More than 140 caddies are needed for the Open at Millbrook Resort and The Hills golf courses from March 9-12.
Whiley has been doing the job for more than five years and said it was the perfect opportunity for those keen to get behind the ropes during the four-day tournament for an inside view of the event.
Caddies are paid for their work by their golfer, which can mean anything from around $75 a day up to a share of winnings.
A lucky few might carry the bag right through to the excitement of the final on Sunday, or achieve the ultimate goal of carrying the winner’s bag.
Volunteer caddy Jaimes Wood from the Royal Wellington Golf Club at the 2015 Open had the experience of doing just that for eventual winner Jason Zunic.
Wood described it as an "incredible experience I’ll never forget."
The duo paired up again for this year’s event. They did not make the cut through to the final two days of competition, but needless to say, he will be on the bag again next year.
Whiley, a Dunedin City councillor, clearly remembers the day sitting around the NZPGA board table in 2011 when John Hart asked if anyone had caddy experience.
"I’d had been a caddy at Pebble Beach and had caddied at two AT&T’s (PGA Tour events) there, so I put my hand up for the role," he said.
"To be honest, the first PGA Championship in 2012 was a bit of an organisational nightmare, as less than half of those registered got a job, but I went on to organise caddies for the PGA Championship in 2013 and the three New Zealand Opens from 2014 to 2016.
"I’ve now got it organised to the extent that over 75% of caddies are assigned before the start of tournament week and around 33% of them have caddied at least four of the events."
Whiley said it was now a bit of a reunion for caddies, some coming from as far away as Northland and even Australia.
"I’ve made some good mates at both courses, helped amateur players fix shanks, given several lessons and become friends with many pros and amateurs. I’ve also met some of the country’s top business people, a unique aspect of the Pro-Am format.
"Thanks to caddying at the NZ Open, one caddy has even experienced a weekend at the Masters in Augusta, and the tournaments had many benefits on the golf development of Otago’s junior golfers."
Those who want to caddy need to register on site at Millbrook Resort no later than March 8, although most jobs are pre-assigned. The $39 cost of registration includes an NZ Open golf shirt and cap to wear while caddying and to take home as a souvenir. Caddies should be social or serious golfers with a good level of fitness to carry a golf bag around both courses.
