Does anyone else play on-call roulette?

[philly169]

My job requires me to be on call 1 week in 5 and a lot of the time I'm playing golf at the weekend and am on call... So far, touch wood.. I've not had and calls or alerts of systems down whilst out on the course, but I do find myself regularly checking and hoping nothing goes off.

Does anyone else play whilst on call and have you had a call out whilst posting a decent score?

I was lucky today, no calls and shot 39 points..

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I play "Russian roulette" Any shot could be a killer right now. I know that real horror is coming, its a question of when!! Not sure I could concentrate that well wondering if the phone or pager is going to go off

 

[Ethan]

Well, it depends, doesn't it. If you are a transplant surgeon on call 24/7/365 and you usually only get a call when a donor organ has been retrieved and is in the helicopter, then you are going to need to get off the course asap and I have no problem with you having a mobile that will make some sort of noise if you are needed.

If you are on call in case the fridge temperature changes at a local Tesco Express, then you should turn the pager (does anyone still have a pager) off on the course as far as I am concerned.

 

[philly169]

Well, it depends, doesn't it. If you are a transplant surgeon on call 24/7/365 and you usually only get a call when a donor organ has been retrieved and is in the helicopter, then you are going to need to get off the course asap and I have no problem with you having a mobile that will make some sort of noise if you are needed.

If you are on call in case the fridge temperature changes at a local Tesco Express, then you should turn the pager (does anyone still have a pager) off on the course as far as I am concerned.

I always have it on silent but check every few holes to make sure everything's alright. I haven't had to cross the "I have to leave the course" stage..

 

[Evesdad]

One of my pp is sometimes on call and never stops him. I think once he has had to make a quick call. Didn't bother me in the slightest. Couple of times he's had to leave straight after but always got round!

 

[guest100718]

I'm on call every 3rd week. Had a few calls and alerts over the years and like you I check my blackberry regularly

 

[DCB]

Used to have to deal with this issue at a previous employment. I used to play in the afternoon if on call, thinking was most issues that needed attention were called in during the early part of the morning. Only ever got called once while out on the course. Don't think my golf was affected, I cold play bad golf all in my own at any time

 

[nemicu]

It all depends what the nature of your "on call" status really is. If for example you really were a doctor, you're not much use to anyone if you're on the back 9 of your local golf course - a much better place to be would be at a hospital or nearby so your services whilst 'on call' could be utilised as intended. Needless to say, if the intended purpose of your on call status was an emergency response, then it would rather stupid to go and play golf.
If on the other hand your response time to being on call was "within 24 hours" it doesn't have the same level of discipline and the term 'on call' is somewhat diminished too. Either way, I find it weird that some people are unable to distinguish between when they are needed or when they are not - i.e. if you are likely to be contacted for a call to action on your part, then you really shouldn't be playing golf in the first place. Conversely if you are playing golf, then you really don't need to be contacted - so why the need for a phone?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Been on call a few times when playing and on the very odd occasion have had to make a quick call at halfway but mainly I used to have a couple hours to respond or sort the issue out. Have played with a vet who was on call and has had to rush off once but again no issues really.

 

[Ethan]

Well, I chose my example of the on call transplant surgeon because that is a highly specialised role where you might not be needed often, but when you are needed you are needed now. Some of these guys are on call 24/7. Likewise doctor so do emergency overseas repatriation. Your average consultant on call is not on call all the time so probably give their golf a miss on call.

 

[davidy233]

Not applied to me but when I lived in Aberdeenshire played with a few guys from the oil industry who were on call - a couple got beeped and called in to find that they had time to finish round before heading off to work to sort something

 

[Scrindle]

It all depends what the nature of your "on call" status really is. If for example you really were a doctor, you're not much use to anyone if you're on the back 9 of your local golf course - a much better place to be would be at a hospital or nearby so your services whilst 'on call' could be utilised as intended. Needless to say, if the intended purpose of your on call status was an emergency response, then it would rather stupid to go and play golf.
If on the other hand your response time to being on call was "within 24 hours" it doesn't have the same level of discipline and the term 'on call' is somewhat diminished too. Either way, I find it weird that some people are unable to distinguish between when they are needed or when they are not - i.e. if you are likely to be contacted for a call to action on your part, then you really shouldn't be playing golf in the first place. Conversely if you are playing golf, then you really don't need to be contacted - so why the need for a phone?

I think this is an overly simplistic view of a working method that can be very complicated, personally. Certain jobs require employees to be on call 24/7. They might not be needed very often but when they are they have to leave immediately. Some examples have already been mentioned.

Presumably, then, these people have no business playing golf in your view?

 

[Alex1975]

It all depends what the nature of your "on call" status really is. If for example you really were a doctor, you're not much use to anyone if you're on the back 9 of your local golf course - a much better place to be would be at a hospital or nearby so your services whilst 'on call' could be utilised as intended. Needless to say, if the intended purpose of your on call status was an emergency response, then it would rather stupid to go and play golf.
If on the other hand your response time to being on call was "within 24 hours" it doesn't have the same level of discipline and the term 'on call' is somewhat diminished too. Either way, I find it weird that some people are unable to distinguish between when they are needed or when they are not - i.e. if you are likely to be contacted for a call to action on your part, then you really shouldn't be playing golf in the first place. Conversely if you are playing golf, then you really don't need to be contacted - so why the need for a phone?

