From the Caddie Shack

The GoCaddie Blog

Strategy, insights, and stories from the world of caddie-guided golf. Play smarter — not harder.

Why Every Golfer Needs a Caddie — Not Just the Pros

Tour players never make a decision alone. So why should you? The difference between a good round and a great one often comes down to one thing: having someone in your corner who sees what you can't.

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Insights6 min read

The Art of Club Selection: How Tour Caddies Think

Insights6 min read

The Art of Club Selection: How Tour Caddies Think

It's not just about yardage. Tour caddies factor in wind, lie, pin position, and the player's tendencies before making a call. Here's how the best in the game decide which club to pull.

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Mental Game5 min read

Commit to Every Shot: The Mental Game That Lowers Scores

Mental Game5 min read

Commit to Every Shot: The Mental Game That Lowers Scores

Indecision kills more rounds than bad swings ever will. The best golfers in the world share one trait: they commit fully to every shot. Here's how to build that habit — and why a caddie makes it easier.

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Caddie Stories6 min read

Steve Williams: The Man Behind 14 Major Championships

Caddie Stories6 min read

Steve Williams: The Man Behind 14 Major Championships

For 12 years, Steve Williams stood beside Tiger Woods for every major decision on the course. 150 Tour wins, 14 Majors, and a philosophy on commitment that every golfer needs to hear.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

JJ Jakovac: From NCAA Champion to Carrying the Claret Jug

Caddie Stories5 min read

JJ Jakovac: From NCAA Champion to Carrying the Claret Jug

Two NCAA titles. A Major championship. The first caddie ever to hole-in-one the island green at TPC Sawgrass. JJ Jakovac's story is one of elite golf at every level of the game.

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Caddie Stories6 min read

Shay Knight: Inside Viktor Hovland's FedEx Cup Season

Caddie Stories6 min read

Shay Knight: Inside Viktor Hovland's FedEx Cup Season

Three Ryder Cups. A FedEx Cup. And a golf round with Tiger Woods that led to a pickup basketball game. Shay Knight's story is about sacrifice, hard conversations, and the season of a lifetime.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

John Ellis: The Coach Who Caddied for a US Open Champion

Caddie Stories5 min read

John Ellis: The Coach Who Caddied for a US Open Champion

John Ellis coached Wyndham Clark at the University of Oregon. Then he caddied for his course-record 60 at Pebble Beach — and a US Open title. The ultimate mentor-to-champion story.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

Mark Carens: The Pro Who Became a US Open-Winning Caddie

Caddie Stories5 min read

Mark Carens: The Pro Who Became a US Open-Winning Caddie

He won the Boston Open twice as a professional golfer. Then he switched sides of the rope — and helped guide J.J. Spaun to the 2025 US Open title at Oakmont.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

Matt Minister: Play the Miss, Not the Flag

Caddie Stories5 min read

Matt Minister: Play the Miss, Not the Flag

Nine PGA Tour wins with Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas. A hometown triumph at the Memorial. Matt Minister's strategy — aim where the miss is safe — is the most underrated concept in golf.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

Geno Bonnalie: Bogey Is Not a Disaster

Caddie Stories5 min read

Geno Bonnalie: Bogey Is Not a Disaster

A Guinness World Record for charity birdies. A scratch handicap. Ten years alongside Joel Dahmen. Geno Bonnalie understands championship golf from every angle — and his approach to mistakes will change how you think about yours.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

Travis Perkins: How Routine Creates Champions

Caddie Stories5 min read

Travis Perkins: How Routine Creates Champions

NCAA Division II champion. Five PGA Tour wins with Sam Burns. Travis Perkins built a career around one principle: consistency before the swing creates consistency during it.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

Alex Gaugert: The Caddie Who Monday-Qualified Then Caddied the Same Week

Caddie Stories5 min read

Alex Gaugert: The Caddie Who Monday-Qualified Then Caddied the Same Week

He shot 65 to Monday-qualify for the 3M Open. Then he caddied for his player in the same tournament. Alex Gaugert might be the most unique competitor on the PGA Tour — and he's not even in the field.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

Alan Burns: Conservative Targets, Aggressive Swings

Caddie Stories5 min read

Alan Burns: Conservative Targets, Aggressive Swings

A 60 at the Scottish Open. A T12 at the Masters. Four European Tour wins. Alan Burns has built a career on the most elegant strategy in golf: choose a boring target, then commit completely.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

Justin York: Speed Kills — Why Most Amateurs Read the Wrong Thing

Caddie Stories5 min read

Justin York: Speed Kills — Why Most Amateurs Read the Wrong Thing

Eleven years. Three PGA Tour wins. A nickname earned for finding every lost ball on Tour. Justin York — 'The Birddog' — explains why the line is the last thing you should be reading on the green.

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Caddie Stories5 min read

Duane Bock: Pressure Is a Privilege

Caddie Stories5 min read

Duane Bock: Pressure Is a Privilege

14 years with Kevin Kisner. A Ryder Cup with Sepp Straka. And a philosophy that reframes nerves from obstacle to advantage. Duane Bock has seen every kind of pressure — and he's never once tried to avoid it.

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Strategy6 min read

Golf Club Distance Chart: The Complete Guide to Know Your Distances

Strategy6 min read

Golf Club Distance Chart: The Complete Guide to Know Your Distances

Your best distance and your reliable distance are two different numbers. Here's what Tour caddies actually use — and how to build a distance chart that works under pressure.

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Strategy6 min read

Golf Handicap Calculator: How to Calculate and Lower Your Handicap

Strategy6 min read

Golf Handicap Calculator: How to Calculate and Lower Your Handicap

Your handicap is the most honest number in golf. Here's exactly how it's calculated under the World Handicap System — and the fastest strategies to bring it down.

