mobiles on the golf course

[GreiginFife]

Playing this morning and lining up a putt on the 4th green when suddenly some berk on the 5th tee (adjacent the green) starts talking very loudly in to his phone. No one in his group was put off by his actions but I certainly was.
You may think it's ok and so may your group but common courtesy on the course is to consider those around you not just your group.
Personally I can't see any reason, other than those stated as emergency, why you should/would want to have your phone on at the course.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I tend to have mine with me but on silent and wouldn't answer/use it. Maybe to check a "big" football score if as a group we were discussing it.

However, once I ended up on-call for work when I was scheduled to play golf. I spoke with my playing partners and explained the situation - I wouldn't have played had they objected. Didn't think it would matter as I had never been called out - sods law, twelfth tee I got a call.

So while I generally agree with "no mobiles" I think exceptions can be made but should be discussed up front.

 

[MadAdey]

Some people need to carry their phone with them and some do not. Keeping it in your bag on silent and having a quick check now and again to see if anyone has tried getting in touch with you is not the worst crime in the world as who does it affect? I get far more annoyed by slow players that refuse to let you play through or people that do not replace divots and repair pitch marks as that does have an effect on other players.

Now if it goes off playing the great escape at 500 Db is a different thing or walking round the course chatting away when people are trying to play is just ignorant. I am likely to have a sense of humour mealt down over that.

 

[ForeRighty]

Mine is used but for golf reasons GPS golf shot app. I have my phone on silent an therefore cannot understand why others would be put off there game surely they should be focusing on there own shots and state of mind not looking for a mobile to blame for a bad round.

No different from a sky caddie when used in the above way.

Technology is everywhere embrace it

 

[jammag]

Why do people care if their playing partners have their phones on. If they are on silent and make no noise so they in no way can distract you then there is no issue. If you let things like this distract you when I am checking a football/cricket score or checking up on a couple of things then I genuinely feel sorry for you as you cant accept it maybe your fault you played a bad shot not my phone that caused it. I never play about with my phone when someone is taking a shot but walking up between holes or shots then I see no issue at all. Its a choice I make as it relaxes me a bit and I can focus on something else rather than play over and over in my head why I played that bad shot on the 1st hole.

Ever thought about why people are on the phones in your golf groups? is it because they dont take the game as seriously so get there phone out so they dont have to make conversation or interact?

Everyone has the choice, I made mine and it suits me but I wont slate anyone who chooses not to carry a phone so why should they slate me its a free world after all.

 

[Idlenorth1]

a lot of divided opinion on this but must agree that you should not be on the course with your phone ring tone on. the least that could be done is have it on silent in the bag and check if necessary (ie in case of an emergency) I personally turn mine off as I am out there to relax and enjoy my game, the company and hopefully the weather, if I was playing in a round and one of partners was constantly talking away on his phone whilst we were playing he would get told in no uncertain terms what I thought of it!

 

[Richuk123]

I am amongst the "if its on silent and it doesnt slow up the game then its ok" group.

I also have a GPS app on mine and so ive tried that and it is great, just as accurate as the sky caddies for a fraction of the price.

I generly check my phone throughout my round, but it is always on silent as there is nothing more annoying than a phone going off mid swing/putt

 

[Threeoffthetee]

That's not a rant, if this has happened to me I would be fuming. At the end of the day you could have expected a social game. If the person did not fancy your company they should take up a different sport.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Mate, I believe that you're playing with me at Woburn. Any time that phone rings, you answer it. No questions asked. I'll even stand next to you looking menacing if anybody feels like complaining.

My phone will be swiched off and in the bag, you never know when a phone may be needed...

Cheers. Actually the current news is a little more promising and so I''m hoping (fingers crossed) that it can sit in my bag and stay there.

 

[Evesdad]

Mine is always in the bag or pocket on silent, with a wife and two kids I don't want to be cut off. On the other side we have practically no signal at my course anyway but still wouldn't dream of making non emergency calls.

 

[HughJars]

Mate, I believe that you're playing with me at Woburn. Any time that phone rings, you answer it. No questions asked. I'll even stand next to you looking menacing if anybody feels like complaining.

My phone will be swiched off and in the bag, you never know when a phone may be needed...

Cheers. Actually the current news is a little more promising and so I''m hoping (fingers crossed) that it can sit in my bag and stay there.

Maybe, you know, you should maybe, like you know, not be on the golf course?

Or is there simply nothing, even the possibility that your mother may die, that isn't important enough to interupt your golf?

 

[Pants]

...with a wife and two kids I don't want to be cut off....

Evesdad, this is not a dig at you specifically, but to all the many. many, respondents who think that this is a good excuse that they might be able to influence an event after it has happened whilst they are on a golf course.

The chances that something dreadful might occur to your wife/kids on any particular day when you are not around are very, very slim.

The chances that something dreadful might occur to your wife/kids on any particular day when you are not around and so couldn't do anything about are very, very, very, very slim.

The chances that something dreadful might occur to your wife/kids on any particular day when you are not around and so couldn't do anything about and are on a golf course are very, very, very, very slim/6+++ ?? at least.

OK, if your wife is about to give birth, or a close relative is about to die then only the very, very selfish would be on a golf course waiting for a call. Realistically, give the pregnant wife the Pro shop number and they will get a buggy out to you far quicker than you can hoof a mile of two back to the car park.

