Golf has more unwritten rules than almost any other sport — and tipping is no exception. From private club caddies to forecaddies to bag room staff, the amounts vary significantly and the etiquette matters. Here's everything you need to know before your next round.
| Role | Tip Amount |
|---|---|
| Full caddie (18 holes, private club) | $50–100 per caddie |
| Forecaddie (shared, 18 holes) | $20–50 per golfer |
| Caddie (9 holes) | $25–50 per caddie |
| Caddie at public course | $25–40 per caddie |
| Bag room / bag drop staff | $5 per bag, $2–5 per bag for cleanup |
| Beverage cart server | $1–2 per drink or 15–20% |
| Starter (assigned you tee time) | $5–20 if they assisted significantly |
| Locker room attendant | $10–20 if they set up your locker |
| Cart attendant (cleaned clubs) | $2–5 per bag |
💡 The caddie's actual income: Many private club caddies earn a base 'loop fee' of $20–40 per bag from the club — before tips. The tip is expected to bring their total to $50–100+ per loop. A good caddie who reads greens accurately, carries your bag for 5 miles and helps you shoot your best round has earned every dollar of a $75–100 tip.
A full caddie carries your bag, cleans your clubs, reads every putt and gives shot-by-shot advice. A forecaddie walks ahead of the group (hence the name), spots where balls land and keeps the round moving — they don't carry bags. Because forecaddies serve the whole group (typically 4 golfers sharing one forecaddie), each golfer tips $20–50 depending on course prestige and quality of service. Total tip to the forecaddie: $80–200 from the group.
Source: Golf.com caddie tipping guide; Country Club of Lansing golf pro guidanceNot all public courses offer caddies, but those that do typically have junior caddies earning lower loop fees. $25–40 per caddie is appropriate at public courses, with more if the caddie had genuine knowledge of the course and contributed meaningfully to your round. If they were a first-time caddie who was learning: $20–25 is still fair acknowledgment of carrying your bag for 4+ hours.
⛳ The caddie relationship: At private clubs, members often tip their regular caddie on an annual basis — a season-end bonus of $200–500 in addition to per-round tips — according to golf pro accounts. Some members also tip the bag staff collectively at season's end. Building a relationship with a caddie who knows your game, your distances and your tendencies is genuinely valuable, and consistent generous tipping maintains that relationship.
Tip golf caddies $50-100 per caddie for 18 holes at private clubs. At public courses, $25-50 is appropriate. The tip should supplement the caddie's loop fee from the club. A great caddie who reads greens accurately earns every dollar of a generous tip.
Yes — tip forecaddies $20-50 per golfer. A forecaddie serves the whole group by spotting ball locations and keeping the round moving. Total group tip: $80-200 depending on course prestige and service quality.
Tip bag room and cart attendants $5 per bag for handling your clubs. After a round, $2-5 for club cleaning is appropriate. These staff handle expensive equipment and deserve recognition for careful service.
Use our free calculator for any service amount — including golf course gratuities.
Try TheTipCalc Free →Tip full caddies $50–100 per caddie for 18 holes at private clubs; $25–50 at public courses. Forecaddies: $20–50 per golfer. Bag room: $5 per bag. Beverage cart: $1–2 per drink. Club caddies earn a modest loop fee from the club — the tip is what makes the job worth doing. A great caddie who genuinely helps your round is worth tipping at the upper end every time.
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