Carrying the bag is the core physical responsibility of caddying. Everything else you do — reading greens, tracking yardages, raking bunkers — happens alongside the central job of managing that bag professionally for 18 holes.

Done well, carrying the bag looks effortless and organized. The player never has to ask for a club, clubs never rattle or clank, the bag is always in the right place, and every club comes back clean. Done poorly, it’s disruptive, unprofessional, and distracting.

Here’s how to do it right:

• Placement — Rest the bag on the cart path or rough — never on the green or the tee box. The green is a precision putting surface; any pressure or abrasion can damage it. The tee box is a prepared playing surface. Keep the bag off both.
• Organization — Clubs should always return to the same slot after use. If the player hands you their 5-iron, it goes back with the other irons — not thrown in wherever there’s space. Consistency means you can find any club instantly, which is how you stay one step ahead of the player.
• Noise discipline — A noisy bag is an amateur signal. Keep the clubs stable so they don’t rattle when you walk. Most caddies use a small towel or head covers to pad the clubs when needed. A quiet bag signals that you know what you’re doing.
• Club cleaning — Every club that comes back to you after a shot should be wiped before it returns to the bag. Carry a damp towel (wet on one end, dry on the other). Wipe the face and shaft, then dry it. A player pulling out a dirty club is a caddy failing at a basic responsibility.
• The towel system — Your towel is a core tool. Hang it from the bag handle where you can reach it quickly. Use it for clubs, balls, and grips. On rainy days, keep a dry towel inside a pocket — grips are especially important to keep dry so the player maintains control of their swing.