Caddies in Pattaya

[Bush-Hack]

Hi gents,

I am planning visiting Pattaya in June this year and would like to play golf.

I am wondering about the quality of Caddies in Pattaya. I have played in BKK at the Thai Golf Club, which was excellent. But then, I played other courses and the quality of Caddies varies.

Has anyone of you experience with good caddies in Pattaya?

Thanks for all replies .

cheers
BH

[Lok Jit]

No two caddies are the same...Of the 25 courses in this area some provide good training and others don't...The best caddys are often booked by other players so you get what is available...No easy answer to this..A Grab Bag for the most part

[iron]

Hi gents,

I am planning visiting Pattaya in June this year and would like to play golf.

I am wondering about the quality of Caddies in Pattaya. I have played in BKK at the Thai Golf Club, which was excellent. But then, I played other courses and the quality of Caddies varies.

Has anyone of you experience with good caddies in Pattaya?

Thanks for all replies .

cheers

BH

how serious a golfer are you?just bring a rangefinder with you for yardage,but a lot of the older caddies can read the greens for lines,etc.give them an incentive,50 baht for every birdie you get,that will get them interested. lol

remember its holiday golf,and can be bloody hot,enjoy

[Skalliwag]

Are you talking about "good" caddies or "good" caddies?

What exactly is it you want?

Like can they read putts and are bang on with yardages?

Or can they clean your pudder?

[manarak]

Hi gents,

I am planning visiting Pattaya in June this year and would like to play golf.

I am wondering about the quality of Caddies in Pattaya. I have played in BKK at the Thai Golf Club, which was excellent. But then, I played other courses and the quality of Caddies varies.

Has anyone of you experience with good caddies in Pattaya?

Thanks for all replies .

cheers

BH

 

I'm always unlucky with my caddies, it's already a running gag among my golf buddies :-(

[Bush-Hack]

Thanks LOK JIT

[Bush-Hack]

Hi Iron,

thanks for the advise. As you mentioned the range finder will do the trick - till you are on the dance floor. I appreciate a good line read rather than paying any amount for guess work.

I always put up a rule between the caddy and me before the game.

100 bhat for birdie

75 bhat for par

Zip for bogie and worst

200 bhat for long range puts ( over 20 foot )

300 bhat for chip ins, additional if its birdie or par

 

3 put --- she pays me.....hahaha

[Bush-Hack]

Hi Skalliwag,

 

thanks for your reply

but I am after good caddies. (experienced in reading greens)

 

I have not heard about a course where caddies perform other duties , maybe you can enlighten me. It would be for me a totally new golf experience.

Looking forward hearing from you again.

cheers

Bush-Hack

[Skalliwag]

Overall,the Caddies are,good company but let's face it.

They are not pro caddies.

Some are better than others at reading greens and most will be accurate enough with yard ages.

I,assume you are not on the PGA Tour so a yardage to within 4-5 should be good enough.

I have some excellent Caddies that I book at specific course that I play,you can do the same if you find one you gel with.

[Bush-Hack]

Hi Skalliwag

thx.

My experience in Vietnam is that Caddies with low numbers (on their back) are generally better ( more experienced even play on the caddy tour).

Would the same apply in Thailand?

[Skalliwag]

Hi Skalliwag

thx.

My experience in Vietnam is that Caddies with low numbers (on their back) are generally better ( more experienced even play on the caddy tour).

Would the same apply in Thailand?

Ohhh,not sure mate.

Low numbers may mean been there longer,but I've got some good high number caddies.

[Scuba+]

Hi Iron,

thanks for the advise. As you mentioned the range finder will do the trick - till you are on the dance floor. I appreciate a good line read rather than paying any amount for guess work.

I always put up a rule between the caddy and me before the game.

