golfshot legality

Bobirdie

Bobirdie

Journeyman Pro
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
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Location
Greenock,Scotland
www.williamsdoubleglazing.co.uk
Played a match last sunday using my golfshot ob.my samsung galaxy ace as i have done for the past year. Guy out with me said it was illegal on a mobile device. I told him it wasnt.guy just said ok. Noticed he was using skycaddie. Think he was a bit annoyed he payed 300 odd quid and i spent 17 lol. Anyway its still not illegal is it? Only on phones that have wind measuring device and spirit level app??
 
Most are illegal due to the compass on the phone. Some phones do not have a compass but most do. That's my understanding of the rules.
 
If you look at the link I posted then in features and under sensors it clearly lists a compass (as it seems to do on every samsung phone from the last 3 or 4 yrs at least). I would be 99.9% your oppo was correct and you cant legally use your phone as a gps in competitions
 
Ruling has always existed, for as long as I can remember compasses have been banned under the rules of golf. Obviously when written this didnt apply to mobile phones (which didnt exist) but the rule applies to mobiles as it does to stand alone compasses or any other appliances with a compass in them
 
GTO NEMESIS said:
The article in this months GM doesn't seem to agree with them being illegal. (or was it last months?)
Or maybe I am reading the article wrong?
Click to expand...

I didn't see the article but suspect that -
1. it would be factually correct (and this phone would be in breach of 14-3 for the reason given if used as a DMD)
2. most people get confused
3. it's also different in the US rules just to add further confusion.
 
The apps are not illegal> its the device that the software is running on. The iphone in its default state is illegal to use due the compass, however it is possible to "jail break" an iphone allowing the compass to be removed. The same app now becomes legal.

Its a starange situation and one thats needs clarifying as people are eithe rnot aware or are ignorant, the biggest issue is that people know that a physical compass is illegal, but do not twig that a phone often has a compass built in.
How many club comps have been won using this illegal equipment? a lot I would think!
 
never knew my samsung galaxy had a compass, had a look for it but cant find it, I have the golf shot app but only used it occassionally when playing a practice round.
I am puzzled though as to why a compass would be banned, how does it help your game?
 
scottbrown said:
Its a starange situation and one thats needs clarifying ....
Click to expand...

Whilst I agree the issue is confusing I do not see that 'clarifying' is going to make a lot of difference.

I am not aware of any current model smartphone that is legal for use as a DMD - what's there to clarify?

As you rightly say it is possible to modify devices and remove the features that would otherwise make them illegal, but that is another matter entirely as they are no longer the same device.
 
to us amatuers it doesnt really. However it allows people to tell things like wind direction etc. Its one of those rules that most amatuers could never gain an advantage even if we were allowed to carry a compass, but the pros might and the rules are the same for all.
 
scottbrown said:
The apps are not illegal> its the device that the software is running on. The iphone in its default state is illegal to use due the compass, however it is possible to "jail break" an iphone allowing the compass to be removed. The same app now becomes legal.

Its a starange situation and one thats needs clarifying as people are eithe rnot aware or are ignorant, the biggest issue is that people know that a physical compass is illegal, but do not twig that a phone often has a compass built in.
How many club comps have been won using this illegal equipment? a lot I would think!
Click to expand...
Unless you physically remove the chip wh has compass capability then there is no difference. AFAIher don't remember the ruling making a distinction about apps being removed. It's the physical compass that is the issue.
 
Software has no physicality to it. The software that runs the compass can be removed on the iphone once jail broken. Not sure about other smart phones.
 
scottbrown said:
Software has no physicality to it. The software that runs the compass can be removed on the iphone once jail broken. Not sure about other smart phones.
Click to expand...
I said you can't remove the compass from the phone. Removing the app is easy, but the ruling stated features and apps, the electronic compass is still in the phone even after you have removed the app.

Anyway it makes no difference to me, they are still illegal and trying to convince the rules bodies that you have jail broken your phone and made it different to the other 20 million iPhones is unlikely to get you anywhere.
 
scottbrown said:
Which is why I have a sky caddie and a laser so no risk of arguements
Click to expand...

But for what I use the golfshot app for neither of those devices do what I want (apart from the distance bit).
I like golfshot for the stats and using it as a record of my club distances (instead of a pen & notebook).

If I start playing comps I will look into other options.
 
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