Distance Device Debacle, Vol. 339

Jim Achenbach reports that Bushnell's devices measuring slope cannot be used in tournament play as previously reported. However players will NOT be disqualified from competitions allowing the devices as long as the slope aspect device is in his bag or pocket!

According to the U.S. Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland – golf's two rulesmaking bodies – this slope-measuring rangefinder (the Bushnell Pinseeker 1500, Slope Edition) cannot be used in tournament play. Furthermore, it cannot be used in everyday play if scores are to posted for handicap purposes.

According to Jason Seeman, national sales manager for Bushnell's golf products, the slope rangefinder is selling just as briskly as the company's non-slope rangefinder.

"There continues to be a lot of interest in the Slope Edition," Seeman said. "It shows that golfers really value this information."

In Golfweek's special report on rangefinders in the magazine's April 29 issue, Lew Blakey of the USGA Executive Committee was misquoted in regard to the slope-measuring rangefinder.

With apologies to Blakey, one of golf's foremost rules experts, here is exactly what could happen: If a player has the slope device in his bag or his pocket, he is not disqualified. But the minute he uses it to measure yardage, he is flagged with a DQ.

So will there be referrees in every group with a yellow flag to toss as soon as they think they saw the player using the slope component device, versus the normal version, which looks identical? 

But since we know referrees rarely go with every group, if a player in his group suspects it is being used, how will this be resolved? Is there a paper trail? A memory chip that the "committee" can review to see if the device had been possibly switched and used that day?

The USGA really thought this one out. 

D'Amato on Distance Devices In Wisconsin

Gary D'Amato took on the distance measuring device issue, and in particular the Wisconsin State Golf Associations's approval of them for play.  Some borderline LOL funny quotes in this one:

"Absolutely," said Rob O'Loughlin, president of Madison-based Laser Link Golf. "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. This is a big problem but if I can take 20 minutes off even a six-hour round I think they should build a monument to us."

And here I was starting to feel sorry for the fact that the devices were unapproved for play by college coaches.

"In the month of April we made deals with Oakland Hills, Oak Hill, Baltusrol and Inverness (to install Laser Link reflectors on flagsticks and provide rangefinders to members)," O'Loughlin said. "We have 31 of the top 100 Golf Digest courses. We're going to get everybody. We're going to get Pine Valley and Augusta National, eventually."

"Jim Reinhart, I have Rob on line 2 again, should I put him through?"

 The image-conscious PGA Tour hasn't approved rangefinders because of the way it would look on TV when Woods or Phil Mickelson used them. Rangefinders also would seemingly diminish the importance of caddies.

"Never say never," O'Loughlin said. "The PGA Tour is not averse to technology."

No argument there.

Where They Stand On Distance Devices

Brad Klein looks at differing views on distance measuring devices. More impressively, he lists where each state and regional golf association stands on their use in tournament play.

A few interesting graphs:

The Ohio Golf Association, normally a maverick (as evidenced by its recent decision to require use of a single tournament ball in its Ohio Champions Tournament), has sided with those who view distance devices as a boon to play, and is allowing them in all competitions this year. Jim Popa, executive director of the OGA, said the rangefinder decision had "nothing to do with the ball issue; it's based on personal experience by those who have used some of these in play."

Popa was quick to add that the OGA decision had "no commercial links involved and no sponsorship money" and that use of the devices is "up to individual competitors. If there's a downside, not everyone can afford it."

And...

Buford McCarty, executive director of the Alabama Golf Association and executive secretary of the Southern Golf Association, said he's "not convinced the (devices) will speed up play" and is comfortable with the decision of his two groups not to allow their use.

McCarty recently attended a college event that allowed the devices and that helped reinforce his associations' decision.

"We witnessed on more than one occasion players sighting distance and then walking off yardage from a fixed marker. On a couple of instances, after all this, we saw players then walk the distance from where their ball was to the green and back."

I've heard from some college coaches who said the devices actually made rounds slower, especially in the rain when players would fumble around with their device while trying to keep it dry and in its case!  No one ever said progress was waterproof.

