New Trend: music on the golf course

[PoolPond]

On 3/22/2021 at 6:32 PM, tgreenwood11 said:

Any of you noticed this? At my club a bunch of golfers are playing loud music while they play. I yelled at a group to turn it down on a hold adjacent to where we were playing and got the Bronx salute.

 

What’s the point of playing loud music while playing a game that requires ultimate concentration? 

New trend that's at least 20 years old.  They've been making roof top golf cart radios for 2+ decades and then with the invention of bluetooth, things got much easier. Golf only requires concentration for a few seconds at a time.  All good but definitely the music can get a little too loud at times but in 16 years of being surround on every side by carts playing music, it rarely gets to be too much. For me and many others at least. I've actually noticed the volumes come down pretty significantly in the last several years. If you don't like music in public, I'd warn you to stay away from Jamaica because there's speakers blasting sweet tunes in front of every shop and gathering. That's one of the reasons I love Jamaica and the people there. Music is the lifeblood of humanity. 

[trilerian]

On 3/22/2021 at 7:39 PM, Carl Spackler3 said:

Sticking with my new plan, I hear your music you hear my bagpipe music

Funny you mention that, lol.  At a local course on Friday nights during the summer months there is a guy playing bagpipes just outside the golf course, kind of in a park area.  But bagpipes travel...  Anyway, doesn't bother me at all, but it annoys the crap out of one of my playing partners.  

 

For me, I wear my airpods when I want to listen to music, or listen to an audio book.  But music from others doesn't bother me much unless it is loud and obnoxious.  But I guess that is subjective.  

[golfortennis]

On 3/24/2021 at 4:46 PM, bubbagump said:

 

My point being, you're unashamedly "that guy", but point out the other "guy" as if he is the problem.  Y'all are the same dude, but just opposite ends lol, both making it far more complicated or dramatic than the situation really is.    

 

Anyway, around here speakers are very prevalent at pretty much every course I play at, to the point where a few courses have usb plugs and speakers in their carts.  People using speakers play baseball games, podcasts, music etc and range from young to old.  Seeing it sounds around here its far different than your area and how you told us it is, I still haven't seen these mystical beasts thumping hooks heard 3 fairways over or shooter mcgavins chastising a group for utilizing a speaker and ruining the sanctity of the holy game of golf.  

 

Majority of people are squared away and kind,  and when a problem is raised or presented its compromised and handled.  For the instances that aren't, like Jeff said earlier, d*cks are d*cks.    

 

Here's the situation.  Stranger comes up, "mind if we play some music?"  That right there creates the issues.  Because, now, instead of no music like the large percentage of golfers expect, you've put him in the situation where he says "sure", but doesn't mean it, and suffers the round in silence, because the alternative was "no, I prefer it quiet" either makes him a "dick" in the other guys' eyes, or "c'mon bro, we won't play it too loud, cool?"  How much of that does a guy want to deal with that?  Like Jeff said, people will be d!cks, and frankly it's a d!ck move. 

 

Would you like it if someone wanted to do jumping jacks right next to you while you hit your ball?

[bubbagump]

12 hours ago, golfortennis said:

 

Here's the situation.  Stranger comes up, "mind if we play some music?"  That right there creates the issues.  Because, now, instead of no music like the large percentage of golfers expect, you've put him in the situation where he says "sure", but doesn't mean it, and suffers the round in silence, because the alternative was "no, I prefer it quiet" either makes him a "dick" in the other guys' eyes, or "c'mon bro, we won't play it too loud, cool?"  How much of that does a guy want to deal with that?  Like Jeff said, people will be d!cks, and frankly it's a d!ck move. 

 

Would you like it if someone wanted to do jumping jacks right next to you while you hit your ball?

 

If people cant find their own way through interaction, and communication I don't know what to tell you.   

 

The jumping jack thing while humorous, isn't close to being a similar comp.  The most similar I'd think is something like Cigars.  

Edited March 27, 2021 by bubbagump

[golfortennis]

3 minutes ago, bubbagump said:

 

If people cant find their own way through interaction, and communication I don't know what to tell you.   

