Two Distance Measuring Devices Allowed in Tournament Play?

[Pomps]

Hello friends...I recently received a GPS watch as a gift. I already have a rangefinder. I'd like to keep using the rangefinder to get exact distance to pin and other objects, but I like that the watch tells me front and back to the green. Question is, in tournament play, can you use two distance measuring devices? I haven't been able to find a clear answer. Thanks!

[Augster]

Yes. If DMDs are allowed in the competition, you can have an infinite amount. I use the GPS on my push cart and the laser for distances. And when playing a course I don’t know, I use my phone for a top down look at the holes. 
 

Totally legal. 

[Pomps]

Thank you very

2 minutes ago, Augster said:

Yes. If DMDs are allowed in the competition, you can have an infinite amount. I use the GPS on my push cart and the laser for distances. And when playing a course I don’t know, I use my phone for a top down look at the holes. 
 

Totally legal. 

Awesome! Thank you!

[davep043]

18 minutes ago, Pomps said:

I haven't been able to find a clear answer.

As a general rule, if something is not prohibited, its allowed.  This applies to DMDs, as @Augster so clearly says.  I'd just add the caution that you shouldn't allow  your pace of play to be slowed because you have more devices

[Mike_C]

I have used my GPS and a laser in competition for years.

 

But the real question is, do you have a green density checker?   Without it, how will you ever compete? 😉

[nsxguy]

3 minutes ago, Mike_C said:

I have used my GPS and a laser in competition for years.

 

Hopefully after checking the conditions of competition.

[Mike_C]

1 minute ago, nsxguy said:

 

Hopefully after checking the conditions of competition.

Well yes,  I always check and ask...

[BlackDiamondPar5]

And if your watch or laser has slope function make sure it's turned off. For example my Garmin Fenix 6pro has a "plays like" feature (which can be turned off) which accounts for elevation changes. Last time I checked this feature is not legal for tournament play. 

[Blonde Line Lizard]

1 hour ago, Mike_C said:

I have used my GPS and a laser in competition for years.

 

But the real question is, do you have a green density checker?   Without it, how will you ever compete? 😉

I am going to ask Santa for the nicest, bestest, most awesomeest green density checker for Christmas.

 

That is what being on the good list gets you.  If you end up on the naughty list, you get the bad Cobra driver.

[Blonde Line Lizard]

LOL.  I just re-read my post:  "bad Cobra driver."  Bad, get it?

 

B-A-D.  Just like the yardage book cover poking out of his rear end.

 

Well, I thought it was funny.

[Hawkeye77]

Just tell people you are triangulating. 

[antip]

On 7/31/2021 at 12:50 AM, Mike_C said:

I have used my GPS and a laser in competition for years.

 

But the real question is, do you have a green density checker?   Without it, how will you ever compete? 😉

And, believe it or not, some of us survive without a caddie, green reading book, lush perfect fairways, groomed perfect bunker sand etc, etc. 

Of course, we take extra shots to get around....

[Newby]

Playing extra shots is getting full value for your money. Isn't the whole point hitting balls round a field with a club.

[MountainKing]

On 7/30/2021 at 9:50 AM, Mike_C said:

I have used my GPS and a laser in competition for years.

 

But the real question is, do you have a green density checker?   Without it, how will you ever compete? 😉

 

Can you really consider it golfing if you don't get out there and check this before the sun comes up?

[nsxguy]

Welllllll, this seems to be the thread to ask on.

 

A fellow competitor today told his cart-mate a yardage that include slope adjustment. I asked him if he was using the slope function of his rangefinder and he said yes.

 

I googled usga rules for dmds. 4.3 seems to apply and DMDs ARE permitted now unless a local rule says otherwise.

 

OK, got it. BUT I cannot find anything in the Rules themselves that says the slope function is, or is not, allowed to be used.

 

The only thing I could find on the subject was a USGA "bulletin" on the new rules that claims, under "What Can't I Access", and it says "Displays of effective playing distances (e.g., slope- based and other plays-like distance information).

 

Anybody know where that's spelt out in the rules ? TIA

 

Here's the USGA "bulletin"

 

 

[rogolf]

16 minutes ago, nsxguy said:

Welllllll, this seems to be the thread to ask on.

 

A fellow competitor today told his cart-mate a yardage that include slope adjustment. I asked him if he was using the slope function of his rangefinder and he said yes.

 

I googled usga rules for dmds. 4.3 seems to apply and DMDs ARE permitted now unless a local rule says otherwise.

 

OK, got it. BUT I cannot find anything in the Rules themselves that says the slope function is, or is not, allowed to be used.

 

The only thing I could find on the subject was a USGA "bulletin" on the new rules that claims, under "What Can't I Access", and it says "Displays of effective playing distances (e.g., slope- based and other plays-like distance information).

 

Anybody know where that's spelt out in the rules ? TIA

 

Here's the USGA "bulletin"

 

 

Not sure where you're looking, but in Rule 4.3a(1), it says, "Not Allowed: Measuring elevation changes."  A DMD having the capability of measuring slope/elevation changes can be used for measuring distance but the elevation/slope function must be disabled/turned off and not used.

[nsxguy]

29 minutes ago, rogolf said:

Not sure where you're looking, but in Rule 4.3a(1), it says, "Not Allowed: Measuring elevation changes."  A DMD having the capability of measuring slope/elevation changes can be used for measuring distance but the elevation/slope function must be disabled/turned off and not used.

 

I was looking through the rule for the words DMD/slope/rangefinder and got no hits. Guess I overlooked that - didn't look for "elevation". Would've thought they'd specifically mention the device (rangefinder),,,,,,,, then again,,,,,,,,,,

 

Thanks.

[rogolf]

33 minutes ago, nsxguy said:

 

I was looking through the rule for the words DMD/slope/rangefinder and got no hits. Guess I overlooked that - didn't look for "elevation". Would've thought they'd specifically mention the device (rangefinder),,,,,,,, then again,,,,,,,,,,

 

Thanks.

I find the index for the 2019 Rules very lacking - likely due to limited time/resources prior to the Rules being issued.  The index in the previous versions was developed over many years and I'm hoping that the 2019 index will grow in usefulness as time progresses and resources allow.

[antip]

4 hours ago, nsxguy said:

Welllllll, this seems to be the thread to ask on.

 

A fellow competitor today told his cart-mate a yardage that include slope adjustment. I asked him if he was using the slope function of his rangefinder and he said yes.

 

I googled usga rules for dmds. 4.3 seems to apply and DMDs ARE permitted now unless a local rule says otherwise.

 

OK, got it. BUT I cannot find anything in the Rules themselves that says the slope function is, or is not, allowed to be used.

 

The only thing I could find on the subject was a USGA "bulletin" on the new rules that claims, under "What Can't I Access", and it says "Displays of effective playing distances (e.g., slope- based and other plays-like distance information).

 

Anybody know where that's spelt out in the rules ? TIA

 

Here's the USGA "bulletin"

 

 

As rogolf confirms, using a slope adjustment is a big no-no. General penalty first use, DQ next.

[Mr. Bean]

3 hours ago, nsxguy said:

 

I was looking through the rule for the words DMD/slope/rangefinder and got no hits. Guess I overlooked that - didn't look for "elevation". Would've thought they'd specifically mention the device (rangefinder),,,,,,,, then again,,,,,,,,,,

 

Thanks.

 

There are so many different kinds of devices measuring elevation and more will evolve so it would be rather silly to start listing them in the Rules. It is much more covering to explain what is the forbidden function or feature.