Probably giving away the farm on this one but . . .

Why has no one made a GPS unit with a Laser range finder built in.

Laser ranging tied to direction of aim would make adding points and mapping your own courses an absolute wet dream.

Thoughts?

Did putting that idea here just cost me millions of dollars ?

:)

I think others have raised the question and it would seem to combine the best of two worlds. I would assume that integrating optics and the electronics just makes for something too bulky, or more likely, too costly since a good laser device and a good GPS are at least a few hundred dollars each. As for making mapping easier or more accurate, I don't know how such a device could translate a laser reflection to a geographical coordinate of both latitude and longitude used in GPS since all a laser measures is distance.

If GPS course mapping was more reliable (handled by the course pro or superintendent), there'd be no need. I also think courses could use more marking - there are enough posts and other items out on the course to provide enough info so that no measuring devices are needed.

Every course could be marked and mapped almost instantaneously if they would allow a few golfers to fully and accurately mark them in exchange for a free round or two. That's a cost that could be theoretically $0 and improve everyone's golfing experience. Imagine being able to see a distance on all stakes and some well-placed markings on the course and paths and not needing a rangefinder or GPS....

What would you do if one device stated 110 and the other stated 100? This could very easily happen pinning these two devices against each other. It is easy for a manufacturer of one device to say the competition is wrong, much more difficult when you combine these devices.

Just a thought. Of course the cost issue is a good one as well.