Dear Linda,
I am an officer at
a country club in Mombasa. It was brought up at one of our meetings a complaint
about one of the new lady golfers always playing with her iPhone and earbuds in
her ears. I stated that I didn't think it was allowed - artificial aid maybe -
but on searching the rulebook I couldn't find anything to cover it and would be
grateful for your help and opinion.
With all best
wishes,
Lulu from Mombasa,
Africa
My response:
Dear Lulu,
In order to answer
your question, I will need to know what she is using her iPhone for (e.g., is
she making calls that disturb her fellow golfers, is she texting, is she not
ready to play when it is her turn), and what she is listening to through her
ear buds (e.g., music, radio broadcasts). I will answer your question as soon
as I hear from you.
Linda
Lulu’s reply:
Hi Linda,
She uses an iPod
and listens to music the whole time so she completely ignores her playing
partners and doesn't speak to them at all.
If she had a mobile
and was making calls we could deal with it as no one is allowed to use them on
the golf course or in the clubhouse. She is not delaying play, as that is also
covered in the rules of golf.
She is listening to
music only - all I could think about was "artificial aids" - but
there is no rule that says that you have to be sweet and chatty and friendly to
your playing partners!
Best wishes,
Lulu
My answer:
Dear Lulu,
This is a violation
of Rule 14-3a for using an artificial device that might assist the golfer in
her play, and results in disqualification. This issue is directly addressed in
Decision 14-3/17. Here is the pertinent section of that Decision:
14-3/17
Player
Listens to Music or Broadcast During Round
Q.A
player uses a device to listen to music, a radio broadcast or any other type of
broadcast during a stipulated round. What is the ruling?
A.Under
Rule 14-3a, a player may not use any artificial device or unusual
equipment that "might assist him in making a stroke or in his play."
Listening to music or a broadcast while making a stroke or for a prolonged
period might assist the player in his play, for example, by eliminating
distractions or promoting a good tempo. Therefore, the use of an artificial
device to listen to music or a broadcast, whether or not through headphones,
while making a stroke or for a prolonged period of time during a stipulated
round is a breach of Rule 14-3. However, it would not be a breach of Rule 14-3 for a player to listen to a device briefly, for example, to
obtain the results of another sporting event or traffic information, while
walking between the putting green of one hole and the teeing ground of the next
hole.
A Committee
will have to consider all available facts and circumstances in determining
whether a player using an artificial device to listen to music or a broadcast
has done so for a prolonged period such that the action might have assisted the
player in his play.
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
