Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs) have become commonplace everywhere from country club fairways to local municipal tracks.
It has truly become the 15th club in the bag for many golfers.
Sprinkler heads, fairway poles, rocks, and/or wagon wheels at 200, 150 and 100 yards have remained the good general rule of thumb for distance but most players have become spoiled with the advanced technology that is readily available and want a precise yardage.
New for 2014, golf’s governing body in Canada, Golf Canada, has approved the use of DMDs that measure distance only for all amateur championships.
Wind speed or direction, temperature, and/or elevation measuring devices are still illegal. The R&A and USGA have also decided to allow DMD’s for use in their amateur championships.
Much like the PGA and LPGA Tours, DMDs will continue to be banned for all the national professional championships and their qualifiers including Canadian Women’s Tour events, the TOUR Championship of Canada, the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.
This ruling is a fantastic example of a rule that acknowledges that 99% of golfers are amateur players and that these devices contribute to their enjoyment and playability of the game.
Dale Jackson, Chair of Golf Canada’s Rules & Amateur Status Committee commented, “With recent technological advances designed to enhance the golfer experience, our Rules Committee felt that this decision to allow DMDs was a step in the right direction without jeopardizing the spirit and challenge of the game.”
Now the biggest decision…which device should you get?
There are 3 different types of DMDs:
1. Hand Held To the Eye Devices
2. Hand Held Digital Display Devices
3. GPS Watches
Selecting the device that is best for you often becomes a personal preference. Many people who have a shaky hand or poor vision typically avoid the Hand Held to the Eye device.
Those people who do not like to wear something on their wrist while playing golf will avoid the GPS Watch. Price also plays a factor in the purchase.
1.Hand Held to the Eye Devices
The benefit of a Hand Held to the Eye Device is that it can be used on any course in the world and does not require preloaded maps. The 3 most popular companies for these devices are Bushnell, Leupold and Laser Link.
Bushnell
Bushnell’s top end device is the Pro X7 JOLT Slope. It retails for $599.99
It features a PinSeeker function with JOLT Technology to zero in on the flag (vibrates when locked on target to ensure accuracy).
The device boasts 5 yards to 1 mile (1760 yards) ranging performance, 550+ yards to a flag and is accurate to 1/2 yard.
It is supported by the E.S.P. 2 (Extreme. Speed. Precision) feature and Vivid Display Technology (VDT) for all lighting conditions.
It has HD Optics and 7x Magnification (objects appear 7x closer). There is Slope Technology that provides compensated distances for elevation changes. The device is waterproof and Tour certified.
For those players wanting a conforming device to amateur competitions (no Slope Technology) the Pro X7 JOLT is available with all the same features save the slope function. This retails for $499.99
For the most affordable Bushnell DMD check out the Tour V3 Jolt retailing at $369.99. It also comes with PinSeeker Technology with the JOLT function. It is accurate within 1 yard and has 5 yards to 1,000 yards ranging performance with 300+ yards to a flag. The magnification is at 5x and it is rainproof.
Leupold
Leupold’s top DMD device is the GX-4i² Golf Rangefinder. It retails for $624.99. It promotes the Smart Key™ technology which is a plate that is placed on the front of the device that disables all functions that are not allowed by the rules of golf.
It offers a DNA® engine that provides instant data and an improved PinHunter® 2 Laser Technology that filters out background images and makes zeroing-in on the target faster and easier with 3 different reticle options.
The device has a bright, vivid OLED display and features True Golf Range™ (TGR®) and Club Selector™.
This is a system that measures inclines, declines, altitude, temperature, and other atmospheric conditions.
It also allows you to program your typical distances for your 8, 6 and 4 iron into the unit and it will then suggest a club for you to hit based on the condition information.
It has a magnification of 6x with a maximum distance of 800 yards and can measure a pin up to 450 yards.
Leupold’s most affordable DMD is the PinCaddie retailing at $314.99. It also boasts 6x magnification, has a high contrast LCD display, has a multi-coated lens system and one-touch scan mode.
It is a conforming device that focuses on obtaining line-of-sight distance measurements to the pin through PinHunter Laser Technology mentioned above. It measures up to 600 yards and has accuracy to the flag at up to 400 yards.
Laser Link
Laser Link was originally known for its Quick Shot device that popularized the target specific rangefinder movement.
It has now developed its first held to the eye device called the XL1000 and it retails for $329.00.
It features its AccuFLAG Mode that focuses on the closest target for accurate flagstick readings versus picking up objects behind the green.
It allows you to scan the landscape to get multiple readings and offers 6x magnification. It has a range of up to 1000 yards and 300 yards to a flag. It measures distance only and is waterproof.
