Skip to content
    • Tour Homepage
    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
    • Equipment Homepage
    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
    • Instruction Homepage
    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played
    • Why walking is the only way to truly appreciate a golf course
    • Is walking in golf just as important as the swing?
    • NCG recommends: Nine US public golf courses you should walk when you are in the country
    • ‘Every single patient of mine could benefit from going out and playing golf’
National Club GolferNational Club Golfer Logo
  • TourHas submenu items

    Tour Homepage

    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
  • EquipmentHas submenu items

    Equipment Homepage

    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
  • ClubHas submenu items
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
  • InstructionHas submenu items

    Instruction Homepage

    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
  • CoursesHas submenu items
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
  • PodcastsHas submenu items
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
  • The Joy of WalkingHas submenu items
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played
    • Why walking is the only way to truly appreciate a golf course
    • Is walking in golf just as important as the swing?
    • NCG recommends: Nine US public golf courses you should walk when you are in the country
    • ‘Every single patient of mine could benefit from going out and playing golf’

Sign up here for our newsletter and you'll never slice a drive again. Promise.

Newsletter sign up

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
National Club Golfer Logo

© 2026 National Club Golfer | 2 Arena Park, Tam Lane, LS17 9BF

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Meet the NCG Team
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
Country: gb Page generated at: Sunday, 19 July 2026 at 23:04:23 British Summer Time
tour
Tour
Would you have your best friend as your caddie?

published: Oct 18, 2017

|

updated: Jul 11, 2023

Would you have your best friend as your caddie?

NCGLink

FacebookXInstagramYouTubePodcast0 comments

With Tyrrell Hatton the latest player to hire a friend to caddie for him, the NCG team discuss whether or not they would go down this route or opt for a professional

Tyrrell Hatton and caddie Jonathan Bell

Table of Contents

Jump to:

  • is it time to say goodbye to the celebrity pro-am?
  • what is your favourite links course?

Alex Perry: I can’t think of anything better than touring the globe with my best mate playing the best golf courses.

Joe Urquhart: I’d love to have my best mate on the bag but he can’t count and would be absolutely useless when I needed yardages.

Mark Townsend: It would take someone very special to get the best out of me on the golf course. I have rarely played golf with my best mate – he shanks it a lot and wrapped my favourite ever club around a sapling in the late 90s – which rules him out. I have one friend who might fit the bill but he dislikes flying more than I do so every week would start and end in blind terror.

Alex Perry: So you’d have a pro caddie?

Mark Townsend: Yes, someone old and world weary. Or Michael Greller, that would be dreamy.

Alex Perry: How would you concentrate on your game if you kept getting lost in his eyes?

Steve Carroll: You could get lost in Fluff’s ‘tache instead.

Alex Perry: If I was taking a “proper” caddie from a current tour player it would without doubt be Greller.

Steve Carroll: I’m not sure I want to have a 10 minute discussion over every shot.

IAngelo Argea and Jack Nicklausf I could go back in time, Angelo Argea. Just carried the bag, gave out a yardage and sported a world class barnet.

Mark Townsend: Not an obvious match but I can see the appeal.

Alex Perry: I don’t remember a golf scene in Boogie Nights. Strong open collar look.

Mark Townsend: This is what they call a man’s man. Jack’s collar is also magnificent and knocks today’s clingy “apparel” into next week.

James Savage: I don’t trust any of my friends to caddie for me. Present company included. I’d rather have a complete stranger every week so they’d just think I was having an off day rather than just being a terrible golfer.

Advertisement

Tom Irwin: I have a regular caddie. He is a 4 handicap golfer, Cambridge blue at golf and cricket, former club captain, committee member. One of the most affable, intelligent, successful people I know. He provides excellent company and world class small talk. He is a terrible caddie.

James Savage: I stopped listening after “I have a regular caddie.”

Mark Townsend: “He is a 4 handicap golfer” – would have to be worse than me so no.

