Mobile phones at golf clubs - your view?

[simplyme]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

I personally believe phones should never be allowed on the golf course. They are a great hinderance when, as probably mentioned, you are mid stroke and all you can hear is a ring or message tone, it is very off putting and extremely rude. I will admit, mine does sit in the bag on silent as I refuse to leave it in the clubhouse (we do not have lockers). It will not get looked at though until I am putting my sticks away in the car.

I do not mind them in the clubhouse though, it's no different to being out for a meal or having a drink with your friends in the local. My club allows phones in the clubhouse and nobody has ever complained. However, I played a round at a friends club a few weeks ago and when I put my phone on the table (still on silent) a committee member of said club approached me and asked me to put the phone away and make sure it is switched off. I was quite shocked at this, obliged, drank my drink and we headed back to my clubhouse (12 of us) and put the proceeds into the bar there. I am of the mentality I go on the course to play, off the course to socialise.

 

[centuryg5]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

get caught using moby in any of our club competitions,and im afraid it's 3 match ban,i don't want to hear people rabbiting on arranging social/business lives,get that all week.

 

[ADB]

Mobiles are a necessary part of modern life. I agree that on the course and in the clubhouse a 'silent' setting should be the norm but leave them in the car or locker room, why? I have two scenarios for consideration:

Firstly, with more people 'working' from home, it gives the opportunity to stay in touch while playing a quick 9 holes - surely golf clubs should be encouraging uptake during the week, especially in todays financial climate.

Secondly, it is rather short-sighted to say a round of golf is true escapism having no interference or distraction. Maybe some forum members have the luxury of making a visit to the golf club last 6hrs + with pre-round coffee and after-round food/drink. With a young family, weekends are precious and an (infrequent)round of golf takes up a significant proportion of this free time - if I am going to be late due to slow play, or need to pick up some fishfingers on the way home I need a phone to communicate.

The stereotypical image of a boorish loudmouth shouting down the phone to his mate whilst irritated players wait to tee off just fans the flame of this argument and accentuates the (perceived) snobbish image of the game.

 

[Smiffy]

I bloody hate mobile phones on the golf course. Mine goes straight into the glovebox of the car as soon as I park up. I have played with people before who answer calls from work, spend bloody ages yacking on the phone to their boss or partner while you are waiting to play your shot, or waiting for them to play theirs. Drives me mad.
OK if somebody's wife is pregnant and they might get a call from her to say she has gone into labour, have the phone with them but only answer it if it the wife phoning to say she has gone into labour, not if it's the boss or a customer phoning up to find out where their order is...

 

[EchtLoon]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

Another case of golf clubs being stuck in the dark ages. Mobile phones are part of modern society.

Of course they are Sneds, but that doesn't mean they are a good thing as I and I am sure many others would agree. Of all man's inventions, the mobile phone would be the one I would be all too happy to see binned.

You are on a golf course to play GOLF, while those on call have a valid argument, that is where the exceptions begin and ends.

There is no reason why a phone call can't be taken or made afetr a round.

Voicemail is also a facet of modern life, every mobile phone comes equipped with that functionality, so perhaps it isn't too much to ask that golfers use it?

 

[medwayjon]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

In the clubhouse, yes no problem if discreet.

On the course, emergencies only.

I HAVE to have my mobile phone on as 1) In case of disasters at work and 2) I am a contact for my seriously ill grandmothers "lifeline" system.

 

[vig]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

Although, in my earlier post, I said that the phone would be on but on silent.
I wasn't implying that "yacking" was permissable. I wouldn't dream of "yacking" on the mobile whilst on the course.
My call would generally be a text and if things were "kicking off", I wouldn't hold anyone up, I'd HAVE to go.

Not happened yet but there's always a first time

 

[MikeH]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

evening all

Wow, I didn't quite expect the volume of replies to my post!

Its obviously a topic that draws very wide ranging views so I guess it proves it's a good one to do the debate on!

Can I also say how eloquent the responses were from one and all. IMHO this just goes to show why this is such a great forum. Intelligent, well reasoned comment and views from golfers who have strong views on the game we all love

Sincere thanks to everyone who has posted - a selection will appear in the July issue.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

I have no great problem with people having mobiles in their golf bag as long as silent mode is in operation. If you keep the phone on silent in the clubhosue and use the locker room or go outside (preferably not onto the patio outside the bar as everyone can still hear).

We have had guys taken ill playing solo games who have had their phone with them and managed to get help so the idea of banning them is plain stupid. However the problem is people take advantage and it only takes one on the course to have the phone go off and start talking to ruin the rounds of three or four groups in the vicinity.

 

[heronsghyll]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

I have mine in my bag on the course and check it once, when we're at the tea hut.
In the clubhouse, I have it in my pocket on silent and go outside if I have to use it.
Sensible policies for a sensible Britain.

My view completley. If users are courteous and respect others, not a problem. I have my phone with me at all times, but ensure I am not a problem - ever. That's life today.

 

[Parmo]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

I have been known at times to order the drinks on the 18th tee

 

[CrapHacker]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

Anything that invites slow play or bad etiquette ( or even gamesmanship/cheating if abused in the extreme ) should not be brought into modern golf.

