Caddies during club comp

Yesterday I played the 2nd round of my club championship, tee off times were determined by where you came in the 1st round so come last go out 1st and come 1st go out last.

As I was playing the 17th the last 3 ball was playing the 5th, 2 of the players had utilised somebody as their caddie (not known who but looked like parents) the 3rd player did not have anyone.

the question I ask is Do you think having a caddie in a club comp is necessary and would it be beneficial? I know the 2 players concerned were playing off 4 and 9 (the guy playing off 4 scored a net 70 the same as me playing off 18)

I used one a few years back on the second day of our club championship, i made the cut my regular playing partner didnt, the agreement was who ever hada free day did the carrying and believe me if to a 18 handicapper it makes a difference, if its a loud then use them thats what i say, trying to talk one of my friends sons into carrying for me at the north west qualifer!!!!

Our club championship used to be 36 holes in a day and when the handicap secretary rang us up at home to tell us that we'd qualified and what time we'd be teeing off he'd ask us the name of our caddy, if we were having one. We'd play 18 holes, have a break for free lunch, which the caddy was also entitled to, and then go out and play the second 18.

This year however, this weekend coming actually, its 18 on the Saturday, with the top 16 off scratch going into the second round on Sunday. I don't think there will be as many caddies this year. This has changed only because several of the younger players over the last few years have walked off the course after the first round because of carding high scores, feeling sorry for themselves, and seeing no point in carrying on. Last year a perfect example. A young lad, single figure player, was playing in our group. His home course was the much more expensive and up market across the town one and he only played in the 4 medals in the previous 4 months to qualify. Anyway, he was obviously over-concerned with trying to look good and struggled to a round of 102. Afterwards, he made his excuses and did not participate in the second round, complaining of a back injury, at the age of 17! It takes 4 months and the 2 best gross scores to qualify for this event and naturally some players who did not qualify by one shot have been less than impressed by this attitude.

At least there is a cut this year so I reckon everyone who makes it will turn up for the following day. I for one though will miss the 36 hole club championship and now think that our competition is devalued. Come on, this is real golf.

Paul

I know someone who once had a Charlie Drake look-a-like in a Golfshake comp once

and the bag was around his ankles tell me did he help his player much??   2 ft taller they would have looked like twins