Range finders

Hi guys,

Wonder how many of you carry a range finder? Saw some very cheap ones on ebay, are these any good? Also, do you only use it when you can see the flag, or do you also use it to find distances in between say from tee to a tree intersecting a dogleg?

I'm sure you can get something good and cheap in the US or through ebay. Would appreciate any comments or recommendations on some makes and model - best if someone could help me find a good one that can be shipped to me here in Singapore?

Thanks!

I personally think the digital range finders are a waste of money. I use a mononcular from Brunell which only cost me 1 british pound and its great to have in your bag plus its simple anyone can use it.

Hope it helps

Hi Mark,

Hmm I'm not sure if you are referring to Brushnell? I seem to see a lot of that on ebay. If I am not wrong, it does not help gauge distances, but just maginifies, right? Any other things I should be looking out for in a monocular to use on the course?

Thanks!

Simon,

Thought about this many times (Ebay is good source for BUSHNELL laser range finders), in the end I decided that until there was less a of variation in distance between "Best", "OK" and "Oh Dear" then "about 150 yards to the middle" was probably accurate enough for me.

I'd say that for most high handicappers like me a(nother) set of lessons would be a better investment.

I've got a Bushnell Yardage Pro 800 that is outstanding.

Rangefinders don't do much for your home course (unless you use the Pelz wedge system, in which case knowing how far out you are is quite helpful), but I find the rangefinder a real gem playing a foreign course. Distances to hazards, into greens, to layup spots... all easily known.

Now, I don't know about MarkC's particular monocle, but IMO they're junk, and not worth the plastic they're made with. They're also called golf scopes, or laserless rangefinders. They usually involve some sort of grid and a 10x magnifier. Depending on how well the grid is numbered, I suppose they're useful for getting a ballpark to your yardage (but are completely lost on severe slope changes).

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Thanks guys. Yep I saw some models where you have to measure it up against the fixed height of the pin before it can give you a good gauge of distance, right?

So let me see if I got it right. Digital/laserless ones are generally only good for magnification and maybe measuring distance to the pin, right? And the laser ones are good for getting accurate distance to almost anything? Laserless ones cos around $15 while laser ones would be around $150 on average?

Bushnell yardage pro seems to be the only product range I see around on ebay?

The other thing is here in Singapore we are actually using meters instead of yards. I don't suppose the products allow you to switch between them? :P

Head to the bushnell site and check. I believe that some models switch back and forth, yes.

Thanks lowpost! Yep it appears that they have a switch between yards and meters. I see quite a few models there, but I guess all are upwards of USD200? I guess I will try to see if there are any other brands of laser finders here in Singapore, so I won't need to incur extra for shipping. Thanks!

are these illegal to use in comps i guess they are but just wondered?

thanks

adz

Rangefinders WITHOUT A SLOPE FUNCTION are now legal for tournament use, unless otherwise designated by the committee.

In other words, I can use my rangefinder at my club champ this year.

without a slope function oyu mean cant give you an accurate read because it doesnt recognise slopes? surely they should say you can use it if you want as it is a hinderence.


thanks

adz

just wanted to point out that if you do not know the distance you hit each club AND/OR you do not hit each clib the same distance with any consistency then, as someone else pointed out, get a lesson instead!

i understand that i don't want a range finder im just intrested to hear the ruling on them.

thanks

adz

The ruling is that they are legal, unless:

a) The tournament committee says 'no rangefinders'

or

b) The rangefinder has a 'slope' function (like the Bushnell Pinseeker w/Slope)

The slope function figures out how much above or below the pin you are and calculates the "effective" distance due to the delta in elevation.