But she is grateful for a job that makes her 3,000 yuan per month, given her junior high school qualification.

"Personally speaking, I don't quite like the game. It is only my job. But I earn even more than some university graduates," she says.

"However, this is a job for young people and, if possible, I would like to change to an indoor job when I reach 25."

Fu Yingping, 25, is one of those caddies who has quit her job at the Yulin Fengshang Golf Club and now runs her small business in a clothing market. Although she worked on a golf course for just a year, she misses it - bad memories and all.

Caddies take a break before working on the course. Photos by Chantal Anderson

She remembers she was once scolded and criticized by a customer for a whole round because he played badly that day and lost a large sum of money in a bet.

"He blamed me for his loss and I had to keep apologizing to him. Golf players are not all good- mannered and they look down upon us. Dignity is a word we seldom think of," Fu says.

But she also remembers the occasional generous tips. The day she received a 1,000-yuan tip, she felt like she had the best job in the world. The tips meant a lot to her given her basic salary of 500 yuan every month.

"Money and the chance at a better life are what motivates us. If we worked in factories, we would definitely earn much less than this," she says.

"Female caddies also look for a chance to get to know wealthy businessmen who frequent golf courses, just like girls looked forward to being flight attendants years ago."

Most of her colleagues no longer work in golf clubs. Quite a few have returned home and run small retail businesses.

But there is always a steady stream of newcomers. Liu Qiuhong, a fresh graduate from Heilongjiang University, treasures the opportunity to be a caddy, although she was exhausted and sunburned at the end of her first day on the course.

She is a Business English major and after a long, unsuccessful job hunt, a friend told her about the Willow Golf Club. "I feel a bit overqualified to be here as the job itself doesn't require much knowledge."

However, Liu says it is the best she can get this year. "I will try to adjust. The players are mainly businessmen and there may be job offers for me," she says, wishfully.

New recruit Chen Peng, 23, also sees a bright future. Because of his lovely smile and a sense of humor, many club members, including several celebrities, ask for him by name.

Apart from practicing on the court whenever possible, Chen is also in an undergraduate study program on golf at Beijing Sport University. His goal is to become an international golf referee. "Female caddies are more sensitive to customer needs, but male caddies outperform them in the end. We are small in number but we see golf as lifelong career," says Chen.

He believes male caddies are also more loyal to their jobs. "As China sees more professional players, the demand for qualified caddies with sophisticated skills will grow," he says, confidently.

By Qiu Yijiao

Editor: Wen Yi