reasons why to not use phone on golf course

by Christop Connelly 8 min read

Phones are bad! There are the rings, of course, and the shutter-clicks in backswings — golf fans aren’t the most tech-savvy bunch. There is also the pressure that fans feel to “cover” the event, focusing on recording their experience rather than on the experience itself.

Full Answer

Do you need a phone on the golf course?

I know cell phones can certainly can be distracting on the golf course, especially when you hear one of those unusual ring tones in the middle of your back swing or hear someone talking while you are preparing to hit.

Is your smartphone ruining your golf game?

Mar 04, 2014 · JS – I just don’t see the need to have mobiles on the golf course other than for a genuine emergency. Give people the option and they will more than likely take up the offer. Checking the phone has become a habit. People will constantly take their phones out of their pockets to check for texts and missed calls. It’s very anti-social in my opinion.

How do you keep your phone busy on the golf course?

Nov 25, 2015 · #4: Use Apps and Golf Software Responsibly Technology can give you an edge in your game, but it can also become a crutch. Overusing it sucks all the joy out of the game, as well, so be frugal in how often you pull out your GPS or other apps—especially if they significantly slow down your pace of play while people are behind you.

How has the rise of smartphones changed golf's etiquette?

Aug 16, 2018 · Phones are good! There are plenty of benefits to having phones at the course. Some fans can’t ditch their phones for the day for fear of missing an important call or email; such is our modern world.

Can you use a phone on a golf course?

As our survey suggests, a lot of golfers are fine with using their phones on the course, provided it's not obtrusive to their playing partners. If our respondents support any kind of cellphone policy, it starts and ends with respecting the rules of the course you're playing and always keeping your phone on silent.May 20, 2015

What should you not do on a golf course?

9 Things to Avoid on the Golf Course
  • Don't Show Up Late. ...
  • Don't Flip Out After Every Shot. ...
  • Don't Step on Someone Else's Line. ...
  • Don't Hit the Ball into the Group Ahead of You. ...
  • Don't Leave Too Many Balls on The Practice Green. ...
  • Don't Give Unwanted Golf Advice. ...
  • Don't Stay Glued to Your Phone. ...
  • Don't Play from the Championship Tee Box.

Can PGA players use their phone?

While the PGA Tour has long had such zones, this is the first time the U.S. Open has allowed fans to bring their phones. They must keep them silenced outside the zones and are prohibited from taking pictures of golfers during play.Jun 20, 2015

How does technology affect golf?

Sensor technology has helped golfers in a variety of ways. Distance-measuring lasers* instantly inform golfers of the distance required for any shot with a simple point and click. Golfers can also use swing sensors as teaching aids. Swing sensors can attach to gloves or clubs and measure swing speed, tempo and angle.Oct 6, 2016

Is it OK to pee on a golf course?

Most professionals and many amateurs agree that urinating on the golf course should be reserved for near-emergencies, that going alfresco in the fescue should never be the easy option. Unless, that is, public urination is part of your personal code.Aug 18, 2014

What are examples of poor etiquette on the golf course?

Never throw a club, use profanity or sulk around the course. It's extremely bad etiquette. If you have a golf date, keep it. A last-minute decision to do chores or go shopping when you have agreed to play is disrespectful and show very poor manners.

Can you sneak your phone into the Masters?

Whether you're a Masters patron or a member of the media, you don't bring your mobile phone inside the gates at Augusta National Golf Club. It's not allowed, so don't try.Apr 9, 2017

Can you bring your phone into the Masters practice round?

The club strictly monitors the use of cellphones with a zero-tolerance policy. Anyone seen with a cellphone is removed from the grounds.Apr 7, 2022

What do you do with your masters at the phone?

Cell phones, beepers and other electronic devices are strictly prohibited on the grounds at all times. Cameras are strictly prohibited on Tournament days (Thursday - Sunday) but allowed on practice rounds days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday).

How often does golf technology change?

Every two years there are changes in design and technology. In the last ten years massive advances in golf balls, clubs, putters, and wedges have allowed us all to have a greater choice for a more enjoyable golfing experience.Jun 29, 2021

What is the first basic etiquette rule in golf?

Whatever your groups' unique rules are, make them clear and make sure everyone understands before you begin. There are several golf etiquette practices that are universal: Lowest score on the previous hole tees off first. Player furthest from the hole goes first.Jun 8, 2018

What technology does golf use?

The Technology

The most advanced system X-Golf offers is the NEX, which uses a combination of laser sensors, impact sensors and a high-speed spin camera to measure ball and club data at over 150,000 data points per second.
May 2, 2020

How long can you be separated from your phone on a golf course?

In an age where people cannot bear to be separated from their mobile for more than 10 minutes, phones on the golf course are a common sight.

Can you store a list of how far you hit each club?

It's perfectly fine to store a list of how far you hit each club, and you can look at it as often as you like.

