Caddies are not known for arriving at tournament venues in fancy cars. Of course those working for the better players have been spotted in cars normally associated with more affluent members of society.

Last week at the BMW International Open in Munich it was a chance for the average caddie to experience something above his normal mode of transportation.

With over 50 vehicles in the courtesy fleet, the organisers took an unusually liberal view of who should get to use the extensive squadron of luxurious top-of-the-range BMWs.

It was an unusual sight to watch caddies have the doors of the plush motors swung open for them as they arrived at the country club to carry the golf bag. They were actually able to reserve their cars the previous evening so there was none of the usual uncertainty of how they were going to get to the course.

Some of the toters set up their own "tented village" last week. It was a contrast to the rather plush official tented village on the other side of the clubhouse. Nestled behind the driving range between some apple trees and to the side of the BMW car-park, the on-site caddies were in a very convenient location to get dropped to the door of their canvas abodes in a mode of transport not quite matching their style of accommodation.

The chauffeurs were not dressed in some old sponsor's T-shirt. They were the best-dressed people at the tournament, in stylish grey and black suits for the men and elegant dresses for the female drivers. It was almost embarrassing to find that many of these well-groomed chauffeurs were studying law and had aspirations to one day to be driven to the Eichenried golf club in an expensive BMW.

Become a caddie and you could, I mused as I eased into the soft-leathered front seat hoping my grubby trainers would not soil the pristine car too badly.

In fact last week was a yard-stick for how most of the bagmen would like to be treated at every tournament. This, they all agreed, should be the standard. There was no denial of access to any part of the clubhouse, there was a bar overlooking the putting green that enabled the porters to wait in comfort for their players' arrival while sipping coffee.

The complimentary dining area was conveniently situated by the bag room, so it was very accessible for caddies to have breakfast and, en route, pick up the bag on the way to meet their player in the locker-room. Lunch was served from well before midday until late in the afternoon, so no matter what tee time you had you could always eat lunch.

Just to seal the ideal venue and hospitality award for the year in the caddie-shack, the course was flat enough to effortlessly cycle a bike around. There were three holes at which the caddie could send his player back to the tee with a driver and could walk forward, thus reducing the already comfortable walk even further.

The fact that the caddie shack has more than its fair share of English caddies topped off the week for many of those who were able to gloat about their victory against the German soccer team on the other side of town on Saturday night.

The Scottish players in particular were keeping a low profile so as not to give the English too much opportunity for an excessive display of "schadenfreude" given that Scotland could only manage a draw with Croatia.

One of the players had managed to get hold of tickets for the game so there were plenty of croaky-voiced players and caddies at the course on Sunday morning, not looking too fresh but carrying their victorious spirit through to the course with them.

Russell Claydon, an avid England football supporter, was so inspired by his team's victory that he managed to shoot a 65, having teed off very early on Sunday on a severely limited amount of sleep. How therapeutic victory can be.

The Ryder Cup final jostling for position was somewhat overshadowed by Long John Daly's victory in what turned out to be a two-horse race with Padraig Harrington.

They crept too far out of range of Ryder Cup team possibles Dean Robertson, Thomas Levet and Jose-Maria Olazabal, who all needed victory to secure 10th position and oust Phillip Price.

Ironic, then, that an American should have upstaged what should have been a uniquely European day.