Short answer: Clubs often publish a recommended gratuity, so ask the caddie master first. Where nothing is posted, $40 to $60 per bag for a caddie and $20 to $30 per player for a forecaddie are common, on top of the caddie fee. With no cash on you, the options are: ask the pro shop before you tee off, charge it to your member account or room, scan your caddie's code, or use the cash machine in the clubhouse.
How much to tip a golf caddie
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Forecaddie for the group | $20 to $30 per player |
| Caddie carrying your bag | $40 to $60, more at resort courses |
| Bag drop and cart staff | $2 to $5 |
| Excellent reads and a found ball or two | Go higher |
These are customary amounts in the United States, in US dollars. They are a guide, not a rule: tip more for exceptional service.
Do you have to tip a golf caddie?
Yes, where caddies work. At most clubs caddies are independent contractors and the gratuity is the larger part of their pay. The caddie fee and the tip are separate things.
Can you tip a golf caddie by card?
It depends on the club. Some let members charge the gratuity to their account, and resort pro shops can sometimes add it to your bill. Many expect cash handed over on the 18th green.
4 ways to tip a golf caddie without cash
- Ask the pro shop before you tee off. "Can caddie gratuity go on my card?" settles it before the first hole.
- Charge it to your member account or room. This is standard at many private clubs and resorts.
- Scan your caddie's code. Some caddies carry a QR card for guests and visitors from abroad.
- Use the cash machine in the clubhouse. Resort clubhouses often have one for this reason.
What a tip QR code does
If a golf caddie shows you a QR code, point your phone camera at it. A payment page opens in your browser, you choose an amount, and you pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. You do not install anything or create an account, and it works with cards from other countries.
If you cannot tip on the day
Go back to the pro shop after the round, give your caddie's name and ask them to pass on a card gratuity.
Outside the United States
In Scotland and Ireland the caddie fee is typically paid in cash, with a tip of ten to twenty pounds or euros on top. Check when you book.
Do you work as a golf caddie?
Visiting golfers, and overseas visitors above all, reach the 18th green without the right cash in the right currency. The handshake tip is a tradition, and for you it increasingly ends in an apology.
See how golf caddies take card tips with a QR code: where to put it, what to write on the sign and how to mention it.
Common questions
How much should I tip a golf caddie?
Clubs often publish a recommended gratuity, so ask the caddie master first. Where nothing is posted, $40 to $60 per bag for a caddie and $20 to $30 per player for a forecaddie are common, on top of the caddie fee.
Do I have to tip a golf caddie?
Yes, where caddies work. At most clubs caddies are independent contractors and the gratuity is the larger part of their pay. The caddie fee and the tip are separate things.
Can I tip a golf caddie with a card or Apple Pay?
It depends on the club. Some let members charge the gratuity to their account, and resort pro shops can sometimes add it to your bill. Many expect cash handed over on the 18th green.
What if I have no cash to tip a golf caddie?
Go back to the pro shop after the round, give your caddie's name and ask them to pass on a card gratuity.