Is there a way that we can set the default settings for what club the "Caddy" gives us around the greens?
No.
The selection corresponds to nothing but to the distance to the flag IMO. Many if not most times "Chip" is inappropriate, often enough also "Pitch".
Its completely circumstantial, I sometimes use an iron 2 more or less than the caddy
If I used the auto caddy selection and assumed the shot choice and club was correct, I would still be a hack (although I do play like one sometimes).
My advice is also work out what club and type of shot you need before each shot, do not assume that your auto caddy remotely correct.
In my view, it would be better if it selected nothing and you couldn't swing (or you would whiff) until you had made your own selection.
Since it appears that we can't set our own defaults, this is by far the best of all suggestions. Perhaps as a slight modification I would suggest that as a player finishes his Hack or Amateur teir they set their parameters on each individual shot.
Would this be a difficult program update WGT?
The correct club (other than the putter) can easily move 2 numbers with common combinations of wind, elevation, and lie. I wouldn't know how to set my own parameters, much less those for the community as a whole.
This would be the perfect fix for my problems. How hard would it be for WGT to add an option of "Turn off Shot Caddy"?
You would then be forced to consider and check all your shot settings, club + shot selection, spin, strength and direction, just like today.
What would be the difference, the fix?