Caddies are part of the round
Caddies are mandatory at almost all Thai courses, one per golfer, and you cannot opt out or carry your own bag. Red Mountain's own rules put it simply: caddies are mandatory, as at all Thai courses. Your caddie drives or walks with the cart, cleans clubs and balls, gives yardages, suggests clubs, reads greens, keeps score, rakes bunkers and manages your pace. Most are women, most have caddied the same course for years, and on a course like Red Mountain or Montgomerie Links their read of a green is usually better than yours.
Two payments are involved. The caddie fee, typically THB 300 to 600 (400 at Blue Canyon, Red Mountain, Laguna and Pineapple Valley; 350 at Black Mountain), is paid to the club at check-in and is often folded into a quoted green fee. The tip is separate, in cash, and goes to the caddie.
How much to tip
Published guidance in 2026 converges on a floor of THB 400 for 18 holes. GolfSavers: minimum 400, 500 for exceptional service. Fairways of Eden: 400 to 600, 800 or more for premium service. LENGOLF: 400 to 500 at standard courses, 500 to 600 mid-range, 600 to 1,000 at premium clubs. Asia Golf Journey puts Phuket at 700 to 1,000. Pineapple Valley's own etiquette page sets a minimum of 400; the Blue Canyon and Red Mountain agent pages recommend 500. Older Australian guides quoting 300 are out of date.
A workable rule: 500 at a good course, 700 to 1,000 when the caddie has genuinely saved you shots, more at the top clubs. Hand it directly to your caddie, in baht, after the 18th, with a thank you; do not route it through the pro shop. Many clubs post their guideline in the pro shop, and it sometimes exceeds the figures above. Bring small notes.
Second caddies, umbrella caddies and forecaddies
The Thai model is one caddie per player, not one forecaddie per group, so a four-ball arrives with four caddies. Some clubs let you book a second caddie whose only job is to hold the umbrella and keep you cool; GolfSavers mentions it as an option, and Thailand Golf Zone suggests tipping that second caddie 300 to 500 on top of your main caddie's tip. Ask at booking; not every course offers it.
Dress code
Thai clubs enforce a standard dress code and the better ones do it strictly. Collared shirts, tailored shorts or trousers; no denim, no cargo shorts, no sleeveless tops, no beachwear. Soft spikes only; metal spikes are banned. Pineapple Valley's written rules go further: shirts tucked in, socks required, no open shoes or golf sandals, and for women golf shirts or blouses with golf trousers, shorts or skirts. Bring a change of clothes for the clubhouse afterwards; the formal venues expect it.
Pace of play
Expect rounds to run 4.5 to 5.5 hours with caddies and carts, longer than you are used to. Clubs push back where they can: Red Mountain asks for 4 hours 15 minutes and keeps marshals on the course; Pineapple Valley runs 10-minute intervals with a maximum of four players and asks you to check in 30 minutes before your time. Be ready when it is your turn, limit practice swings, and if a ball is lost play a provisional rather than searching. Your caddie will already have a spare ball in hand.
Carts
Whether you ride is decided by the course. Carts are compulsory at Red Mountain, at both Blue Canyon courses and at Black Mountain, usually THB 700 to 750 per person; they are optional at Laguna, Loch Palm, Phuket Country Club and Pineapple Valley (850, with GPS). Caddies drive at most courses; do not ask them to take the cart onto tees or greens, and expect path-only rules after heavy rain. One cart per player is the norm at the clubs that require them, which is why a Thai four-ball looks like a small convoy.
What to bring
- Cash in small baht notes for the caddie tip and drinks at the on-course kiosks.
- Umbrella and a rain cover for the bag; Red Mountain suggests both, as much for sun as for rain.
- A hat and sunscreen; highs are 31 to 34°C most of the year.
- Soft-spike shoes and socks; a change of shirt for lunch.
- Your own balls and glove if you are renting clubs (rental sets run THB 800 to 1,800).
Tipping everyone else
Caddies are the only tip with a published norm. Drivers on package transfers are customarily tipped, and package prices state that caddie and driver tips are excluded, but no operator publishes a figure; use your judgement. Bag-drop staff and locker attendants do not expect anything. Never blame your caddie for a bad shot, keep any complaint calm and take it to the caddie master after the round, not on the 14th tee.
