Caddie's Guide to R&A Rules of Golf in South Africa All Ages 2026

Q: Who counts as the player's caddie under the Rules?

A caddie is someone who helps the player during a round by carrying, transporting or handling their clubs, giving advice and helping in other ways the Rules allow. A player may have only one caddie at a time. They may change caddies during the round, but not temporarily just to get advice from someone new. Someone who walks or rides along, or carries other things such as a rain suit, umbrella or food and drink, is not the caddie unless the player names them as caddie or they also carry or handle the clubs. Players who are blind, use assistive mobility devices or have intellectual disabilities may also have an aide as well as a caddie (Rule 25). The Committee may have a Local Rule that bans, requires or restricts caddies in a competition. Penalty for more than one caddie at once: two strokes for each hole where it happens (loss of hole in match play). Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 10.3a.

Question 1

Who counts as the player's caddie under the Rules?

Accepted Answer

A caddie is someone who helps the player during a round by carrying, transporting or handling their clubs, giving advice and helping in other ways the Rules allow.

A player may have only one caddie at a time. They may change caddies during the round, but not temporarily just to get advice from someone new.
Someone who walks or rides along, or carries other things such as a rain suit, umbrella or food and drink, is not the caddie unless the player names them as caddie or they also carry or handle the clubs.
Players who are blind, use assistive mobility devices or have intellectual disabilities may also have an aide as well as a caddie (Rule 25).
The Committee may have a Local Rule that bans, requires or restricts caddies in a competition.

Penalty for more than one caddie at once: two strokes for each hole where it happens (loss of hole in match play).

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 10.3a.

Question 2

What am I always allowed to do for the player?

Accepted Answer

A caddie may always do these things, when the Rules allow them:

Carry, transport and handle the player's clubs and other equipment, including driving a cart or pulling a trolley.
Search for the player's ball.
Give information, advice and other help before the stroke (within the limits on lining up and standing behind the ball).
Smooth bunkers and take other actions to care for the course.
Remove sand and loose soil and repair damage on the putting green.
Remove or attend the flagstick.
Mark, lift and replace the player's ball on the putting green.
Lift the player's ball when it's clear the player is going to take relief.
Clean the player's ball (when the Rules allow it to be cleaned).
Remove loose impediments (leaves, twigs, stones) and movable obstructions (rakes, bottles).

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 10.3b(1).

Question 3

What may I do only if the player tells me to?

Accepted Answer

These actions are allowed only with the player's authorisation, which must be given specifically each time, not once for the whole round, and only when the Rules allow the player to do it: Restoring conditions that were worsened after the player's ball came to rest. Lifting the player's ball anywhere except the putting green under a Rule that requires it to be replaced. If you lift the ball without authorisation when it was needed, your player gets one penalty stroke. Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 8.1d, 10.3b(2) and 14.1b.

Question 4

What must I never do for the player as a caddie?

Accepted Answer

A caddie is not allowed to: concede the next stroke, a hole or the match, or agree the match score with the opponent, replace the player's ball, unless the caddie was the one who lifted or moved it, drop or place a ball when the player takes relief, or decide to take relief for the player, for example declaring the ball unplayable or taking relief from an abnormal course condition or penalty area. You may advise the player to take relief, but the player must decide. Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 10.3b(3).

Question 5

When may I stand behind the player before they hit?

Accepted Answer

The restricted area is on or close to the extension of the line of play behind the ball. The limits apply from the moment the player begins taking their stance (at least one foot in position) until the stroke is made: To help with aiming: never. You must not stand there to help line them up. This includes moving away silently as a signal that they're aimed correctly. No penalty if the player backs away, and you move out of the restricted area before they start taking their stance again. To help with something else (for example, checking whether the club will hit a branch on the backswing): you may stand there, but only if you move away before the stroke and it isn't part of a regular routine. There's no penalty if you were standing there inadvertently. Before the player starts taking their stance, you may stand behind them and help with aiming. Penalty: two strokes for your player in stroke play (loss of hole in match play). Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 10.2b(4).

Question 6

How can I help the player with the line or aiming?

Accepted Answer

You may tell the player about the line of play, distances and the break on a green before the stroke, but with these limits:

Don't set anything down to help with aiming or stance, such as a club or towel on the ground pointing at the target. The penalty applies even if it's removed before the stroke. (Your player also can't do this, or make a mark in sand or dew to help their swing.)
While the stroke is being made, don't stand where the player is aiming, and don't do anything else to help, such as pointing out a spot on the ground.
Once the player starts taking their stance, don't stand on or close to the line behind the ball to help them aim.
You may stand close to the hole to attend the flagstick.

Penalty: two strokes for your player in stroke play (loss of hole in match play).

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 10.2b(1), (3) and (4).

Question 7

When may I lift or mark the player's ball?

