Are gps devices banned in comps at your club?

[griffgolf]

Hi all,

My wife has bought me a Callaway Upro gps device for Chrimbo and I used it for the first time today.

I must say it is an amazing bit of kit and the first gps I have ever owned.

Everything was going tickety boo until a mate of mine suggested that I may not be allowed to use it in any comps at our club as he thinks they may be banned.

I had never given this a thought before today so has anyone on here have a ban from using any gps or measureing device in comps at their club and if so what are the reasons for this rule?

 

[Andy]

No ban at Gourock.

Surely your committee have posted a notice regarding their rules?

Andy

 

[Alex1975]

Not banned for me but having used it alot in knocks I know most of the yardages at home and find it nice to not have to keep looking at it.

 

[edgey]

Hi

Allowed at Kings Norton.

Measuring devices are allowed IF your club has a local rule allowing them. If not they are banned. Check you local rules board.

Edgey

 

[chrisd]

We passed a local rule as soon as the R&A said that they could be used, providing a local rule was made.

I think that the R&A will make them fully legal on the next rules revision, I don't see how a few fuddy duddies in some clubs can be allowed to decide this matter where the great percentage of clubs allow them. Also if a match takes place between 2 clubs, one who allow them and one who don't, what a farcical situation arises!


Chris



Chris

 

[Ethan]

Almost all clubs allow them. Check the notice board at your club.

 

[surefire]

I thought it was mostly womens sections that have banned them as the ladies section of the EGU hasn't approved them for competition play, but the mens and juniors sections have.

Most clubs I am familiar with follow this precedent set by the EGU.

*Obviously this only applies to English clubs, I'm not sure what the other unions say about this.

 

[Dodger]

Not banned at either of my clubs,one being EGU and the other an SGU club but the SGU are still in the dark ages and don't allow the computerised yardage charts, that have been proven to speed play up, in their national events.

 

[Jaymosafehands]

Only one I've ever played that doesn't allow them is Conwy. Great course, miserable buggers in the clubhouse!

 

[haplesshacker]

In answer to the op title. Yes, if it's an app on a smart phone. Ie. Golfshot, Freecaddie, etc.

Skycaddies, etc. Ie dedicated units are allowed.

 

[jeardley]

In answer to the op title. Yes, if it's an app on a smart phone. Ie. Golfshot, Freecaddie, etc.

Skycaddies, etc. Ie dedicated units are allowed.

Whats their reasoning behind that?

 

[USER1999]

You can access banned features on a smart phone, like weather, temperature, compass, barometric pressure, etc. So banned.

Purpose made gps, fine.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We're allowed them. Rather than relying on your mates advice why not contact the handicap secretary or the pro and get a definitive answer. Very few seem to ban the main ones now (Sky Caddy, Cally, Shotmeister etc) and it will only be the ones that give temperature, weather and changes in contouring that can't be used

 

[griffgolf]

We're allowed them. Rather than relying on your mates advice why not contact the handicap secretary or the pro and get a definitive answer. Very few seem to ban the main ones now (Sky Caddy, Cally, Shotmeister etc) and it will only be the ones that give temperature, weather and changes in contouring that can't be used

Yep, Email has already been fired off to our handicap sec and if I can get to the course tomorrow I will head straight for the local rules notice board.

Just thought I would post on here to see if anyone else knows of any reason why they should be banned as I had only heard of it when my mate suggested it today as I have never had a gps before and it never crossed my mind.

Cheers

griffgolf

 

[Imurg]

You can access banned features on a smart phone, like weather, temperature, compass, barometric pressure, etc. So banned.

Purpose made gps, fine.

This is the main problem with using a Smartphone-based GPS in comps. Copy of email sent to me from R&A...

The use of distance measuring devices during a stipulated round remains contrary to the Rules of Golf; however, a Committee can permit them via a Local Rule .

In terms of a GPS device on an iPhone or Blackberry, provided the distance application that is downloaded measures just distance only, it is permitted to use the iphone or Blackberry for this purpse when the Local Rule is in place. However, it is worth noting that any other applications on the phone such as a compass, wind speed or temperature gauge would render the iPhone non-conforming, even although the specific distance application does not measure these aspects. Therefore if your phone has a temperature app, for example, it would not be possible to use the distance application whilst installed on the phone in a competition.

It is appreciated that as the Internet is now readily available on most mobile phones and multi-functional devices, it is possible to access non-conforming information through this route at any time. In terms of the Rules, provided the Internet is not used for this purpose, the fact that it exists on the phone does not render the distance application non-conforming.



Having access to the internet doesn't break the rules. But if there's any app on your phone that gives any weather, slope, wind-speed, or any other help that is contrary to the rules then you can't use it during comps. During social play/practice there's no problem but be aware of what your phone has installed on it.

 

[Tommo21]

Anyone got a phone that measures wind speed at the green 180 yards ahead of where your standing....what a load of bull this is. Even if a phone knew your swing, HC, style of play, wind, temp, green speeds, what ball you use, what club you should use...it's all bull. The high HC player just wants to hit the ball half decent, the mid HC player just wants to get on or near the green and the low HC player just wants to know the distance to the flag.

 

[madandra]

My club, Colville Park don't allow them but again I think it is because of a committee full of dinosaurs who refuse to move forward. They are quite happy for all other game imporvements (leccy trollies, big drivers, broomhandle putters and chippers) all of which have prolonged THEIR enjoyment of the game but they are as stuborn as hell to change their mind on GPS.

 

[Imurg]

it's all bull.

That it is Tommo. But I can name half a dozen rules that are bull too.
Whatever the reasoning - rules is rules.
It's just been confirmed that the new groove rule made little or no difference to Pro Comp scoring, driving distances, fairways/greens hit etc etc etc. More bull.
But rules is rules.

 

[goldenbare]

I thought it was mostly womens sections that have banned them as the ladies section of the EGU hasn't approved them for competition play,

aren't most in the ladies section a bit like the dinosaurs on the committee, any sort of measuring distance is irrelevant until the're about 50 yards from the green.

 

[AMcC]

SGU are still in the dark ages and don't allow the computerised yardage charts, that have been proven to speed play up, in their national events.

Is this in connection with County team events ? I am sure I read recently that some teams had used them, others hadn't and a final decision was pending.