Randy Reed is director of rules and competitions for the Maryland State Golf Association, secretary of the Middle Atlantic Golf Association and executive director of the Washington (D.C.) Metropolitan Golf Association – none of which are allowing rangefinders.

"In my 20 years of involvement in the golf association business," said Reed, "not one person has ever asked me: 'When are the golf associations going to legalize rangefinders?' " The pressure, he concludes, is coming from industry leaders, not golfers.

No DMD's In PGA Events

The PGA of America joined just about every other governing body in prohibiting distance measuring devices for their events.

Oops!

A blow for the distance measuring device in competitive play. This went out to college coaches last week: 

Subject: Division I Golf Committee Range Finders

Coach as you are probably aware, the Division I Men’s Golf Committee subsequent to the GCAA National Convention decided to reverse its position regarding the use of range finders as a local rule for the 2006 Division I regionals and finals.  In a memo received by this office on 2/28 from Mike Hermann, Chair the subject of range finders was addressed.  It is our understanding that this memo was sent by the NCAA to all participating Division I head coaches.  This ruling has no affect on individual tournaments during the 2006 spring regular season adopting the local rule regarding range finding devices.

It is our understanding, per the memo, that this issue will be revisited during the NCAA golf committee’s annual summer meetings.  For coaches who host tournaments that choose to adopt the local rule, I encourage use to provide feedback to Donnie Wagner at the NCAA. We have received positive feedback from some coaches whose events have adopted the local rule.  If you would copy our office on any feedback, positive or negative, we will create a clearinghouse for this information.

Apparently in a straw vote at the coaches convention, there were only a couple of hands raised in support of the devices for NCAA Championship play.

There were a couple hundred coaches in attendance. 

Another Distance Device Clarification

Does the latest USGA clarification on distance measuring devices speak to anything in particular?

Namely, is it an indication that there might have been a rush to approve the devices without giving the rules staff ample time to consider and clarify various scenarios that would arise?

Or are these addendums and clarifications standard issue when something previously forbidden is allowed to enter the game?

Since the announcement in September, there was this clarification on local rule wording, this announcement on the legality of such devices in USGA competition, and the latest regarding handicapping.

Tiger On Distance Measuring Devices

Tiger Woods, Masters media day, February 8:

Q. Last year on 17, you had hit a tee shot that went pretty far wide right and it took a little while to figure out the distance. Some people have argued now with the laser rangefinders being allowed that you might have been able to figure out that distance a lot quicker and just get on with it, so to speak. Just curious to know what your thoughts are on the laser rangefinders and whether you think they should be allowed on the PGA TOUR?

TIGER WOODS: No. Never, ever should be allowed on the PGA TOUR. I think that playing the game, since it's you and your caddie, and I think it puts the onus on the caddie to be efficient; you're out there as a team together. The laser advantage, the laser takes away an advantage of a caddie doing his homework and understanding what to do out there. I don't think that's right. I believe in what Stevie does, and certainly he's done some great things for me, and I think that rangefinder would certainly I think make up for some of the guys being a little bit lazier out there.

Distance Measuring Device Follow Up

The USGA has posted the proper wording for local rules related to distance measuring devices.

Also seems that they don't like being affiliated with these devices.

In establishing these usage guidelines, the USGA does not endorse or approve any brand of distance-measuring devices. Manufacturers are not permitted to use the terms “USGA approved” or the like in any product advertising. 

Then they might not want to go to this home page, where they are talking about the "official sanctioning" of the devices.

Preferred, Corporate Sponsor, Partner

Various distance measuring device companies have been circling the Golf Coaches Association of America, eager to profit off of college athletes. 

So eager is the GCAA administration to speed up play in golf, they've announced a partnership, a preferred device and a corporate sponsor. Amazingly, that covers all three makers of golf related distance measuring devices!

Bear with me. 

First, LaserLink announced yesterday that they were "partnering" with the GCAA, making official what was first posted here a few weeks ago.

“We are extremely excited to be partnered with the GCAA, and we look forward to doing our part to help to speed the pace of play at collegiate tournaments around the country,” said Rob O’Loughlin, President, Laser Link Golf. 

