golf rules and iphones

[DavidFehertysBike]

I was watched the telecast for the PGA tournament yesterday. I caught one of the announcers saying something about you can get Phil Mickelson's short game dvd streamed directly to your iphone. If you were to use this and get a quick short game tip from Phil on your phone while playing a round, is that illegal?

[iacas]

  DavidFehertysBike said:

I was watched the telecast for the PGA tournament yesterday. I caught one of the announcers saying something about you can get Phil Mickelson's short game dvd streamed directly to your iphone. If you were to use this and get a quick short game tip from Phil on your phone while playing a round, is that illegal?

It's probably rude, but it's not illegal. You can take any previously printed stuff with you during the course of a round.

[Fourputt]

You just can't call Phil up and ask for specific advice.

[Gioguy21]

  Fourputt said:

You just can't call Phil up and ask for specific advice.

not like you'd want most of it the way he's playing hahaha

[Zeph]

Use the phone to look up USGA rules instead. Of course, it you are playing a casual round, nobody will care if you look at your phone for tips.

[Bullitt5339]

  Zeph said:

Use the phone to look up USGA rules instead. Of course, it you are playing a casual round, nobody will care if you look at your phone for tips.

Unless they're sitting there for 10 minutes waiting for you to finish looking up tips to make your shot.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I was thinking of it as some kind of tennis situation where you werent allowed to get outside coaching while playing. I would never whip out the little red book while im playing a round or something (lol) but i find it odd that there isnt some kind of rule agaist using that sort of direct advice during a round.

[iacas]

  DavidFehertysBike said:

I was thinking of it as some kind of tennis situation where you werent allowed to get outside coaching while playing. I would never whip out the little red book while im playing a round or something (lol) but i find it odd that there isnt some kind of rule agaist using that sort of direct advice during a round.

They'd have to prevent you from writing anything down during the round, and then you'd just be legalizing memorization versus not memorizing things... Advice recorded (written, etc.) before the round is not against the rules. It's a simple, blanket rule. Doesn't matter if you wrote it, your coach wrote it, etc.

If your instructor passes you a note in the middle of the round, that's illegal. The rule makes sense to me. Particularly since nobody ever abuses it. But it lets some people write a quick swing thought on their shoes or headcovers or whatever, or refer to their notes from previous times playing the course, etc. If you pull out a book, not only will you be seen as a tool, but you may come into conflict with pace of play rules.

[pittpanther]

  Fourputt said:

You just can't call Phil up and ask for specific advice.

But, if I can convince Phil to be my caddy, then indeed he CAN give me advice during the round? Yea or nay?

[Fourputt]

You work on that.... let us know how it turns out. If you can get Phil to carry your bag, then he can offer any advice to you that he wishes. Good luck with that.