Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 24

th
Distance Measuring Devices are becoming more common
on many golf courses-but not without a bit of controversy.
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F
22
rom the fi rst time a golfer (or a
caddie) recorded the distance of
a hole for reference in shot selection
or course management,
a controversy has simmered between
the traditionalists and the progressives
in the golf establishment. It's widely agreed
that the accurate gauging of distance is an important
element in executing most golf shots
from tee to green. Jack Nicklaus is given credit
for methodically recording yardages, and his caddie, Angelo Argea,
turned his experience working for the Golden Bear into a yardage
measuring business in the 1980s.
Surely, Nicklaus was not the fi rst golfer to benefi t from precise
yardage information. How he came about the information
may have riled traditionalists of his day-
just as the appearance of distance measuring devices
(DMDs) may rile some today.
When it comes to yardage information, the horses
are out of the barn. Most courses are plainly marked,
detailed yardage books are available at most championship
venues, and many resort and daily-fees feature
GPS devices in their golf cart fl eets. The use of
DMDs is permissible in most state and regional amateur
championships.
There are two kinds of DMDs: laser viewfi nders
and handheld GPS devices (there are smartphone
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2011
apps, but like DMDs that measure factors such as
slope and temperature, they are not allowed under
the Rules of Golf).
Skygolf, maker of the popular SkyCaddie GPS
device, says its product is ranked most accurate in
a survey conducted by Golf Datatech. The same
survey found that more golfers use SkyCaddie
" than all other rangefi nders combined. "
A salesman at the Golfsmith in Edina says sales
of DMDs there are evenly split between GPS and
laser rangefi nders, although some customers favor the latter because
no annual subscription fees are involved. Golfsmith features
a wide selection of DMDs that range in price from $299 to $499.
The Bushnell brand brings customers into the store, but then they
gravitate to the smaller Leupold and Calloway branded
products.
Golf Galaxy in Bloomington has slightly better prices,
starting at $279 and ranging up to $499, but features
a more limited selection of brands and models.
Marty Lass, the head golf pro at Edina Country
Club, stocks just one brand of DMD in the golf shop.
" I like the Bushnell because it's like using binoculars, "
Lass says. " The customer service is pretty darn good,
and it's easier to just carry one brand. "
Lass found that the after-sale support of GPS units
in golf carts, such as downloading data and managing
the annual subscriptions for his members, was his
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Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011

Contents
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - Cover1
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - Cover2
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 3
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 4
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 5
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Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 7
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Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 9
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