The first group of trainee caddies to complete the Caddie Connect training course will be awarded their certificates on Monday 2 July at a special ‘graduation’ ceremony at the Eden Clubhouse, St Andrews Links.
Believed to be the first of its kind in the world, Caddie Connect is a new training scheme for aspiring caddies which has been pioneered by St Andrews Links Trust and Elmwood College. The Trust registers over 160 caddies every year and demand from golfers is on the rise.
A pilot course began in April and has been successfully completed by 24 trainees who have reached the St Andrews Standard and will now be registered Caddie Connect caddies.
“We are continually looking at how we can make golf at St Andrews more enjoyable,” said Niall Flanagan, golf services manager. “Caddie Connect is another step towards meeting the increasingly high expectations of golfers at St Andrews.
“We are delighted with the success of our first trainees. There has been enormous interest from around the world in Caddie Connect and we felt it was important to run a pilot course in-house with trainees before making the course more widely available.”
Validated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, the first Caddie Connect course will be offered at Elmwood College in Cupar in the Autumn. The 40 hour course comprises three modules covering both the theory and practical aspects of being a caddie. Trainees study the rules of golf, the history and etiquette of the game, learn how to make yardage books and how to offer a high level of customer service. On the practical side they have to caddy for 30 rounds, each of which is assessed by the golfer. Finally they sit a two hour exam, produce a yardage book and complete one round which is assessed by the Caddie Manager.
“Caddie Connect offers anyone pursuing a career in golf an opportunity to achieve a professional caddying qualification, the St Andrews Standard, which will have resonance throughout the golf industry,” said Carol Borthwick from Elmwood College. “Caddying is an increasingly important aspect of the game and we see Caddie Connect as a welcome addition to our growing range of golf-related training courses.”
St Andrews Links Trust pr@standrews.org.uk Telephone 01334 466666