Mobile Phones on Course...

[Scragger63]

Events during last week's Club round again brings me to post a question..

Mobile Phones...???

My Club President, who I had the pleasure of playing with in the first round of our Club Champ's last Saturday, always leaves his mobile phone on during any round he plays.

He is a busy business man, running a market garden and supplying goods to his many Customers and in each and every round I have played with him, he spends more time on the phone than he does actually playing golf....

Or so it seems...

When recently confronted, his wonderfully generous concession to the rest of the membership at he club is that at least now he turns it to silent before teeing off. However, that said, it remains annoying for the rest of his playing partners to try and keep tabs on him during a round, as he often wanders off into the trees during his many discussions, presumably to minimise any distractions.

I was marking his card during last weeks round and it drove me to distraction, the end result being that I completely blew a good score in 3-4 holes on the back 9.

So, to my question, short of asking to never play with him again, what can I do to keep my focus away from him and his phone and on my own golf game.

Cheers

[LowPost42]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

Never mark for him again?

[Neil18]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

I say confront him again and make sure he takes your confrontation seriously.

I don't mind people having their phones on. The games we play aren't the Masters or the Open, so a phone going off mid-backswing can actually be quite a funny event, when once in a blue moon!

Then again, I don't play golf with anybody who is consistently on their phone for the entire round. Maybe once or twice maximum, for 20 seconds is all I see, me included.

The guys I play with do their best to turn away and keep the noise down so it doesn't bother me.

As for the high flying exec you seem to encounter, I dare say that if he is so busy that he has to have telephone conversations on almost every hole, that he is too busy to be playing golf.

Tell him has to chose. He either turns his phone off for 4 hours and answers the calls when he's finished, gets a secretary, or doesn't play golf until his work is done.

It sounds disrespectful to me. It's like he's not reeally out there getting to know his playing partners and enjoying the experience. It seems like golf is a necessary fashion accessory to him, rather than the game we all see it as. He has to respect everyone more. And as for him being club president, I am willing to venture a guess that he has more money than awareness, and less true friends than Fred West.

Sopunds to me like he's extracting the urine a little.

[cyc53870]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

Maybe a litle betting will make those celfone golfers concentrate on the game... Say a $10 Nassau and/or a couple of bucks a hole, etc.

[LowPost42]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

Neil, I think you've said a mouthful. I used to play with a guy who would leave his cellphone on - he was starting a new business, and wanted to stay in contact with his people.

I more or less said to him "if you're too busy to shut the phone off for 2 hours (we play a 9 hole course), you're likely too busy to golf". He contemplated this for a while then I said "What is so important that it can't wait 2 hours? If it's that important, should you be away from your laptop anyway?"

He doesn't leave his phone on anymore. He checks it at the turn if we play 18 (as I do), but no more phones going off and waiting for him to finish a conversation before hitting a shot.

[Curtmay]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

These guys need to review the "work / life balance" principle. The two hours (or more) on course is for our fun and relaxation, not concluding business deals!

[Spiffo]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

I put mine on silent and check at the turn in case of emergencies or messages from the wife (well she is letting me away for 4-5 hours at a time).

I dont even mind folks on the phone if they make it quick and ensure play is not held up, but if you are waiting on the tee while someone ahead is on the phone, then look out Im coming through!!



The best part of being on the course is to escape work and enjoy the game without disruptions.

[klaymon]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

I keep mine on in case of a home emergency (I have a 2 year old). Otherwise, the wife and most other people know not to call me on Sunday mornings since I'm on the course. I've never had it ring on the course, but I still feel better knowing that my family can reach me in the event of a major problem.

[ogallalabob]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

My Brother In Law would arrive 15-30 minutes late, talk on the phone every other hole and is mad that he is no longer invited to play. Personally I think it shows a respect to your playing partners. i.e my time is more valuable then yours. I can waste 30 minutes to an hour of your time while you wait for me to arive and handle phone calls whne I should be playing.

[bruin]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

our golf club has a ban on mobile phones , both on the course and in the club house.most people comply but there's always the odd idiot who can't read or think's he's above such rulings.
if it's a life or death call, why are you playing golf?
a bit like drivers that use phones, cinema goers that use phones , restuarants , etc etc
personally i hate the bloody things, can't you tell .... lol

[arcartist]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

I personally don't want to play with people with cell phones. I don't know about you guys but I use golf as therapy. I takes me 5 hours to play 18...I ain't that good...but in that five hours I am in the land of golf. It's a real good place for me to be. I let everything go and all I think about is my game and how nice it is to be a part of the course...well...and how am I going to smack this ball back to the fairway through those trees. I golf with two buddies of like mind. We have had others with us like your friend but we never played with them again. With all the krap I take in life with the job and the "little woman"...golf is mine and I'm gonna have it my way.

[vp27519]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

Hi Scragger,

May I suggest a letter be written to the committee to the Attn of the Captain.

Request a local rule be added to the board prohibiting the use of mobile phones on course - now I did say 'use'. So there is no problems still carrying it.

I recently played in an event where it was stipulated mobile phones could not be used.

I have my phone with me. I have it on silent. One reason, in case on emergency - my two wonderful little boys.

It has already been said - don't mark his card. Then you don't have to worry about what he is up to.

Nickers

[Scragger63]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

Hi Scragger,

May I suggest a letter be written to the committee to the Attn of the Captain.

Request a local rule be added to the board prohibiting the use of mobile phones on course - now I did say 'use'. So there is no problems still carrying it.

I recently played in an event where it was stipulated mobile phones could not be used.

I have my phone with me. I have it on silent. One reason, in case on emergency - my two wonderful little boys.

It has already been said - don't mark his card. Then you don't have to worry about what he is up to.

Nickers

I like it a LOT.....!!!!

[vp27519]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

Now I can't be precise Scragger but I have read something within the past year or two about phones and the course. Get onto Golf Aust website and have a suizzy taylor - something about the wording of the local rule.

The word 'use' should be written in it. Carriage should never be an issue, ie, medical emergency or alike.

Good hitting tomorrow. Cream the ........

[Scragger63]

Re: Mobile Phones on Course...

still love it. Have written the letter. Will also write to VGA & VGL for poss draft wordings.. Thanks again for the thoughts Nickers... Cheers...