“The leaders in collegiate golf are making the right decision,” said O’Loughlin. “Distance measurement technology can only help these young competitors play faster and better rounds.  Gathering distance information is a time consuming process, and a process that every player goes through before every stroke.  Golf tournaments at every level could benefit from a quicker pace, and the Laser Link Distance System is the quickest and easiest way to calculate distance to the flagstick.”

And at just $250 per thing-a-ma-jig, why wouldn't he want to be a partner?

“The GCAA is excited about the impact range-finding devices will have on college golf and the options that players and coaches have to potentially speed up the pace of play,” said GCAA Executive Director Gregg Grost.  “Laser Link Golf’s system will be a great tool on the course.” 

In December SkyGolf announced they were the "preferred" rangefinder of the GCAA.

...SkyGolf, makers of the SkyCaddie "next-generation" GPS rangefinder, has been chosen by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) as the organization's preferred GPS rangefinder. This means any of approximately 9,000 men's NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or junior college golfers could be some of the first to employ SkyCaddie for critical distances during competition once the new ruling takes effect in January 2006 

And then a letter from Bushnell went out to college coaches this week. A couple of coaches forwarded it with cranky comments grumbling about now there's "even more money I have to raise" and "why do I have to use my already thin budget on this?"

Anti-capitalist technophobic agenda types are in the coaching ranks too!

From Bushnell:

Dear: GCAA Member/Coach  

We are pleased to announce that Bushnell Yardage Pro Laser rangefinders are back as a corporate sponsor of the GCAA. 

Pardon the interruption. Yes, the triple crown: a partner, a preferred and a corporate sponsor. But no official supplier yet.

Gosh, you'd think if they were really concerned about pace of play they would be handing these out for free. More Bushnell:

Currently a website is in its final stages of construction and it will be dedicated for use by GCAA members only; however, we wanted to provide you with the 2006 Bushnell Collegiate Program right away.

Key Points to remember before making your decision: (Please see attached comparison sheet)

-Bushnell is used by over 95% of the players on the PGA, LPGA, Champions, and Nationwide Tours for a REASON. 

The REASONS are: 
-Accuracy (+/- 9 inches, also Bushnell laser will give your players exact distance to the flag and not to a quadrant or generalized pin location on the green, which can be up to 5 yards off) 

-Ability to range to any target on the golf course (flag, lip of a bunker, trees, etc)
Reliability (you don’t need to worry if the course has been mapped or if it has reflectors)

Pricing Program: PinSeeker Tournament Edition (SKU # 205102): Approved for tournament play!

-This model features PinSeeker technology which allows for easy acquisition of the flag without inadvertently getting distances to background targets.  When more than one object has been acquired, the closer of the two objects will be displayed and made known to the user via the LCD display.

-This model also features SCAN which allows you to scan across the landscape while viewing a continuously updated LCD display of the distances between you and the targets acquired.

Golf Market Price $299
GCAA Price $287
Buy 9 units and get the 10th model at 50% off

Wow, what a deal! They're knocking $12 whole dollars off each model, not even 5%! The savings might cover the cost to insure these. Oh but there's more to buy...

PinSeeker Slope Edition (SKU # 205103):

-This model features PinSeeker technology, SCAN, and Slope +/-

-Slope provides the golfer with a compensated distance based upon the amount of incline or decline in a particular shot.

-This model is only legal for practice rounds and turning in scores for handicap purposes, it is NOT legal for tournament play.

Golf Market Price $339
GCAA Price $322
Buy 9 units and get the 10th model at 50% off

Yes, so if you are Oklahoma State and you have a $165 million, naturally you buy both models to show recruits how much money you have. The rest, you're on your own.

Ordering Information:

Bushnell will be at the GCAA show in Daytona Beach; however, due to very limited quantities of our New Tournament Edition, we ask that you place your orders ASAP to ensure delivery before your first event.  We are committed to you and your success with our product line and will do whatever is necessary to make you completely satisfied with your purchase.

Bushnell accepts Visa, MC, AMEX, and Discover credit cards.  If possible we urge you to please use a credit card as it will expedite your order.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email/call Margi or myself.  I look forward to meeting you and working with you in Daytona Beach.