We should be protecting standards.

It's that simple.

Having said that, if someone is waiting for a desperately important call, and is trying to sneak in 9 holes, then who is to know if the phone is on silent/vibrate or whatever. If they need to answer it, because it is so important, then as long as they walk off the course to the car park, and sacrifice their place on the course, no problem.

Then they will have plenty of time to go and deal with the emergency.

Same thing in the clubhouse. Take it outside to the smoking area, then all the outcasts can be together.

 

[Sneds]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

Another case of golf clubs being stuck in the dark ages. Mobile phones are part of modern society.

Of course they are Sneds, but that doesn't mean they are a good thing as I and I am sure many others would agree. Of all man's inventions, the mobile phone would be the one I would be all too happy to see binned.

You are on a golf course to play GOLF, while those on call have a valid argument, that is where the exceptions begin and ends.

There is no reason why a phone call can't be taken or made afetr a round.

Voicemail is also a facet of modern life, every mobile phone comes equipped with that functionality, so perhaps it isn't too much to ask that golfers use it?

I agree, which is why I said I don't think phones should be used on the course. I don't see the problem in clubhouses though.

 

[CrapHacker]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

Can I also say how eloquent the responses were from one and all.

Oi You never said you wanted eloquent or informed replys, else I'd ov kept me mouth shut good an' proper like, guv.

But a very good point mentioned by Homer. No matter how well intended any of the decent users would be, there would be some chavvy self important business type that would start shouting his way around the course, and ruining it for everyone. Business is for the office, not the golf course.

 

[Midnight]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

Hi,

due to always being on call, I have my mobile on silent all the time, I do however explain to who ever I am playing with that it is on and there is a chance I could go at any time.

Also when the other half was due, I had no option but to keep it on.

I do hate it when people have it on loud and also when they insit in shouting down there phone when other people are playing.

Cheers

Midnight...

 

[Cernunnos]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

I've been to courses where they openly encorage phoning ahead to order food or drink at the halfway house.

I've heard of instances where people will phone the clubhouse to complain of slow play... Not really sure about this one myself, this seems to be something that's been imported from the U.S.

To be honest, even away from the course I barely use my mobile, its just there incase someone might want me & even then I prefer to be texted, as I can reply when I have time & am not doing something else. The mobile gets more use as a camera from day to day away from the course.

Really don't like to see mobiles being used on the course, though its a fact of life, that from time to time some people will use them. A mate of mine had his go off the other month, now he normally has his on silent or even turns it off completely, but this day it rang out mid swing. He went as red as a beetroot & well he should have, though he did appologize, made the call short & quietly, as he'd taken several paces away from us to take the call, he made another appology when he returned & he took his turn on the tee & then we were off down the fairway. The improtant aspect is he kept the call short & sweet, though it'd have been better if the phone had been on silent really.

There was one clubhouse I recall where mobiles were suposed to be banned & the pro & junior pro were always on their mobiles in the clubhouse & the girl behind the bar was continually on hers, now talk about double standards.

In the car park or a specific end of the clubhouse ought to be alright for subdued calls, but really common sense should be used, if the clubhouse is a quiet environment, then a total ban inside is obvious.

As I said in an earlier post, If I'm playing golf, I'm there to play golf & the last thing I want is to be interupted by mine or anyone elses mobile. If someone absolutely has to use one, then go out of earshot & sight & make it brief & only if ther is time to do so.

 

[Cernunnos]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

Can I also say how eloquent the responses were from one and all.

Oi You never said you wanted eloquent or informed replys, else I'd ov kept me mouth shut good an' proper like, guv.

But a very good point mentioned by Homer. No matter how well intended any of the decent users would be, there would be some chavvy self important business type that would start shouting his way around the course, and ruining it for everyone. Business is for the office, not the golf course.

Talking about buisiness, its only a few years ago that a great deal of buisiness was conducted on the golf course with the excuse of playing golf. Golf to some was some sort of a power meeting. Another thing I have a dim view of, but it was a fact of life & its probably something which still goes on in some parts of the country.

I know someone who works at our place openly hates golf, but found he had to play in order to conduct his (previous line of work) buisiness, the irony of it was he actually got quite good at golf, because the game didn't matter to him, but the buisiness did.

 

[mono217]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

I think they should be allowed to be used.

 

[Golfmmad]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

My course has a notice on the 9th tee encouraging calls to the clubhouse bar to order food - good idea. I think mobiles should only be used for emergencies on the course. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is texting. I don't see a problem with this as it can obviously be carried out silently. Even an emergency can be effectively communicated and the receiver can act just as quickly.

Golfmmad.

 

[GB72]

Re: Mobile phones/golf club - your view?

I really like the fact that phones cannot be used on the course or in the clubhouse. The gold course is my place away from all the stresses of work etc so the fact that people cannot contact me is accepted by them and enjoyed by me. If there is an emergency, a call to the pro shop is all that is needed and they will come out in a buggy.

That said, I think that it is sensible to have a phone in the bag, switched off of course. My course is a loop of 18 so you can be a couple of miles from the club house at the furthest point. As such, having a phone for a medical emergency seems to make sense.

If I were to be more liberal in my views, I suppose I would not object to the use of phones at the half way house.