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Strategy5 min read

What Is a Good Golf Handicap? Benchmarks by Age, Gender & Experience

Strategy5 min read

What Is a Good Golf Handicap? Benchmarks by Age, Gender & Experience

A 14 handicap for a first-year golfer is exceptional. For a 15-year veteran, it might mean something's not working. Context changes everything.

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Strategy6 min read

How to Improve Your Golf Swing: 10 Tips That Actually Work

Strategy6 min read

How to Improve Your Golf Swing: 10 Tips That Actually Work

Most golfers are chasing swing fixes that don't last. The biggest improvements almost always come from decisions made before the swing — not mechanical changes during it.

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Strategy7 min read

Golf Course Management: The Complete Strategy Guide

Strategy7 min read

Golf Course Management: The Complete Strategy Guide

Course management is what separates a golfer who occasionally shoots 78 from one who consistently does. It's not about hitting it perfectly — it's about thinking two shots ahead.

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Strategy6 min read

Golf Layup Strategy: When Smart Players Don't Go for the Green

Strategy6 min read

Golf Layup Strategy: When Smart Players Don't Go for the Green

Going for it feels right. But Tour caddies know that laying up — executed correctly — is often the single decision that saves a round. Here's exactly how to think about it.

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Insights6 min read

Golf Club Selection: How to Choose the Right Club Every Time

Insights6 min read

Golf Club Selection: How to Choose the Right Club Every Time

Most golfers find their distance and grab the matching club. Tour caddies do five other things first. Here's the system.

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Strategy7 min read

How to Lower Your Golf Handicap: 12 Strategies That Work

Strategy7 min read

How to Lower Your Golf Handicap: 12 Strategies That Work

Most handicap improvement advice focuses on swing mechanics. The fastest gains almost always come from smarter decisions. Here are 12 strategies that actually move the number.

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Strategy6 min read

Best Golf Tips for Beginners: Start Your Golf Journey Right

Strategy6 min read

Best Golf Tips for Beginners: Start Your Golf Journey Right

Golf has a steep learning curve, but the fundamentals that actually matter are simple. Here's what helps in your first year — and what to ignore.

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Strategy6 min read

Putting Tips: How to Make More Putts and Lower Your Scores

Strategy6 min read

Putting Tips: How to Make More Putts and Lower Your Scores

Tour caddies think of putting primarily as a decision-making challenge, not a mechanical one. Read this before your next round.

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Insights6 min read

Strokes Gained Explained: The Stat That Changed Golf Forever

Insights6 min read

Strokes Gained Explained: The Stat That Changed Golf Forever

Strokes gained tells you exactly where you're losing shots — and where you're gaining them. Here's how it works and why every serious golfer should understand it.

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Mental Game6 min read

Golf Mental Game: How to Stay Focused and Confident on the Course

Mental Game6 min read

Golf Mental Game: How to Stay Focused and Confident on the Course

The mental game isn't separate from golf. It is golf. Here's how Tour caddies help their players stay in the present — and how you can apply the same principles.

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Caddie Stories6 min read

What Do Golf Caddies Do? Inside the Mind of a Tour Caddie

Caddie Stories6 min read

What Do Golf Caddies Do? Inside the Mind of a Tour Caddie

They carry the bag. But that's about 5% of the job. Here's what a PGA Tour caddie actually does — and why it changes everything about how a round is played.

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Mental Game5 min read

Golf Pre-Shot Routine: Build Consistency with These Pro Techniques

Mental Game5 min read

Golf Pre-Shot Routine: Build Consistency with These Pro Techniques

The pre-shot routine is the most consistently underused performance tool in golf. Here's how Tour caddies help their players build one that holds up under pressure.

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Insights6 min read

Apple Watch Golf Apps: The Complete Guide to Golf on Your Wrist

Insights6 min read

Apple Watch Golf Apps: The Complete Guide to Golf on Your Wrist

Apple Watch has transformed how golfers access information on the course. Here's what to look for, what's available, and why the best apps do more than give you a number.

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Mental Game5 min read

Hands-Free Golf: Why the Best Players Keep Their Phone in the Bag

Mental Game5 min read

Hands-Free Golf: Why the Best Players Keep Their Phone in the Bag

The phone is the single biggest performance disruptor on a golf course. Here's the data on distraction — and how to play fully in the zone.

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Strategy6 min read

Golf Risk Management: When to Attack and When to Play Safe

Strategy6 min read

Golf Risk Management: When to Attack and When to Play Safe

Every hole in golf is a risk-reward decision. The golfers who make the right call most often — not the ones who hit it furthest — shoot the lowest scores.

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Insights6 min read

GoCaddie vs Arccos vs 18Birdies: Which Golf App Is Right for You?

Insights6 min read

GoCaddie vs Arccos vs 18Birdies: Which Golf App Is Right for You?

Three popular golf apps. Three completely different approaches. Here's how to know which one actually serves your game.

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Insights5 min read

How GoCaddie Uses Tour Caddie Knowledge to Improve Your Game

Insights5 min read

How GoCaddie Uses Tour Caddie Knowledge to Improve Your Game

GoCaddie isn't built on generic golf algorithms. It's trained on the real decision-making frameworks of PGA Tour caddies who've won Major championships.

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Insights5 min read

Getting Started with GoCaddie: Complete Setup and First Round Guide

Insights5 min read

Getting Started with GoCaddie: Complete Setup and First Round Guide

GoCaddie is designed to be useful from your first hole. Here's how to set it up and get the most out of your first round.

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