The recent incident at Veterans Golf Club did more than spark discussion about conduct on the course. It also cast a spotlight on the often-overlooked plight of caddies and the dangers they face every time they report for work.

The club management took the right step by issuing a warning against inappropriate behavior within the club, reminding everyone — from members and guests to managers and employees — that respect and professionalism must always prevail.

Caddies are indispensable to the game of golf. Beyond assisting players with club selection, course management, and reading greens, they help maintain the course by raking bunkers, repairing divots, and performing other tasks that keep the facility in playing condition.

Behind every golf bag is a person trying to earn an honest living. For many caddies, every round is more than just another day on the course — it is another chance to pay for food, send a child to school, or cover household expenses. Their work may be behind the scenes, but the sacrifices they make are very real.

Yet, despite their vital role, caddies remain among the most vulnerable workers in the golfing community. With only a few exceptions, golf clubs do not employ them as regular workers but classify them as informal or casual workers. As a result, they are generally not entitled to the benefits and protections afforded to regular employees under labor laws.

It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of caddies across the country, most of whom serve as the primary breadwinners for their families.

Their earnings are modest at best. On a good day, a caddie may earn around P1,000, including tips, for carrying a golfer’s bag over a round that typically lasts about five hours. If fortune smiles on them, they may be hired for another round the same day. For many, however, one round is all they get — making every booking essential to putting food on the table.

But before anyone assumes caddying is a lucrative profession, it is worth noting that not all caddies have the opportunity to earn regularly. Many do not get hired every day, especially those without a roster of regular players, leaving them with an uncertain and often meager source of income.

Caddies begin each day hoping for favorable weather and praying they stay healthy. A downpour can force golfers off the course, wiping out their day’s income in an instant. Illness can be just as devastating. Since most caddies work on a no-play, no-pay basis, every day they are unable to report for work means another day without earnings. For many who live from one round to the next, a single lost day can make the difference between providing for their families and going home empty-handed.

The plight of caddies is not a new issue. In 2019, lawmakers sought to address it by filing House Bill No. 9160, which proposed extending SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG coverage to accredited caddies and other golf service workers, with contributions shared by the caddies and golf clubs. The measure also sought to give them access to retirement and other social security benefits.

The bill reached second reading but lapsed with the end of the 17th Congress. It has since been refiled, but remains pending. Until it becomes law, thousands of caddies will continue to work without the safety net that most regular workers enjoy.

The incident at Veterans Golf Club should not simply fade from memory. If it leads to greater respect for caddies and renewed efforts to improve their welfare, then something positive can come from it.

Golf is built on values such as honesty, integrity and respect. Those values should not end when the scorecards are signed. They should also be reflected in the way we treat the men and women who walk every fairway, carry every bag, and help make the game possible.