Headed to the Valero Texas Open Pro-Am to Caddie

[jsanatx]

Headed to Valero Texas Open in San Antonio on 03/25 to loop for an amateur during the Pro-Am. Don't' know who the pro is that we'll get paired with, but I hope its someone popular. Definitely not doing it for the money, we get $50 at the end of the round, or the 2 free tickets for any day during the tourney, mainly doing it for a chance to be around the pros and inside the ropes. I just hope i don't get paired with a DB CEO, lol.

 

Anyway, this would be my first time at this type of event. We received some do's and don'ts from the organizers and I pretty much know what to expect, just wondering if any of you have any experiences you can share or additional pointers. Really looking forward to it, thanks.

[zikon]

Awesome try and take a few photos with who you get paired up with!

[Sean2]

Be prepared for the guy you are caddying for to say, "Don't count that." :-)

[Pert1862]

That's awesome. How did you land this gig? That is a once in a lifetime opportunity for sure.

[Ti-Père BBQ]

Enjoy the course! TPC San Antonio is pretty sharp and the layout is great!

[kemau]

don't be shy with your camera sir! good stuff.....enjoy

[painicus]

Make sure to bring a bunch of ritz crackers to use as ball markers!

[Matt J]

There have been some good tips on here over the years. Follow the lead of the pro's caddie. Let him tend the pin. Stay out of the way and remember your loop paid a lot of money to "experience" pro golf. Have fun and enjoy the sights and sounds.

[tx_rican]

Tpc oaks is an incredible course; played it a few times. The bunkers are ridiculously large! Have fun man, I'm jelly. I'll be there for the practice rounds and a day or to of the tourney. Only live about 20 mins away.

[jsanatx]

thanks guys, hope my amateur doesn't have a huge staff bag that i'll have to drag around for 18, lol.

I'll definitely be taking a bunch of pics with my phone, I just hope i can figure out how to upload them. TPC is incredible, played it once a couple of years ago, can;t imagine the shape its going to be for the tournament.

How did i get the gig? Well, a golf buddy of mine does it every year and he asked if I was going to sign up. He sent me the info and I responded and I got in. I initially got a PM slot, but then the organizer changed me to a morning slot, which is a lot better. Its going to be a bit warm on Wednesday. If we get done early enough, I plan on stopping at the Bandit on the way home to Austin to see if I can get 18 in before it gets too dark.

[nova6868]

I also live about 20 minutes away. Played a few weeks ago, the course was in fantastic shape. Just amazing.

Have fun.

[Matt J]

Funny story posted on here about a guy who got into a ProAm and brought his own caddie, a buddy. Buddy gets a little aggressive and grabs the flag and the whole cup comes out. Pro player has to break out pocket knife and repair the cut on green around the cup. Don't be that guy

[jsanatx]

ha, that's funny, no I won't be that guy.

these guys are paying @ $7,500 each to be there, so I plan to stay way out of the way and leave the pro alone until after the round.

[NAM2212]

It will be a great experience for sure. I was lucky enough to caddy in the pro-am of the FedEx St Jude for about 4 years. I got to caddy for a local city councilman the first 2 years. He was hilarious and we had a blast but the first year his bag was unreal. He came out with a 1980s vintage leather bag that had at least 20 clubs in it. I could barely lift the thing. After opening one of the large pockets and seeing it stuffed with range balls from another course I made him empty it. That helped a lot but he insisted on keeping the weighted club in the bag. He wanted me to give him club recommendations during the round but he only hit 5 range balls to warm up. I soon learned that it made no difference what club I told him as he had about a 10% chance of making solid contact. In the end, it was a great experience and I had a lot of fun as well as a really sore back. The next year he asked that I caddy for him again. I told him that was fine as long as he let me put his clubs in my stand bag for the round. The pros were always great and their caddies were very helpful.

[CosmosMpower]

Bring a bright color clicgear push cart cause you know some DB CEO will bring his staff bag. Have fun!

[jsanatx]

with my luck, I'll be paired with the guy that has 14 drivers in his bag, "this one is forged titanium, and this one has 14 hosel adjustments, 14!!". yeah, that guy

[jsanatx]

Format: Shamble (1/2 Handicap) - one net best ball of the foursome or the Pro's score, whichever is lowest, recorded as the team score. Each amateur hits a tee shot and the best drive of the four is selected. From the spot of the selected tee shot, each player in the foursome hits their second shot and continues to play their own ball to finish out the hole. Each team may select to play the Pro's drive twice during the 18 holes. The pro plays his own ball from tee to cup. The worst score the team can take on a hole is a net par. Once any member of the team reaches net par, that team member should pick up. They have closest to the hole contests on #7 and #16 and long drive on #9.

