1-800-GOLF-TIP: The Mysterious '90s Phone Number That Haunted Canadian Billboards
The mysterious 1-800-GOLF-TIP number has become something of an internet legend, with origins dating back to the early 1990s. This peculiar telephone phenomenon first appeared on billboards in Canadian towns like St. Catharines, Ontario, featuring a golf ball, club, and green grass backdrop with the number displayed in yellow 3D lettering.
Those who called the number in the 90s report a bizarre experience: a man with what many describe as an Indian or Middle Eastern accent counting repeatedly from one to ten, with strange pauses between certain numbers. Some callers even mention that staying on the line long enough would result in a startling scream or siren sound. The number's significance remains unclear, though its consistent appearance in personal testimonials across Canada suggests it was a real phenomenon rather than a collective misremembering.
Key Takeaways
The 1-800-GOLF-TIP phenomenon originated in early 1990s Canada and was documented in student publications as early as 1993.
Callers experienced a recording of a man counting from one to ten with peculiar pauses, sometimes followed by alarming sounds.
The number changed ownership to Mayfair Communications in 1998 and now connects to an entirely different service than its mysterious original purpose.
The Intrigue of Obscurity
The digital age has preserved an unusual telephone phenomenon that continues to perplex those who encountered it during the 1990s. The mysterious 1-800-GOLF-TIP number represents a peculiar shared experience among Canadians that defies simple explanation.
When called during its heyday, this number would play a recording of a man with what many described as an Indian or Middle Eastern accent counting from one to ten repeatedly. Callers noted distinctive pauses after certain numbers, typically around six, seven, or eight. Some accounts mention that leaving the line open long enough would result in a startling scream or synthetic siren sound.
Evidence strongly points to a Canadian origin for this mysterious hotline. Multiple firsthand accounts reference seeing the number displayed on a billboard in St. Catharines, Ontario. This billboard featured a golf ball, club, green grass, and blue sky with the number prominently displayed in yellow 3D lettering.
The number gained significant traction across Canada. A school newspaper from Carleton University in Ottawa (over 600 kilometers from St. Catharines) listed it as popular among students as early as 1993. This demonstrates how widely the phenomenon had spread through word of mouth.
The physical billboard location has been identified as being across from the former Bijou theater, which housed an arcade on the first floor and a theater on the second. Today, that location has been replaced by a Tim Horton's.
Records indicate the number changed hands in January 1998 when it was updated in the 1-800 database under Mayfair Communications. This occurred approximately five years after the earliest documented references to the number.
Today, the number has been repurposed for an adult entertainment service, completely disconnected from its mysterious origins. This transformation has further complicated efforts to understand what purpose the original number served.
A dedicated website (1800golftip.com) now exists where people can submit their memories in an attempt to solve this decades-old mystery. The collective memories show remarkable consistency in describing the counting pattern and accent, suggesting a genuine shared experience rather than a fabricated urban legend.
What makes this mystery particularly intriguing is its obscurity combined with the number of people who independently recall the same bizarre experience. Despite extensive research, the original purpose of this number remains unknown.
Understanding the Mystery
Public Views and Personal Reports
The 1-800-GOLF-TIP phenomenon remains one of the most peculiar telephone mysteries from the 1990s. Numerous individuals across Canada report nearly identical experiences with this enigmatic number. These accounts primarily originate from Ontario and surrounding areas, with documented references dating back to 1993.
Most callers describe hearing a male voice with what they perceived as an Indian or Middle Eastern accent counting from 1 to 10 repeatedly. The voice reportedly paused consistently at certain numbers—typically 6, 7, or 8—depending on the listener's recollection. Some accounts mention that if callers remained on the line long enough, they would be startled by a loud scream or synthetic siren sound.
A website dedicated to collecting memories of this phenomenon exists at 1800golftip.com, where people submit their experiences in an attempt to solve this decades-old mystery.
