Just a note about a non story: This last weekend, the Wyndham Championship permitted fans to carry their cell phones on the course and as far as I can tell, nothing happened. I’ve been looking on the interwebs for a story about a golfer who lost the tournament because a phone went off at the wrong time. Or even about a golfer who felt it cost him second … or third.
Perhaps my Google-Fu has failed me, but I’m coming up short. Lesson for the PGA Tour: keep up with the times. There’s no need to annoy spectators—or potential spectators—by banning the devices which have for many become a permanent appendage.
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I could not disagree with you more on this. First, I’ve been to tournaments where people have smuggled in cell phones and they do go off. Just because this didn’t cost someone the tournament (this time) doesn’t mean it’s not rude. I don’t even bring my cell phone when playing a round.
If anything, playing or watching golf should be a brief respite from the 24/7 connectivity that so much of us are used to. In fact, it’s one of the best things about golf: spending a day outside, contemplating our place in the game and the universe. Why do we need to have cell phones on the course? What possible benefit do you think it bring spectators other than it pacifies there anxiety of not having a constant attachment to the outside world?
Lesson for the GolfBlogger: The game was invented before cell phones and we should respect both that and the fact that the men out there are competing as part of their livelihood. “Keeping up with the times” is not substantially related to an important interest of the PGA Tour.
I actually don’t like the things. I have one, but it’s nearly always off. But I think they’re a part of life right now for a majority of people. The Tour could develop a series of smartphone apps that will let people more closely follow the action while they’re on the course.
Now that I agree with. At the U.S. Opens I have been to, American Express loans out mini-tv’s and these other mobile-type devices so you can follow the action on the course. However, there are far too few to go around. By the back 9 on Sunday, people start crowding around the individuals who have one to see what’s going on elsewhere on the course. So that makes sense to me.
But then again, you’re always going to miss out when you attend a live golf event. There’s sort of a trade off when attending a golf tournament in person. On the one hand, it’s great to be there seeing it live. On the other hand, unlike every other sport, the action is taking place in 18 different places at once. So you’ll never get the full picture. If you want that, it’s better to stay home and watch on TV.
I had one of those AmEx devices at the PGA Championship a couple of years ago. VERY COOL.