EGU Says Relax Dress Codes and Allow Mobile Phones

[GB72]

I suppose the one thing to bear in mind is that these initiatives are not aimed at us. We are keen golfers, club members etc. The initiatives are aimed at people who are the opposite to try and attract them to golf. How many of these initiatives are appropriate depends on each club and it's circumstances.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

There are many things in life and in golf that may upset or distract a player if used irresponsibly. I'm not advocating people walking along chatting loudly to their mates on the phone whilst playing. I'm quite capable (as are most) are being discreet and courteous to others whilst I send a text. I've never taken a phone call whilst on the course and most likely never would. You also say they aren't essential and I can agree with that sentiment, but they can still provide an essential service. Say you are miles from the club house and your playing partner suffers a heart attack or serious injury. Having a phone on the course and not left in the locker can save lives. Quite extreme but a valid scenario.

So no, moving with the times to allow a gadget on the course providing they are used in a responsible manner is not regressive. It's progressive, but thanks for agreeing to disagree.

I don't think anyone is saying you can't carry your phone and use it in an emergency, that actually does nothing for your argument. But you don't need to allow mobile phones for that, just apply some common sense. Likewise as SilH says, if you know you may receive a call for an important personal situation, tell you playing partners upfront, no-one in their right mind is going to complain about that. But you don't need to answer a call from your mate asking you if you want to go to the pub.

If you could guarantee that everyone was going to use their phone responsibly in the manner you suggest, I would have no issues with allowing them, I just don't think you can make those guarantees. For me it's better to have a ban and turn a blind eye to people sending the odd text than to allow them and risk a few people disturbing others

 

[nemicu]

I don't think anyone is saying you can't carry your phone and use it in an emergency, that actually does nothing for your argument. But you don't need to allow mobile phones for that, just apply some common sense. Likewise as SilH says, if you know you may receive a call for an important personal situation, tell you playing partners upfront, no-one in their right mind is going to complain about that. But you don't need to answer a call from your mate asking you if you want to go to the pub.

If you could guarantee that everyone was going to use their phone responsibly in the manner you suggest, I would have no issues with allowing them, I just don't think you can make those guarantees. For me it's better to have a ban and turn a blind eye to people sending the odd text than to allow them and risk a few people disturbing others

I've often wondered the reasoning behind someone expecting a call about a personal situation - like what are they doing on a course in that case? Likewise, if they decided the personal situation wasn't grave enough to excuse them from playing a quick 18 holes, what if anything could they do it about the situation (if it arose) from the middle of a golf course? Unless your PP suddenly has a heart attack or little Jimmy is drowning in the water hazard of the hole you're playing, I see little use for a mobile phone on the golf course. If you really need to field a call that badly, then you really don't need to be playing golf. If you do, you are somewhat selfish, insecure or plain ignorant.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

they can still provide an essential service. Say you are miles from the club house and your playing partner suffers a heart attack or serious injury. Having a phone on the course and not left in the locker can save lives. Quite extreme but a valid scenario.

.

Not an extreme scenario and something that occurred at my club (see post #20).

 

[bluewolf]

I've often wondered the reasoning behind someone expecting a call about a personal situation - like what are they doing on a course in that case? Likewise, if they decided the personal situation wasn't grave enough to excuse them from playing a quick 18 holes, what if anything could they do it about the situation (if it arose) from the middle of a golf course? Unless your PP suddenly has a heart attack or little Jimmy is drowning in the water hazard of the hole you're playing, I see little use for a mobile phone on the golf course. If you really need to field a call that badly, then you really don't need to be playing golf. If you do, you are somewhat selfish, insecure or plain ignorant.

Wow.. Hows the view from up there? How about if you have an elderly relative who is ill? Are you suggesting that anyone who may need to receive a call should stay at home? I play golf when I'm on call. I tell my PP's on the first tee. If I have to leave then I make my apologies and leave. Strangely enough, not one single person has had an issue with this in real life.. Maybe it's just people behind keyboards who think they can call people "selfish, insecure or plain ignorant"..

