Of course, a good caddy is worth his or her weight in gold. They carry our golf club bag, hold it for you, and sometimes even offer tips as to which club is best to use on a particular hole and advice regarding how to play particular parts of the course.

If you feel a human caddy is not worth the nuisance factor, however, a new product, the caddy, may be quite useful for golfers who do not want to be bothered.

Caddy Features

Caddies come in a variety of forms. There are some as small a clothespin which allows the golf club bag to stand independently and keeps it from tipping over on the green or fairway.

More popular is the combination of golf club bag and caddy. These feature a rib for reinforcement, which runs along the interior of the bag body. The rib can extend a short distance from the throat of the bag braced by a radial apparatus anchored in the center of the body. An advanced version of this basic caddy is one includes a golf ball retainer pocket.

This is a handy feature for keeping a golf ball between the hand grip and throat of the bag, in a location where it can easily be retrieved as needed. Still others feature a slot alongside the ball pocket where the golfer can slide additional balls to the front of the bag and quickly lift them out of the pocket.

Another golf club caddy combines the carrier with a support stand and wheels. The wheels help a golfer roll the bag across the golf course. When it is stood on its support, the bottom of the stand automatically spreads to keep the bag in place even while rearranging the clubs.

Golf club caddies come in quite useful, particularly on courses which do not allow carts, or where the tee boxes are located some distance from the cart path. One of the best features of a golf club caddy which is combined with a bag is that it doesn’t need to be tipped – unlike its human counterpart. A good quality, durable bag and caddy combination eases physical stress on the golfer as well.

To avid golfers, this is pretty frustrating and viewed as plain rude. It doesn’t matter if it is a public or private golf course. Basic golf etiquette is just that “GOLF” etiquette. It applies to any golf course and any golfer.

Can I get a golf clap please? There’s a reason there is a specific way to clap on a golf course. You clap quietly, no yelling, shouting or cheering (ok, ignore the PGA tour. We’re talking about you and you group on a Sunday afternoon at the local golf course). Ok, here is a small list of do’s and don’ts.

• Do follow the golf course’s dress code
• Do show up to the tee box a little early for your tee time
• Do follow the golf course’s golf cart rules (don’t drive on the greens or in the sand traps)
• Do take your own set of golf clubs to the golf course. Do not share clubs on the course
• Do be ready to play when it is your turn
• Do play ‘ready golf’
• Do let faster players or groups play thorough
• Do play by the rules
• Do keep your golf round to 4 hours or less
• Do yell “four” when you believe there is the slightest chance of your golf ball hitting someone
• Do not honk your car horn when you are in the parking lot (this means if your car honks when you lock the doors with your remote, lock them manually)
• Do not yell over to your friends when you are in the parking lot (remember, when you arrive at the golf course, including the parking lot, follow golf etiquette)
• Do not talk or walk behind others when they are hitting the golf ball
• Do not hit into slower groups or golf players in front of you

These are some of the basic etiquette standards everyone is expected to follow on the golf course and even on the golf range. Have a great time, but never have your fun at someone else’s expense. It’s like being in a movie theatre. Everyone has paid to be there and enjoy themselves, so keep that in mind.

These tips for golf beginners will help to take you to the next level of game play.

1. Have you ever heard the phrase, “Practice makes perfect.” Great advice. And it does not always have to be on the golf course. Practice your golf swing in your back yard, minus the golf ball so you do not break the neighbors windows. Get a feel for your swing. Adjust your handgrip on the golf club. Vary your stance. Spend some time at the driving range, this is cheap practice compared to a round of 18 holes. You will not get upset at missing a shot when it really does not matter.

2. What ever you do when learning to play golf is do not go out and spend a lot of money on the best, hottest set of golf clubs available. When learning to play, they will not make that much if any difference in your game. Once you get a feel for your swing, stance and your style of play you will be able to make an informed purchase. I know you want look fly on the course, but resist the urge.

3. This is the most important tip for golfer, beginners and pros alike. HAVE FUN. It is always amazing how golfers ruin a perfectly good day getting worked up over a bad shot or a missed putt. Golf is a game that should be played for the enjoyment of it.

Once you start playing golf it will become addicting, but the pure enjoyment will make every game, every swing, every putt worth the time and effort your spent in learning the game of golf.