How to caddie for a golfer

Prepare yourself for the round. A good caddie knows the dress code for the club, which might include a collared shirt or bib with the club's name. Ensure your own comfort and safety by dressing for the weather. Always wear a hat to protect your skin from the sun. A wide-brimmed hat provides the most coverage. Many caddies wear long sleeves in any kind of weather to minimize sun damage to the arms. And if you are prone to skin irritations from poison ivy or other plants, wear long pants.

Bring caddie essentials including sunscreen, light snacks, water, at least one towel, divot repair tool, scorecard, yardage book, tees and pencils.

Know the particulars of the golf course. Most caddies will play the golf course, if permitted, or at least walk it before they caddie there. Keep mental and written notes about each hole. For instance, focus on spots to avoid such as hidden streams or particularly deep rough not seen from the preferred tee shot landing area. Note which spots offer fairly flat lies for your player.

You can even diagram each hole for your player, with distances to the green from certain landmarks like bushes or fairway bunkers. Draw a separate picture of the green and its slope tendencies. The notebook will not only be handy for you, your player might get some reassurance through a quick glance at it before hitting a certain shot.

Show up, keep up and shut up. That's the mantra of a professional caddie, who strives to be seen and not heard until his assistance is specifically requested. You should arrive at the golf course ahead of your player, and during the round, get to her ball before she does.

Familiarize yourself with your player. Learn his name and make sure you know how to pronounce it. Refer to John Smith as Mr. Smith unless he directs you otherwise. See that his clubs are clean and that his bag holds no more than 14 clubs as per the rules of golf. Ask if he has played the course before.

Get a feel for the individual. If you caddie at a private club and encounter different players each day, observe your player for a hole or two rather than immediately overwhelming her with advice. People skills are the most important tool in a caddie's arsenal.

Once you have a feel for your player's personality, you will learn if she is open to unsolicited information. Offer an occasional suggestion, or toss a funny comment to help break the tension of the tournament. But err on the side of caution. A quiet caddie is less likely to get in trouble than one who talks too much.

Stand nearby to help, but be ready to back away from your player when he is ready to hit a shot. Do not talk or move after your player addresses the ball, and don't stand in his line of play or sight (directly in front of or behind him). Under the Rules of Golf, a caddie is not permitted to stand directly behind his player during a stroke.

Clean your player's club after each shot, using a wet towel to remove any dirt from the club face and grooves. Replace the club in the same slot each time. Be ready with the damp towel to clean off the player's golf ball.

Perform the work your player shouldn't have to do. After she hits out of a bunker, be ready with the rake to smooth over the spot from which she plays and replace the rake in the bunker. When your player is on the putting green, ask if she wants the flagstick removed or tended.

To properly tend a flagstick, grab the flag, hold the stick upright and stand to the side from which you will not cast a shadow over the cup. When your player strikes the putt, remove the flagstick from the cup and either keep it with you or lay it off the green.

Watch the flight of the golf ball. If time permits, or your player requests, walk ahead of his teeing ground so you can see where his shot lands. If your player hits an errant shot, go as soon as possible to the spot where you last saw it. Look for the ball until your player directs you otherwise.

Thank your player after the round. Clean her clubs again and ask where her bag should be left. Offer to review her scorecard for accuracy. It is the player's responsibility to sign a correct scorecard, but a caddie can save a player penalties by pointing out an incorrect score.