The 1-800-GOLF-TIP Puzzle
Evidence confirms the number's existence through multiple sources. A student magazine from Carleton University in Ottawa listed it among popular topics in 1993. The number appears to have originated in Canada, specifically in St. Catharines, Ontario, where a billboard advertising it stood across from the now-demolished Bijou theater and arcade.
The billboard's description, according to eyewitnesses:
Design: Full color featuring a close-up of a golf ball
Elements: A golf club angled away from the camera
Background: Green grass with blue in the upper left corner
Text: "1-800-GOLF-TIP" in large yellow 3D lettering
What makes this case particularly intriguing is the consistency in people's memories. Everyone recalls dialing specifically 1-800-GOLF-TIP (not variations like GOLF-VIP), suggesting it spread from a single source rather than through random dialing experiments.
Dissecting the Number's Peculiarities
The phone number's ownership history reveals interesting developments. Records show Mayfair Communications registered the number in the 1-800 database on January 20, 1998—approximately five years after the earliest documented references to the number.
When examining the actual digits (1-800-465-3847), no obvious pattern or joke emerges, ruling out the possibility it was simply a prank number. Today, the number reportedly connects to an adult entertainment line, completely unrelated to its mysterious origin.
The number's spread is remarkable considering its pre-internet popularity. It traveled over 600 kilometers by word of mouth between different Canadian cities, appearing in college publications and generating enough interest to warrant a dedicated billboard in at least one location.
Several internet sleuths have attempted recreations of the counting voice based on memory, with one particularly detailed impersonation describing a seamless loop with distinctive breathing patterns after certain numbers.
Warnings and Disclaimers
We strongly advise against calling the 1-800-GOLF-TIP telephone number discussed in this article. This number is no longer associated with its original 1990s owner and has since been repurposed as an erotic hotline service.
The telephone number (1-800-GOLF-TIP) has been mentioned for historical and investigative purposes only. Attempting to dial this number today will not connect you to the mysterious counting recording described by people who called it in the 1990s.
Important safety notes:
Do not call this number expecting to hear the original recording
The current service is adult-oriented in nature
No combination of the number digits results in a humorous or intended prank
The number has changed ownership since the documented incidents
The investigation into this telephone mystery relies on archived materials and firsthand accounts from the 1990s. Records indicate the number's database entry was updated in January 1998, suggesting a change in ownership occurred around that time.
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All possible telephone digit combinations related to "GOLF-TIP" have been explored during this investigation, with no meaningful connections discovered that would explain the original purpose of the number.
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Historical Background
The Enigmatic '90s Number
The 1-800-GOLF-TIP phenomenon emerged as a peculiar telephone oddity in the early 1990s, primarily across Canadian regions. First documented in a 1993 student publication from Carleton University in Ottawa, the number gained notoriety through word-of-mouth and billboard advertisements. The physical billboard, spotted in St. Catharines, Ontario, featured a golf ball, angled club, green grass backdrop, and blue sky with the number displayed in prominent yellow 3D lettering.
When dialed, callers encountered a distinctly unusual experience: a man with what many described as an Indian or Middle Eastern accent methodically counting from 1 to 10 in a continuous loop. The recording featured noticeable pauses after certain numbers—typically after 6, 7, or 8, though accounts vary. Some witnesses reported that after listening for an extended period, the call would culminate with a startling scream or synthetic siren sound.
Transition from Past to Present
The ownership of 1-800-GOLF-TIP changed hands around January 20, 1998, when Mayfair Communications acquired the number. This transition occurred approximately five years after the number's first documented reference in collegiate media. The timeline suggests the number operated under different management during its mysterious counting-loop phase.
Today, the number connects to an entirely different service—an adult entertainment hotline, bearing no resemblance to its cryptic origins. The physical location that once housed the billboard near the Bijou theater (which contained both an arcade and cinema) has transformed as well, with the theater demolished and replaced by a Tim Horton's establishment.
