Use of phones on courses?

[Boabski]

in my opinion if it is bounce/practice game and you do not hold up anyone there is no issue.
you can also respect other players by turning the volume down or muting your ringtone.

 

[ADB]

I seem to remember our Pro saying that every group should have a phone (turned off) so that they could phone the clubhouse in case of emergency. I have told my regular partners that if they are not fit to continue playing I am leaving them behind.

harsh.....but fair......do they then become 'loose impediments' in your eyes Rich

 

[Imurg]

I seem to remember our Pro saying that every group should have a phone (turned off) so that they could phone the clubhouse in case of emergency. I have told my regular partners that if they are not fit to continue playing I am leaving them behind.

No honour amongst Old Men then is there....

 

[Hobbit]

For emergencies, yes. For social chit chat, no.

Taking business calls... if its set to vibrate, and it doesn't hold up play or interfere with others I can't see the harm.

Personally, mine's with me for emergencies (dicky ticker) but is turned off. And get's left in the car once I'm back in the clubhouse.

 

[Mattyboy]

I use mine to keep up to date with footi scores. However I only check twice max - usually around half and full time. And in the winter I hadly bother as it dark by 4.

 

[USER1999]

Not keen on my playing partners spending the whole round on twitter. Am I that boring? Well, possibly, so may be it is understandable.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure I agree with using twitter on the course but it did making an interesting read. Jezz on fire early on. On balance I think they should really be left in the bag on silent and only used to make a call in an emergency. If you are on call etc then a crafty look isn't a problem. There is always an opportunity at some point to do it and it wouldn't hold play up. Its those that are checking the footie every five minustes, arranging their night out or calling/texting mates that wind me up. Are you playing golf or organising your social life. The two don't mix - don't do it

 

[Toad]

Don't have a problem with people using mobiles, it is sometimes necessary.
I have mine with me on silent when I'm on call and check it regularly between shots.
I always explain to my playing partners why I have it and nobody has complained so far.
To date I have had to leave in the middle of two games in 3 years so not too bad.

 

[palindromicbob]

I was playing a round and had a slow start. Just started to find some sort of rhythm and had a playing partner who was skiving work that day so couldn't go completely off radar. He hadn't set it to silent and the ringtone was a bit crazy. Went off during my downswing threw me off and caused me to put the ball out of bounds. Never managed to recover from it as my head was fried and deep down I was seething.

Don't mind them on silent and if the user isn't holding up play because of a call. I usually have mine set to airplane mode and use it to consult the R&A rules app.

 

[Smiffy]

Many years ago I was playing at Piltdown with a mate of mine. We were following a 3 ball, the course was clear other than that. Got to the 4th and one of the gits in front was on the tee on his mobile phone, oblivious to the fact that we had just arrived. His two "friends" were sat on a bench by the tee chatting and laughing away. They knew we were there waiting, but just carried on. Tried to catch their attention, but they completely ignored us. After about 5 minutes I gestured to them to let us through. One of them stood up and walked over to place his ball on the tee, and then sat back down again. We were fuming. The guy on the phone carried on gassing away for about another 5 or 10 minutes and then started chatting to his two friends. We again asked if we could play through, and were told "no, I've finished now". They then took another 10 minutes or so to clear the tee. They were determined not to let us through for the remainder of the round, we were fuming at their "pig ignorance" and it completely ruined the rest of our round.
Ever since then, if I see anybody pull out a mobile phone, for whatever reason, on a golf course, my blood pressure starts to rise.
I always have mine with me, but leave it in the car when I am playing golf.

 

[wookie]

On balance I think they should really be left in the bag on silent and only used to make a call in an emergency. If you are on call etc then a crafty look isn't a problem. There is always an opportunity at some point to do it and it wouldn't hold play up. Its those that are checking the footie every five minustes, arranging their night out or calling/texting mates that wind me up. Are you playing golf or organising your social life. The two don't mix - don't do it

This is about for me as well.

I think its part of a wider trend though. You can go to the pub and see groups of people sat at a table all doing something or other on their phone - have you tried talking to each other instead?

(Christ - am I getting old)


Simon 35

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I always carry mine in my bag on silent in case of emergency.

 

[need_my_wedge]

Always switch mine to silent. Carry it in my pocket to use the GPS, if the phone does ring a quick check who will determine whether it needs an answer or not. On the rare occasion I do answer, it's needed, and I'll ensure that I don't hold up play for my partners or anyone around.

 

[Snelly]

I think it depends on who you are playing with. I play mostly corporate golf where people have either taken a day off or are "visiting a supplier" i.e. playing golf with me! In this case, it is sort of a work day and consequently, I don't mind people checking mail, texting or whatever. Don't mind the odd phone call either in the business golf environment.

That said, in a social setting on a Saturday with pals, I think a phone is unecessary and a bit naughty. If someone I was playing with socially was on the phone on the course then I would make my feelings known.

Cheers,


Snelly.

 

[keef]

Like many on here i have taken mine on the course primarily to receive important messages - evening pub arrangements, that kind of thing. However, i am seriously considering making a resolution to leave it in the car when i am playing golf from now on, and maintaining a better focus and remaining peaceful on our lovely course. I have determined that as i only ever go to one of three pubs it ain,t that urgent or complicated after all!

 

[NWJocko]

Always have mine with me on silent.

1. I have a young daughter, if anything happened to her I want to know asap so I could get away
2. Other family health reasons why I need to be available

I obviously don't phone a different mate inbetween every shot and rarely have I ever had to use my phone but I would never forgive myself if something happened and I was selfish enough to switch my phone off or leave it in the car.

Golf is our quiet/relaxing/hobby/enjoyable time but there are much more important things going on in life.

 

[Billysboots]

My wife has not been too well the last three or four years (she's fine and dandy now), and as a consequence my phone is always switched on whilst on the golf course. I need to be contactable 24/7 for her benefit.

I always tell playing partners on the 1st tee that my phone is on, and why it's on, and nobody has ever had an issue with it. In the event that anyone had a problem, then I'm afraid it would have to be tough! Her welfare is more important than golf.

But that is the only reason I take it out with me - business, personal use and so on is really not on in my opinion.

 

[Oddsocks]

Golf is our quiet/relaxing/hobby/enjoyable time but there are much more important things going on in life.

im with that 100%, but theres a reason i leave mine in the car. I never used to take it onto the course until i downloaded a gps app, which of course means your phone has to be on. From the point that HID and family knew i had my phone on while playing i had the most stupid texts coming through, that ended up being a huge distraction to my game, the £120 on a gps was worth every penny to be able to leave my phone in the car, now if the dog has been sick, someone can use their brains and clear it up and leave me to enjoy my golf!

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

What 's your thoughts?

This post has been inspired by the live feed from Jezz and Mike who today enjoyed a round at Leamington which could be followed on Twitter.

Right or just plain wrong??

Me? As long as they are being used as you walk and are not holding anyone up I do not have an issue with phones being used but I know that plenty clubs prohibit use on the course as well as in the clubhouse etc.


https://twitter.com/#!/HirselGolfClub

Why do you need your phone on the course or in the clubhouse. I wait untill I get home before I ring my therapist!!

Play golf or talk on the phone not both

 

[PPE]

I have a question. I currently use the Golfshot App on the iPhone and have found it to be fantastic and have sold my SkyCaddie SG5 because of this.
However in my comp last week I was told that I couldnt use it as it can measure wind speed! Is this right?