As for those who are far too important for golf to interfere with their business life on the course, then make a choice. Will the world end if you are not available for 4 hours? When I was "on call", I was on call and didn't play golf. If it was found that I was playing golf, then at the very least questions would have been asked. As it is now my business, if I want to play golf, I change my answerphone message to something suitable.

My choice, my lifestyle.

Maybe, some peeps need to get away from the "instant" world and enjoy life again.

Only my opinion mind.

 

[bluewolf]

Only my opinion mind.

It is only your opinion, and you are more than welcome to it. Other people have different opinions, and they are welcome to theirs. If someone feels more comfortable with their phone in the bag (on silent), then they are perfectly entitled to do that. I usually have my phone with me (on silent). My mobile number is the Schools first emergency contact number. Even if the chance is one in a million, then I'll still feel better with the phone with me. I NEVER use the phone whilst playing, and only check it whilst cards are being marked etc. Being available is NOT a downside.

However, if you are one of those people who use their phones socially whilst on the course, then i'm afraid that it's open season on you. It's rude, anti-social and occasionally downright ignorant....

 

[Slab]

Many cite unforeseen emergencies as a reason to have a phone with them (on or off) & it’s difficult to argue against that reasoning

But there are lots of examples here of emergencies that are easily foreseeable & not even emergencies such as the on-call for work and ill relatives & those who want to ‘check an important score’

Being ‘on-call’ myself 24/7 (god that’s a horrible term for what really means ‘I think I’m indispensable’ or ‘my boss gets a free member of staff he doesn’t pay for because I’m never off so how stupid am I’) & the call when it comes is invariably because someone else failed to do something, so my phone goes everywhere but I wish it didn’t

I think for ill relatives then they are either close enough to me such that I couldn’t possible play golf to any level of enjoyment or distant enough that receiving news of their passing/deterioration (sad though it is) can wait for a couple of hours

We accept it when people say we live in an instant world & a culture of ‘need it this minute’ but we really don’t, we live in a world where many ‘want it this minute’ and conduct themselves in a way that suggests ‘don’t dare stand in my way while I get it’...........to check a football score!!!!

Yes we need to embrace change and technology & they’re a good thing but living your virtual life on social media to twit your way round a course! Really!

Maybe some of us should just stay in the house by the landline, play TW on the x-box, check work e-mail & write a get well soon card in case someone falls ill!

 

[Smiffy]

I usually leave mine in the car and check it when I get back after my round.
I can see the benefit of leaving it in the bag switched off to be used in the case of an emergency, but I hate it when I play with people who have taken the time off work to play golf and then spend the whole bloody afternoon answering calls from the office, or phoning in to see if "so and so" has rung.
You're either playing bloody golf or your working, one or the other!!
I forgot to take mine out of my pocket one day, and put it in my bag switched on. After about 3 holes I heard a text message arrive and stupidly checked to see who it was from. It was from my then boss, asking me to call him urgently, which I did. He then proceeded to have a go at me for something that was nothing at all to do with me, to the point we had a full blown row over the phone. What he wanted to discuss could have waited until the next day, but no...he had to make a point there and then. Really wound me up and completely ruined my afternoon, so from then on I vowed that I would never, ever, take my phone out on the course again.

 

[upsidedown]

Turned off in bag where it stays till I finish.

Wish the dimwit who lost his on the course had done so. To elaborate was playing few holes by myself one Sunday morning and doing some chipping around the 17th green as the two players on 18th seemed to be walking back towards me. Transpired one of them had lost phone, so chatted to them for while and they headed off in their quest.
Teed off and on walking down 18th found said phone , called them over and all good..

Not so was going first 2 days later when I glanced down into my bag to notice my Callaway A wedge was missing. In the distraction on the 17th had forgotten to retrieve it from far side of green and then some knob had come along and half inched it for himself !!!!!

 

[chris661]

It is only your opinion, and you are more than welcome to it. Other people have different opinions, and they are welcome to theirs. If someone feels more comfortable with their phone in the bag (on silent), then they are perfectly entitled to do that. I usually have my phone with me (on silent). My mobile number is the Schools first emergency contact number. Even if the chance is one in a million, then I'll still feel better with the phone with me. I NEVER use the phone whilst playing, and only check it whilst cards are being marked etc. Being available is NOT a downside.

What's the point of having a phone, switched on but on silent and not checking it until the cards are being signed at the end? Whats the difference of leaving it in the car and getting it when you get back to the clubhouse?

 

[bluewolf]

What's the point of having a phone, switched on but on silent and not checking it until the cards are being signed at the end? Whats the difference of leaving it in the car and getting it when you get back to the clubhouse?

While cards are being marked, not signed. If I've marked my card and I'm waiting on next to the tee box, then I'll have a quick check. It takes 10 seconds and bothers nobody. I only check to see if it has rung, I don't check e mails, texts, football scores. I do it 4-5 times during the round at most. If the person I'm playing with has a problem with this, then I'll respect their wishes, but I'll probably avoid playing with them in future. Lifes too short to spend moaning about these things.

But, like I said, using the phone socially during a round is a no no.

 

[DCB]

So how did we manage to play golf in the good old days ?

How on earth did we survive before mobile phones ?

 

[Smiffy]

So how did we manage to play golf in the good old days ?

How on earth did we survive before mobile phones ?

Bagpipes