“Cambridge blue at golf and cricket” – definitely no.

“Former club captain” – massive no.

“Committee member” – on the big side of gargantuan no.

“One of the most affable, intelligent, successful people I know” – intimidating so no.

“He provides excellent company and world class small talk” – fair play, maybe.

“He is a terrible caddie” – someone to blame so yes please.

Tom Irwin: I would want a professional please – as would anyone, really. Or Danny Noonan from Caddyshack.

James Savage: Out of all the people in the office to caddie for me I’d pick Tom Irwin.

Tom Irwin: So would I.

James Savage: I said Tom Lenton from the sales team originally but thought about it again and decided he’d spend the entire time on his phone and give me the wrong clubs.

Tom Irwin: I have experienced this. He actually forgot to remove the flag he was tending because he was checking Tinder.

celebrity pro-am golf

Is it time to say goodbye to the celebrity pro-am?

Read full article - Is it time to say goodbye to the celebrity pro-am?
What was the best course you played in 2018?

What is your favourite links course?

Read full article - What is your favourite links course?

Click here for more from The Niggle

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

What's Popular

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: Tiger Woods of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole during Day Two of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 15, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Where will The Open Championship be held in 2027, 2028 and 2029?

By Matt Chivers | Jul 15, 2026

Read full article Where will The Open Championship be held in 2027, 2028 and 2029?
Mark Darbon, CEO of The R&A speaks to the media during a press conference prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 15, 2026 in Southport, England. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

R&A backs the World Handicap System as criticisms continue

By Steve Carroll | Jul 15, 2026

Read full article R&A backs the World Handicap System as criticisms continue

Best Golf Balls for Seniors 2026: Distance and feel for those with slower swing speeds

By Max Mcvittie | Jul 10, 2026

Read full article Best Golf Balls for Seniors 2026: Distance and feel for those with slower swing speeds
SOUTHAMPTON, NY - JUNE 17: Brooks Koepka of the United States celebrates with the U.S. Open Championship trophy after winning the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 17, 2018 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

What are the US Open cut rules?

By Matt Coles | May 9, 2025

Read full article What are the US Open cut rules?
The 18th Hole and 9th Hole of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in the Southampton, N.Y. on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

How much does it cost to play at Shinnecock Hills?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 14, 2026

Read full article How much does it cost to play at Shinnecock Hills?
2025 Open Championship leaderboard

What is The Open Cut rule?

By Matt Chivers | Jul 8, 2026

Read full article What is The Open Cut rule?

Best Budget Irons 2026

By | Jul 15, 2026

Read full article Best Budget Irons 2026
Bryson DeChambeau of the United States looks across the 11th hole with his caddie during Day Two of the The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 17, 2026 in Southport, England. (Photo by Stuart Kerr/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Bryson DeChambeau hit with massive rules penalty in dramatic scenes at The Open

By Matt Chivers | Jul 17, 2026

Read full article Bryson DeChambeau hit with massive rules penalty in dramatic scenes at The Open
Martin Kaymer of the LIV Golf Cleeks team | Source: Getty Images

Big DP World Tour events still allow LIV Golfers to compete, but how?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 29, 2026

Read full article Big DP World Tour events still allow LIV Golfers to compete, but how?
Golfer on their mobile phone | Source: Adobe Stock

I’ve changed my mind on mobile phones – they shouldn’t be anywhere near the golf course

By Steve Carroll | Jul 8, 2026

Read full article I’ve changed my mind on mobile phones – they shouldn’t be anywhere near the golf course
richest golfers of all time

Who are the richest golfers of all time?

By Matt Chivers | Oct 1, 2025

Read full article Who are the richest golfers of all time?
Best Golf Balls 2026 | Source: NCG

Best Golf Balls 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Every Swing Speed and Handicap!

By Max Mcvittie | Jun 23, 2026

Read full article Best Golf Balls 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Every Swing Speed and Handicap!