Do You Tip Caddies in Scotland?

Yes — a tip is expected and is a meaningful part of a caddie's daily pay. Unlike some service industries in Scotland where tipping is optional, the caddie tip is conventional. Caddies are typically self-employed and paid a base rate by the club; the tip from the player rounds out their earnings.

What to tip in 2026

Course tier	Caddie fee (base)	Customary tip	Total
Old Course, Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch, Royal Troon	£55–£80	£30–£50	£85–£130
Open-rota and championship courses	£45–£60	£25–£40	£70–£100
Quality members' clubs	£35–£50	£15–£30	£50–£80

The tip is given at the end of the round, typically in cash, in the car park or at the bag drop. A handshake accompanies it. Some players hand the tip in an envelope; most don't — a direct handover is standard.

For a group: each player tips their own caddie (if you have single caddies) or the tip is pooled and given to a forecaddie if you've shared one. A forecaddie — who spots balls and walks ahead rather than carrying — typically earns a lower base rate and a proportionally smaller tip.

What affects the amount

Good advice, accurate yardages, and a read that sinks naturally warrant the upper end of the range. A round where the caddie anticipated what you needed before you asked for it, or where local knowledge saved you several shots, merits a generous tip.

Perfunctory service — carrying the bag but not reading putts, not volunteering local knowledge, disappearing at holes where you were in trouble — is still tipped, but at the lower end.

A first-rate caddie who helped you shoot your best round sometimes gets tipped beyond the table above, particularly from visitors who understand what they've received. There's no upper limit to a good tip.

Practical notes

• Bring cash. Most caddie tips in Scotland are paid in cash. Some caddies at modern facilities accept card payment via their phone, but don't count on it.
• The tip is separate from the caddie fee. The club's caddie fee goes through the clubhouse; the tip goes directly to the caddie. Don't assume the club passes it on.
• Tipping is not optional at the famous courses. At Old Course, Carnoustie, and the equivalent, caddies have worked years to get on the bag. The tip acknowledges that.
• At smaller courses, where caddies are part-timers or juniors, the same principle applies but scale down accordingly.

How to book a caddie

Most clubs manage their own caddie list — contact the pro shop or caddie manager when you book your tee time, and ask to arrange a caddie at the same time. Don't leave it to the day; at top Scottish courses in season (May–September), caddies are allocated weeks in advance.

At the St Andrews Links (Old Course, New Course, Jubilee, Eden), caddies are booked through the Links Trust caddie manager. If you've won a ballot round on the Old Course, confirm caddie availability when you accept your tee time.

For society groups: if you want individual caddies, arrange the full number when you book. A single forecaddie for a group of four is more straightforward and typically costs each player less.

The moment

The end of the round, the 18th green, or the walk back to the clubhouse. Brief, sincere, direct. You don't need a long speech. "Thank you — that was a brilliant read on 17" is enough. The caddie knows what a good tip means and will appreciate the acknowledgement behind it.