You see professional golfers and their caddies walking off yardages, checking detailed books, and having intense conversations, but have you ever wondered if they can just simplify things with a laser rangefinder like the one in your bag? The answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. This article breaks down exactly when and where pros can use rangefinders, the specific rules they must follow, and why many still rely on the time-tested methods.
As of 2019, the Rules of Golf were updated to permit the use of Distance-Measuring Devices (DMDs), which includes both laser rangefinders and GPS units. However, this permission comes with a significant condition: their use is only allowed if a "Local Rule" is enacted by the committee in charge of the competition. Without this specific Local Rule in place, they remain illegal in competitions.
This means for professional golf, the decision isn’t up to the player, it rests with the tour or governing body running the event. The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, PGA of America, and LPGA all have their own policies. So, a player might be able to use a rangefinder at one tournament but have to put it away the very next week.
This Local Rule (officially "Model Local Rule G-5") is the gatekeeper. It explicitly states that a committee can choose to allow a player to get information on distance by using a DMD. If a tournament organizer decides to adopt this rule, players are free to use them, but if they don't, it’s back to the traditional methods.
For decades, getting an accurate yardage in professional golf was a true art form. It was a skill that separated the best caddies from the rest. The process was a mix of science and feel, built on a foundation of meticulously prepared information.
The introduction of laser rangefinders and GPS was a seismic shift. Initially, there was significant resistance to allowing them in professional events. The arguments against were rooted in tradition and the spirit of the game. Some believed it would diminish the caddie's role, turning a highly skilled partner into little more than a bag carrier. Others worried it would slow down play, with players zapping every possible target instead of relying on their prep work.
The turning point came in 2021 when the PGA of America announced it would permit rangefinders in its three major championships: the PGA Championship, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. This was a landmark decision that signaled a major philosophical shift at golf’s highest levels, prioritizing pace of play and data by giving every player access to the same fundamental distance information.
The rules can feel like they change depending on which channel you're watching, because they do. Here's a simple breakdown of the current stance on major professional tours:
This is arguably the most important rule of all when it comes to DMDs in professional competitions. Even when rangefinders are allowed, one feature is universally banned: the slope function.
A standard rangefinder gives you a direct, line-of-sight distance to the target. A rangefinder with a slope feature takes it a step further. It measures the angle of elevation change between you and your target and calculates an adjusted, "plays-like" yardage. For example, a shot that measures 150 yards but is significantly uphill might "play like" 162 yards. The slope_enabled device does this calculation for you.
Under the Rules of Golf, accessing this type of information is illegal in competition because it goes beyond just measuring distance and enters the realm of providing direct playing advice. This is considered a fundamental skill that the player must determine on their own.
The penalty for using a device to measure slope or other variables (which we'll cover next) is severe:
Pros using rangefinders in tournaments are extremely careful to ensure their device either doesn't have a slope function or that the function is verifiably turned off.
The restrictions don’t stop at blocking the slope feature. The rule is designed to ensure these devices serve only one purpose: measuring distance. They cannot be used to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player's shot. These prohibited functions include:
In essence, the device is allowed to tell you "how far," but it can never tell you "how to." The skill, judgment, and strategy required to pull off the correct shot must remain entirely with the player and their caddie.
With rangefinders allowed in some of the biggest events, you might wonder why players on the PGA Tour don't push for them more. Even when they can use them, many pros still lean heavily on their yardage books. The reality is that a simple number to the pin only tells a fraction of the story.
The In-Depth Yardage Book: A pro's yardage book contains data a laser just can’t provide. A laser can give you a number of 165 yards to the flag, but the book will tell you:
The laser gives a number, the book provides the context. Pros and caddies use information from the book to choose a "real" number, a specific target landing spot that might be several yards different from the laser's direct measurement.
The Player-Caddie Relationship: Golf at the professional level is a team sport of two. The a dialogue between a player and caddie is about much more than getting a number. It's a conversation about strategy, feel, and commitment. The caddie might say, "It's 172 yards, but with this helping wind, it will play like 166. Remember that smooth 7-iron you were hitting on the range? That’s the shot here." This kind of advice, affirmation, and strategic partnership can't be replicated by a piece of technology.
Rhythm and Pace: For a well-prepared team, the traditional method is exceptionally fast. As they walk to the ball, the caddie is already calculating the yardage from known points. By the time they arrive, the player has a definitive number and can begin their pre-shot routine. In some cases, waiting for a player to zap multiple targets - front of the green, back of the green, carry a hazard, the pin - could actually be slower than the established, fluid process of the traditional method.
While you might see a pro use a rangefinder in a major championship like the PGA Championship or across the LPGA tour, it's not a universal tool in professional golf. The use of these devices depends entirely on the Local Rules set by each tour for each event and always forbids advanced features like slope calculation.
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