I bet this is one that golf’s early rulemakers never thought they’d have to consider, with the unwieldiness and immobility of the gramophones of old making such a notion a non-starter regardless of legality or otherwise.
But, as is so often the case, the advance of technology makes it a question that could well need addressing these days, following the arrival of Bluetooth earbuds and, more pertinently to our headline question, the best portable golf Bluetooth speakers, some of which really dress themselves up in golf clothing by also offering yardage information and distances.
A number of golf speakers also now provide yardages and distances
(Image credit: Future)
We’re not generally addressing here whether you should play music from a speaker during a golf competition from an etiquette perspective, but whether or not you can from a Rules perspective. We’ll all have our own views on the former, and mine remains in the ‘thanks, but no thanks’ camp. Among the many reasons I play golf, getting away from the noise of everyday life would sit pretty near the top of the list, so the last thing I want to hear on the golf course is someone else’s music.
But what about the legality of it from a Rules perspective? Well, essentially, they say no problem subject to a couple of things you can’t use music to assist you with. It’s probably easiest if I simply cut and paste the relevant Rule here relating to audio and video – Rule 4.3a(4) – which states:
Allowed
Listening to audio or watching video on matters unrelated to the competition being played (such as a news report or background music). But in doing so, consideration should be shown to others (see Rule 1.2).
Not Allowed
Listening to music or other audio to eliminate distractions or to help with swing tempo.
You can’t play music on a speaker to eliminate distractions as you play or to assist with swing tempo
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
There’s then an additional element about video in the ‘not allowed’ section, but it’s not really relevant to our question here.
If we then cross-reference with Rule 1.2, which addresses standards of player conduct, what does this have to say on the matter? Well, the relevant wording for us in that Rule is about showing consideration to others “by not distracting the play of another player”.
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