Is my DMD app legal on my phone?

Andy808

Andy808

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I'm hoping you lovely people will be able to help.
I have now got Freecaddie pro on my phone and want to know if, when local rules allow, my app is legal. My phone is an HTC desire C. It has no compass, no barometer, no anemometer and no thermometer. It does have a weather forecast thing through the net but not minute by minute data can betaken while on the course. It doesn't have a gradient meter or anything to assist reading the greens.
Is it legal or not?
Over to you lot.
 
As its the cheaper end of the market they decided they didn't need compass functionality (can still do gps sat nav, but that is not an issue here).

Looks fine to me.
 
That's what I thought. The funny thing is the phone they ariginally offered me but then couldn't (long story don't ask!) was a cheaper phone but had a compass that would have rendered it illegal. How a compass can help you decide which club to use baffles me but there you go!
 
Looks to be ok .....but....

It's your responsibility to determine if the device is legal or not.
I know that's what you're trying to do here but you can't take our word for it.
Do all the research you can.

Seems to me that the R&A need to set up a Hot-Desk that can establish which devices are legal and which are not.
With new phones coming out every week, it's a nightmare trying to work out if this one is and this one isn't.

Either that or sharpen the edges - either make phones legal or make them illegal.
There's waaaay too much confusion on this issue.
 
Imurg said:
Looks to be ok .....but....

It's your responsibility to determine if the device is legal or not.
I know that's what you're trying to do here but you can't take our word for it.
Do all the research you can.

Seems to me that the R&A need to set up a Hot-Desk that can establish which devices are legal and which are not.
With new phones coming out every week, it's a nightmare trying to work out if this one is and this one isn't.

Either that or sharpen the edges - either make phones legal or make them illegal.
There's waaaay too much confusion on this issue.
Click to expand...

Agree totally.

The R&A are very woolly on this.

To be honest, even if I had a compass, a weather forecast (from a station 5 miles from me, on the other side of a ridge) a wind sock and a spirit level, it would make absolutely NO difference to me!
Throw a few blades of grass up in air is enough!

EDIT- I have an HTC desire and the preloaded GPS app tells me if I am driving North or South:whistle:
 
North Mimms said:
Agree totally.

The R&A are very woolly on this.

To be honest, even if I had a compass, a weather forecast (from a station 5 miles from me, on the other side of a ridge) a wind sock and a spirit level, it would make absolutely NO difference to me!
Throw a few blades of grass up in air is enough!

EDIT- I have an HTC desire and the preloaded GPS app tells me if I am driving North or South:whistle:
Click to expand...

My driving is mostly going south!:rofl:
 
I know its illegal but....

........would anyone be a better golfer or take less strokes by knowing which way is North, South, east West?

I just dont get that rule
 
DarthVega said:
I know its illegal but....

........would anyone be a better golfer or take less strokes by knowing which way is North, South, east West?

I just dont get that rule
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. I know the new sniper rifles need to know so the computer aided sight can adjust for the rotation of the earth (Insane!) but I'm pretty sure the ball don't stay up there long enough to matter!
 
  1. Parkland course
  2. Many tee boxes protected by trees
  3. You'd need to throw grass 40 foot in the air to catch the wind
  4. Wind generally blows from the west (other directions are available)
  5. Forecast said it would blow from the west at 30mph all day
  6. As soon as the drive leaves the protection of tree height its gonna get caught big time
  7. Compass tells you which direction is west?
  8. Adjust aim/strenth/club etc accordingly
  9. Compass is an extrernal aid for shot & club selection
  10. Allow/Ban compass!
 
Andy808 said:
My thoughts exactly. I know the new sniper rifles need to know so the computer aided sight can adjust for the rotation of the earth (Insane!) but I'm pretty sure the ball don't stay up there long enough to matter!
Click to expand...

I'm scared that you know this:rolleyes:
 
Slab said:
  1. Parkland course
  2. Many tee boxes protected by trees
  3. You'd need to throw grass 40 foot in the air to catch the wind
  4. Wind generally blows from the west (other directions are available)
  5. Forecast said it would blow from the west at 30mph all day
  6. As soon as the drive leaves the protection of tree height its gonna get caught big time
  7. Compass tells you which direction is west?
  8. Adjust aim/strenth/club etc accordingly
  9. Compass is an extrernal aid for shot & club selection
  10. Allow/Ban compass!
Click to expand...

Or,

Look at your stroke saver for the hole, which normally has a north shown for each hole layout. Orientate stroke saver, and then you know where West is.
 
murphthemog said:
Or,

Look at your stroke saver for the hole, which normally has a north shown for each hole layout. Orientate stroke saver, and then you know where West is.
Click to expand...

Question was put as to what use is a compass? Not how can I tell which way is north or we could add 'look for moss on the trees' etc etc ;)
 
stevek1969 said:
It is ok for social golf but not competiton unless your club has a local rule saying there legal,thats from the SGU Website.
Click to expand...

I don't think the SGU have the power to decide on the legality of particular devices. Their website merely has a reminder that clubs must have a local rule in place allowing DMDs or all DMDs are illegal - I think the vast majority of clubs do have the local rule in force. The R&A/USGA have the responsibility for clarifying which devices are legal - and they're not doing a terrific job there. One of their responses on the issue states categorically that the iphone may not be used as a DMD but they do not rule out other smartphones being illegal. It's a mess and has to be sorted.
 
rosecott said:
I don't think the SGU have the power to decide on the legality of particular devices. Their website merely has a reminder that clubs must have a local rule in place allowing DMDs or all DMDs are illegal - I think the vast majority of clubs do have the local rule in force. The R&A/USGA have the responsibility for clarifying which devices are legal - and they're not doing a terrific job there. One of their responses on the issue states categorically that the iphone may not be used as a DMD but they do not rule out other smartphones being illegal. It's a mess and has to be sorted.
Click to expand...

We had this conversation in work the other day as one of the guys was looking to purchase the Golfshot app for his iphone. He emailed the R&A and was told they were banned unless a local club rule or for social golf,i think the SGU staes on there site that it was an R&A desicion.
 
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