 

You can't because you can't fathom that forcing the yes/no question about the music is a dick move.  *You* may be perfectly fine with me saying no, I don't want to hear it, but you would be in a very small minority.   As has been said, if music was played as quietly as music players claim they play it, this discussion would never happen.  But here we are. 

 

If you honestly think any less than 95% of guys who pull up and "ask" if they can play music are expecting anything other than playing music, you should send me your contact info so I can sell you the oceanfront property in Arizona I have on offer.  I came to play golf, not deal with dicks.  At some point it's not worth fighting over.  But again, none of this happens if the guy could actually go a few hours without music, like the majority of golfers.   

[bubbagump]

1 minute ago, golfortennis said:

 

You can't because you can't fathom that forcing the yes/no question about the music is a dick move.  *You* may be perfectly fine with me saying no, I don't want to hear it, but you would be in a very small minority.   As has been said, if music was played as quietly as music players claim they play it, this discussion would never happen.  But here we are. 

 

If you honestly think any less than 95% of guys who pull up and "ask" if they can play music are expecting anything other than playing music, you should send me your contact info so I can sell you the oceanfront property in Arizona I have on offer.  I came to play golf, not deal with dicks.  At some point it's not worth fighting over.  But again, none of this happens if the guy could actually go a few hours without music, like the majority of golfers.   

 

If a stranger is asking me about something there are no rules against, I view that as more courteous than not asking.  If you cant take that for what it is, and be a big boy and respond, that's your own "issue".  

 

  

[miamistomp]

 Stranger comes up and wants to play music. I say sure but use your earbuds

  Has a problem, he can play with somebody else

[4x4GGG]

The guys I play with often joke about how fast I am to pull the trigger when it's my turn. On the tee box I usually wind up swinging before anyone has their club head covers off. On the fairway it's not unusual for me to hit while some ones ball is still in the air. On the green I'm usually over my ball as the person before me is either marking or picking up their first putt. Played with a guy the other day who added his score to his watch while standing over the pin before pulling his ball... he threw me completely out of whack. 

 

When they ask me why I have such little time setting up, I attribute it to an internal metronome. For the old guys, it's like the beeper count down on the Wave Motion Gun. It gets faster and faster at it's own pace, right up to pulling the trigger. It's a 4 second period where, if a player decides to re putt or something like that, I have to walk away from my ball and reset the mechanism. 

 

What does this have to do with music? People are often still talking in my swing because my pace is unexpected, but there are no straight lines in nature...people don't talk in pentameter. There's almost zero chance a conversation, a fairway mower, a leaf blower or weed whacker is going to mess up that timer. But music.... every time. If I'm on the Tee box and some one has music on in a cart, my head is now trying to sync up it's metronome to the music. 

 

I vote no music, wear ear buds if you need music. 

[Shilgy]

1 hour ago, 4x4GGG said:

The guys I play with often joke about how fast I am to pull the trigger when it's my turn. On the tee box I usually wind up swinging before anyone has their club head covers off. On the fairway it's not unusual for me to hit while some ones ball is still in the air. On the green I'm usually over my ball as the person before me is either marking or picking up their first putt. Played with a guy the other day who added his score to his watch while standing over the pin before pulling his ball... he threw me completely out of whack. 

 

When they ask me why I have such little time setting up, I attribute it to an internal metronome. For the old guys, it's like the beeper count down on the Wave Motion Gun. It gets faster and faster at it's own pace, right up to pulling the trigger. It's a 4 second period where, if a player decides to re putt or something like that, I have to walk away from my ball and reset the mechanism. 

 

What does this have to do with music? People are often still talking in my swing because my pace is unexpected, but there are no straight lines in nature...people don't talk in pentameter. There's almost zero chance a conversation, a fairway mower, a leaf blower or weed whacker is going to mess up that timer. But music.... every time. If I'm on the Tee box and some one has music on in a cart, my head is now trying to sync up it's metronome to the music. 

 

I vote no music, wear ear buds if you need music. 

I agree with most of that....I can easily ignore chain saws, lawn mowers, and the like. But to me having music is the same as someone in my group talking when I am hitting. Especially on the tee box. 
 

The problem is the onus is on the guy that doesn’t like music on the course. And the music players know it.

