Many caddies at Pebble Beach signal that they want a say in their job.

Dave Faries here, noting that the university golf course I played in my teens did not have caddies. Nor are caddies available at the course in Missouri where my mother lives. My woeful 106 a few months ago at Bayonet and Blackhorse was witnessed only by the others in my chortling foursome.

I can continue. When I visited the Old Course at St. Andrews, it was a blustery November. No caddie was foolish enough to hang out hoping to walk a loop. We pretty much had the course to ourselves. In fact, the only time I’ve been asked about caddie services was at Pebble Beach Golf Links, which I declined. (When I say that a caddie would not improve my round, it’s not boasting.)

From this brief account, you might come to think caddies are no longer central to the golf experience. Indeed, they are a presence at just 9 percent of courses in the U.S.

Yet as he accepted the winner’s trophy following the 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Phil Mickelson tearfully shared the story of his grandfather, who was one of the original loopers at Pebble Beach in 1919. That particular weekend, Mickelson carried a silver dollar a golfer had tipped his grandfather a century ago. 

Yes, that was before Mickelson ditched the PGA Tour for the Saudi-Trump axis known as LIV Golf.

For all but professional golfers, caddying is a niche service—one for a special occasion such as Pebble Beach. Not only do they take on the grunt work so golfers can fully enjoy the moment, they also provide guidance, information and camaraderie. I think having a caddie alongside would make for a memorable round.

But the subject of this week’s cover story is not a lament for a dying aspect of the game. Not at all. Demand for caddie services has surged in recent years. According to Golf Digest, the number of courses with a caddie option shot up by 65 percent since 2018.

That said, there are still fewer than 15,000 people in this country who claim it as a profession.

For well over a century, most who walk the loop have been independent contractors. But Caddiemaster, the management company supplying the service to Pebble Beach Company courses, recently caused a row when it decided to transition caddies at said courses from independent to employees.

In what may be a first, caddies responded by filing to form a union.

What repercussions this may have is unknown. But I had the impression that it’s an important matter. I also understand both sides. Caddies value the flexibility of the contractor model. It’s the walk they’ve chosen, and they would like a say in it. Caddiemaster is not likely to make a decision that might harm its relationship with its client, Pebble Beach Company, or its reputation in the industry.

Check out this week’s cover story for the long version. Check back with the Weekly for what happens next. The caddies vote on June 18.