Are you allowed to use rangefinders in golf competitions?
This is the most searched question when it comes to buying a rangefinder. So to answer your question, yes it is allowed to use rangefinders in golf competition but with few limitations. In this post, we will enumerate the features of rangefinders that are legal in golf competitions and illegal features.
So before we continue, let’s see how rangefinders became legal to use during competition.
If you’re not a professional player and play for yourself or with friends you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a decent device. Also, products with the slope technology will be the best in those cases.
Just putting it out there as slope technology is one of the features banned from competition golf.
How rangefinders became legal
Earlier using rangefinders or any other electronic device during a golf competition was prohibited. But later with the development of new devices and equipment in the field of golf, the rules became less strict. Because of this few exceptions were made. So when people started using these tools, the rules became lenient. Because of this, you are now permissible to use rangefinders. But there are some conditions to be met. Let’s discuss what these conditions are. Please, also keep in mind that for some tournaments, there can be local rules in play.
What devices are legal
You can use various devices during a golf competition. Here, we will list the devices that you can use in a golf competition.
Rangefinders
You are allowed to use rangefinders in golf competitions for distance measuring. However, certain features are not permissible to be used. So if you have a traditional laser rangefinder or a rangefinder in which you can easily disable the illegal features, you are permissible to use it. But if you have a modern rangefinder where you cannot disable the features, you are not permissible to use it. You are however permissible to measure yardages, record score and share information with partners. Later we will discuss the features that are permissible and the features that aren’t non-permissible.
GPS Watches
Yes, you can definitely use a GPS watch, but there are certain conditions. Certain features are illegal during a golf competition. So have to disable these features in order to use it during a golf competition. But if you are not able to disable the, you can’t use a GPS watch during competition. You are permissible to check the weather for storms.
Rangefinder application on a smartphone
If you are only using the downloaded rangefinder application on the smartphone, it is permissible. Again, certain features are not permissible to make it legal. You can use it if you don’t use the under prohibition features of the application as well as the smartphone. You can take calls and receive notifications.
What features are not permissible
These under prohibition features are like calculators, you cannot use a calculator which advanced features, but you are permissible to use the one with basic features. Similarly, you cannot use basic features but not with advanced features. Here is a list of all the features that are illegal in a golf competition.
Slope reading feature
Slope reading feature helps to know the degree of elevation and gives to accurate yardage by adjusting the distance as per slope. You will find this feature in laser rangefinders. Moreover, you cannot use this feature during the games.
I have a separate article where I talk about the benefits of golf rangefinders with a slope if you’re considering it for a purchase.
You can only to use a rangefinder with no slope feature or a rangefinder in which you can disable the slope feature temporarily for competition.
Weather conditions
You are also not permissible to check weather conditions. Many people use it to their advantage by checking the speed of the wind. Because of this, you are not permissible to check the wind speed. You can use it to check thunderstorms. So you can only to use the device if you disable this feature.
Contact a coach
Some devices have a feature in which you can contact a trainer or coach. This feature is also not permissible in a golf competition. You have to disable this feature.
Swing analysis
You are not permissible to use swing analysis software to review your swing during matches.
Club Suggestion
There are some devices which also help you in choosing a club for the game. You are not admissible to use this feature in a golf competition.
The Play’s like
They also help to give you Play’s like information by collecting your swing data to make suggestions on your technique. It is not permissible in golf matches.
Conclusion
These are all the features that are not permissible, so if you still want to use a rangefinder for distance measuring during games, make sure you use a traditional rangefinder or one in which you can easily disable the above features.