100 bhat for birdie

75 bhat for par

Zip for bogie and worst

200 bhat for long range puts ( over 20 foot )

300 bhat for chip ins, additional if its birdie or par

 

3 put --- she pays me.....hahaha

I can't see the point of that? sounds like you are trying to make it more fun for them, why, pointless, you are already paying 650+ baht which is a good wage.

 

Bring a range finder, caddies are often out by 10+ yards. They get green reading wrong just as we do on our home course, its better to do it yourself.

 

Some are good, some are crap. If you get dealt a bad hand you just have to play with it. I've noticed this year a lot of the young good looking caddies have gone, we are now left with a lot of older, in some cases fat caddies.

[Bush-Hack]

Thx Scubscuba3,

I got my range finder already packed.

 

In the past I paid around 1500 bhat plus on extra plus tips and had really enjoyable rounds. Its just more fun with better caddies.

I guess I will learn my own lessons in Pattaya and looking soo forward to play there.

[bossofzip]

Hi Iron,

thanks for the advise. As you mentioned the range finder will do the trick - till you are on the dance floor. I appreciate a good line read rather than paying any amount for guess work.

I always put up a rule between the caddy and me before the game.

100 bhat for birdie

75 bhat for par

Zip for bogie and worst

200 bhat for long range puts ( over 20 foot )

300 bhat for chip ins, additional if its birdie or par

 

3 put --- she pays me.....hahaha

 

Thx Scubscuba3,

I got my range finder already packed.

 

In the past I paid around 1500 bhat plus on extra plus tips and had really enjoyable rounds. Its just more fun with better caddies.

I guess I will learn my own lessons in Pattaya and looking soo forward to play there.

 

As good a company in a round as some caddies may be, all you are doing is throwing excessive money at them, for simply doing the duties they are paid for.

 

To give them the tip money you are referring to is ridiculous, but hey !!  it is your money, so do as you wish with it.

 

Mind you, it may make you about as popular as a pork chop in a synagogue with the vast majority of your playing partners, when your big noting, makes them look bad to their caddies.

 

Caddies enjoy working for better golfers, as they do not have to be searching high & low for their golf balls etc, you have made no mention of your handicap, or standard of play. 

 

My opinion is if you are single figure golfer, read the putts yourself, saves any frustration for both caddy & you, bad reads by them, bad putts by you.

 

Enjoy your game.

[apter]

Lower caddie numbers usually mean the caddie in question has been at the course longer so should know the breaks better. Usually pretty good at giving yardages as well. Not "pro tour" good but then again, and please don't take this the wrong way, you're probably not "pro tour" good either.

 

In my experience most Thai caddies are pefectly good enough to make a very enjoyable addition to the game.

 

PS: I play off 8 so good enough to know a good caddie from a muppet

[Bush-Hack]

thanks Bossofzip.

 

I agree totally with you.

Playing with other golfer who are not in a position of paying well and above for a good caddy after a very enjoyable round is not my thing, either.

I most of the time play with like minded golfers.

Lets face it:   How many Eagles , long range puts do you shot per round?  one or two???? 

At least this is a good incentive and they getting a bit more excited too.

 

If someone dangles a carrot on a stick in front of your nose, you will also try to grab it, right?

Golf is fun, money is paper, Life is to short not to have fun.  Btw, A good caddy only help you with the breaks on the dance floor.

[Bush-Hack]

thx Apter for your feed back

maybe we can line a up a game one day ?

BH  (Hcp 2.6)

[apter]

I'm there February 28th through March 14th, so if you're around I'd love a game. Always nice to play with somebody who knows what he's doing.

 

Got paired up with a Korean last August at Crystal Bay which is not the most difficult course in the world. He kept having a go at his caddie for giving him the wrong yardages. She'd say 170, he'd grab a 7-iron, then top it 50 yards then blame her for wrong yardage.

