Daily Archives: June 11, 2010

Pebble Beach Stories Part IV: The Caddies

I bought this putter while I worked at Pebble. There were only 400 made, and to this day I'm pissed that I sold it away just to double my money. I wish I listened to my buddy Roy, and if you reading this, you were right to keep yours!

I’ve taken a little break from this series, but since I’m on vacation, I figured I should revive the series since it’s not exactly a time sensitive post, an evergreen if you will. Anyways, if you happened to miss the first three parts of this series and are interested in catching up here they are, Pebble Beach Stories Part I, Pebble Beach Stories Part II: Chi Chi Did It First, and Pebble Beach Stories Part III: The Baseball Players.

The caddies at the courses at Pebble Beach Resorts are probably some of the luckiest guys around. You wouldn’t you know that listening to them complain more than a feminist group. Sure, it’s a physically demanding job carrying two bags for 18 holes, but there aren’t many better places to take that walk, and sometimes they get blamed for making the wrong call on a shot, but in the end they get solid pay even before they get their tip. When I was there it was $65 a bag, and usually they’d carry two for a guaranteed $130. They’d get a minimum of a $50 tip, but more times than not, it was between $100-$200. Some of them have returning clients that must either be a nice person to walk with, or they are a baller that is going to want that caddy to hook them up with some things non-golf related.

Sometimes the caddies hook the guys up with, ummm, escort services, yes even the married ones. (Side note, a lot of guys asked me about escort services, and I would either give them the number to call or tell them to ask one of the caddies.) Another reason is sometimes certain caddies are good at getting their players certain drugs, no need to elaborate which ones, it’s irrelevant. I’ve heard some guys actually request a certain caddy, because they liked them the last time, that’s an unimaginable crazy scenario, I know. Some also take a caddy based on their reputation, and that is basically their seniority.

They get to meet all kinds of cool people that are just happy to be there whether they are famous or on a company sponsored trip. One of my good buddies caddied for the CEO of Jack Daniels, he ended up with a nice tip ($400-$500), and delivery a week later that was a box of JD Single Barrel bottles, flasks, cocktail glasses, and other JD swag. I gladly helped him take down some of the premium whiskey! It seems to happen to each caddy every couple months, which is why I think they have it pretty easy.

Seniority reigns supreme in the caddy shack, and it’s weird that the oldest guys are the grumpiest. It was always funny to hear them talk about some of their players, and how they didn’t deserve to play on the course, because they were so bad at golf. It might be half true, but REALLY!?! They just paid $450 for the round each, probably had to stay a night at the resort just to get the tee time ($400-$1,000), and throw in $65 more for a caddy that doesn’t even like them, and they don’t deserve to be there?!? I’ll be the first to admit, there were some spoiled rich bastards that came in, but knowing how much we charge for everything, you just have to suck it up, and be nice. Usually you’ll even get a tip out of it, unless your helping Charles Schwab (the cheapest man in America who never tips with a $60 Million dollar house next to the 18th tee at Pebble).

Another thing about the caddies I found entertaining is when the big tourneys come into town. I got to chill by the driving range and give them range balls. I’d often listen in on them betting on their players within their pairings. They would be betting on everything! They would bet on shots their players took on the range! I remember one time Luke Donald’s caddy was talking to another caddy for the player next to him (can’t remember who), but they were betting on whether or not Luke could fade his shot around a range pole, because that was what he was working on. They were betting $5 a shot on the stupid range warm up shots! I know for a fact that some guys lost all their money they made for the day to another caddy, always funny stuff. This is one reason I’ve always believed Stevie Williams must be more rich than we even think. I bet Tiger makes 9 out of the 10 shots Stevie could bet on!


Best of 3

Big Baby & Nate Dog all fired up! (photo courtesy of cbcsports.ca)

With all the star-power featured in the 2010 NBA Finals, it’s hard to imagine that the championship will be decided by Andrew Bynum and the Celtic’s bench, mainly the “Big Baby” himself, Glen Davis.  Game 4 was ugly for the first 36 minutes, but once the final period began, all mayhem broke loose.  The Celtics bench unleashed hell on the Lakers, and credit Doc Rivers for leaving them in.  One thing I admire about the Celtics, is that they completely embody the word “team.”  Three future HOF’s were at the scorer’s table ready to check in, only to be called back when the bench started rolling.  Neither of the three had a bit of a problem with it.

None of us expect Davis to play out of his mind like this again this series, especially after his performance during the post-game press conference along with Nate “Dog” Robinson (I think LA might not appreciate it, and will have something to say about it) but it’s safe to assume he will contribute.  Especially if Bynum is hobbled, again.  Sorry Lakers fans, but Bynum is about as reliable as Lindsay Lohan’s ability to stay off the booze.  What’s scary for LA, is the fact that if you look back at every game this series, Allen, Garnett and Pierce have all failed to string together good games at the same time.  Yet Boston has somehow pulled off two wins.  Including a win in LA in which they were out shot in free-throws some 40-25 (Boston’s final 6-7 when LA were forced to foul).  You have to be concerned that they’ll finally get it going, along with an energized bench, it’s going to be tough LA.

On the other side, if you’re Boston, you have to be concerned that the three days between Games 4 and 5 will be enough to heal Bynum’s knee.  If Bynum can be even halfway productive for the remainder of the series, Boston’s chances of winning decreases.  Another cause for concern if you’re Boston, Derek Fisher.  Fisher’s foul trouble kept him sidelined for most of Game 4, and LA clearly missed his presence down the stretch.  What Boston appreciates is when Kobe Bryant gets into that mind state that he has to win it on his own, and they stop going to Gasol.  Pau Gasol dominates the post when they go to him, and for the life of me, I can’t understand why LA doesn’t run their offense through him more?  He is a willing passer, and he puts the defense at a retreating position every time.  And of course Kobe Bryant.  Kobe needs to trust his teammates during the course of the game, then take over late ala “The Closer.”  When Kobe plays within the rhythm of the game, he is unstoppable.

Oh, and the Lakers bench has to show up.

With all that being said, I must say the officials have had a hand in all the wins, and these NBA Finals have been heavily influenced by bad calls.  I’m not one to draw up conspiracy theories, but a Boston/LA rivalry renewed does look good going seven.  I’m sure that’s crossed the minds of the higher-ups at the NBA corporation.  Just saying.

Enjoy your Friday people!