Can you use your phone to analyse strokes?

Using your phone to analyse the strokes you've made during your current round is forbidden.

Is it okay to call home late?

Calling home to say you're stuck in the office and going to be home late is fine. Calling a swing coach to get some tips on tempo is not.

How to stop cell phone interruptions?

Alternatively, leave your cell phone at home, in your locker, or in your car. This is the best way to prevent cell phone interruptions or distractions—at least on your end (we can’t guarantee others will do the same). There are many mental and emotional health benefits to taking a break from your electronics and focusing on your surroundings.

Is it good to take a break from electronics?

There are many mental and emotional health benefits to taking a break from your electronics and focusing on your surroundings. The jarring ring of a cell phone, no matter how clever the ringtone might be, is enough to turn even the calmest of personalities into raging beasts after a botched swing.

Is there a phone etiquette in golf?

Mobile Phone Etiquette on the Golf Course. It’s no secret that the denizens of golf can be a stuffy bunch when they want to be. As golf evolved into a game for the more affluent, along with it came a series of rules of etiquette covering everything from what to wear to how loudly you can speak. While some rules arise from simple common sense (few ...

Why can't fans ditch their phones?

Some fans can’t ditch their phones for the day for fear of missing an important call or email; such is our modern world. Plus phones allow fans to communicate with each other, making meetups easier at the Tour’s sprawling layouts. Watching golf is social and should be enjoyed with friends.

What did Phil Mickelson say to Tim Finchem?

2012: During the first round at the Memorial, Phil Mickelson sent a text message to PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem from the 6th fairway making his belief clear that the policing of cell phones is severely lacking. Mickelson shoots seven-over 79 and withdraws after the round.

Is golf social?

Watching golf is social and should be enjoyed with friends. Furthermore, the ability to check leaderboards gives real-time context to what fans are watching. Let ‘em in! Doing so allows the attendees to relive the moment with their friends and families in real time and later on.

Why do golfers keep their phones with them?

They keep their phones with them when they play, usually in their bag or cart, and not only because of emergencies. They text friends, take pictures, answer emails and post the occasional selfie. Whatever inspires them in the moment. The golf course is still seen as a place to unplug, but increasingly it's a selective unplug instead of the full-scale disconnect it was not so long ago.

What are the downsides of having a smartphone?

One of the downsides of having a smartphone is that the potential for a damaging mistake is always at your fingertips. Gaffes happen to everyone, including those with a large audience and a household name. See what we mean ⇒

Why do people use smartphones?

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat—they're all opportunities for the world to signal their approval for whatever we're doing. "Smart phones can be psychologically rewarding and can reinforce behavior so we do it again," says Dr. Zaheer Hussain of the University of Derby in England, who has studied smartphone addiction. "It raises our self-esteem and makes us feel good about our actions."

What time of day is best for golf course photos?

This might be the most important element to taking a good golf-course photo. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times. That "golden light" will make colors more vibrant and the sky more dramatic, and the low angle of the light will produce shadows that help accentuate the contours of the course ( right ). Overcast conditions produce even lighting, and that's a great time to take portraits of your buddies. Without direct sunlight you'll avoid those harsh shadows. As for landscape shots, if you're playing Pebble Beach on a cloudy day, don't let the sky dominate the shot. Place it in the upper third of the frame.

How to get people to watch your swing?

Take lots of pictures, early and often. Instagramming, Tweeting, Snapchatting, Facebooking, Vining, whatever-ing—go for it, as long as you don't annoy your followers. There's nothing worse than one person bombarding everyone else's feeds. Asking somebody to video your swing is fine, but don't ask them more than twice a round. Gets annoying. Have fun filming other people's swings, too—just make sure to ask them before standing directly behind them with the camera. Also annoying.

Is golf course a place to unplug?

The golf course is still seen as a place to unplug, but increasingly it's a selective unplug instead of the full-scale dis connect it was not so long ago. When it comes to using smartphones on the course, what's acceptable and what's not is fluid, but it's starting to gravitate around certain values.

Can golfers use their phones on the course?

As our survey suggests, a lot of golfers are fine with using their phones on the course, provided it's not obtru sive to their playing partners. If our respondents support any kind of cellphone policy, it starts and ends with respecting the rules of the course you're playing and always keeping your phone on silent. And we at Golf Digest agree.

image

Use The Device For Matters Unrelated to Golf

Access Information Produced Prior to The Start of A Round

Access Information from Previous Rounds

Obtain Information Related to The Competition Being Played

Watch Or Listen to A Broadcast of The Competition You're Playing in

Use It to Calculate Effective Distances

  • It's okay for your phone to tell you that you have 152 yards to the pin (provided your committee has allowed the use of distance-measuring devices), but if it gives you a yardage factoring in slopes, wind, temperature or other factors, this is banned.
See more on todaysgolfer.co.uk