Can players, or rather their caddies, use cell phones (or radios) to keep up with where other players are doing on the course? It seemed like Phil said he thought he needed a 4 to tie on 18, as if he didn't know where the other players stood.
My son said it's illegal for players to use cell phones...i would figure their caddies could find out in a heartbeat by just asking the fans at arms reach.
Can players, or rather their caddies, use cell phones (or radios) to keep up with where other players are doing on the course? It seemed like Phil said he thought he needed a 4 to tie on 18, as if he didn't know where the other players stood.
My son said it's illegal for players to use cell phones...i would figure their caddies could find out in a heartbeat by just asking the fans at arms reach.
-Bulls9999
One would think there are enough leaderboards around a PGA tournament to give the player information. Also there is about a 15 minute lag between what player scores on a given hole and the time it gets to most websites including the PGA Tour's site. I don't think there is significant advantage taking a cell phone versus an on-site leaderboard.
Last but not least shouldn't a player be concentrating on his own game before worrying about an opponent? After all if you're not hitting your golf ball well it really doesn't make a difference what someone else is doing.
Can players, or rather their caddies, use cell phones (or radios) to keep up with where other players are doing on the course? It seemed like Phil said he thought he needed a 4 to tie on 18, as if he didn't know where the other players stood.
I think Phil said that on the tee at 18 he thought he would need a birdie to get into a play-off. Thinking that Bjorn or Elkington would birdie the hole. He knew where they stood, they were still playing the hole.
They really don't need any artificial devices or even frequent leaderboards if they are in one of the groups being followed by on-course reporters. Several of them, most recently Gary McCord, have commented that players sometimes ask the accompanying reporters for updates and they freely give them if asked.
I believe the USGA Rules of Golf Rule 14-3 prohibits a player from using an artificial device that might assist a player in his play.
Very true League. Aren't they about to make a change to that rule though? A USGA official (sorry, but I don't know them by name) talking on the Golf Channel said they were changing the rule to allow use of devices to measure distances. Or, have I misunderstood what was being said yet again?
I'm not sure of the rule, but I don't think they should be allowed or even want to do it...it takes away from the suspense, competitiveness, and the all around excitement of the game...
I also agree that there are enough leader boards for them to stay well informed on their own.
Technology, in one way or another, is going to ruin sports.
Very true League. Aren't they about to make a change to that rule though? A USGA official (sorry, but I don't know them by name) talking on the Golf Channel said they were changing the rule to allow use of devices to measure distances. Or, have I misunderstood what was being said yet again?
I believe they are talking about lazer range finders to give them the distance. They are hoping this will speed up play. They can do it now with all the sprinkler heads and caddies walking off the distance, but it takes some time.
I believe they are talking about lazer range finders to give them the distance. They are hoping this will speed up play. They can do it now with all the sprinkler heads and caddies walking off the distance, but it takes some time.
But of course its no more of an artificial aid, than a few roughly scribbled notes that the caddy may have made several days previously & far from spot on accurate. It still comes down to jusdging distance & ready reconning....
Heck you could hold up your thumb or a tee to work out roughly how far to the flag by how high it appears against your digit etc. same as its ready reconning wind speed to throw a bit of grass in the air, ot dampen a finger to hold up to see which way the wind is blowing.
All lazer range finders will do is take the guesswork out of seeing how far to hit the ball to the pin. Its not really aiding the player if he can't work out how to make his ball go where he wants to or the right distance, that is up to the player to sort out, so unless they come up with radio controled balls, I can't see how lazer range finders will make much difference, they might not even speed up play, as the player may stull hum & harr over which club is best.
Really if you know how far the pin is from the tee, you can either work out how far your ball has gone & has left to go on a hole, without too much difficulty. you can easily say I'm a quater, third, half, two thirds & three quarters the way down from tee to pin, without too much trouble & guess the final distance, whilst knowing the total yardage, etc.
I've seen where some players have hit their ball in other fairways, well there are no sprinkler heads over there for their green. So the have their caddie walking all over the place to get a distance, slows up play real fast. With a lazer and a direct line they can get that distance.
But of course its no more of an artificial aid, than a few roughly scribbled notes that the caddy may have made several days previously & far from spot on accurate. It still comes down to jusdging distance & ready reconning....
Keep in mind that they ALL use them in the practice rounds and those notes scribbled in the yardage book ARE spot on accurate to the points on the green that the guys are using. Also, there are a couple of well-known guys that go to the PGA TOUR stops and the Major Championship courses and do a detailed yardage guide which many of the caddies use and then add their own notes. One of them is the guy that did our course and the information in the book for our members is definitely overkill but they love it.
They really don't need any artificial devices or even frequent leaderboards if they are in one of the groups being followed by on-course reporters. Several of them, most recently Gary McCord, have commented that players sometimes ask the accompanying reporters for updates and they freely give them if asked.
Donna you are are absolutely correct. Not only that, but every group has a sign bearer with their respective score walking with them. The sign bearer is accompanied by an official scorer. The official scorer has a handheld computer that they input the score of the hole into and it is sent via RF signal to the tournament HQ and the TV network booth. The computer that the official scorer has also provides the most current leaderboard information available.
It is not uncommon for a players caddy to ask the official scorer for the information while walking down the fairway or up to the green.
August 15th, 2005, 05:03 PM
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