| Almost every golfer knows that they would play | | | | LASER RANGE FINDERS |
| better golf if they had their own caddy, but | | | | Laser range finders are a hand-held device that |
| unfortunately caddies do not come cheap these | | | | uses a laser to rebound of an object and back |
| days. The good news is that there are two | | | | into the unit, this then gives you an accurate |
| alternatives for the amateur golfer, you can have | | | | reading from the flag to your ball, you will need a |
| a GPS style range finder or a laser type range | | | | reasonably steady hand for this operation as you |
| finder, both types have been granted as legal for | | | | might be picking up a target other than the flag. |
| amateurs to use in competition by the USGA and | | | | When you look through the viewer and focus on |
| the R&A. In this article I will explain what the | | | | the flag a small circle appears around the flag on |
| differences are among the two types, you can | | | | the screen, this means you have locked the laser |
| then make an informed decision on which type | | | | on to the flag and it will give you a very accurate |
| would suit you best. | | | | yardage reading to the pin. When you are looking |
| GPS RANGE FINDERS | | | | to purchase this type of unit make sure it has |
| The GPS range finders work via a satellite, you | | | | this option installed on it, this makes sure the laser |
| download a map of the courses you are going to | | | | is hitting the flag and not a different target. |
| play for which there is a fee involved when | | | | One big advantage of this type of unit is that you |
| downloading these maps. With some types you | | | | can aim the laser at different hazards on the |
| have to make a yearly payment to receive the | | | | course to give you the yardage to help you |
| maps or you can get them as pay as you go if | | | | make your decision on what club to take, this is |
| you prefer, you should remember that this | | | | really helpful when you are playing the golf course |
| payment is on top of your purchase price of the | | | | for the first time. The range finders also help you |
| unit this might work out expensive if you intend | | | | to complete your round in a reasonable time, as it |
| on playing different courses. | | | | removes the task of walking up and down the |
| When you arrive at the first tee you should make | | | | fairway looking for yardage markers to get your |
| sure the GPS unit is switched on, the satellite then | | | | distance to the pin. This is probably one of the |
| starts tracking your position when you are on the | | | | reasons that the USGA and R&A decided to |
| golf course, when you are ready to play your | | | | make them legal for amateur competitions. |
| approach shot the GPS will give you three | | | | There is one very important factor you should |
| different yardages. One will be to the front of the | | | | know before you buy your range finder, you |
| green and one to the middle of the green and | | | | must know how far you hit your clubs, it is no |
| one to the back of the green, it will not give the | | | | good knowing the yardage to the pin if you do |
| exact distance to the pin as accurately as a laser | | | | not know how far you hit a certain club. The |
| range finder would, this could be a slight problem if | | | | easy way for you to check this is go to the |
| you are looking for pin point accuracy in your | | | | practice ground and hit 30 balls with your eight |
| shots. Some GPS units have a map on the screen | | | | iron, then pace from the tee to roughly where |
| that lets you know where the hazards are | | | | the center of the balls lie this will give you your |
| located on each hole you play, this could be an | | | | average for your eight iron. Then all you have to |
| option you might look for when purchasing your | | | | do is just add or minus ten yards for each club |
| range finder. One problem you might come across | | | | you are going to use, for example, if your eight |
| when using this system is the weather, on | | | | iron average is 150 yards then your seven iron |
| occasions in bad weather it could block the unit | | | | would be good for a shot of 160 yard distance, |
| from receiving the satellite signal, but if the | | | | you will need to know this before purchasing a |
| weather is that bad then you probably should be | | | | GPS or laser range finder. |
| in the clubhouse any way. | | | | |