Do You Play with a Phone in Your Pocket?

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Rkrider99 said:

It's on my desk at home. Cell phones don't belong on the golf course.

Others responded before I could, but absolutely: emergencies and just basic communication with your wife, or child, or whatever… are important too.

[Swooshgolf]

1 hour ago, Rkrider99 said:

It's on my desk at home. Cell phones don't belong on the golf course.

Does it really matter if you have a phone on course? Or is it more about using it and annoying other people? I have children and a wife. I do love golf but there are a few things I would place before that.

[Rkrider99]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

Others responded before I could, but absolutely: emergencies and just basic communication with your wife, or child, or whatever… are important too.

Well, I guess it's just the old fart in me and cell phones. I just can't understand how we, as a civilization, made it this far without cell phones stuck to our ears for most of the day.

I do see the advantage in case of emergencies, but if the wife can't leave me alone for a couple of hours, I guess I should just stay home. We can discuss what we're going to have for dinner when I get home from the course.

[colin007]

Keeping your cell phone in your pocket is as weird as playing with a watch on. 

#lookingatyouphil

[iacas]

16 minutes ago, Rkrider99 said:

Well, I guess it's just the old fart in me and cell phones. I just can't understand how we, as a civilization, made it this far without cell phones stuck to our ears for most of the day.

I'm not gonna belabor the point too much, but "we, as a civilization, made it this far without indoor plumbing…" at one point too.

16 minutes ago, Rkrider99 said:

I do see the advantage in case of emergencies, but if the wife can't leave me alone for a couple of hours, I guess I should just stay home. We can discuss what we're going to have for dinner when I get home from the course.

And if it takes two hours to make the dinner, or you are coordinating your date night later, or what movie you want to see, or who is picking up your child and where, or… countless other things?

At the end of the day it's quite possible to keep your cell phone nearby without making it a distraction.

[TN94z]

I voted no. I do not play with my phone in my pocket because it drives me nuts to have stuff in my pocket while playing, other than some tees. But I do keep the phone nearby in case someone needs to get in touch with me about an emergency or something.

[RayG]

In my pocket? It's not even in the cart or in my bag. I leave it in the car. I have my Izzo 4000 for yardages. I'm playing to get away from distractions. There is enough of that in my actual golf game in the first place. 

[Rkrider99]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

I'm not gonna belabor the point too much, but "we, as a civilization, made it this far without indoor plumbing…" at one point too.

...

And based on seeing the guys behind trees and bushes on the golf course, I think some people aren't aware that we have indoor plumbing.

But, take a cell phone away from people and you have raving lunatics within a short amount of time.

I'm not trying to start any arguments. I'm just one of those people that see very limited needed or required use of cellphones.

[Zengolfer]

Nope.  If I walk, its in a pocket in the bag and if I ride, its in the cubby on the cart.

[Chasing_Bogeys]

YES - I use it for yardages. I use it to keep score. I may use it to track club yardages at some point in the future. I keep it muted (not even on vibrate) so that it's not a distraction. On occasion I have to send/receive a text or two during a round, but other than yardages and possibly photo ops I use it as little as humanly possible during a round.

 

[nevets88]

14/47 > 25%

More than my initial guess so far. 😜

[NJpatbee]

No.  Usually in the cart or bag if I am walking, always muted.  I have had one occasion where a player in our foursome took a serious fall and I called the club house and they got an ambulance to come to us.  I check the phone once or twice over 18 holes and have used it if we decide to play another 9 to call my wife and let her know that the course is all backed up so I will be late.

[bkuehn1952]

In my bag. Turned off if I am playing a tournament and left on most other times.  It is a "burner" flip phone so no apps to use.

[SteveH]

Always in my pocket but ringer off. Nice to have for emergencies. You never know when you or someone could need help, I'm thinking along the lines of a medical emergency, not ordering a sandwich at the half way point, lol

[sjduffers]

Yup, I have mine, usually in silent mode (unless I forget), in my front left pocket, at all times. I use it to keep my scores and track my steps. It's not unusual to have to wait a bit on slow groups, so I may use it in those times too.

I now sort of feel naked if my phone is not in that front left pocket!  Btw, when I got my first one, many years ago, and phones were only good to make phone calls and you had to conserve precious minutes, I used to turn it off (as in power off) unless I needed to place a call. My wife regularly got on my case for that... rightfully so. LOL.

Edited January 27, 2019 by sjduffers

[Buckeyebowman]

On occasion I will bring it along in the cart, set on vibrate. for emergency use only. My BIL and I were hunting in SE Ohio when my phone went off. It was my Brother calling to let me know our Mom had been taken to the hospital, and I needed to get home. So, I can see the need.

My buddy's Son is the other end of the spectrum. He is absolutely addicted to Facebook! He has his nose stuck in that phone between every shot. I just try to ignore it.

[Mr Puddle]

I keep my phone in the pocket of my bag. I will answer it only depending on who I am playing with, but to be honest I don't get many calls.

[ghalfaire]

I voted NO.  While I understand the need for emergency communications, people who use their phone on the course for "important business" annoy me.  I know my phone can be set to accept only messages marked "urgent" while I'm on the course and I suspect most can be set this way.  My phone can all be set to only accept calls from specific people in your phone book.