 

[nemicu]

Wow.. Hows the view from up there? How about if you have an elderly relative who is ill? Are you suggesting that anyone who may need to receive a call should stay at home? I play golf when I'm on call. I tell my PP's on the first tee. If I have to leave then I make my apologies and leave. Strangely enough, not one single person has had an issue with this in real life.. Maybe it's just people behind keyboards who think they can call people "selfish, insecure or plain ignorant"..

You play golf when you're on call? Isn't that a bit negligent? Why not play golf when you're not on call? If I had an elderly relative who was ill, I would know there wasn't a single thing I could do from the back nine of a golf course that the emergency services couldn't do a lot better from their prepared state of readiness - strangely enough, most emergency services are not situated on golf courses. If there really were an emergency, phone 999 first, then I'll take the necessary action once I've checked my phone after the round.
Hard as it is to believe, I have the ability to separate my personal, business and everything else life from my golfing life.

 

[bluewolf]

You play golf when you're on call? Isn't that a bit negligent?

Not in the slightest..

Why not play golf when you're not on call?

I do that as well.. Multi tasking...

If I had an elderly relative who was ill, I would know there wasn't a single thing I could do from the back nine of a golf course that the emergency services couldn't do a lot better from their prepared state of readiness - strangely enough, most emergency services are not situated on golf courses. If there really were an emergency, phone 999 first, then I'll take the necessary action once I've checked my phone after the round.
Hard as it is to believe, I have the ability to separate my personal, business and everything else life from my golfing life.

You can follow your own path regarding the use of a mobile phone.. I'll follow mine, and I won't judge other people for discreetly checking their phones when they think it's necessary..

 

[nemicu]

Thats the million dollar question: 'when they think it's necessary'.
Some, clearly, have varying opinion on what is necessary and what isn't.

 

[stevie_r]

Thats the million dollar question: 'when they think it's necessary'.
Some, clearly, have varying opinion on what is necessary and what isn't.

Obviously, given that everyone's circumstances are different

 

[bluewolf]

Thats the million dollar question: 'when they think it's necessary'.
Some, clearly, have varying opinion on what is necessary and what isn't.

And I'm willing to accept that fact.. You on the other hand are dismissing others opinions, and then insulting them. If I think someone is abusing the use of a phone on the course I will tell them. If they are causing on harm to anyone then as far as I'm concerned they're doing nothing wrong...

 

[G1BB0]

if its good enough for Tiger

 

[nemicu]

And I'm willing to accept that fact.. You on the other hand are dismissing others opinions, and then insulting them. If I think someone is abusing the use of a phone on the course I will tell them. If they are causing on harm to anyone then as far as I'm concerned they're doing nothing wrong...

Huh? I'm insulting them how? Or maybe you're insulting our collective intelligence? Have you ever stopped to consider that you may be insulting others by using a phone on a golf course? Of course you haven't - you're still too busy wrapped up in your bubble of self importance to notice. If however you leave your phone n the car, you completely remove that element of doubt. But I can see that you don't get it.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Huh? I'm insulting them how? Or maybe you're insulting our collective intelligence? Have you ever stopped to consider that you may be insulting others by using a phone on a golf course? Of course you haven't - you're still too busy wrapped up in your bubble of self importance to notice. If however you leave your phone n the car, you completely remove that element of doubt. But I can see that you don't get it.

I never leave my phone in the car, it is always in my bag on silent as you never know when I might need it. I don't however use it unless absolutely essential and 99.9% of the time don't look at it. I think you may be going a bit far suggesting people leave them in the car.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Did the EGU say anything about shirt tails in their statement.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Wow.. Hows the view from up there? How about if you have an elderly relative who is ill? Are you suggesting that anyone who may need to receive a call should stay at home? I play golf when I'm on call. I tell my PP's on the first tee. If I have to leave then I make my apologies and leave. Strangely enough, not one single person has had an issue with this in real life.. Maybe it's just people behind keyboards who think they can call people "selfish, insecure or plain ignorant"..

