Re: Cellphone Use on the course

[Ems]

I'm curious to see what the numbers are to QB's question.

[Mok]

hey for those of you who voted "no" can you guys explain, i'm curious, maybe i'm doing something impolite...

[Focker Singh]

hey for those of you who voted "no" can you guys explain, i'm curious, maybe i'm doing something impolite...

Its an unwritten rule for golf etiquette. Though many people do it, doesn't mean its accepted. There's a grey area to this. I think its ok to talk on the phone away from the play or in between holes and to make sure its a short and to the point call. I hate hearing casual conversations. Above all, I don't like hearing phones ring or people talking as I or others are about to hit the ball or putt. In a higher end private clubs, you are NOT allowed to have cell phones on the course. Hope this helps you out.

[Mok]

but the question was Is it ok to carry and use cellphones (discreetly) on the course? emphasis on discreetly...

[Ego Woods]

but the question was Is it ok to carry and use cellphones (discreetly) on the course? emphasis on discreetly...
carry a phone on silent or vibrate is ok....using it with friends you're comfortable with is ok too......use it in front of ppl that u just met on the course....BAD ETIQUETTE!.....u never know how casual these new players are regarding cellphone use, so it's better to see what tolerance they have first.....

if it's a work related function it maybe different cuz golf might be part of your work! ;)

[Ems]

Yeah, the reason why I wanted a poll was because I carry my cell phone just in case. I think Egowood's right about it depending on WHO you play with. If it's your own friends and they're not the anal type (Focker) than it should be ok if you're careful not to talk when they're about to hit the next ball. Definitely a No at work golf functions!

I know I'll be a lot more conscious of the cell phone. So if you see me using a phone with you guys, it means I think you're friends ;)

[Queen of the Beach]

hmm well I think this is shaping up to be a great debate. I think discreet use is ok as long as the cell is on silent mode and you are not carrying on a long conversation while using it. But I am still iffy on whether your phone should be left on vibrate mode. I remember one time when I left my phone on vibrate mode and I could hear it vibrating as I was putting. The bag was over 20 feet away and I could hear it! It was a definite distraction for me! Thank goodness it wasn't vibrating when someone else was putting or even worse teeing off. I would have felt very bad. :o

[Hoz-ay]

I had to have my phone on vibrate during my rounds this year... my pregnant wife would have not let me play otherwise. I think its up the the groups discretion. Plus someone with a cell phone on vibrate should ALWAYS let his group know.

[Mok]

I had to have my phone on vibrate during my rounds this year... my pregnant wife would have not let me play otherwise. I think its up the the groups discretion. Plus someone with a cell phone on vibrate should ALWAYS let his group know.
that is definitely a legitimate excuse.

[malarky]

During a round, my cell phone is on vibrate in my back pocket, and my blackberry is on silent in my golf bag.

My preference would be to be not distracted from being out on the course, or to distract others. But, I think like many of us, need to be accessible for family or business. I won't make calls out as a rule, but if I see my wife's # or my boss's #, I will take it discreetly or call back at the appropriate time. Usually those two will know I'm out on the golf course any way :)

[Milestones]

I'm a pretty guilty offender in this area. I'm on call pretty much all the time so I keep my phone on. I've actually played a couple of holes when I was on the phone. talk... shoot... talk... shoot... talk... throws club at bird...

[Ego Woods]

I had to have my phone on vibrate during my rounds this year... my pregnant wife would have not let me play otherwise. I think its up the the groups discretion. Plus someone with a cell phone on vibrate should ALWAYS let his group know.
You play golf while your pregnant wife is in pain giving birth to your child?? :D

[Ego Woods]

Like malarky said.....if you have to have your cellphone with you....it still should be on silent.....vibrate is ok, if the noise is not really audible when in your bag!:p .......users of cellphones just have to be diligent in checking missed calls every hole or every other hole...and finding the right time to return the call.....I think this is just a way to respect the other players who are in the middle of their shots....

[Ems]

Sounds like most people find it acceptable depending on the group you play with. If it's a group who frowns on keeping the phone/blackberry on (vibrate or otherwise) either leave it home or dont play in that foursome.

Otherwise, in a foursome that doesn't mind the use of these gadgets, the proper etiquette is to keep it on vibrate and to also inform the rest of the players what you have on.

[mikejb]

I would have to think that the course/ event you are playing in greatly effects the etiquite.

If you are playing in a tournment full of stock brookers/ real estate agents/ doctors. The cell phones and crackberries are going to be going off every where. It is barley okay during those type of events, and you will always see everyone put the unit on silent. Those events also tend to lead to 5 + hour rounds, so standing on the tee chatting is okay.

When I am out for a round of golf by blackberry is on silent. I may keep it in the cart shelf, and occasionaly check to see what I have missed, only when riding. When I am walking. They all stay in the car. Just my $0.02.

