By: Judd Spicer
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As technology continues to beep and blink its way into modern life, today's fairways are far from immune. While golf has, akin to much of society and commerce, either embraced or simply accepted tech's rapid advances, the game's auditory experience is oft-altered from days of bucolic breezes alone.
Whether that's for bitter or better isn't a matter of right or wrong; and, whatever one's opinion of music on the golf course, the soundtrack isn't about to change.
From a medley of portable speakers attached to roof struts, built-in cart speakers, Bluetooth GPS tunes, a recent rush of rangefinder/speaker combos or music coming straight from a phone – songs have become as synonymous as scorecards.
At Troon, the world's largest golf management company, with well over 500 18-hole equivalent public and private courses in its portfolio, keeping today's customer happy means staying well-apprised of both playing trends and customer proclivities.
"We're in the hospitality business, and for the daily fee type of property, it's about putting out that type of product where folks like to come play on excellent turf, have great staff services and then expect other amenities," says Matt Hurley, executive VP at Troon. "In today's world, the way golf has progressed or changed, things we've seen with TGL or LIV, music is more available and out there in golf than it once was. To stay modern, I think it's okay to have that; we need to constantly be evolving, and then manage and adapt to that."
As on-course music began to become more prevalent, Hurley and colleagues did once wonder if the audial augment was something they'd need to supervise at public properties.
"At one point, we thought this was something we may need to police," says Hurley, "and we'd often use of the example of, 'Don’t be that person sitting on a plane and people can hear your phone conversation six rows down before takeoff.'"
While member clubs are self-missioned, public tracks, of course, need to appease the masses.
"When I look across our portfolio, some of our (private) clubs do have a policy, basically saying, 'If you want to have music, it shouldn't be loud enough to hear outside of your cart,'" Hurley adds. "But, for all courses, it's something that is more accepted today; if you're in a cart and playing with your friends, it always seems that there's somebody with a speaker in their bag."
From the player's vantage, achieving balance of both etiquette and modernity presents its own governance.
The "Gammas and Compas Golf Club," established in 2018, has member chapters across the Northern and Southern California Golf Associations, respectively, and a club with the Arizona Golf Association. With nearly 200 active members playing monthly, competitive tournaments across the calendar year, its leadership keeps a close eye on member conduct.
"There's a time and a place when it comes to music on the golf course," says Lalo Lopez, founder and president of the Gammas and Compas. "My personal opinion, I'm more of an old-school traditionalist, but I am very open to music, as long as it doesn’t bother anybody else and your foursome is good with it."
His clubs and tourney sheets a welcome mesh of age and race, Lopez has seen music serve as vehicle for member bonding.
"In talking about this with our members – and we have a large and diverse group – I've learned that a great way to get to know new members is through their playlist," Lopez says.
Though his member tournaments are often-themed – and coinciding with events (Super Bowl, The Masters) and holidays ("El Recalantando" for Thanksgiving leftovers) – Lopez does draw a line at the intersection of C clef and P-wedge.
"I do know that there are other groups that go a little bigger, and might have some live music during their events," adds Lopez. "I have been approached by a few of our members about doing something like that, but I just tell them that when those other organizations do their thing – go to theirs; I'm not gonna' do that. If we do a banquet post-tournament, then, sure, I'm okay with live music. But on the golf course? No."
Tune Rules/Owner Onus
Managing play and overseeing groups are but a few tune facets; applying rules and owning courses are others.
While the Rules of Golf – Rule 4.3a (4) – allow for music or news unrelated to competition, music used to assist with swing tempo or block out distractions while playing is a violation.
Sound a bit amorphous in application? It is.
The Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) has over 200,000 members belonging to more than 1,300 clubs; across the calendar year, the Association can conduct as many as 10 or more competitive events on a single day.
"When the rules changed and allowed for music to be played on a golf course under the Rules of Golf, our committee discussed it," says Ryan Gregg, chief operations officer for the NCGA. "And we did run into some issues with some people liking the music and some people who are opposed, and those opposed sometimes felt uncomfortable saying that they didn't like when somebody was playing music."
To assuage and assess, Gregg and colleagues made a firm decision.