I've also done this and had the same reaction. Didn't seem a biggie - I'd never been called out for this system so it seemed highly unlikely the phone would go. Inevitably, it did, on the 12th tee, I apologised to my playing partners, took the call and managed to deal with it without having to leave. Took a couple of minutes no problem.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Huh? I'm insulting them how? Or maybe you're insulting our collective intelligence? Have you ever stopped to consider that you may be insulting others by using a phone on a golf course? Of course you haven't - you're still too busy wrapped up in your bubble of self importance to notice. If however you leave your phone n the car, you completely remove that element of doubt. But I can see that you don't get it.

I like the cut of your gib and you are just the kind of forward thinking person this game needs more of in order for it to modernise.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I never leave my phone in the car, it is always in my bag on silent as you never know when I might need it. I don't however use it unless absolutely essential and 99.9% of the time don't look at it. I think you may be going a bit far suggesting people leave them in the car.

Quite. We all know that clubs have no issues with players carrying their phones on the course - in their bag and on silent or switched off - but I would not expect someone to be checking it all the time. Compared with some things we get heated about this should be simple. Mobile phones may not be used on the golf course. However you can ask your PPs before playing if you can check your phone occasionally as you are expecting some important personal, or indeed business (we live in a global 24x7 business world), news. However I don't think I would expect this news if it came to result in my PP subsequently spending significant time on his phone.

I play with a GP who is often on emergency call on Saturdays and Sundays in the event of serious road accidents. If he did not play when he was on call we'd rarely see him at weekends. He always tells us before we tee off if he is on call. In 10 yrs I can count on one hand the number of times he has had to take a call when I have been a PP of his. This is totally acceptable - and indeed I would suggest it would actually be unacceptable for the club to prevent this sort of mobile phone use.

 

[bluewolf]

Huh? I'm insulting them how? Or maybe you're insulting our collective intelligence? Have you ever stopped to consider that you may be insulting others by using a phone on a golf course? Of course you haven't - you're still too busy wrapped up in your bubble of self importance to notice. If however you leave your phone n the car, you completely remove that element of doubt. But I can see that you don't get it.

You DO remember calling them "Selfish, Insecure and Plain Ignorant" don't you? It was yesterday so I'd excuse you for forgetting..

As it happens, I think I've spoken to someone on the phone on the golf course approximately once in 3 years of playing golf. What I actually do is keep the phone on silent in my back pocket. If it rings, then I'll check who it is. If it's important enough to take, then I'll leave the course and ring them back. If it's social then I'll ring them back later.... I'll read text messages when walking between shots... If this insults you then I feel for you as you are obviously a delicate little flower who needs constant love and attention..

Anyway, I'm going to go back to my "bubble of self importance", which will today be located on the golf course.. I'm meeting a good friend for a knock then I'm taking the Missus and kids out for something to eat and maybe a cheeky drink or 2.. I'll bid you Good Day..

Damn.. I've just noticed that HK has responded in a much wittier way than I did... Damn you HK, you Guardian reading, professionally insulted, Left Wing Yoghurt Knitter.....

 

[Martin70]

he club I have just joined has a no mobile phone policy bar emergencies which is fine by me apart from the fact I used to use an app on mine for GPS so I've just treated myself to a Garmin watch. To be fair the phone app did make me hold up play for a few seconds sometimes so fair enough.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

he club I have just joined has a no mobile phone policy bar emergencies which is fine by me apart from the fact I used to use an app on mine for GPS so I've just treated myself to a Garmin watch. To be fair the phone app did make me hold up play for a few seconds sometimes so fair enough.

Oh lawd - that's quite another debate - or three