Accepted Answer

Without asking the player first: when the ball is on the putting green: you may mark it, lift it, clean it and replace it, and when it's reasonable to conclude (from what the player says or does) that the player is going to take relief under a Rule. Only with the player's authorisation (given each time, not once for the whole round): lifting the ball anywhere other than the putting green under a Rule that requires it to be replaced (for example, to identify it or because it's interfering with play). Replacing: you may replace the ball only if you lifted or moved it. Dropping: you may never drop the ball for the player; the player must drop it themselves. Penalty: if you lift the ball when you weren't allowed to, the player gets one penalty stroke and the ball must be replaced. Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 10.3b, 14.1b, 14.2b and 14.3b.

Question 8

Can I hold an umbrella over the player or block the sun while they play?

Accepted Answer

Not while the stroke is being made. A player must not make a stroke: while getting physical help from you or anyone else, or with you, another person or an object deliberately positioned to block out distractions or give protection from the sun, rain, wind or other elements. Allowed: Holding the umbrella over the player before the stroke, and stepping away before they swing. The player protecting themselves, for example by wearing rain gear or holding their own umbrella. Asking someone who wasn't deliberately positioned by the player to stay where they are or move (for example, a spectator casting a shadow over the ball). Penalty: two strokes for your player in stroke play (loss of hole in match play). Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 10.2b(5).

Question 9

Can I give advice to other players in the group, or ask their caddies what club they hit?

Accepted Answer

No. Only the player you're caddying for may get advice from you, and your player may ask for advice only from you. During the round your player must not give advice to anyone else in the competition who is playing on the course, ask anyone other than you for advice, or touch another player's equipment (such as their bag) to find out something that would be advice. Because your actions count as your player's, the same limits apply to you. Penalty: two strokes for your player in stroke play (loss of hole in match play). Allowed: sharing public information, such as where the hole, a penalty area or another ball is, distances, wind direction and the Rules. In partner formats (four-ball, foursomes), you may also advise your player's partner. Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 10.2a, 10.3c and Definition of Advice.

Question 10

What happens if I break a rule while caddying?

Accepted Answer

Your player gets the penalty. The player is responsible for your actions during the round and while play is stopped by the Committee (but not before or after the round). If something you do breaches a Rule, or would be a breach if the player did it, the player gets the penalty under that Rule. Many breaches carry the general penalty: two strokes in stroke play, loss of the hole in match play. This includes giving advice to another player, standing behind the player to help them aim, and shading the player during the stroke. Some carry one stroke, for example lifting the player's ball when you weren't allowed to. Whatever you know, the player is treated as knowing when a Rule depends on what the player was aware of. Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 10.2, 10.3c, 14.1b and Definition of General Penalty.

Question 11

Can I caddie for two players at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes, two or more players may share a caddie. When something you do causes a Rules issue, it's decided like this: If you acted on the specific instruction of one of the players, the action counts as taken for that player. If no one specifically told you to do it, it counts as taken for the player whose ball was involved. If no one directed it and no player's ball was involved, all the players sharing you get the penalty. The other way round, a player may have only one caddie at a time. They may change caddies during a round, but not temporarily just to get advice from the new caddie. Penalty for having more than one caddie at once: two strokes (loss of hole in match play) for each hole where it happens. The Committee may have a Local Rule that bans, requires or restricts caddies in a competition. Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 10.3a.

Question 12

Can I get an official handicap as a caddie in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Yes. GolfRSA and Handicaps Network Africa (HNA) launched the Caddie Handicap Initiative on 1 July 2023. Under it: golf clubs can register their caddies on the HNA system as they would new handicap members, giving them an official World Handicap System Handicap Index, it is open to golf-playing caddies over 18 based at clubs in South Africa, the handicap fee was sponsored down to R50 a year at launch, players marked as "caddie" on the HNA system are exempt from GolfRSA and union affiliation fees, including when a club selects a caddie for a league, and registered caddies can enter competitions such as the Caddie Division of the GolfRSA Champion of Champions. Caddies get a card with an HNA number and enter their scores on the HNA platforms like any other golfer. Source: GolfRSA announcement, "GolfRSA launches the Caddie Handicap Initiative", 30 June 2023.

Caddie's Guide to R&A Rules of Golf in South Africa All Ages 2026

Who counts as the player's caddie under the Rules?Rule

Caddie's Guide to R&A Rules of Golf in South Africa All Ages 2026

Who counts as the player's caddie under the Rules?Rule

What am I always allowed to do for the player?Rule

What may I do only if the player tells me to?Rule

What must I never do for the player as a caddie?Rule

When may I stand behind the player before they hit?Rule

How can I help the player with the line or aiming?Rule

When may I lift or mark the player's ball?Rule

Can I hold an umbrella over the player or block the sun while they play?Rule

Can I give advice to other players in the group, or ask their caddies what club they hit?Rule

What happens if I break a rule while caddying?Rule

Can I caddie for two players at once?Rule

Can I get an official handicap as a caddie in South Africa?RuleCaddies over 18