PGA Cell Phone Policy Experiencing Growing Pains
by Adam Fonseca on Jan 29, 2011 1:03 PM EST
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PrintIn July 2010, the PGA Tour enacted a type of “trial run” on allowing fans the opportunity to bring cell phones into a professional Tour event, the Wyndham Championship. The only stipulations that tournament officials asked of fans was to keep their devices on silent mode and calls made only in designated areas around the course. Furthermore, fans were not allowed to take pictures or video during the four competitive rounds.
At the time Wyndham tournament director Mark Brazil, a member of the PGA Tour tournament advisory council, suggested that he fielded complaints from fans who were out of touch with their families and businesses when not allowed to have their cell devices while attending the tournament. Thus, Brazil and his group decided to allow the use of phones during the event with a confidence that tournament security and volunteers would monitor fan usage.
"People are going to sneak (phones) in anyways, somehow get them in. It's adults. I feel like if you let them actually bring them out there, they'll probably respect the fact that you let them have it and actually go use those (designated) areas a lot more," he said. "People appreciate the fact that you're not treating them like a 10-year-old: 'You're not responsible enough to do this.' They're actually letting them have it, and just say, 'Please, just be respectful of play.' I think people will do that, for the most part. I really do."
Fast forward to this week’s Farmers Insurance Open. As Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard explains, the Tour is still attempting to attract new fans that may have been turned off by the cell phone ban in years past. However, a mere four Tour events into the “experiment”, the new cell phone policy is experiencing growing pains.
On Friday of the Farmers Insurance Open tournament officials confiscated 13 cell phones from fans who were watching the Tiger Woods grouping… on the first hole.
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13 phones spread out over some 30-40,000 spectators – not too bad.
Besides, you don’t think a bunch of dope smokin’ Californikators are going to all behave well, do you ? :-D
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
Court...you forgot to explain
that these great unwashed is from the land of Fruits and Nuts….STUB
STUB
I accually liked California
It’s not all bad. Yes, i was in the earthquake of ’71 and the race riots were not far away years earlier…but, the beaches were fantastic and the greatest basketball team , the Lakers are there !
As a native Californian, let me say that
most of the “fruits & nuts” come from other parts of the USA, we only grow avocados……
and by the way, it’s January and I’ve been playing golf all month in 70 degree weather!
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again
-R. Zimmerman
Yeah, Yeah....70° all month, but
when you guys go bankrupt, you’ll have to adjust that thermostat to normal levels and have real winters like the rest of us…..:)
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS...until February 6th....get over it!....WHO DAT!......:)
I hate the Lakers!!!!!......:)
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS...until February 6th....get over it!....WHO DAT!......:)
what do you mean "when?"
The idiots in Sacramento don’t realize it, but we’re already there…..
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again
-R. Zimmerman
Hey Gnossos...Give it a little time..OL JERRY BROWN
he of the give it all away leaning…He’ll splain it to ya….STUB
STUB
OlL Jerry, is the one who started the whole mess
with the unions, etc., etc., etc., etc…………………….
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again
-R. Zimmerman
I could see this California thing coming....
The ball is in your court……Court….
When do we Nuke 'em?
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again
-R. Zimmerman
No cell phones allowed at the WM Open this week according to their web site – but they do have free call centers on site.
And no purses, bags, or fanny packs more than 6″×6″×6″?? WHAT?
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
$5 word of the day....
“holliganism”! Loved it! I will try to use it again sometime today. I’m babysitting my 2 1/2 year old nieces tonight so it shouldn’t be too hard :-)
Plane leaves at 9am tomorrow!
I measured my purse – it’s 7′×1″×9″…I’m taking my chances because that’s all I’ve got to bring!
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Terribly disappointed that
Matt Kuchar won’t be there, so now I’m checking out Tom Lehman, Tim Herron (MN guys!) and I’d like to see Bubba, Phil, Kenny Perry and Nick Watney…oh and I’d like to see Dustin Johnson hit a few drives. :-)
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
a purse that is one inch thick ?
Did you get the tickets squared away ? I was going to try to help out, but never heard back the other day.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
Very envious
Any chance of a first hand report?
Lovely that Court & Ping are so interested in the size of your purse, isn’t it? What colour is it – they’re dying to know ;o)
Nada Fan or Golfer
Eh, Adam F….No cell phones on course be it fan or golfer. Exceptions? Only if there is a very, very special exceptional need. A specific; Physician and then maybe. For sure no Real Estate dudes and dudettes or legal beagles.
Phones at a memebers course is ok
if they are switched off. But the can save lives when a golfer has a heart attack or something far out on the course. Touraments ? They should be left off.
Where are we without mobile phones?
A hell of a lot more peaceful. 10 or 15 years ago, they were a novelty. We can live without the damn things for 5 hours… can’t we?
Pre Cell Phones
Eh, chip n’putt….You’re right. What did we do before their invention? Talked to persons in your group, concentrated on your next shot, and took time to look around and enjoy the ambiance. One of the first things I do when I play with new people is ask if anyone has a cell phone and if so I ask politely if they would turn it off not on vibrate….OFF. I had a situation a few years ago when the “novelty” was the thing and I’m standing on the seventh tee and this guys cell goes off as I’m standing over my tee shot. I step off the ball, wait till he completes his call, and ask him to turn off his phone. He says no way. I looked at the other two players and said adios boys I’m heading in to touch base with the Golf Shop to see if I can get out with another group. Stunned silence. I pick up my sticks, head for the clubhouse and about 100 yards away I hear these guys calling my name and waving me back. The other two convinced Mr. Cell Phone to turn it off. He did. We’ve not played in a group since nor does he initiate conversation and I see him often at the course. His feelings and manhood were hurt. Tough.
That's happened on our course
I was charging off to the clubhouse in just such an emergency when a doctor playing behind us calmly phoned for an ambulance and got the clubhouse to send out a cart for the clubs, etc.
Please tell us he called for the ambulance first…unless it was a Wednesday, of course. :-D
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
Well, he was holding up play ;o)
I never took my ’phone with me until that incident happened & I realised how valuable that call was. Given how few people use carts on our course, it can be a helluva long way back to the clubhouse to get help.
LMAO !!!
Yep – it’s true. Like the old joke about the guy who got home late and his wife yelled at him – he said that they were playing along when Fred had a heart attack and died on the course. The rest of the day it was hit the ball – drag Fred – hit the ball – drag Fred…. :-D
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
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