The CSGA Links Volume 3 Issue 6 September 2015 | Page 48
RULES CORNER
Rule 6-4 - The Caddie
The player may be assisted by a caddie, but he is limited to only one
caddie at any one time.
Q. May two competitors playing in the same group share a
caddie?
A. Yes, players may share a caddie during the round, provided the
caddie who is being used by both players is their only caddie.
Players are prohibited from asking each other for advice under
Rule 8-1, but are entitled to any knowledge the caddie may
have, including what club their fellow competitor hit. However,
they must only ask the caddie for this advice, and not the player
themselves.
Q. Two players playing in the same competition at different
times on the same day caddie for each other. Is this permissible?
A. Yes, there are no rules restricting who may be the player’s
caddie, except that the caddie may not be a competitor who has
started and not yet completed the stipulated round.
Q. What is the caddie allowed to do? For example, may he mark
the player’s ball?
A. While the Rules do not expressly so state, the following are
examples of acts which the caddie may perform for the player
without the player’s authority:
- Search for the player’s ball as provided in Rule 12-1.
- Place the player’s clubs in a hazard
- Repair old hole plugs and ball marks-Remove loose impediments
on the line of putt or elsewhere
- Mark the position of a ball, without lifting it
- Clean the player’s ball
- Remove movable obstructions
***Note that the caddie is also permitted to lift the player’s ball
after marking it, but only under the direction of the player.
48 | CSGA Links // September, 2015
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