[Matt_Cohn]

Today I played my first round in over 9 months without using a laser rangefinder. Thoughts:

I probably spent an extra 15 minutes per round looking for sprinklers, adding numbers, etc, compared to using a laser. Maybe more.

The lack of rangefinders made hitting the fairway more important because there were no marked sprinklers in the rough. Getting an accurate yardage from the rough was a chore. Players weren't penalized much for a wayward teeshot - but they were inconvenienced.

Between my scorecard, my pin sheet, and my notated yardage book, I felt like a walking file cabinet.

So, a question for the anti-laser crowd: There's a system in place for getting exact yardages - marked sprinkler heads, pin sheets, pacing, measuring. Using this system takes a long time. Lasers provide the same information but in less time, improving pace of play. Therefore, lasers are good.

Where do you see a flaw in that argument?

[Rich Goodale]

Matt_

The only flaw is that GPS-based systems are better.....

Rich

[Shane Gurnett]

Matt, what did you shoot?

[Matt_Cohn]

151 for 36 holes, not nearly good enough. One under for the last 15, but +8 for the first 21.

Results here: http://ncga.org/07tourney/qualify/uspublinx_coyote.php

[Shane Gurnett]

So it didn't make any difference then?

[John Kavanaugh]

Gas carts are faster then electric ones.  Sometimes when I am forced to walk I take longer and don't play as well because I get tired.

[John_Cullum]

Gas carts are faster then electric ones.  Sometimes when I am forced to walk I take longer and don't play as well because I get tired.

You really need to step up to individually owned carts. They are much faster.

I don't own one but most of my friends do. A fivesome gets around in less than 3 1/2 hours at my home club, traffic permitting, and I get to ride for free

[John Kavanaugh]

I do own my own cart and yes it is faster for each to take their own.  It also makes it easier to skip holes when people get in the way.

[Dan Herrmann]

I have a Sky Caddy and really like it.  It's more accurate than a sprinkler and it's a lot faster.

[John Kavanaugh]

I play faster when I don't putt out.  Seriously, putting everything out may be the one slowest element of golf.

[John Kavanaugh]

If I am forced to play with optical enhancers I have decided that I can tolerate a Skycaddie easier than a goggler.  I really hate the George Patton stance some of these guys take while trying to focus on the flag.  Remember the pearl tipped ball marks on old Footjoy gloves...the subtle beauty of the game is slipping us by.

[wsmorrison]

I don't care for them, though it doesn't bother me when others use them.  We go out sometimes in the late afternoon to play, when caddies aren't required, without yardage books and no indications of distance anywhere on the course.  It doesn't take long to figure out approximate distances and play by feel.  It is possible to learn distances from trees or other landmarks and approximate from there.  We can go out in a fivesome and finish in 4 hours.  There's no walking back and forth to sprinklers, pacing off more accurate distances and standing there mulling over what club to hit in between club situations.  It is old fashion golf and lots of fun.  I think also it makes for a better player.  

That isn't to say that I don't ask for distances from my caddy when I use one or I don't check indicated distances on our other course.  But the freedom of playing with less information is enjoyable.  I would use the information at hand, but have no interest in relying on an electronic device.  To each his own, but I would never get a range finder or GPS system.  It introduces more of the modern world than I care to let in.  OK, I use a Titanium driver and steel woods.  However, I draw the line at electronic aids.  That is what they are and are not information available to all...especially at those prices.

[redanman]

-Farsighted individuals will struggle with rangefinders.
-Bushnell optics are definitely very finicky - take great care not to scratch
-Cart based GPS probably is more handy than in and out of the pocket or holster

There are lots of pros and cons. Range finders are good for those that they are good for.

For me it's just one more step using a finder and Being the dinosaur that I am, I mostly prefer to play off Kirby and the like markers. I'm definitely a minority, but I do like a pin sheet.  

[Peter Galea]

I'd rather have a caddie, then "he" can do all the ciphering.

[Brad Swanson]

   With the number of people here that complain that  rangefinders are too hard to use, there must be quite a few GCAers that suffer from the yips with such unsteady hands.  I have no problem with my Bushnell from 230 yards and in and I can routinely get those distances in 5 seconds or less.  

   When playing with Tiger Berhardt at Lawsonia, my rangefinder varied as much as 10 yards from this GPS cart readings, and I'm quite certain that my rangefinder was spot on.  I've never tried a Skycaddie, but I can easily get carry distances for drives over fairway bunkers, and distances to other critical landmarks in a few seconds with my rangefinder.  I'm sure the rangefinder saves me considerable time from pacing things off when I do use it.

Cheers,
Brad

[David Wigler]

I find that SkyCaddies work best for slow golfers but not so well for golfers who play quick.  Apparently it takes a while for the satellites accurately up-link the new distances.  I bought one last year.  I love that I can attach it to my bag and it is a discreet and extremely quick and efficient way to give me distances.  It annoys the heck out of me though on back pins where it reads 140 to the back edge, I hit what should be a perfect shot, fly the green, then go back and look and it now reads 132 back edge.  I finally broke down and bought a bushnell pinseeker.  When i get to the ball, the difference between the two devices is typically 5 - 8 yards with the SkyCaddie always being longer.  By the time I have hit, put away my club and started to walk again, the distance is usually less than 2 yards.  

I cannot imagine an argument where these do anything but speed up play.  While the shortest hitter in our group is lining up his shot, I get my distance.  By the time it is my turn to hit, I have club in hand and a distance that i trust completely to make a swing.  

