Okay, so lemme tell you about this whole “sahith theegala caddie” thing I tried out. It was a wild ride, for sure.
First things first, I did some digging. I mean, I’m not about to just walk onto a golf course and start yelling “Caddie!” I needed to understand what a caddie actually does. Watched a bunch of videos, read some articles about golf strategy, how to read greens, all that jazz. Basically, I crammed like I had a final exam on golf. Which, in a way, I kinda did.
Next up, I hit the local driving range. Now, I’m not a golfer. I’ve swung a club, maybe a handful of times in my life. So, I just started whacking balls. Tried to pay attention to how the pros swing, but mostly I was just trying to not completely embarrass myself. The goal wasn’t to become Tiger Woods, just to understand the mechanics a little bit better. You know, so I wouldn’t look like a total idiot when talking about club selection.
Then came the real challenge: finding someone to let me caddie. This was tougher than I thought. Most people already have their caddies, or they’re not super keen on letting some random dude with zero experience tag along. I tried a few local courses, talked to some players. Lots of polite “no thank yous.” Finally, I got a break. This older guy, seemed pretty chill, said he was just playing a casual round and wouldn’t mind the company. Jackpot!
- I got the bag! It was heavy, man. Way heavier than I expected.
- Followed him around, trying to be helpful. Offered him clubs based on what I thought was the right distance.
- Gave him some awful advice on reading a putt. He missed it. Felt terrible.
- Mostly, I just tried to stay out of his way and keep quiet when he was swinging.
After the round, he gave me a few bucks and some surprisingly helpful feedback. He said I needed to learn more about course management, wind direction, and how to actually read a green. Basically, he told me I sucked, but in a nice way.
Learned a TON though. Being a caddie is way more than just carrying a bag. It’s about being a partner, helping with strategy, and keeping the player focused. I definitely have a newfound respect for the guys who do it professionally.
Would I do it again? Probably. But next time, I’ll be armed with a lot more knowledge. And maybe a lighter bag.
Bottom line: It was a humbling experience. Showed me how much I don’t know about golf. But also gave me a taste of what it’s like to be part of the game in a different way.