Lighten up..............

 

[Fyldewhite]

I have previously been in two "on-call" roles. First was money for old rope....it hardly ever went off and even then wouldn't have to go in. Second time it was much more likely to and I would risk it on a Saturday. The first time I had to walk off the course was the last time I did on-call. I work to live and although the money was quite nice I also value my weekends. I realise that everyone can't have that luxury but for me it was the right decision.

As for all this "phones on the course" nonsense....dipping in ones bag to check a phone on silent and maybe make a quick call spoils nobody's day except possibly your own by having work stuff on your mind. It's a mile away from someone constantly making/taking casual calls which is obviously bad manners and out of order. It's the people doing the complaining who have the issues in my book.

 

[duncan mackie]

I have previously been in two "on-call" roles. First was money for old rope....it hardly ever went off and even then wouldn't have to go in. Second time it was much more likely to and I would risk it on a Saturday. The first time I had to walk off the course was the last time I did on-call. I work to live and although the money was quite nice I also value my weekends. I realise that everyone can't have that luxury but for me it was the right decision.

As for all this "phones on the course" nonsense....dipping in ones bag to check a phone on silent and maybe make a quick call spoils nobody's day except possibly your own by having work stuff on your mind. It's a mile away from someone constantly making/taking casual calls which is obviously bad manners and out of order. It's the people doing the complaining who have the issues in my book.

getting closer to the real issue here

it's all about you, not the phone or the reason etc

whether you feel it's justified (if it needs to be) or causes problems to anyone else isn't relevant either - it's their call as to whether it is/does not yours.

everyone has times when they would like to play golf but feel/have the need to be contactable - mobile communications are a great enabler in such instances and handled properly shouldn't really cause any major issue.

 

[TheJezster]

I play with our captain a lot, he's a doctor and quite often on call. Why would this bother me? Whenever he is on call though, he always makes sure we have a 3rd in the group to mark my card if he does have to dash off. Never actually happened yet but why on earth would this bother anyone? Certainly doesn't me.

Some people like to moan tho, so anything can set em off...

 

[Stuey01]

It all depends what the nature of your "on call" status really is. If for example you really were a doctor, you're not much use to anyone if you're on the back 9 of your local golf course - a much better place to be would be at a hospital or nearby so your services whilst 'on call' could be utilised as intended. Needless to say, if the intended purpose of your on call status was an emergency response, then it would rather stupid to go and play golf.
If on the other hand your response time to being on call was "within 24 hours" it doesn't have the same level of discipline and the term 'on call' is somewhat diminished too. Either way, I find it weird that some people are unable to distinguish between when they are needed or when they are not - i.e. if you are likely to be contacted for a call to action on your part, then you really shouldn't be playing golf in the first place. Conversely if you are playing golf, then you really don't need to be contacted - so why the need for a phone?

If a doctor is at the hospital then they aren't really "on-call" are they, they are "at work".

 

[nemicu]

If a doctor is at the hospital then they aren't really "on-call" are they, they are "at work".

It's still possible to be both at work and on call - for instance surgeons are not busy operating on patients 7 days a week, but their services while at the hospital doing their numerous administrative tasks may be called upon at short notice - this is commonly known as being on call. The same as a plumber may well be doing normal work at one site and may be on a rota to be sent out to any emergency calls. This is also known as being on call. In both cases, both parties may also be not at work and be on call - usually, they are obliged to be in a position to respond to the on call status in a timely manner that the actual purpose of being on call dictates.
Thus for anyone going out to play golf in the knowledge that they are on call, this is commonly known as being a moron.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It's still possible to be both at work and on call - for instance surgeons are not busy operating on patients 7 days a week, but their services while at the hospital doing their numerous administrative tasks may be called upon at short notice - this is commonly known as being on call. The same as a plumber may well be doing normal work at one site and may be on a rota to be sent out to any emergency calls. This is also known as being on call. In both cases, both parties may also be not at work and be on call - usually, they are obliged to be in a position to respond to the on call status in a timely manner that the actual purpose of being on call dictates.
Thus for anyone going out to play golf in the knowledge that they are on call, this is commonly known as being a moron.

Nothing beats a bit of generalisation

Been on call numerous times and played plenty sport.

Being on call doesn't automatically mean instant response

 

[fundy]

It's still possible to be both at work and on call - for instance surgeons are not busy operating on patients 7 days a week, but their services while at the hospital doing their numerous administrative tasks may be called upon at short notice - this is commonly known as being on call. The same as a plumber may well be doing normal work at one site and may be on a rota to be sent out to any emergency calls. This is also known as being on call. In both cases, both parties may also be not at work and be on call - usually, they are obliged to be in a position to respond to the on call status in a timely manner that the actual purpose of being on call dictates.
Thus for anyone going out to play golf in the knowledge that they are on call, this is commonly known as being a moron.

was pretty sure that you were a troll before, now im sure you are