Checking work emails or answering business calls while golfing might hinder your chances of achieving that rare eagle or birdie.
This insight comes from researchers at the Department of Information Science at Stellenbosch University (SU).
These researchers surveyed 186 recreational golfers at five different clubs to understand their performance, enjoyment of the game, and smartphone usage during play. The data was collected immediately after the golfers participated in mid-week club competitions. Participants were asked about their frequency of work calls, emails, WhatsApp messages, personal calls, and social media use while playing.
The results of their research were recently published in the International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport.
“Our research indicated that when golfers engaged with their phones for personal reasons, like checking social media or replying to messages, their game performance remained unaffected. In contrast, reading work emails or receiving business calls led to a decline in their performance,” explains Dr. Daniël le Roux, the lead researcher from the Cognition and Technology Research Group at SU. He conducted the study alongside postgraduate students Lise Carstens, Cole Walburgh, and Christen Werth.
“Interestingly, while our findings did not show a direct impact of smartphone use on golfers’ enjoyment of the game, performance is often considered essential to having a good time on the course,” he notes.
“Our study underscores the dual nature of smartphones on the golf course. They provide the convenience of connectivity, but their interruptions can detract from focus and performance, ultimately diminishing the enjoyment of the game,” adds Le Roux.
“We shouldn’t overlook the influence of digital distraction, which refers to moments when a person’s attention shifts from a primary activity (such as a conversation, work, driving, or golfing) to a secondary one involving a device like a smartphone or tablet,” he elaborates.
“For instance, using a smartphone to measure distance during golf is considered productive and related to the task at hand. However, reading work emails or answering business calls while waiting to take a shot represents a digital distraction since it is not connected to golfing,” he clarifies.
Le Roux points out that, though sustained attention is vital for golf performance, there are very few studies examining how recreational golfers maintain their focus between shots, aside from limited research focused on elite players.
He mentions a 2015 survey by Golf Digest that asked 233,000 golfers about their attitudes towards smartphone use while playing. The survey revealed that 44% check or use their smartphone every few holes, while 21% feel “inextricably linked to their phone” and cannot play without checking it. Furthermore, 19% admitted to carrying their phones in their pockets, whereas 66% stated they try to forget about them during gameplay.
“Interestingly, no one seems to have explored how smartphone usage impacts golfers’ performance and enjoyment during rounds,” observes Le Roux.
“It’s possible that smartphone use could distract players, thereby affecting their performance and reducing their enjoyment of the game.”
So, why are some types of smartphone usage more disruptive than others?
The answer may be related to attention residue, according to Le Roux. “Attention residue refers to how thoughts from an email or a conversation linger in our minds after we set our phones aside. These lingering thoughts can cloud a golfer’s focus during their shot routines. Work-related communications typically produce more attention residue than other types of smartphone use.”
Le Roux advises recreational golfers who wish to enhance their concentration to be mindful that smartphone use might negatively affect their performance on the course.
“They should recognize which smartphone activities disturb their focus during shots and generate significant attention residue. By understanding this, they can create strategies to minimize those distractions, like silencing notifications or putting their phones on silent mode.”
However, he and his co-researchers are cautious about suggesting that abstaining from smartphone use while playing will reliably improve performance.