[Queen of the Beach]

Welcome to the Forum mikejb. Wow I never knew that rounds go on for over 5 hours. My friends and I (even girls) usually finish a round within 4 and 1/2 max.

So do you play golf with stockbrokers/real estate agents/ doctors a lot? Which courses do you play at?

[mikejb]

That you for the welcome Queen. I have played with all sorts of folks. I do tend to be at tournments with Commercial Real Estate agents and stock brokers. I teed off in one shot gun tournment that last almost 6 hours.
I have also played a round of golf by myself in about 2 and half hours also. I typically play at some of the courses in Muskoka and Collingwood on the weekends and some of the private courses around Toronto during the week when I can bug some buddies into taking me out. My favorite place to play though is out in PEI. God it is great out there.

[noback]

IMO a cellphone is ok as long as you dont abuse it or like others have said before, carry on long conversations as if you were at home or the office.

I have mine with me during my rounds, as I am self employed but need to be reachable at all times. I have high expectations of proper etiquette and never have it on ring mode. It is away in my bag on vibrate or even silence. I check it every couple of holes and if need be a make a call away from the others.
Again the key is PROPER etiquette goes a long way. :D

[i002399]

It's not just YOUR foursome you need to worry about... it's the guys at the next tee, the next fairway, etc. Nothing like seeing a bunch of "free-range cubical rats" :eek: all reach for their cellphones while they walk from the 17th to a backed up 18th tee because "THEIR" group isnt teeing off for 6-8 minutes.

Chances are, you aren't that important. The call can wait until the turn. Otherwise, perhaps you should be tending to important matters instead of golfing (big biz deal, dying mother, pregnant wife ready to pop, brother getting parole .... whatever)...

It's funny that quite often, the same guy who talks on his phone on the course is the first baby to cry if someone makes some noise in their backswing or talks while they are setting up a shot.

Ask yourself:
Have you ever had to apologize to someone that you didn't know on the course for mobile noise (ring or conversation)? If so, you're an inconsiderate jerk - go back to the office.

Great forum by the way, and fun topic...
Roach

[McBogey]

I voted NO, I would not want to disturb anyone elses golf game over a lousy phone call, as I wouldnt want it done to me, specially if I have to wait for you to hit while you are on the phone, that would piss anyone off.

[McBogey]

But I`ll tell ya what, if queen of the beach called anyone of my playing partners, It would be allowed ;)

[KaiShin]

Carrying a cell phone and answering your macarena-ringing cell phone while on a tee box watching your friends tee off and then having a ten minute long discussion about what pants should be taken to the dry cleaners and what pants should not be taken are two totally different things.

Mine's always in my bag, on silent, just because I don't want to leave it in the car. People know not to call me on the course, because a) I won't answer, and b) if I do answer and someone isn't dead or dying I'm going to tear their ears off.

[hammer]

Like everyone else as long as they are all on vibrate. If you need to talk on your phone I find its better to do it walking down a fairway since there will generally be fewer people around to piss off. Greens and tees I find are generally close together so people will hear. The chances of being near someone in another group walking down a fairway is a lot less I find. If I can hear both your phone ring and you talking on it thats just wrong.

[iyell4]

bring the phone ... turn the ringer and vibrate-mode off but leave it powered ON ... let the messages go to your voice-mail ... if you must, must, must stay in touch ... flip your phone open after putting out on every hole to see if someone left you a message and retrieve that message if left. this way, it inconveniences nobody ... well except perhaps the caller.

[Grass Roots Tour]

If your phone rings in my group in a tournament, you're gonna hear about it. Otherwise, as in a day to day round, I don't care. I bring my 3 & 6 year old to ride in the cart with my posse and they don't care so how can I complain about a phone?

[AnnikaFan]

u can bring kids on the golf course (i'm assuming they are not playing and did not pay green fees)?!?! :eek:

i thought all golf courses does not allow non-payers to go on the course

[iyell4]

u can bring kids on the golf course (i'm assuming they are not playing and did not pay green fees)?!?! :eek:

i thought all golf courses does not allow non-payers to go on the course
that is USUALLY the case ... does not apply when you are the owner or one of the managing partners of said Golf & Country Club.

[DubRepublic]

I keep mine in my bag but always on silent. This weekend I forgot to put it on silent and it rang. I scrambled as fast as I could to find it and turn it off. Steve was about to hit and I felt like a complete idiot.

Won't make that mistake again.

[TpBoomer]

I bring my cell all the time, I just always have it set to be silent if it rings. I'll look at it about 2 or 3 times per round and always between holes and will also only use it between holes. Nothing more annoying then to be playing with someone who is talking on their phone throughout their round.

[Greywolf]

I leave mine in the car, a personal choice. I do not like to see them on the course, the ringing would not bother me but I think there is certainly a possibility that golfers using cell phones may slow down the pace of play. There are times when the game of golf is much too slow, the use of cell phones may make it slower.