Guide · Golf
Golf course tipping: who to tip and how much
Everyone you might tip at a golf course, from the bag drop to the 18th green, in the order you meet them.
In this guide
The short answer
Plan on $5 to $10 a bag at the bag drop, and the same again for the attendant who cleans your clubs after the round. A forecaddie often gets $50 to $100 a player and a caddie closer to $100. If you're not sure what's normal at a course, ask the pro shop or the caddie master.
How much to tip at a golf course
| Who | When | Typical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Bag drop | When you leave | $5 to $10 a bag1 |
| Club cleaning, after the round | After the round | $5 to $10 a bag1 |
| Locker room attendant | When you leave | $5; $10 to $20 for extra help1 |
| Beverage cart | Each purchase | $1 on small orders, about 20% on bigger ones1 |
| Forecaddie | After the round | $50 to $100 a player1 |
| Caddie | After the round | Close to $100 a player, more at high-end courses1 |
| Starter | Only for a favor | $10 to $20 if they help you out3 |
- Bag drop When you leave
- $5 to $10 a bag1
- Club cleaning, after the round After the round
- $5 to $10 a bag1
- Locker room attendant When you leave
- $5; $10 to $20 for extra help1
- Beverage cart Each purchase
- $1 on small orders, about 20% on bigger ones1
- Forecaddie After the round
- $50 to $100 a player1
- Caddie After the round
- Close to $100 a player, more at high-end courses1
- Starter Only for a favor
- $10 to $20 if they help you out3
Typical amounts from the sources below. Courses set their own norms; ask staff when in doubt.
When you arrive: the bag drop
The first person you meet is usually at the bag drop, taking your clubs from the car to a cart or the range. Golf.com's Josh Sens puts it at at least $5 a bag, so $10 if they also take your partner's clubs.
You can tip on the way in, but the custom is to tip when you leave. Staff don't expect a tip at arrival.
On the course: beverage cart, forecaddie and caddie
For the beverage cart, add a dollar to small orders or let them keep the change; on bigger orders, about 20% is the usual standard.
A forecaddie, who looks after the whole group rather than carrying one bag, often gets $50 to $100 a player. A caddie who carries your bag usually gets closer to $100, and at least that at high-end courses. Courses set their own norms, so ask the caddie master before you go out.
After the round: club cleaning and the locker room
When you come off the 18th green, someone often cleans your clubs and loads your bag. Another $5 to $10 a bag is a good standard.
In the locker room, $5 is a fair baseline, and $10 to $20 if they did more for you.
Tipping without cash
Most golfers don't carry much cash on the course. Ask whether the course adds tips to a card, and check if staff have their own tip code.
With ENVO, each worker has their own code on a badge. You scan it, see who you're thanking, and tip with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. The worker receives 100% of the tip, and you see a small service fee in dollars before you pay.
Questions
Do you tip the bag drop when you arrive or when you leave?
Either works, but the custom is to tip when you leave. Golf.com suggests at least $5 a bag.
Do you tip the attendant who cleans your clubs?
Yes. $5 to $10 a bag is a common standard for cleaning your clubs and loading your bag after the round.
How much do you tip a caddie?
A forecaddie often gets $50 to $100 a player and a caddie closer to $100, more at high-end courses. Ask the caddie master what's normal at that course.
What if I don't have cash?
Ask whether the course takes tips on a card. With ENVO, workers carry their own code you can scan to tip with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card.