Columnist Peter Benton: Golf course is no place for cellular phones

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003 | 9:06 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Some years ago I wrote a column criticizing the use of cell phones on golf courses, and how the impact of those annoying instruments of communication -- now considered the "in thing" and thus mandatory by many -- can truly have a negative impact on a busy layout. As this problem is now of epidemic proportions, I thought another column necessary.

I am fully cognizant of how convenient cell phones are, but come on, please, not while out playing this hallowed game that we love so much. If one of the most prestigious country clubs in our town -- none other than Southern Highlands -- has banned them, I wonder why other local courses don't put in some rules or regulations regarding their use.

Naturally there must be exceptions made for those professional people who absolutely require them. By professional, I am referring to the likes of doctors and other medical personnel.

Here is what I have observed, and believe me, this is a common occurrence: Prior to teeing off, lots of (in their mind,) "very important people" bustle about, talking, putting, swinging at an imaginary ball, etc., and invariably have a cell phone at their ear or attached to their belt.

Gosh, I even saw one fellow, obviously "far more important" than anyone else, with two cell phones plus a pager strapped to his waist like some old-time gun-slinger toting his trusty sidearms.

Honestly, if you have four like the above go out for a round together, you can guarantee that even if it is just for their own inflated ego, one or possibly all of them will will draw their wretched phones from their holsters to prove exactly how "truly important" they really are.

Who wants to be facing a pressure-packed 6-footer to win all the marbles in your weekly outing, only to hear one of those dreaded phones begin jingle-jangling away. Or how about at the top of your backswing?

You do not see professional golfers pulling out cell phones between shots or while waiting to tee off. Mind you, the operative word here is professional -- they are out to play golf and are fully aware of the rules, and just as important, the etiquette of the game.

However, it is not at all unusual to see amateurs who have been called to the first tee immediately take out their phone and start nattering away, completely oblivious that they are not just holding up their playing companions, but all following players as well.

Unless these actions are curbed, the slow play we are now experiencing could become completely out of control.

I am all for new technology, but it's an unfortunate fact that in our everyday life. We are constantly being bombarded by the incessant ringing of cell phones. It is annoying enough at restaurants, shopping malls, movie theatres, sporting events, et al, even worse at weddings and/or funerals, but "hello" -- on a golf course?

We have been playing this wonderful sport for a very long time without such technology intruding upon our game, so why should we have to accept it now? For goodness sake, let's keep the environment of the open spaces that golf offers free from cell phones.