Female caddies work hard for their living<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Ni Ketut Sariati, 21, is perhaps one of the
\nlucky caddies in Indonesia. She told The Jakarta Post she could
\nearn Rp 650,000 (US$271) per month. That is much more than a
\nuniversity lecturer earns in a month.<\/p>\n
The youngest of six children, Ketut now supports herself.
\n\"When I am not working, I study at Surabaya Hotel School,\" she
\nsaid. She wants to be employed permanently by a fine hotel.<\/p>\n
But working as a caddy is not always fun. Of course, she gets
\na lot of money by her standards -- she can get higher education,
\nand she can meet VIPs, either government officials or business
\nexecutives.<\/p>\n
So, what could upset her? \"I would be sad if my customers
\nthought I didn't give good service, or when one gets mad at me.\"<\/p>\n
She experienced a customer's anger once. She did not feel well
\nat the time and made mistakes, which angered a customer.<\/p>\n
But at her work at the Ciputra Golf course, there is a
\ntraining course for caddies.<\/p>\n
\"We realize that very often players come to us because they
\nlike our smart looking caddies,\" said Jessica Leonard, assistant
\nmarketing manager of Ciputra Golf.<\/p>\n
The course has 267 caddies who work in three shifts at the 27-
\nhole course. All are women.<\/p>\n
\"Women caddies are usually more friendly, more patient, smile
\na lot and give more attention,\" said Leonard. She admitted that
\nsome of them are slower then male caddies. \"There are good and
\nbad factors, but we decided to use women caddies for uniqueness.
\nPeople will remember us easily.\"<\/p>\n
Many caddies in Ciputra attend high school. They are paid on
\nthe basis of the minimum wage level. They work five days a week
\nand their shifts last five hours. According to the salary
\nstandard, they should receive about Rp 4,100 per day, but they
\nalso get tips from customers.<\/p>\n
What kind of job does a caddy do? On an 18-hole course, a
\ncaddy must walk as far as 10 kilometers to 12 kilometers, under
\nthe hot sun.<\/p>\n
\"A good caddy could not do it twice a day,\" said John de
\nKleuver, manager of the Bukit Darmo Golf Club. It is certainly
\nhard work physically. \"But it will keep them fit and healthy, and
\nthis job gives them an opportunity to meet VIPs and to get better
\njobs.\"<\/p>\n
A smart and good caddy doesn't only walk and serve. She will
\nalso amuse customers and, in some cases, guide them. In Jakarta,
\nthere is a caddy rating standard.<\/p>\n
\"It is common for a customer to ask for a first-rate caddy,\"
\nsaid Avie Utomo, an official of the Indonesia Golf Association.<\/p>\n
In a tournament held in Surabaya recently, more than 50
\npercent of the competitors -- both in the pro and amateur events
\n-- were former caddies. Being a caddy seems to be a good
\nbeginning to becoming a pro golfer.<\/p>\n
\"If we don't have sufficient training and courses for young
\npeople, yes, our athletes in the future will be the caddies
\nserving you at the moment,\" said Avie. (Sirikit Syah)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/female-caddies-work-hard-for-their-living-1447893297",
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