Laser Rangefinder

[Marty Bonnar]

Guys (and occasional Gals), Golfers, Hunters, Architects,
I'm considering the purchase of one of the above (NO, certainly not for use whilst playing) for checking/confirming distances whilst out on site.
Any observations/recommendations?

FBD.

[Bye]

Just bought a new Yardage Pro, seems pretty good. Much smaller and better then the "first generation."

[RJ_Daley]

I don't own one, but have borrowed them to walk about a site that I thought would make a good course in Nebraska to check distances.  I found it a little hard to aim it to the spot on the bare ground where I thought an LZ ought to be and wanted to see what distance that was from a potential tee, or find distance to potential greensite.   But, if you can take out an object like a black cardboard clapboard stand and place it, you can get a better bouce back.  But, maybe they are already better than they used to be some 3 years ago.  I would think they would be as useful as a pencil nowadays for archies...

[Bob_Huntley]

I used one the other day on our shag range, to determine the distance my wife could hit her various clubs. It is best used with a square of cardboard or wood so that you have a definitive target. Without it, one can aim at a tree and get some pretty weird results.

[Pete Lavallee]

I own the first model made by Bushnell (looks like a pair of binoculars) and find it's not worth much on the golf course. You can sight to the flag, if it's less than 125 yards, with ease. However over this distance it will not always give a reading. It does work better on red flags, probably due to the infrared laser. Although the higher numbered models advertise a greater distance, I wonder if they do a better job with routine golf yardage chores?

[ForkaB]

FBD

Why not just buy a cart (buggy) equipped with GPS and cut out the middleman?

[Brad Swanson]

I have the longest advertised range Bushnell pair (about 2 yrs old) and after figuring out how to keep it steady, I can get accurate yardages up to and over 250 yards.  I easily get readings from bunker lips, trees, flags (over 200yds is tough), etc.  When I was recently out visiting a proposed new course site, I thought it would be a useful tool for someone in the field.  I keep it well hidden when playing with other GCAers.  

Cheers,
Brad Swanson

[paul cowley]

   fbd ........i currently use a bushnell 1000 vardage pro ,affordable? ,small objects [flags] 200+ yds ,..............treetrunks ,bunker lips etc ,up to 400 plus yds,..............trees, trucks ,barns maybe 600yds ..............[above yds are hand held and can vary with light and weather conditions and weather i've been drinking],[then it can be 2000,30000 yds , i can't always tell.. i mean who really knows how  far  such and such star is ,know what i mean fbd ?][sometimes if i'm looking at the dirt it might only be a yd  or yd and a half ,im 5' 7'' and the difference could be if im stooping or falling over while i click the little button on top]............hope this helps you with your decision.....