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm sure that optical enhancers speed up play for the hit and runners.  I, like most golfers, play 95% of my golf on my home courses where I know the exact distance before I even reach the ball.

[David Wigler]

John,

I know it might sound funny but even though I play 80% of my golf at PHCC, I do not.  I have a rough idea, but I make a much more confident swing when I know it is 141, as opposed to about 145.

Many GCA'ers played high level competitive golf, so maybe they learned to trust their instincts better than me.  I really like that exact yardage.

[Jim Colton]

I love my Bushnell, and agree it has been very useful and has sped up play.  The carts at my course have GPS, but I walk 90% of the time, and I noticed that on a couple of holes in particular, the yardage on the GPS always seemed to be off, about 8-9 yards off the laser.  However, it's easy to become addicted to the range finder, and it's a tough adjustment when you play in a tourney or something where you can't use them.  My rangefinder also kinda gave out on me after about a year of heavy use -- I need to send it in to get the optics realigned.

[Brent Hutto]

I love that I can attach it to my bag and it is a discreet and extremely quick and efficient way to give me distances.

Yep, that's the reason I bought mine.

It annoys the heck out of me though on back pins where it reads 140 to the back edge, I hit what should be a perfect shot, fly the green, then go back and look and it now reads 132 back edge.

If I ever quit using my SkyCaddie altogether it will be because of this issue. I'm usually the shortest hitter you refer to so I have to hit as soon as I get to my ball. On some days it seems to be able to keep up with me but on others I just ignore the numbers unless I can get in place while someone else is hitting and let it settle down.

At my home course it usually comes down to whether I'm in the first group off the tee or not. Usually if there are a couple of foursomes in front of us I'll be waiting on every shot and any delayed update of the SkyCaddie is moot. But if we're playing in an under-3:45 pace and I'm hitting first on most shots I just wing it on distances. Fortunately, as John points out on ones home course a guess as to distance is usually pretty accurate. Still, I didn't spend 300 bucks to have to eyeball distance half the time.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Matt,

The flaw lay in failing to realize you lack the skill, but not ability, to play "off the "grid."

You've not developed this skill because you're dependent on technology (using the root def of "useful knowledge"), and technology replaces skill.

Barring poor eyesight, you have the ability to develop the skill. It's up to you whether to do so. If you do, you will find the whole concept of "yardage" is a "technology" you no longer need: your decisions won't come from guessing the yardage but from guessing the club, and the shot.

One bonus for you is that while you may fear error from not knowing the distance, you will not make as many errors stemming from overconfidence in your abilities. Your decisionmaking will improve.

Mark

[redanman]

  With the number of people here that complain that  rangefinders are too hard to use, there must be quite a few GCAers that suffer from the yips with such unsteady hands.  I have no problem with my Bushnell from 230 yards and in and I can routinely get those distances in 5 seconds or less.    

Yips?

Let's putt for quarters, shall we?

Whatever .....

But:
Where do you keep the rangefinder?
-Belt?
-Bag?
-Do you play cartball?

I had a real problem with where to put it and taking it in and out of the case as I did not want to scratch the optics, so I returned it.

I also in general agree with the comment that they are better for making slow players play faster, but they slow down fast players.

[Brad Swanson]

  With the number of people here that complain that  rangefinders are too hard to use, there must be quite a few GCAers that suffer from the yips with such unsteady hands.  I have no problem with my Bushnell from 230 yards and in and I can routinely get those distances in 5 seconds or less.    

Yips?

Let's putt for quarters, shall we?

Whatever .....

A little defensive today, Bill?

But:
Where do you keep the rangefinder?
-Belt?
-Bag? Yes
-Do you play cartball?

I had a real problem with where to put it and taking it in and out of the case as I did not want to scratch the optics, so I returned it.

My Bushnell comes with a stretchy cover that remains attached and is easy to pull off, get yardages, and put back on, so no worries about scratching the optics.  It does take some practice to become efficient with using the rangefinder as far as not wasting time with it.

I also in general agree with the comment that they are better for making slow players play faster, but they slow down fast players.

Bill,
   I walk, and 99.99% of the time I have 3 guys hitting their second shots to par 4s/5s, etc before me, so I have all the time I need to get the distance to every landmark I could ever want/need before its my time to play.  In addition, being a publinxer, I usually am suffering through a 5+ hour round on the rare occasion that I do play, so I nearly always have ample time as I am waiting on nearly every shot during the round.  I place it in the large side pocket of my Ping carry bag, as I rarely ride.  I have my rangefinder out of the bag and my yardage to the pin in less than 10 seconds.  I would say that I am a pretty quick player compared to others of similar skill, so your general rule does not apply to me.

Oh, BTW, we'll play a match straight up if/when we get the opportunity to play for beverages, putting is not my strong suit.

Cheers,
Brad

[Mike Hendren]

The moment of truth is when the clubhead strikes the golf ball - not when you pull the trigger and get some digitally displayed number.  A gizmo that reads the green is next.  

I'm astonished that anybody that belongs to this web-site would own one.  Honestly.  Why not just call your mommy up and have her send your blankee over.

Fie on ya'll.

Mike

[Dan_Callahan]

Yardage from caddy = good

Yardage from yardage book = good

Yardage from sprinkler head = good

Yardage from rangefinder = bad

Huh?

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