PGA Tour Player Cell Phone Policy

[AP2 712]

Is there one? What is it?

So with the fall series running against college football and NFL football, I am left to wonder...
Does the PGA Tour have an on course policy for players using cell phones on the course? If so, what is it? I obviously never see them taking out a phone to make a call but what about using it for data to check a score? Is that allowed? I also know that many clubs prohibit cell phone use on the course do these local rules apply to them?

Even though I know these guys are out there grinding for their card/career, do they follow the scores of their alma matter or the favorite NFL team in round?

[indygolfer72]

There is a zero tolerance policy for cell phones on tour. Players are supposed to turn them off during the round and leave them off. Players who are caught using cell phones during a round for any reason are automatically dq'ed. As you may know spectators are also prohibited from bringing phones onto the course. If there is some sort of family emergency the tour does allow the use of pagers, but that is rare. Not to mention I doubt anyone on tour would even want to check sports scores in the middle of the round. Cell phones in general are a huge distraction. This rule is basically the same in all amateur tournaments.

[xxio]

Do pagers even still exist?

[AP2 712]

I'm sure there are some rather big sports fans on tour. I was curious how they dealt with wanting to know scores while on the course if at all.

[pga43]

[quote name='adam62482' timestamp='1287876854' post='2756102']
I'm sure there are some rather big sports fans on tour. I was curious how they dealt with wanting to know scores while on the course if at all.
[/quote]


I've seen a few players ask the TV camera guys or the roving TV reporters for updates on scores,


Greg

[Jimbud]

[quote name='pga43' timestamp='1287877025' post='2756104']
[quote name='adam62482' timestamp='1287876854' post='2756102']
I'm sure there are some rather big sports fans on tour. I was curious how they dealt with wanting to know scores while on the course if at all.
[/quote]


I've seen a few players ask the TV camera guys or the roving TV reporters for updates on scores,


Greg
[/quote]

Yep, I've listened to Couples talk scores with a NBC crew while waiting on a tee box.

[tgard]

There is a zero tolerance policy for cell phones on tour. Players are supposed to turn them off during the round and leave them off. Players who are caught using cell phones during a round for any reason are automatically dq'ed.


Does the same rule exist on the European Tour?

[scotchblade]

[quote name='Jimbud' timestamp='1287879466' post='2756158']
Yep, I've listened to Couples talk scores with a NBC crew while waiting on a tee box.
[/quote]
The good, old fashioned way. It worked before the damn things existed, it works now.

Turn it off when playing golf!

[Hateto3Putt]

Do pagers even still exist?

 

A restaurant gave me one last night to let me know when my table was ready!

 

[jaskanski]

[quote name='tgard' timestamp='1289142975' post='2778662']
There is a zero tolerance policy for cell phones on tour. Players are supposed to turn them off during the round and leave them off. Players who are caught using cell phones during a round for any reason are automatically dq'ed.


Does the same rule exist on the European Tour?
[/quote]


Yes it does.
Because there is no way to tell the nature of any information the player may or may not be receiving during a phone call (or text), it must be assumed the worst case scenario and treated as a breach of the rules. Hence phones are not permitted.

[hogans71]

[quote name='xxio' timestamp='1287876666' post='2756098']
Do pagers even still exist?
[/quote]

Not everywhere...

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX73FP1ks20"]YouTube - Checking in at Caesar's Hangover[/url]

[tobybear]

I know that faxon and a couple other guys got in some hot water either last year or the year before in the fall when, while waiting on a tee deck during a back-up they checked football scores on their phones. The players had made the cut but were not in contention when it happened. Not sure what the outcome was but I remember the story.

BTW- every time I have met brad faxon at the canadian open he is awesome and is always more then happy to stop and chat. I know that people always say that he is good for saying thanks to tournament organizers and volunteers and this year i saw it first hand as a photographer during the Canadian open. Class act guy all the way, and also a regular joe who wants to check football scores

[ballcards23]

I know our Pga Section Events don't allow cell phones. DQ if you are caught.

[ShortGameGod]

So, 10+ years later, what is a touring pro or his caddie, say on the PGA tour, allowed to do to get information about the course and competition during his round?

 

Is he allowed to watch a TV broadcast about the tournament using his phone?

 

Is he allowed to check the leaderboard on his phone?

 

Is he allowed to ask a cameraman or a spectator about the leaderboard?

 

Is he allowed to ask a cameraman or a spectator about if many players has come up short on the tee shot on a par 3?

 

Other aspects I haven't thought of?

[NMBob]

Interesting how things change.

 

Just a few years ago in a usga rules briefing, the basic  usga rule did not ban phones, because of the phones use to check for dangerous weather.   In well run tournaments such as the tours, they have large overheads watching out for them and fans.  If some local club still has a club rule banning phones, seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen when someone gets hit by lightening.   Heck now phones are used by players to post scores to an internet web scoring site after every hole at our high school tournaments.   ( edit:  and the USGA now has its own GPS phone app)

Edited September 18, 2022 by NMBob

[FriedEgg]

On 10/23/2010 at 3:34 PM, AP2 712 said:

I'm sure there are some rather big sports fans on tour. I was curious how they dealt with wanting to know scores while on the course if at all.
 