[jsanatx]

was paired up with Carl Petterson yesterday

[cphrey]

So, tell us about it? how was your am?

[bandrz]

i want to know if you got 18 in at the Bandit in New Braunfels. Love that course! hit up Coopers BBQ after and life is complete

[jsanatx]

[quote name='cphrey' timestamp='1427417834' post='11224215']
So, tell us about it? how was your am?
[/quote]

I was told to show up at 8:30, got there at 8, went to the registration tent and the guy tells me all the morning slots had been filled. Apparently, the AMs were told that they could bring their own caddies, so alot of them brought their buddies or a family member, leaving a bunch of us out for the morning slots. The guy told me to come back at 12:30. Thought about finding a course in town, but then decided against it since i would probably he hurrying there and back, so I just hung out on the range and the practice green for 4 hours.

Went back at 12 and was told that our tee time was at 2, so had to wait another 2 hours.

Our AMs were ok, not hackers, but definitely not scratch either. Carl, unfortunately didn't help much. His drives were sometimes erratic and he wasn't making too many birdies. His reads were off most of the time, but our AMs did have a couple of chip ins. Started out 6 under in the first 6 holes, but then they couldn't get off the par train until the next to last hole. Ended up 7 under, which wasn't very good, compared to the leaders at 16 under.

Carl was very personable, chatting up the AMs and us. His caddy Tommy was very nice too.

I told my buddies a couple of weeks ago that i was thinking of using a stand bag, you know, change it up a bit and not use my clicgear as much. Well, after carrying the AM's Sun Mountain 3 5 for 18, that cured that nonsense pretty quickly, no thank you. I love my clicgear more than ever now, lol.

Overall a great experience. If any of you have a chance to do this, don't hesitate. I hope to do it again next year at the Texas Open and maybe during the PGA Match Play Tournament to be held here in Austin next year.

[jsanatx]

[quote name='bandrz' timestamp='1427430799' post='11225517']
i want to know if you got 18 in at the Bandit in New Braunfels. Love that course! hit up Coopers BBQ after and life is complete
[/quote]

Didn;t get a chance to play The Bandit, bummer, was really hoping I could, but its just 30 minutes from my house so I may play it later this year.

[cphrey]

[quote name='jsanatx' timestamp='1427460135' post='11226321']
[quote name='cphrey' timestamp='1427417834' post='11224215']
So, tell us about it? how was your am?
[/quote]

I was told to show up at 8:30, got there at 8, went to the registration tent and the guy tells me all the morning slots had been filled. Apparently, the AMs were told that they could bring their own caddies, so alot of them brought their buddies or a family member, leaving a bunch of us out for the morning slots. The guy told me to come back at 12:30. Thought about finding a course in town, but then decided against it since i would probably he hurrying there and back, so I just hung out on the range and the practice green for 4 hours.

Went back at 12 and was told that our tee time was at 2, so had to wait another 2 hours.

Our AMs were ok, not hackers, but definitely not scratch either. Carl, unfortunately didn't help much. His drives were sometimes erratic and he wasn't making too many birdies. His reads were off most of the time, but our AMs did have a couple of chip ins. Started out 6 under in the first 6 holes, but then they couldn't get off the par train until the next to last hole. Ended up 7 under, which wasn't very good, compared to the leaders at 16 under.

Carl was very personable, chatting up the AMs and us. His caddy Tommy was very nice too.

I told my buddies a couple of weeks ago that i was thinking of using a stand bag, you know, change it up a bit and not use my clicgear as much. Well, after carrying the AM's Sun Mountain 3 5 for 18, that cured that nonsense pretty quickly, no thank you. I love my clicgear more than ever now, lol.

Overall a great experience. If any of you have a chance to do this, don't hesitate. I hope to do it again next year at the Texas Open and maybe during the PGA Match Play Tournament to be held here in Austin next year.
[/quote]

Was just having a similar discussion about carrying and pushing a cart. My buddies and I agree that pushing the cart can actually be more of a pain than just lugging the bag on your shoulders, but the push cart keeps that weight off your back and shoulders so, for me anyway, I stick to my little three wheeler.