Why K-Caddies are Bad for You ⛳

 Great Service — But Not Without Its Downsides

Intro
After a few rounds of golf in Korea, you might start to notice something — you’re not quite playing the same game you would abroad.
Caddies make things easier, but sometimes… they can make your 5-hour round very miserable. In Korea, they’re mandatory, so you’re stuck with them whether you like it or not.

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1) The Bad Caddie

All the services that feel like benefits that I mentioned in my previous post can quickly turn into disadvantages if you get a bad or rookie caddie.

• They bring all your clubs — but what if they bring the wrong one? Or someone else’s?

• They read the green for you — but what if their read is completely off?

Of course, it’s not 100% their fault. You’re still responsible for your own clubs and decisions. But if your caddie is inexperienced, there will be consequences for your score and your experience.

2) The Cost Adds Up

• Standard fee: ₩120,000–₩160,000 per round (shared among four players)

• Over multiple rounds, that’s a serious expense on top of already high green fees

3) You Might Become Dependent

Always getting club suggestions and line reads? Try playing abroad without one — you might feel lost. It’s also worth noting that relying on a caddie’s input can slow your own skill development, especially in green reading and course management.

4) Less Privacy & Autonomy

Caddies are with you every step of the way. This isn’t ideal if you prefer to make your own decisions. Some do force their opinion on you :(

5) You Can Feel Rushed

Part of their job is to keep the group on schedule. Sometimes, that means subtle (or not-so-subtle) pressure to speed things up — like urging you to hit faster or using body language to hurry you along.

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🏌️ My Experience

K-Caddies do offer top-tier service, but quality varies — they’re human, after all. 

Also, because they’re paid a fee and often tipped, many try to please players by bending the rules: shaving strokes, “finding” lost balls, or overlooking penalties.

On a recent round at Seoseoul, I actually scored 102 — but my caddie wrote 99 on the card. It’s one of the reasons I’m building Fairway Journal — to keep my own records straight.

But as the saying goes, “When in Rome..." If you’re golfing in Korea, try to enjoy your round with the caddie as much as possible — after all, you’ve paid for it!