 

My personal favorite caddy so far in Pattaya is Kwan from Crystal Bay. The best ever was a young girl called Fon from Black Mountain in Hua Hin. She played off +3 which I found out after I duffed a drive then foolishly asked if she could do better. She said Yes and pasted one into the next time zone just to prove the point. Got a photo of her somewhere I'll try to dig out.

 

[Bush-Hack]

Thanks Apter,

I played Black Mountain last year, but caddy was no stand out. Played at Bayan the next day and had the best experience with a Caddy called Nun. She actually plays of  +1 and in the Thai Caddy Challenge. Her knowledge and the whole approach during our nearly 4 hrs was very pleasant and professional. That's when I start really enjoying the game , being out with great and positive people.

What I learned so far about Thai caddies, they are very reserved and more shy in case they would embarrass the customer.

 

I played last year in October with guys from Singapore, not my best experience but one of my funniest. Counting isn't their strength....lol  + short term memory loss.

 

I will be in Pattaya in June, sorry Feb/March is this year not possible. But postponed isn't cancelled, right. 

[apter]

Thanks Apter,

I played Black Mountain last year, but caddy was no stand out. Played at Bayan the next day and had the best experience with a Caddy called Nun. She actually plays of  +1 and in the Thai Caddy Challenge. Her knowledge and the whole approach during our nearly 4 hrs was very pleasant and professional. That's when I start really enjoying the game , being out with great and positive people.

What I learned so far about Thai caddies, they are very reserved and more shy in case they would embarrass the customer.

 

I played last year in October with guys from Singapore, not my best experience but one of my funniest. Counting isn't their strength....lol  + short term memory loss.

 

I will be in Pattaya in June, sorry Feb/March is this year not possible. But postponed isn't cancelled, right. 

 

Problem on some courses is the rating system they have for their caddies. At the end of the round you get a little plastic disk with the caddie number to drop into the box that corresponds to your rating. So far, so good - except some people confuse bad play with bad caddies. For example my Korean from earlier posts. Not the caddie's problem that he couldn't hit the inside of a barn but his bad rating affects the caddie's place in the rotation for rounds and ultimately her income.

 

Happens quite a lot unfortunately, so you will have caddies who are reluctant to suggest a club in case it goes wrong.

 

Sure our paths will cross at some stage for a round - look forward to it.

[bossofzip]

Problem on some courses is the rating system they have for their caddies. At the end of the round you get a little plastic disk with the caddie number to drop into the box that corresponds to your rating. So far, so good - except some people confuse bad play with bad caddies. For example my Korean from earlier posts. Not the caddie's problem that he couldn't hit the inside of a barn but his bad rating affects the caddie's place in the rotation for rounds and ultimately her income.

 

Happens quite a lot unfortunately, so you will have caddies who are reluctant to suggest a club in case it goes wrong.

 

Sure our paths will cross at some stage for a round - look forward to it.

 

The converse also applies, where "golfers" are just happy to have a caddy who may be good looking, and smile at them when they play like crap, and are given an excellent rating.

 

I find it difficult to comprehend that you as an 8 marker, (or anyone really) would let a caddy, for that day, "suggest a club".  Fair enough if you want a read on a green, if you think they can do better than you, AND you can hit it exactly where they tell you each time.

 

Personally, I have never given a "poor" rating, nor have I given an "excellent" based on 1 days play.  Average means exactly that, they do the job they are supposed to do, the way I play on the day has zero impact on my assessment.

 

My experience has shown way too many "golfers" expect way too much from their caddy.  On the other side of the coin, there is the novelty factor for some, and they tip way too much than is warranted.

 

For credibility sake I will state my h/c is between BH & Ap, & have been here >10 years.

[apter]

The converse also applies, where "golfers" are just happy to have a caddy who may be good looking, and smile at them when they play like crap, and are given an excellent rating.

 

I find it difficult to comprehend that you as an 8 marker, (or anyone really) would let a caddy, for that day, "suggest a club".  Fair enough if you want a read on a green, if you think they can do better than you, AND you can hit it exactly where they tell you each time.