 

in an event I will ask nicely once for it to be shut off. If he refuses we have Rule 1.2a/1 to bring to the committee.

This bullet point is one of the grounds for DQ

 

• Deliberately distracting other players while they are making strokes.

[tucson5190]

On 3/27/2021 at 6:36 AM, miamistomp said:

 Stranger comes up and wants to play music. I say sure but use your earbuds

  Has a problem, he can play with somebody else

Boom.  Great answer.

[MFSOT]

As someone that took a pretty long hiatus from the game, I was really surprised when I got out there and heard people playing music. Golf is hard enough without outside distraction, we’re not pros that should be able to focus through unreasonable noise others are making. Someone else said it best (paraphrasing) ‘I don’t care if it’s music or people talking loudly’, there is noise etiquitte and if people ignore that whether it be with music or with their voices while others are trying to concentrate, that’s where the issue lies. I personally don’t care if you want to play music, if it’s quiet enough it should be like a quiet conversation, just use common courtesy like not talking during someone’s shot - turn it down during someone’s shot, etc.. keep it so only you can hear it, so on so forth..

 

We could get into how common courtesy (and sense) is becoming rarified and that’s probably where most of the issues in this thread are coming from, unless you’re stance is just staunch no music for you! Which TBH I can respect, as that would be my preference as well.

[MrJones]

So far, in my recent comeback to golf I've found there's a lot more music being played on the course. I'm not really a fan but have been grateful for people inviting me out and have been able to play through it. My personal observations are:

 

For some people, music is a distraction. It helps others focus. But usually the ones that use it to focus wear earbuds. My bluetooth speaker buddies are guys out there drinking beers, playing golf and "listening to some tunes", just having a good time. Golf is just something fun to do for them.

 

Honestly my "tune" guys pulling right up behind me (they like to watch) and then carrying on a full conversation during my shots bother me more than the music.

[huskydawg]

 

Sure let's listen to this!  If you don't like it then kick rocks.

 

Seriously though, if you are the asker, say:

 

1) "Do you mind if I play music?  I will not be the least bit offended if you say no."

2) "Do you mind if I play music? I prefer bluetooth but will use earbuds if it bothers you."

 

If some asks you, you can say:

"Sorry I'm quite prone to earworm and songs get stuck in my head for a long time."

"I came to listen to nature and be with my own thoughts."

 

If you don't mind but under certain conditions, say:

"Okay, but play it quietly"

"Alright, but give me a skip button if something comes on that I don't like."

"Fine, but don't play Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, etc."

[david.c.w]

So our group is a speaker group at our home course.  We keep it reasonable and turn it down if we get too close to another group.  There are really only 2 places on the course where the green and the next tee are close enough to hear each other.  We play 50+ times a year and we p'ay for beers or $20 so all friendly, casual golf.

 

Interestingly our group went on a bucket list trip to California a few weeks ago.  The music came on and it felt odd.  I actually told my buddy, "hey, don't want to be a stick in the mud, but can we turn it off for these rounds?"  He of course said "Yes of course" and it was off and it was great.  We are playing this afternoon at home course and i am sure the music will be back on.

 

 

[tboh]

On 3/24/2021 at 7:07 AM, Ferguson said:

 

 

Those playing music don't want the discomfort of ear buds, so they bring their "bigger JBL" and make everyone else uncomfortable.

 

Reminds of high school kids that would drive around town, alone, in a grossly under-powered 1982 Firebird with T-tops removed and the Pioneer Sound System cranked.  

 

Great idea ... Wonder if I can fit a subbie somewhere in back of the cart 🤔🤔🤔

[jdl]

On 5/7/2021 at 1:03 AM, huskydawg said:

 

Sure let's listen to this!  If you don't like it then kick rocks.

 

Seriously though, if you are the asker, say:

 

1) "Do you mind if I play music?  I will not be the least bit offended if you say no."

2) "Do you mind if I play music? I prefer bluetooth but will use earbuds if it bothers you."

 

If some asks you, you can say:

"Sorry I'm quite prone to earworm and songs get stuck in my head for a long time."

"I came to listen to nature and be with my own thoughts."

