ProZoneGolf
Clubmaker/Fitter
Playing a local competitive round I was warned by a rules official that head phones are not allowed for a prolonged period of time.
I was wearing wireless headphones at the very busy range day 1 drowning out noise, and continued to wear them playing a hole or two listening to classical music intermittently .
At the touch of the ear pad I could turn them off/on quite often around the foursome, cart driving time and putting greens to keep hearing the players/game, by hole 3 I turned them off, yet kept them on my head.
They provided me my own world, ears warm, as others thought I was listening to music and did not engage me in any way...or feel they could.
Its was a competitive round and sometimes all you want to do zone out of other peoples interactions and concentrate on yourself. I know this sounds rude and I would never do it with a casual round. It was a way for me to retreat to myself and my game.
What is a prolonged period of time? (9 holes?), can wear them if no music is playing? what about ear plugs?
Rule 14-3a states that a player may not use any artificial device or unusual equipment that “might assist him 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 stipulate 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 another hole.
There is no restriction on listening to music or other broadcasts while practicing (whether on the practice ground or on the golf course, and whether by oneself or while playing with others), although club rules and disciplinary codes could apply in such circumstances.
I was wearing wireless headphones at the very busy range day 1 drowning out noise, and continued to wear them playing a hole or two listening to classical music intermittently .
At the touch of the ear pad I could turn them off/on quite often around the foursome, cart driving time and putting greens to keep hearing the players/game, by hole 3 I turned them off, yet kept them on my head.
They provided me my own world, ears warm, as others thought I was listening to music and did not engage me in any way...or feel they could.
Its was a competitive round and sometimes all you want to do zone out of other peoples interactions and concentrate on yourself. I know this sounds rude and I would never do it with a casual round. It was a way for me to retreat to myself and my game.
What is a prolonged period of time? (9 holes?), can wear them if no music is playing? what about ear plugs?
Rule 14-3a states that a player may not use any artificial device or unusual equipment that “might assist him 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 stipulate 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 another hole.
There is no restriction on listening to music or other broadcasts while practicing (whether on the practice ground or on the golf course, and whether by oneself or while playing with others), although club rules and disciplinary codes could apply in such circumstances.