mobile phones on golf course as from next year...

[trevor]

I never used to take my phone while playing but last summer my wife couldn't get hold of me to tell me water was pouring in through the kitchen ceiling and didn't know what to do. At least if I had been contactable I could have told her how to turn the water off but as it was the whole ceiling was down by the time I got home. I take the phone now.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

When I put my back out I had to call the pro to come and get me in a buggy, then I had to call the wifey to come and get me from the club because I could hardly move.

 

[edgey]

Golf clubs are part of the Leisure industry and as such are there to provide a service to their members. What happened 30, 20 or even 10years ago is of no importance. The world has changed and golf clubs need to adapt or they will cease to exist. Mobile phones are part of that changing world and for those of us who are not retired often an essential part of our daily life.

Before rules like this are implemented (imposed?) clubs need to be very clear about the potential commercial impact they may have, particularly in the current economic climate. If my club imposed such a rule without a clear mandate from the members I for one would have to consider my position very carefully, as I know would a number of my friends.

I am afraid that those who are complaining about mobiles remind me a bit of King Canute ordering the tide not to come in. Change is inevitable, and in fact essential.

 

[CMAC]

we used to call the clubhouse to get meals ready for us arriving, now they installed a phone on the course like a drive-thru, works well at the 9th, call and order, play the 9th then collect freshly made burgers and coffee without all the hanging around.

Just check your phone on the course as discretely as you check your wedding tackle arrangement and no-one will be held up or annoyed, win-win

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've seen this on a number of courses where there is a phone installed to call ahead to the halfway hut or the clubhouse and order the food and drinks. Great idea. Our club did have a mobile number you could call from the 8th green to order food for a while but that seemed to stop. Never found out why especailly as the 10th tee is by the clubhouse. Maybe someone complained that guys were using mobiles on the course

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Clearly 2 camps here.

I am self employed and rely on my phone to bring in the majority of my work.

My phone does NOT come with me to:

Business meetings, Restaurants, Cinemas, Friends houses, tennis courts or golf courses. It has a thing called an answerphone on it, I use that.

However I might take it with me in my coffin (just in case, but as its an i phone it would probably let me down)

 

[Airlie_Andy]

Just so I can get a firm grasp of the opposing opinions on this subject can someone explain to me why it's so annoying if someone has their phone with them? Especially if they are using it as a GPS? Is it more or less annoying than someone using a dedicated GPS? I can count on one hand the number of times someone has actually been speaking on the phone on the course and as long as they are not holding anyone up what's the problem with using your phone as an electronic device? Other than saying you should be able to last 4 hours without your phone (which isn't really an arguement) what is the main reason for not wanting people to have a mobile phone with them and using it in a quiet way that doesn't slow the round down?

 

[USER1999]

Because every one I have ever seen taking a phone call on the golf course has slowed up play. And I have seen quite a few phone calls made/taken.

 

[Airlie_Andy]

Because every one I have ever seen taking a phone call on the golf course has slowed up play. And I have seen quite a few phone calls made/taken.

I must be lucky then as its a very rare occurrence in my experience. People being on the phone just for the sake of it is extremely ignorant but I don't see why everyone should be punished for the actions of a few. I take my phone with my to use as a GPS. I've never actually used it as a phone on the course though so why should I have the option taken away from me?

 

[Shaunmg]

You don't need a club rule to have the decency to put your phone on silent if you are taking it out with you.

Exactly! fuss about nothing. Perhaps we should ban talking, teeting birds and change aircraft flight paths.


Our club has a token ban, and on the ninth tee is sign inviting you to phone through to the bar and order refreshment on the turn.

A few weeks ago in our weekly seniors comp a guy had a heart attack on the course. Thank god someone had a phone

 

[MadAdey]

During the week there is a group of us that play as we can get to play during the day in the week because of how we make our living. In the group of 5 we have 3 people that own their businesses. One has an events management company, another is an investments adviser and the other has a building and property management company. 20 years ago we did manage happily without a mobile phone but times have changed. In business today, people expect to get hold of you instantly now any hour of the day. People that run their own businesses now need to be contactable 24 hours a day as that is what is expected.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Just so I can get a firm grasp of the opposing opinions on this subject can someone explain to me why it's so annoying if someone has their phone with them? Especially if they are using it as a GPS? Is it more or less annoying than someone using a dedicated GPS? I can count on one hand the number of times someone has actually been speaking on the phone on the course and as long as they are not holding anyone up what's the problem with using your phone as an electronic device? Other than saying you should be able to last 4 hours without your phone (which isn't really an arguement) what is the main reason for not wanting people to have a mobile phone with them and using it in a quiet way that doesn't slow the round down?

I have the sonocaddie gps app on my phone, it worked quite well but I only used it once as I could not work out how to have the phone off & the GPS on.

All correspondents on this thread who are in favour of phones clearly use them considerately. I have witnessed extremely ignorant use of phones, including one egit who marched round he back of the 1st tee screaming to his playing partner 'I'm ere mate, where the feck are ya!!'. Now when we pointed out to him that we were on the tee and would appreciate a little consideration the inevitable 'discussion' took place and needless to say he couldn't see anything wrong with what he was doing.

I have also played a few holes with a guy who was in constant contact with his office and clients, I don't know if it continued for 18 holes as I left him to it. These are the reasons IMO phones should not be taken onto the golf course. Just show some consideration to people around you, thats all thats needed, you might think your quiet while you are on the phone, you are not!

 

[Airlie_Andy]

I can kind of see your point but why punish everyone because of the inconsiderate few? Is your clubhouse going to stop selling alcohol because a few cant handle their beer? Why should their be a complete ban on phones when many people, myself included, are not even using it as a phone? That person talking on the phone near the first tee is clearly just inconsiderate and could have just as easily been talking to someone next to him. Banning phones won't make him more considerate.

 

[keef]

Clearly 2 camps here.

I am self employed and rely on my phone to bring in the majority of my work.

My phone does NOT come with me to:

Business meetings, Restaurants, Cinemas, Friends houses, tennis courts or golf courses. It has a thing called an answerphone on it, I use that.

However I might take it with me in my coffin (just in case, but as its an i phone it would probably let me down)

Excellently well said! If those who are self employed cannot take a few hours out and either delegate, whether to another person or an answerphone then for one thing they cannot possibly enjoy thier golf. Completely different issue if there is a relative ill or some such potential emergency looming. I used to play with a bunch of estate agents. They were on thier phones the whole time. They play with themselves now!