 

If you don't mind but under certain conditions, say:

"Okay, but play it quietly"

"Alright, but give me a skip button if something comes on that I don't like."

"Fine, but don't play Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, etc."

I'd go with something along these lines:

 

 

But seriously, when I play music I keep the volume so low that even I can't hear it. So I figure that way, no one else can either. But I know it's playing and that relaxes me.

Edited May 10, 2021 by jdl

[Shilgy]

1 hour ago, jdl said:

I'd go with something along these lines:

 

 

But seriously, when I play music I keep the volume so low that even I can't hear it. So I figure that way, no one else can either. But I know it's playing and that relaxes me.

The last part….where it relaxes you….is pushing rule 4.3(4) which would be a penalty.

[nvr3putt]

The only time I become enraged by music blaring on the golf course is when I mishit a shot, which is like 80% of the time. 😆

 

 

[Quasimoto]

On 3/25/2021 at 11:04 AM, PoolPond said:

New trend that's at least 20 years old.  They've been making roof top golf cart radios for 2+ decades and then with the invention of bluetooth, things got much easier. Golf only requires concentration for a few seconds at a time.  All good but definitely the music can get a little too loud at times but in 16 years of being surround on every side by carts playing music, it rarely gets to be too much. For me and many others at least. I've actually noticed the volumes come down pretty significantly in the last several years. If you don't like music in public, I'd warn you to stay away from Jamaica because there's speakers blasting sweet tunes in front of every shop and gathering. That's one of the reasons I love Jamaica and the people there. Music is the lifeblood of humanity. 

I would dispute that golf only requires concentration for a few seconds at a time.

Maybe for you it does. Maybe for a number of people it does.

Maybe for another number of people with different minds it takes much longer. Maybe some people are easily distracted and not in a good way.

Why do the pro’s have volunteers at their tournaments that hold up “Quiet” signs for up to 15 seconds before they hit?

Ever notice in non-professional golf that people carry on talking and listening to music when anyone with more than a 6 handicap is about to hit but for a low 1,2, 3, handicap etc everyone shuts up? Keep an ear for it, it is true.

 

There are as many requirements for concentration as there are people. I believe this is why the ROG suggests  players should not do anything to distract others. Music is definitely a distraction for many people. This is why some courses stipulate that music should be no louder than what a cart player can hear when seated in the cart. Leave the cart- should not be able to hear it. And BTW, no one would have an issue with music on course if players conformed to the stipulation. But entitled people gotta entitle themselves and to hell with everyone else. The other thing is that music is subjective - If I don’t like country then it is a bother. Similarly I would imagine if I played a person learning the bagpipes at the same volume as others seem to feel entitled to they would, I expect, complain.

 

As far as being on vacay in Jamaica, hell yeah I’m all for the music in the market, and love many genres. I doubt it is the same on Jamaican golf courses.

[hwwong]

My buddy I usually play with loves playing music.  I see it mostly like talking - you wouldn't be out there gabbing on speaker phone loud enough that others would hear you.  But it's acceptable to be in your cart talking quietly.  I'm always the one that's keen to keep the volume reasonable.  

 

I will say, generally hearing others people music both on and off the golf course is a bit of a pet peeve.  More so when it's horrible music. 

[jdl]

18 hours ago, Shilgy said:

The last part….where it relaxes you….is pushing rule 4.3(4) which would be a penalty.

[Marty86]

I'm not bothered by it but my background growing up was basketball where the crowds are screaming at you and the players on the opposing team are constantly talking into your ear to get you out of rhythm. I actually think many golfers would benefit from having something like music going on in the background because you would learn to not have every little sound distract you from your shot. 

 

While golf does require concentration, it doesn't require such where you are a robot out there. Need to be able to block things out.

[chippa13]

On 5/10/2021 at 8:42 PM, Quasimoto said:

I would dispute that golf only requires concentration for a few seconds at a time.

Maybe for you it does. Maybe for a number of people it does.

Maybe for another number of people with different minds it takes much longer. Maybe some people are easily distracted and not in a good way.

Why do the pro’s have volunteers at their tournaments that hold up “Quiet” signs for up to 15 seconds before they hit?