 

if its that important, the wife, girl friend or a specially appointed entourage member feeds the player that info

[Titleist99]

I would think that with the popularity of sports betting the use of cell phones would be prohibited due to the possibility of manipulation. IMO

[m d g]

If you're using your cell phone for anything other than yardages, you're not doing it right...

[Kenbone]

I would think the tour doesn't want them checking out WRX for tips from the best players in the game!!!

[Double Mocha Man]

18 hours ago, ShortGameGod said:

Other aspects I haven't thought of?

 

Asking a cameraman for swing advice... or does he look more handsome with sunlight on the right side or left side of his face...

[golfortennis]

8 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

I would think that with the popularity of sports betting the use of cell phones would be prohibited due to the possibility of manipulation. IMO

 

I know a big concern that was brought up was if you're on site,  are you aware of something happening before someone watching on TV?  Can you place a bet on something you know happened but the viewer doesn't?

 

A lot of crazy stuff can happen, and it would seem the phones can make it happen even easier. 

 

But I don't know how you ban them. 

[grm24]

18 hours ago, FriedEgg said:

 

if its that important, the wife, girl friend or a specially appointed entourage member feeds the player that info

Well done. A reply to a nearly 12 year old post to someone who is no longer a WRX member. 🤣

[FriedEgg]

6 hours ago, grm24 said:

Well done. A reply to a nearly 12 year old post to someone who is no longer a WRX member. 🤣

 

better late than never 😁

[Robert72]

Actually, the best story I've heard about cell phones on the course was when...<chirp, chirp>....sorry, I've got to take this.

[golfandfishing]

13 hours ago, golfortennis said:

 

I know a big concern that was brought up was if you're on site,  are you aware of something happening before someone watching on TV?  Can you place a bet on something you know happened but the viewer doesn't?

 

A lot of crazy stuff can happen, and it would seem the phones can make it happen even easier. 

 

But I don't know how you ban them. 

Are you talking about players placing bets or spectators?   I would imagine pga tour players are not allowed to place bets on their sport.  
 

Spectators at tour events can use cell phones for many years now. It won’t be long and there will be kiosks and probably even hospitality tents with live betting on the course. NFL and MLB have on site betting. NBA probably too but I don’t know. Augusta is the only place I know of that doesn’t allow spectator cell phones.

[golfortennis]

46 minutes ago, golfandfishing said:

Are you talking about players placing bets or spectators?   I would imagine pga tour players are not allowed to place bets on their sport.  
 

Spectators at tour events can use cell phones for many years now. It won’t be long and there will be kiosks and probably even hospitality tents with live betting on the course. NFL and MLB have on site betting. NBA probably too but I don’t know. Augusta is the only place I know of that doesn’t allow spectator cell phones.

 

Spectators.  The other sports you mention, are pretty much on TV live as it happens, so there is no real advantage as being on site for gambling.

 

But golf....  "while we were away", or "while that was going on"... heck, how many times do we see a guy hole a putt to get to -6, when the live scoreboard in the corner shows he has already made it?  How does that work?

[Double Mocha Man]

4 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

 

Spectators.  The other sports you mention, are pretty much on TV live as it happens, so there is no real advantage as being on site for gambling.

 

But golf....  "while we were away", or "while that was going on"... heck, how many times do we see a guy hole a putt to get to -6, when the live scoreboard in the corner shows he has already made it?  How does that work?

 

When I was a teenager I invited a friend over on Sunday to watch a preseason NFL football game. It was a rerun from the night before but Larry didn't know that. I already knew the final score and made a wager with him. Of course, I won the bet. But I 'fessed up and never collected.

[JetSpeed79]

🚨Thread drift alert🚨

 

Not Tour related but cell phones have been great for the Am game. For those of us old enough to have played before and after - I really don’t miss the days of hunting for sprinkler heads for yardages (only to find one and then no yardage printed on it). 
 

I get all my yardages from an app these days (like everyone). I play first light rounds early in the mornings with a regular group. We go out in twosomes or threesomes and typically play in 2 to 2 ½ hours. A big part of that is rolling up to your ball and having reliable yardages within a couple of seconds. Pure magic. 

[Double Mocha Man]

2 minutes ago, JetSpeed79 said:

🚨Thread drift alert🚨

 

Not Tour related but cell phones have been great for the Am game. For those of us old enough to have played before and after - I really don’t miss the days of hunting for sprinkler heads for yardages (only to find one and then no yardage printed on it). 
 

I get all my yardages from an app these days (like everyone). I play first light rounds early in the mornings with a regular group. We go out in twosomes or threesomes and typically play in 2 to 2 ½ hours. A big part of that is rolling up to your ball and having reliable yardages within a couple of seconds. Pure magic. 

 

Didn't Bobby Jones have that on his cell phone, through T-Mobile? 

 

Okay, okay... the good side of technology.  Though I have a friend, who in the winter when it's cart paths only, will walk across an entire fairway to gauge the yardage with his mobile device, then walk all the way back to the cart to select his club.  Ugh...

[JetSpeed79]

4 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Didn't Bobby Jones have that on his cell phone, through T-Mobile? 

Bobby was famously with Cricket Wireless. I still believe this cost him at least three Majors.