And taking your money. 

Special Pricing!

This went out to Golf Coaches Association of America members. 

Dear GCAA Member: 
SkyGolf, a proud new Corporate Partner of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), is extremely pleased that the SkyCaddie has been selected as the preferred GPS rangefinder of the GCAA.  A full package of information on the SkyCaddie will be sent to you the first week in January, but we wanted to quickly provide you with some of its highlights and our special GCAA pricing program.
 
Highlights
SkyGolf is the clear leader in 21st century rangefinders. At a mere 4.8 ounces, our handheld SkyCaddie provides more essential data than any other system and does so quickly and from anywhere on the golf course. The SkyCaddie requires no aiming or line-of-sight, can be used close to the green, works under all conditions and uses a WAAS enhanced GPS system that is accurate within one meter. The SkyCaddie will provide your players with the necessary distances to bunkers, water hazards, doglegs, lay up points on par fives and the front, back and center of the greens. Proven in competition on the Adams Tight Lies Tour in 2005, the SkyCaddie provides all the distance information one would expect from a top PGA Tour caddie and will help your players with their course management and practice routine.
 
Special Pricing
We have established a special GCAA price of $299.95 per SkyCaddie unit, plus shipping, for your staff and team that includes five (5) years of unlimited access to the more than 8,000 courses worldwide that have already been professionally GPS-enabled by SkyGolf. This package has a total retail value of $649.95 per unit, plus shipping.  There is no monthly charge.
 
SkyCourses
The rapidly growing list of U.S. courses set up for full SkyCaddie use now numbers over 8,000 including 65 of Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, more than half the top resorts and many of the Greatest 100. A listing of these SkyCourses can be found at www.skygolfgps.com. If your home course has not been enabled for play with the SkyCaddie, we will help you obtain permission for that process, which costs the host course absolutely nothing and uses no ugly markers, reflectors or special flags.

If a particular course has not been professionally GPS-enabled by SkyGolf, a player can easily record the front, back and center of the greens on the SkyCaddie unit during their practice rounds. This simple process, which takes less than a minute per hole, will provide more information than any optical or laser rangefinder and do so instantly from anywhere on the course, even if the green is not visible.

SkyGolf Commitment
SkyGolf is strongly committed to the future of college golf and we are confident that our product and service will have an important impact on both player performance and the pace of play. We will be happy to start the process of equipping your team with SkyCaddie units.
 
Please watch for your package and should you have any questions or wish to place an immediate order for mid January or February delivery, please contact me. I have provided my contact information below. I look forward to meeting you at the GCAA annual meeting in Daytona Beach. If you are planning to attend the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando that week, please be sure to stop by our booth - #8101.
 
With regards,
Kyle Loftis
Director of Customer Support
and Special Programs 

The prospect of forking out say, $2000 (for six devices, plus tax), may not sound like a lot. But to coaches at a majority of Division I schools, it's one more expense to add to the fundraising tab (and don't forget, in five years if SkyGolf is still uh, part of the marketplace, another bill will be coming).

It remains unclear to the coaches where exactly the NCAA stands on this for competition, but they believe the organization will allow them in NCAA events.

I'm trying to think back to the many times in college golf I waited for someone to compute a yardage. Not too often. Now, time spent waiting for someone to find a lost ball or wait for a green to clear or while someone lined up a putt?  Pretty much all of the time.

So I'm still having trouble seeing how this would speed up play when all competitors are walking and doing their own yardage work. 

Then again, I had a coach recently tell me that one of his players asked him what his yardage was from...oh about 40 yards out.   

College Coaches Select Their Rangefinder

...

RIDGELAND, Miss., -- Only weeks after the USGA and R&A's decision to allow the use of rangefinders as a condition of competition, SkyGolf, makers of the SkyCaddie "next-generation" GPS rangefinder, has been chosen by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) as the organization's preferred GPS rangefinder. This means any of approximately 9,000 men's NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or junior college golfers could be some of the first to employ SkyCaddie for critical distances during competition once the new ruling takes effect in January 2006.

Hey coaches, how about helping us by selecting a preferred driver, ball, wedge, and political persuasion too?

