If you’re in the habit of lugging your own clubs when you golf, hiring a caddy for the first time might feel like a catch-22. On the one hand, it lifts a literal weight off your shoulders. On the other, it burdens you with an unfamiliar social obligation. How much do you tip a caddy? When do you tip a caddy? Here’s everything you need to know:

What Should You Expect From a Caddy?

A caddy is expected to carry your clubs, of course. But that’s far from their only job. Caddies hand you your clubs and wipe them off after each shot. They also clean your ball (typically before each hole and again when you reach the green), measure distances and advise you as needed, rake the sandtraps, replace divots and ball marks, and tend the pin once you reach the green.

A group of golfers might also go in on a forecaddie. The forecaddie doesn’t carry everyone’s clubs (they use a golf cart for that), but they’re still expected to perform the duties of a caddy—and keep tabs on everyone’s ball position.

How Much Should You Tip?

As a general rule, many golfers tip a caddy at least half the price of the round. If you’ve hired a forecaddie, you typically tip about $25 for each person in your group. Here’s the thing, though: there’s no hard-and-fast rule. Guidelines vary from course to course. For example, some private clubs don’t allow tipping at all.

Your best option is to ask what’s customary at your particular club. If one of your friends is a member, ask them what they usually tip. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to approach the director of golf, the head pro, or even the caddy master to ask what’s customary. Whatever you do, don’t ask the caddy—that just makes it awkward for two people instead of one.

When Should You Tip Your Caddy?

Hand your tip directly to your caddy when you finish playing, and with it, a priceless but appreciative “Thank you.”

When Should You Be Generous?

Always keep in mind that caddies rely on tips for the bulk of their income. A caddy that dutifully hauls your gear and performs their duties on a swelteringly hot day deserves a good tip, and a caddy that gives you valuable reads on your shots deserves an extra $10 or $20 on top of that. Likewise, take into account your own quality of play. If you’re going the full six strokes on every hole or constantly slicing into the rough, you may be costing your caddy their next assignment.

Should You Only Tip the Caddy?

The caddy is just one service-person of many you’ll encounter around the golf course. Here are some baseline figures for how much you should tip each service:

• Caddy: at least 50% of the cost of a round
• Forecaddie: $25 per player
• Beverage Cart Attendant: 15%–20%
• Bag Drop Attendant: $3–$5 per bag (pay upfront or at the end)
• Valet: $5
• Locker Room Attendant: $5 to clean your shoes