Ever notice in non-professional golf that people carry on talking and listening to music when anyone with more than a 6 handicap is about to hit but for a low 1,2, 3, handicap etc everyone shuts up? Keep an ear for it, it is true.

 

There are as many requirements for concentration as there are people. I believe this is why the ROG suggests  players should not do anything to distract others. Music is definitely a distraction for many people. This is why some courses stipulate that music should be no louder than what a cart player can hear when seated in the cart. Leave the cart- should not be able to hear it. And BTW, no one would have an issue with music on course if players conformed to the stipulation. But entitled people gotta entitle themselves and to hell with everyone else. The other thing is that music is subjective - If I don’t like country then it is a bother. Similarly I would imagine if I played a person learning the bagpipes at the same volume as others seem to feel entitled to they would, I expect, complain.

 

As far as being on vacay in Jamaica, hell yeah I’m all for the music in the market, and love many genres. I doubt it is the same on Jamaican golf courses.

They hold up signs a little early for the pros because the volunteers want to err on the side of early instead of late. I've personally never understood why the process of making a swing takes absolute silence. Do these amatuer golfers who require pristine silence on the course also require the same in their office settings.

 

"Say Bob, why were there so many mistakes in your report this time around?"

"Well, when I was working on it, Steve in that cubicle 50 yards away kept sneezing. I just couldn't concentrate."

[TwistedSister]

2 hours ago, chippa13 said:

"Say Bob, why were there so many mistakes in your report this time around?"

"Well, when I was working on it, Steve in that cubicle 50 yards away kept sneezing. I just couldn't concentrate."

I would hope before Bob turned the report in he would double check it.  Can't do that when you play golf.  One try is all you get.

[Quasimoto]

7 hours ago, chippa13 said:

They hold up signs a little early for the pros because the volunteers want to err on the side of early instead of late. I've personally never understood why the process of making a swing takes absolute silence. Do these amatuer golfers who require pristine silence on the course also require the same in their office settings.

 

"Say Bob, why were there so many mistakes in your report this time around?"

"Well, when I was working on it, Steve in that cubicle 50 yards away kept sneezing. I just couldn't concentrate."

Well, that is kind of a di*khead comment. What does the workplace have to do with golf?

I used to be on the phone, computer and 2-way radio all at the same time at work but I can’t multi-task on the golf course.

It comes down to what different people can tolerate. And a old burn-out from work like me needs some quiet. I don’t know why there is any objection/discussion about this. ROG defines disturbing other golfers vaguely enough that it is up to each golfer to define that which disturbs them, and others to respect that. End of discussion. Thanks.

[chippa13]

I guess I don't understand what is so mentally crippling about hitting a golf ball.

[Quasimoto]

12 hours ago, chippa13 said:

I guess I don't understand what is so mentally crippling about hitting a golf ball.

I’m happy for you.

[Shilgy]

12 hours ago, chippa13 said:

I guess I don't understand what is so mentally crippling about hitting a golf ball.

Does it bother you when members in your group talk loudly on the tee as you hit your shot?

[MrJones]

23 hours ago, chippa13 said:

They hold up signs a little early for the pros because the volunteers want to err on the side of early instead of late. I've personally never understood why the process of making a swing takes absolute silence. Do these amatuer golfers who require pristine silence on the course also require the same in their office settings.

 

"Say Bob, why were there so many mistakes in your report this time around?"

"Well, when I was working on it, Steve in that cubicle 50 yards away kept sneezing. I just couldn't concentrate."

Ha! You joke but our engineering offices were fairly quiet except one guy with a habitual smokers cough that drove everyone insane. Multiple complaints were made.

 

I can take constant noise on the course. I may not like it but it won't hurt my swing. But if it's silent and then something loud catches my attention on my back swing? That will get me every time.

[chippa13]

4 hours ago, Shilgy said:

Does it bother you when members in your group talk loudly on the tee as you hit your shot?

Nah. Most of the courses around here have plenty of adjoining holes where you're going to hear all kinds of loud conversations and the like from other fairways, tees, and greens. The only difference is if its my group then I can participate. I'll keep quiet if paired with strangers when they're hitting but any round where it is a group of my friends, one would be hard pressed to get silence at any point in the round.