2. Hand Held Digital Display Devices
There are 2 main producers of hand held digital display devices, Garmin and SkyCaddie.
Garmin
The Approach® G8 is Garmin’s top of the line unit and retails for $449.99. It has 3” color multi-touch display, is preloaded with more than 30,000 international courses and offers its PlaysLike Distance to give golfers distances to the target, adjusted for uphill or downhill shots.
The Smart Notification allows you to receive email, texts and alerts on device and the PinPointer feature tells you where the pin is, even if it is not visible.
The Club Advice remembers how far you hit each club and makes a recommendation based on shot distance.
You can track your score and those of your foursome imputing handicaps and formats (eg. Match Play) and can keep track of your stats such as fairways hit, greens in regulation and putts per round.
The Get on the Green function allows you to tap the flag on the map to zoom in on the green and drag the flag to the position where you see it, giving you more accurate yardage.
It has automatic Wi-Fi® course updates and no fees or subscriptions.
The Garmin Approach G3 Golf GPS retails at $169.98 and is Garmin’s most affordable device in this class. It features a 2.6″ sunlight-readable touchscreen display and also has the ability to track the scores of up to four players.
It comes with 20,000 preloaded courses that are updated periodically with no subscriptions and no fees.
The golf course maps provide golfers with precise distance information about fairways, hazards, and greens from any point on the course. It also offers manual pin positioning.
SkyCaddie
The SkyCaddie SGX W is their high end product. The device retails for $369.95 and there is an additional charge of $119.95 for a 3 year membership or $59.95 1 year World Wide Membership or $29.95 for a Nationwide only Membership.
There are 30,000+ courses that come with the unit. It has wireless connectivity.
The IntelliGreen displays the exact shape of the green from your angle of approach and offers custom distances to the green.
The Target List displays distances to hazards, carries and layups located ahead from your position on the hole.
Their QuickVue function provides a virtual preview of the safest path from the tee to green.
Dynamic RangeVue provides multiple yardage arcs that overlay fairway landing areas and greens to allow you to select the best club for every shot much faster and provides the option to measure any shot (Mark Ball) from where you last hit it giving accurate distances for each club you hit.
The most affordable Tour level device SkyCaddie offers is the SkyCaddie Breeze.
It retails for $269.95 plus $119.95 for a 3 year membership or $59.95 for a 1 year World Wide Membership or for a $29.95 Nationwide Membership.
It delivers front, middle and back of the green distances from anywhere on the course without touching a button or aiming. It offers a digital score card and the Mark Ball feature.
You can purchase a Breeze Feature upgrade pack that would include additional features such as IntelliGreen, IntelliGreen Pro, Target List, HoleVue, QuickVue, Dynamic RangeVue and PinPoint Technology described above.
3. GPS Watches
For those players who are used to wearing a watch when they play golf, GPS Watches may be the perfect fit.
They are convenient and you don’t have to go back to the cart or your bag each time to get your device. The most popular watches on the market are Bushnell, Garmin and SkyCaddie.
Bushnell
The top end Bushnell watch is the NEO XS GPS Rangefinder Watch that retails for $229.99. It is preloaded with over 33,000 courses and measures 4 hazard distances per hole.
The battery will last for over 3 rounds in GPS mode. It features an odometer and a shot distance calculator. There are no membership or download fees
Garmin
The top of the line Garmin watch is the Approach®S4 and it retails at $369.99.
It has a Touchscreen with sunlight readable, high-resolution display. It is preloaded with 30,000+ courses and has no additional subscription fees.
The battery will last 10 hours in GPS mode. The detailed stat tracking is a great feature and it has the ability to receive email, texts and alerts.
It is waterproof to 10 meters and offers a dedicated Green View button versus scrolling through a menu.
Green View gives you the true shape from wherever you are on the course, even if you’re behind it.
You can use the touchscreen to manually move the pin to the day’s location. It also offers an odometer and can track your score.
SkyCaddie
The SkyCaddie Watch is the most popular watch in the SkyCaddie line and retails at $199.99 and requires a par membership plan for $19.95 for 1 year $49.95 for 3 years.
It has 30,000+ preloaded, updatable course maps and Intelligent automation that features auto course recognition, auto hole advance and auto distance update.
You can measure any shot and learn how far you hit each of your clubs and enter your scores for each round.
The battery lasts 10 hours in GPS mode and is rechargeable. It is water resistant to 30 meters and also serves as an odometer.
If you are in the market for a DMD you have many options. Take the time to try each device out at your local golf retailer or proshop.
Knowing your yaradage to hazards and to pins can help you select the right club and hopefully help drop your scores.