"The Golf Coaches Association of America is comprised of some the most respected teachers in the game today," said SkyGolf CEO Richard Edmonson. "These individuals do a tremendous job preparing talented young athletes for competition at the collegiate level, as well as life after college. We're delighted to have the opportunity to help support this organization and its members, and believe our product can play a key role in helping them best position their athletes to succeed."

It's all about positioning. I wonder what they get for this positioning?

Edmonson said SkyCaddie's technology provides instant access to the vital course information golfers need to play their best golf. Now golfers have at their fingertips information that was previously unavailable, without slowing down the game by pacing and calculating, allowing them to spend more time focusing on their next shot. According to RankMark, an independent golf equipment testing company, SkyCaddie improved scores of test participants on average by 5 strokes per round and saved them up to 25 minutes per 9-holes.

Wow, no kidding?

"The GCAA is excited about the impact range-finding devices will have on college golf and potentially the pace of play," said GCAA Executive Director Gregg Grost. "We believe SkyGolf's innovative SkyCaddie GPS range-finding system will be beneficial to college players and coaches at all levels."

It's a wonder that the game survived the pre-GPS era.

No Measuring Devices In USGA Events

The USGA approves distance measuring devices, and now they ban them from their own events.

Another Distance Device Story

E. Michael Johnson looks at whether distance measuring devices will make their way to the PGA Tour.

For Immediate Release

This popped in my email box today. Keep in mind, Laser Link sponsors the Florida Open.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           October 11,  2005

The Florida Open Tests the Laser Link Quickshot Rangefinder

MADISON, WI – In an effort to keep up with the times and make golf more enjoyable for all players, the USGA and R&A reversed a long standing rule last week that now allows distance measuring devices during all play.

The Florida Open, with a few days to spare between their event and the rule reversal, quickly acted to give the Laser Link Quickshot a try in their yearly event last week in Hobe Sound, Florida at the Loblolly Pines Golf Course.  All players were provided with a Laser Link QuickShot rangefinder to get precise yardage readings.

The leaders finished their rounds in four hours and fifteen minutes.  In previous years it took five hours and five minutes on average for the professional threesome to finish play.

“We are thrilled to see the results come in from this professional golf event.  The simple fact is, faster is better for everyone, the course owners, the players and even our non-golfing spouses.  Everyone wants the game to move more quickly.  If players can get fast and accurate yardage readings in two seconds, rather than forty seconds of ‘huntin and figurin’, the game of golf benefits,” said Rob O’ Loughlin, President of Laser Link Golf.

Colby Beckstrom took first place in the tournament which was shortened to 54 holes by rain with a score of 202.  “The Laser Link rangefinder was just a great tool.  I used it on every shot to the pin.  It helped my game.  It allowed me to concentrate on the shot and I didn’t have to worry about the yardage,” said Beckstrom.

Well I don't know about you, but I'm sold!

Seriously, it's great that Laser Link is willing to donate the "Quickshot" for free for all of the tournament players, and since they are determined to speed up play and their product works, why, I can only hope they'll continue to donate these $300 devices.

Distance Devices and The Tour

During Sunday's AmEx WGC telecast from Harding Park, Mike Tirico was surprised when colleagues Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger said they were in favor of using distance measuring devices on the Tour. Faldo noted that he was curious if they would speed up play and liked the idea of not having to play practice rounds, while Azinger said he doesn't know how to play without his device when golfing at home.

So let's say they make them legal for Tour play. And the players are tackling a course like Harding Park, where the greens are relatively firm.  The players thus are not that just interested in the distance to the flagstick.

Yes, they want to know it, but yardages to the front of the green, left or right of the hole, over a bunker, etc... are just as important in the process of determining what shot to play if the ground is at all firm.

Anyone who has used a binocular style rangefinder knows that they are not reliable enough to gauge distances over bunkers or to specific areas of turf.

The Laserlink device only provides a yardage to the flagstick containing a prism.

So if the ground is at all firm, the caddy will still use a yardage book to provide the player with the yardages to the front, over hazards and to areas away from the flagstick.

How does that speed up play on the PGA Tour?