For hundreds of years the caddie walked beside the player as the game expanded. As professional golf grew, the opportunities for the professional caddie grew as well. Al Robertson, the first professional golfer, started as a caddie. Five-time British Open winner J.H. Taylor also began his career as a caddie. Unfortunately the opportunities for young golfers to caddie and gain valuable experience are fading.
Golf clubs make money, lots of money, on cart rentals.
One by one, cart barns have replaced the caddie shacks until today less than 10 percent of the clubs in our country have caddies. Of that percentage, nearly all are exclusive private clubs catering to the elite of golf's society. The best thing about a round with a caddie by your side is the relationship the two of you develop. After a few holes a caddie can become quite good at anticipating what shot you need or plan to execute. They know just when and what to talk about, exactly where every pin location is and the best strategy with which to play each hole and shot.