddie and track your ball and have your putter ready for you when you walk to the green.

so far, it is just an idea, but i wanted to hear opinions on if there would be a market for that type of business? How much would you be willing to pay for something like that, and would it bring more people to the game of golf?

Discuss.

[eagle1997]

personally, i love the idea. i've thought about doing it in my area (washington dc metro), but haven't gotten it off the ground yet.

every year blue mash golf course in maryland (and its sister course, waverly woods) runs a 'caddie special' during the week of the open championship. these courses do no have caddies at any other time during the year. i've done it the past 3 years running. cost to get a caddie is the same as a getting a cart, plus caddie tip (at the discretion of the player, $25 minimum, and i usually triple that). it's a lot of fun and definitely makes the round special. i'd do it probably once a month if it was on different courses, including ones i didn't know. i'm a talker, so even though i am playing a course i know very well, i liked getting input from the caddie on stuff like wind, club selection, shot shape, etc. the caddies at blue mash are usually kids (high school & college) who are working at a country club during the summer as a caddie, and i've had great experiences each time.

two things:
- for me, the caddie has to be knowledgeable about the course and golf in general. VERY knowledgeable. i'm not tipping for someone to carry my bag and clean my clubs, i want actual input (especially on reading putts). i realize this may differ from person to person.
- the caddie has to have a good personality. nothing worse than being stuck with a jerk, and then have to pay that jerk at the end of the round. this hasn't happened to me at blue mash, but has happened when i had a caddie at a different course.

good luck in your endeavor. with the proper business model and personnel, i think you can succeed. the only thing i'd have quadruple checked is liability, as that could be disastrous financially.