The mystery persists through digital preservation efforts, including dedicated websites like 1-800-GOLF-TIP.com where people submit their memories in attempts to piece together this puzzling telecommunications artifact.
Exploring the Number's Mysterious Past
Firsthand Reports and Popular Legends
The mysterious 1-800-GOLF-TIP phone number has generated confusion and curiosity for over two decades. According to multiple accounts, callers in the 1990s would hear a man with what many described as a Middle Eastern or Indian accent counting from 1 to 10 repeatedly. Many witnesses recall distinctive pauses after certain numbers—typically 6, 7, or 8—though recollections vary slightly. Some reports mention that if callers remained on the line long enough, a startling scream or siren sound would play, apparently designed to shock listeners.
The consistency of these memories across different sources suggests this wasn't simply people dialing random numbers. The specific combination 1-800-GOLF-TIP appears repeatedly in online searches, indicating it originated from some legitimate source rather than being misremembered or fabricated.
Digital Evidence and Web Investigations
A dedicated website (1800golftip.com) now exists where people can submit their memories of the number. The site's homepage acknowledges the collective confusion surrounding this phone number with the message: "Remember the 90s? Remember high school? Remember calling 1-800-GOLF-TIP? If you don't, you're a fraud. If you do, what was that? We're here to find out."
Research into the number's ownership revealed that Mayfair Communications appears in database records with an update date of January 20, 1998. This timing is significant because it comes approximately five years after the earliest documented references to the number, suggesting a change in ownership occurred.
Reddit Investigation Details
A valuable source of information emerged from a Reddit thread started by user "ohIgetjokes" about 10 months ago. This user shared personal experiences with the number after seeing the billboard in their hometown. They even provided an audio recording demonstrating their recollection of the automated message, imitating the distinctive counting pattern with the characteristic pause after number seven.
Another Reddit user named "ConnieLindy" discovered crucial evidence confirming the number's existence in the early 1990s—an archived school newspaper from Carleton University in Ottawa dating back to 1993 that listed the phone number among items students "liked" at the time.
The St. Catharines Billboard Connection
The physical evidence of the number's promotion came from St. Catharines, Ontario, where a billboard advertised the mysterious phone number. According to firsthand descriptions, this billboard featured:
Full color design
Close-up image of a golf ball
A club angled away from the camera
Green grass and blue in the upper left corner
Large yellow 3D lettering displaying "1-800-GOLF-TIP"
The billboard location was identified as being across from an old Bijou theater, which had an arcade on the first floor and a movie theater on the second. This building has since been demolished and replaced with a Tim Horton's. The billboard itself was relatively small, suggesting it wasn't an expensive advertising investment.
This Ontario connection is particularly significant because by 1993, awareness of the number had spread approximately 600 kilometers to Ottawa, indicating substantial word-of-mouth dissemination.
Analyzing Call Line User Reports
Caller Experiences Documented
Our analysis reveals numerous first-hand accounts from the 1990s regarding the enigmatic 1-800-GOLF-TIP telephone number. Multiple callers reported hearing a male voice with what many described as an Indian or Middle Eastern accent counting from 1 to 10 repeatedly. A notable pattern emerged across testimonials: the voice would take distinct pauses at specific numbers, though reports vary on whether these occurred at 6, 7, or 8.
Several callers mentioned that leaving the connection open for an extended period would result in a sudden loud scream or synthetic siren—apparently designed as a shock tactic. Evidence points to Canada as the number's origin, with a small billboard in St. Catharines, Ontario being the primary advertisement source.
Recollection Variations Explored
The consistency of basic elements across testimonials is remarkable, considering the decades that have passed since the number's active period. A dedicated website (1-800-GOLF-TIP.com) now collects user memories in an attempt to solve this peculiar mystery. Most significant is the uniform recollection of the exact alphanumeric combination—not GOLF-VIP or any other variation—suggesting a genuine shared experience rather than random dialing incidents.
