Cameron "Cam" Johnstone - Kingsbarns, Scotland
What is your full name?
Cameron Johnstone
Where are you from?
Troon, Scotland
When did you first start playing golf?
My Dad gave me a 7 iron and a putter when I was 18 months old. I have literally been playing Golf since I was able to walk.
When did you start looping? Is there a particular reason why you started looping - It seemed like fun, you just wanted to be around golf and outdoors, good money, etc.?
I started looping in the summer of 2021. I needed a summer job to make some money to support myself while I was home from college and figured it was the perfect job. Being outdoors, hanging out with some extremely interesting individuals while being surrounded by the game that I love. Does it get any better than that?
Do you remember your first loop?
I remember it very well. My player was a gentleman from Montreal (wearing traditional Scottish Knickers) who upon introducing himself, washed down his breakfast sandwich on the first tee with a few gulps of Whisky. He truly was the stereotypical Scottish Golf tourist but he couldn’t have been a nicer guy.
You’re a great golfer. Did you play in college? Do you have any plans of turning pro?
I played college golf for the College of Charleston and I am planning on turning pro in around a year from now.
Where do you loop? Can you tell us a little about the golf course?
I caddie at Kingsbarns Golf Links. Opened in 2000, Kingsbarns is certainly not a traditional Scottish links style course due to its extreme elevation changes. The course has been designed to give breathtaking views of the North Sea and has regularly been dubbed “the Pebble Beach of Scotland”. The course’s slopes offer unique challenges compared to other courses in the surrounding area. I would describe the course as a blend of Tobacco Road, Pebble Beach and St Andrews Old Course, meant in the best way possible!
Do you live close to the course you currently loop at?
In the past, I have typically stayed at my girlfriend’s house around an hour drive from Kingsbarns. She also caddies there which is a very fun dynamic on the course. We actually found an apartment to rent in St Andrews this summer which is around a 10 minute drive from the course which we are both really excited about. Anyone who has ever visited St Andrews will tell you that it is truly a magical town with an incredibly unique vibe and because of this, I can’t wait to live there.
Can you take us through your mornings when you arrive at work?
You have to check in at the shack 40 minutes prior to your tee time which leaves plenty of time to catch up with other loopers and hear their outrageous stories from the previous night. This is certainly one of the most entertaining parts of the day.
What are the conditions like at the course you loop at?
The stereotypes about the Scottish weather are sadly true. It is a rarity for there to be no stiff breeze hammering the course from the North Sea and if the sun comes out then it feels like a miracle.
Has caddying improved your own golf game? Or possibly hurt?
I would definitely say that it has helped my game. Now when I’m playing, I like to feel like I’m caddying for myself. It definitely helps me talk myself out of playing any really stupid shots.
What are some typical things that players do that drive you nuts?
Definitely when they ask what percentage of pace to hit the putt, especially inside 6 feet. This is completely different for every player.
What is it like looping for Americans in Scotland? Do they have any idea how to play links golf?
I would say the majority of Americans don’t have a clue how to play links Golf, which is understandable because it is incredibly difficult at first. It’s always pretty hilarious when the player insists on hitting a putt from 80 yards out. Needless to say, it rarely produces a good result.
Do you have any one-liners you like to use on the course?
Definitely when two Golf balls are relatively close together on the fairway or the green, when a caddie says “I haven’t seen two balls so close together since I got out of the shower this morning”. This one always gets a good laugh if it's the right audience.
Overall, what is your favorite part about looping?
I love being able to work outside on one of the world’s most beautiful courses. I count myself incredibly lucky to be able to work alongside so many people who I would genuinely consider friends now and be able to enjoy their stories while working.
Do you have a favorite Looper story?
The first story that came to mind was when I was caddying for a man from Michigan who was playing with 2 of his brothers and his brother-in-law. On the signature hole at Kingsbarns, number 12, my player brought a small urn of his father’s ashes out of his bag (I had been wondering all round why the bag was so heavy).
He explained to all of the caddies in the group that his father had been a massive Golf fan and that he was supposed to be on this trip to Scotland with them but he had passed away around a year prior. They had since spread their father’s ashes on the 18th at Pebble Beach, the 17th at Sawgrass and now, the 12th at Kingsbarns.
This story showed me the power of Golf and its ability to bring people together, even in a period of extreme grief. It was amazing to watch these brothers share their moment of remembering their father halfway across the world and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the group, all of the caddies included!
Have you gained/learned anything from caddying?
Caddying has certainly provided me the opportunity to meet some fascinating people and has allowed me to learn a lot about dealing with different personality types. Every new caddie-player relationship is a really interesting study of psychology and relationship dynamics. You have to be able to adapt your caddying style on the fly to help give your player the best possible experience.
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