"It's not a rule, but part of our hard card, our Code of Conduct, in that we do not allow music at any of our competitive events," Gregg details. "And that means we have 650 annual events where we do not allow music. And that boils down to any event that the NCGA conducts where there is a tournament official involved."
While the NCGA allows music for its social and experiential events – and hears ongoing tunes at both the two courses it owns, Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge – the competitive decision on music was not one conducted lightly.
"I know that there are a lot of people who really like music on the course for casual or social golf," continues Gregg, "but, when dealing with competitive events, we didn’t want to put our tournament volunteers in positions where they're having to confront players about music; just something like having to approach a player with, 'Well, your playing competitor was just fine with your hip-hop, but now they don't like your country music.' Putting volunteers into those kinds of conversations with players just seemed like something we didn’t want to get into. Because some people feel very strong about their music."
Strong feelings extend to the bottom line of course ownership, where operators need be mindful of working to keep as many customers as happy as possible.
Chris Sparks is the owner and president of Mallard Point GC and Villas in Sardis, MS, and is soon to own and operate the re-opening of Quail Ridge CG in his native Bartlett, TN.
Knowing his clientele is knowing his courses.
"Mallard Point is 25 minutes from Oxford, which is the Ole Miss campus; so, we have a lot of college kids," says Sparks. "They love to play their music, and some sizes of the speakers they bring out... wow; barely fit in the back of the cart basket."
From a business vantage, Sparks believes music's proverbial toothpaste has left the tube.
"If you try to shut it (music) down, I think you'll hurt yourself," states Sparks. "There are more golfers these days who listen to music than those who don't."
While musical tastes swing subjective, cart volume is a more objective pursuit. And yet, for a business owner, keeping everybody happy all the time is never uniform.
"Our policy at Mallard is that people can have their music, but to please keep it at a reasonable level," explains Sparks. "I shouldn't hear their music two holes over. Some people, some of my older guys, they'll come in my office and complain about the noise, so we do have to ask some players to turn it down sometimes, and they're reasonable about it. Now, that's not to say they don't turn it back up as soon as we drive away, but as long as it's not being disrespectful to other paying customers, there shouldn’t be an issue."
A balance between staying in the black and respecting the game's traditions is a see-saw which music's on-course enhancement has tested.
Set upon a beatific bounty located on historic family grounds, Turtle Creek GC in Limerick, PA is a canvass of the game's outdoor allures. Adding rap, rock, country or classic music to the melody of birdsong has been an adjustment for ownership.
"I think, with COVID, that's where music on the golf course became really prevalent, with golf becoming more of a social outing," says Sandy Waltz, golf manager at Turtle Creek, "and I've seen, or, heard, music creep into Turtle Creek more and more in the last few years, particularly on weekends."
While Waltz is amenable to measured volume, she isn't much interested in an eponymous dance when on-course music extends beyond a group's personal space.
"I think the music is okay, as long as it's on an appropriate level," Waltz continues. "Our 9th hole is right around the clubhouse and the 1st tee, so, If I hear it coming in from No. 9, then it's way too loud. And that's something which could be distracting; I know it's distracting to me."
While accepting the game's modern milieu, Waltz has also considered a contrarian approach.
"We're a family business, and we've talked about, toyed with the idea of having a 'Quiet Course,' starting next year," she says. "I'm not quite sure we're ready to go there, but maybe have some signage out to compel people to be more aware of their surroundings. It's an idea still in discussion with the family. And my social influencer and I have talked about golf changing with the times, and I get that to a point, but I always feel like there's something beautiful about traditional and being classic. I feel old saying that, but I do feel like we should have some nod to what golf really is."
Would such a novel approach alienate certain clientele?
"I don’t think so," says Waltz. "A lot of people come here because of our setting and because we have great course conditions. So, would a 'Quiet Course' turn some people off? I honestly don't think so."
As for her own time on the grounds, Waltz prefers a purist's approach which still echoes the favor of myriad golfers.
"I'm a bit old-school, and when I go out on the course, I've got a million things in my head and the last thing I want to do is listen to music," she concludes. "I just want to enjoy the setting and nature and to focus in on the game, so I'm not thinking about all these other things."