Key differences in testimonials typically involve:
Pause placement: Most commonly reported after 7, but sometimes after 6 or 8
Duration of calls: Some users hung up quickly, others waited for the "jump scare"
Promotional awareness: Some discovered it via billboard, others through word-of-mouth
By 1993, documentation shows the phenomenon had spread approximately 600 kilometers from its apparent origin, appearing in a Carleton University (Ottawa) student publication's "liked items" list.
Voice Recording Replication Insights
One particularly valuable contribution comes from a Reddit user who grew up in St. Catharines. As a frequent caller in his youth, he practiced imitating the voice and created a sound file replicating what he remembers hearing: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... 8, 9, 10" with the distinctive pause after 7. He specifically noted the "seamless loop" quality of the recording.
This same witness described the billboard's appearance:
Full color design
Close-up image of a golf ball
Club angled away from viewer
Green grass with blue in upper left
Yellow 3D lettering spelling "1-800-GOLF-TIP"
The billboard location was identified as being across from a now-demolished Bijou arcade/theater that has since been replaced with a Tim Horton's. Database records indicate the number was registered to Mayfair Communications as of January 20, 1998—five years after its first documented reference.
Ownership and Control Legacy
Mayfair Communications' Role
Mayfair Communications emerged as a significant player in the mysterious 1-800-GOLF-TIP story. The company appeared in ownership records with the number being updated in the toll-free database on January 20, 1998. This is particularly noteworthy as it occurred approximately five years after the number had already gained notoriety among students, as evidenced by mentions in a 1993 Carleton University publication.
The company's acquisition of the number represents a turning point in the timeline. Their involvement explains part of the number's evolution from its original purpose to its later incarnation as an adult entertainment line. This transition helps explain why callers from different eras report dramatically different experiences when dialing the number.
Tracing the Ownership Timeline
The ownership history of 1-800-GOLF-TIP reveals a fascinating progression that helps explain its changing nature:
Early 1990s:
The number first appears on billboards in Ontario, Canada
Billboard locations included St. Catharines, approximately 600km from Ottawa
Callers heard a man with a Middle Eastern or Indian accent counting to ten
Mid-1990s:
The number gained notoriety through word-of-mouth
Referenced in Carleton University's student publication by 1993
Became something of a cultural phenomenon among Canadian youth
1998 and Beyond:
Mayfair Communications registers the number on January 20, 1998
The content changes dramatically from the original counting recording
Transforms into an adult entertainment line, completely disconnected from its original purpose
This timeline demonstrates how toll-free numbers can change hands and purposes entirely, often leaving those familiar with their original incarnation confused when encountering them years later.
Concluding Remarks
The 1-800-GOLF-TIP phenomenon represents a curious blend of pre-internet mystery and digital preservation. The telephone number gained notoriety throughout Canada in the early 1990s, with confirmed sightings of promotional billboards in St. Catharines, Ontario. When called, the number would play a recording of a man with an apparent Middle Eastern or Indian accent counting from one to ten repeatedly, featuring distinctive pauses at certain numbers.
Evidence from a Carleton University student newspaper confirms the number's existence as early as 1993, while database records indicate Mayfair Communications acquired the number by January 1998. The physical billboard was positioned across from the now-demolished Bijou theater, which housed an arcade on its ground floor.
First-hand accounts consistently describe the same unusual experience: the monotonous counting pattern, occasionally interrupted by startling screams or sirens if callers remained on the line. The number's current status as an adult entertainment line makes verification of historical claims difficult, though the remarkable consistency in testimonials suggests a genuine shared experience.
The preservation of this pre-internet oddity shows how collective memory can maintain cultural curiosities even decades later. While definitive answers about the number's original purpose remain elusive, the documented timeline from 1993 to 1998 provides a framework for understanding this peculiar chapter in telecommunications history.