 

Personally, I have never given a "poor" rating, nor have I given an "excellent" based on 1 days play.  Average means exactly that, they do the job they are supposed to do, the way I play on the day has zero impact on my assessment.

 

My experience has shown way too many "golfers" expect way too much from their caddy.  On the other side of the coin, there is the novelty factor for some, and they tip way too much than is warranted.

 

For credibility sake I will state my h/c is between BH & Ap, & have been here >10 years.

 

One caddy I've used many, many times - quite happy to have her suggest a club. More inclined to take the suggestion on courses I don't know that well though. Definately take her advice on the greens though. To clarify, been using the same caddie for about 5 years. Not something that applies to all of them by any stretch of the imagination.

 

A decent caddie isn't an immediate cure for anything. You still have to hit the ball. A lot of golfers will overestimate their yardages - that's where a decent caddie can suggest a club.

[farcanal]

I've had 11 golf trips to Patts and personally I think the caddies make the whole experience so much better. I now have a "harem" of my favourites and always request them, they really appreciate being asked for and once you get to know them it's a great day out.

I might add here that me and my mates ensure at the start that the caddies know we're only there for a fun day....I always stress "not serious".....you can almost see the relief on their faces because I know they can get some real fucking arseholes to caddie for.

The better caddies will work you out after a couple of holes and won't give you yardage, just hand you a club.

I was playing Pattana once and on the 1st hole hit a reasonable drive and asked how far to the pin. She says 180 so I ask for my 4 hybrid.....she hands me my 8 iron.....I say no, 4 hybrid.....she says no....hit this, handing me the 8 iron. I hit the 8 about 130 yards and when we get to the ball I'm just short of a wide creek in front of the green.

She says..."now chip on and get your bogey".....priceless.

.....and btw some caddies do have extra curricular activities

[Bush-Hack]

Thanks a lot for all comments.

I value a good caddy for their personality and for helping me reading the greens. Caddies are great value to keep the good spirit up during a round and a good caddy tells you a bit about the course it self. I value that very much.

I have played in BKK and Hua Hin before. In both places I had mixed experiences with caddies. But I also learned that dangle a carrot in front of them " bonus " pay for birdies and pars, helps them getting a bit competitive. I agree with overpaying a bad or average caddy should not be done.

I agree that a caddy should be treated with respect and at the end of the round be evaluated/ rated on her personality not on the players performance.

I agree that a round of golf with a Caddy should always be fun and treated as such- its a hobby for crying out loud - or does anybody in this thread play for big $$ price money????

 

I am looking forward playing in Pattaya this year, and will be certain that I have a great time. Just hope my Caddy does too......... 

[farcanal]

Thanks a lot for all comments.

I value a good caddy for their personality and for helping me reading the greens. Caddies are great value to keep the good spirit up during a round and a good caddy tells you a bit about the course it self. I value that very much.

I have played in BKK and Hua Hin before. In both places I had mixed experiences with caddies. But I also learned that dangle a carrot in front of them " bonus " pay for birdies and pars, helps them getting a bit competitive. I agree with overpaying a bad or average caddy should not be done.

I agree that a caddy should be treated with respect and at the end of the round be evaluated/ rated on her personality not on the players performance.

I agree that a round of golf with a Caddy should always be fun and treated as such- its a hobby for crying out loud - or does anybody in this thread play for big $$ price money????

 

I am looking forward playing in Pattaya this year, and will be certain that I have a great time. Just hope my Caddy does too......... 

  

In my opinion the caddies "make" the golf in Thailand. If no caddies it would just be a game of golf among mates.

I've always had 3 mates with me in Patts and we bet 2 against 2. We tell the caddies this so they know their "team" and believe me they're not backward in coming forward with the occasional and very timely sledge. They love it and it makes for a most enjoyable 4 or 5 hours. I've actually learnt some new sledges from these girls.