Undercover Caddie

Think you could carry a 40-pound bag for a living?

JOEL BEALL

ONE OF MY first events 30 years ago was the PGA Tour’s old Tucson Open. I remember seeing caddies who looked beat up. They were not so much standing next to their bags as they were angled over them, their bodies overloaded by this invisible weight. I recall being sad and almost embarrassed for them. It just seemed like they had let themselves go. I called my dad and told him about it, promising that wouldn’t be me. What a stupid kid I was. Now I’m one of those guys bent over the bag who looks like a sparring partner for the heavyweight champ. We are by no means athletes, but our work is a workout. We were getting our steps in well before step-counting became a thing, and we did it carrying a 40-pound bag. That type of activity offers health benefits but can do a number on you, too. People think we all have back problems. Some do, but more often we pull something picking up or putting down the bag. If you’re wondering why most of us don’t use two-strap bags, it’s because guys find one strap easier to maneuver. And, to be honest, you don’t look like a pro two-strapping it. We’re more likely to have problems with our knees and hips. It’s all about how you manage the pain.