Etiquette with Rangefinders in Competition

[hbear]

Just a quick question since i can't find a thread related to it.

 

In competitive tournaments that allow the use of distance measuring devices, what is the etiquette in regards to sharing yardages found via those devices.

 

For example, I use mine all the time, and not to be a jerk...but rather not share the information gathered (from the device I paid for to use) to my fellow competitors.

 

I have no issues with other "general" knowledge information, like how far the hole is, what x sprinkler head says, etc....but when it comes down to exact yardage, I feel if somebody wants that information, they can bring their own rangefinder and find it. (or do the math themselves with the pin sheet)

 

Again just wondering what the proper etiquette would be in the competitive setting, in regards to casual play I could care less and will be more than happy to get a yardage for a friend.

[SadTrombone]

I paid for it to provide me a competitive advantage. If someone wants to know a yardage, they can either buy one themselves or pace it off.

 

Sorry, but no sharing for me........in competition.

 

It's different in a casual round.

 

-mini

[Bomb and Gouge]

I think it's poor etiquette to ask.

 

And I've never had someone ask me.

 

But if someone did ask for it once or twice, I'd probably give him the yardage. But if he kept on asking, I'd politely tell him to get his own.

[atlanta golfer]

With me, it depends. Sometimes in competition they put people from different flights together, in which case we are rooting for each other. In other cases when we are in the same flight, depending on personalities, maybe yes and maybe no. Usually within the first few holes you find out pretty quickly what the atmosphere is going to be.

 

But my overall approach is that in most tournaments that pay for the top 3 finishers, you really are playing for yourself against the course. I find that I do much better and have a more enjoyable time, if I just worry about myself. I noticed on the golf channel big break that is currently running, the few women who were always rooting against the others are the ones no longer there. They had to root against the others because they lacked confidence and competency with their own games.

 

I have had people in competition completely misinterpret rules in an attempt to give me penalty strokes. That really tells you something unpleasant about the person you are playing against. That is not somebody that I am going to help out one bit.

 

I'm not saying that not sharing rangefinder info is rooting against the other player. It is not. Just trying to frame my overall attitude about golf competition. I like for the other people to play well, and for me to play even better.

[DLiver]

I share my rangefinder info with anyone who wants it. IMO, if you don't want to share info, fine. But I'll think you're a tool.

[scotton]

I'm too lazy to look this up, so I'll ask it hear. Is it legal to share a laser yardage with a competitor? Wouldn't that be the same as telling him what club you hit?

[scotton]

Never mind. I think it's covered under the definitions:

Advice —

Amended to allow the exchange of information on

distance, as it is not considered to be “advice.”

[Bomb and Gouge]

Does anyone give the wrong yardage?

 

Intentionally give him ten yards shorter than the actual. :P

[xan_user]

If its 250 yards tell 'em its 80.

If its 80 yards tell 'em its 250.

Bet they quit asking !

[SadTrombone]

I think it's poor etiquette to ask.

I agree. Personally, I get more use out of my range finder at the range. I can't tell you how annoying it is to find out that a target is 83 yards away only to put it down and have the guy next to you ask "How far to the white and yellow flag?" "I don't know, I measured 83 to the blue one" "can you check the white and yellow?"

 

Are you friggin serious?

 

For the guy that thinks your a tool if you don't share, I think the tools are the ones that ask for the information. Pace it off, for Christ's sake, ya tool. :p

 

-mini

[JDorfler]

If you decide to give yardages, I would have him a 30 yard window. Let's say the yardage is 150 yards. I would say, by this thing, it's somewhere between 130 and 160 yards. Then shake it a bit like it's broken and take another look acting disgusted.

[Diesel]

i believe giving an inaccurate reading might be against the rules...

 

if you don't want to give it, don't... but giving false information is pretty lame...

[Bomb and Gouge]

Let's say the yardage is 150 yards. I would say, by this thing, it's somewhere between 130 and 160 yards. Then shake it a bit like it's broken and take another look acting disgusted.

 

Hilarious!

 

 

 

i believe giving an inaccurate reading might be against the rules...

 

if you don't want to give it, don't... but giving false information is pretty lame...

 

 

We're obviously goofing around....

 

I'm amazed at how many people have absolutely no sense of humor around here.

[Diesel]

unfortunately being on this site kinda drains you of any sense of individuality or sense of humor, from fear of being censored...

[Bomb and Gouge]

unfortunately being on this site kinda drains you of any sense of individuality or sense of humor, from fear of being censored...

 

 

I disagree.

 

I've acted like quite a jackass since joining and I've only had one post deleted. And I can't say I disagreed w/ the staff's decision.

[BigLeftyinAZ]

If i check my yardage and he asks i'll give and he has to walk off to get his own.I wont scope mine and his.He gets one yardage

[hbear]

Thanks for the replies.

[Blues Golfer]

I don't own one, so maybe if I did, I'd react differently.

 

Yardage is not a top secret piece of information. I can pace it off just fine, and take more time to make my shot. If you are fine with me walking off every shot I need to walk off, then great. You use your "competitive advantage" and I'll use my feet.

 

But if neither myself or you have one, and I walk off a yardage, and you ask "what did you find?" I'm going to tell you, regardless of whether we are competing or not, because it's just as easy for me to tell you, as watch you walk it off and get the same distance I did, 45 seconds ago.

 

That said, if I spent 300 bucks on one of those, and I'm playing with someone who decides he's going to ask me before every shot "what distance do you get?" yea, I suppose I'd get a little tired of that. I didn't buy it to be someone's caddy.

 

I guess when I play against someone with a range finder and I think I lost because they had one and I didn't, I'll think of it as a competitive advantage. Right now, I think it's a convenience.

[mjc694]

I bought one of these gizmos earlier this year, and i always share the information. Simply because I think in the end it will be good Karma for me. So if you and I are playing a match, and you ask me the distance to your target you can bet I will reach for my laser and give you the most accurate yardage I can get. Takes me two seconds, and doesnt influence my game one bit.

 

I certainly wouldnt be upset if i played someone who wouldnt share the info, but i just feel in the hope of an overall greater good, sportsmanship is more important than winning and losing.

[Dill Pickleson]

tell hime you have a sidejob as a cameraman and your taking pictures of the course and for proper etiquette you turned the flash off

[pu_golf88]

We're allowed to use range finders in all of the Indiana PGA events and the only time I've had someone ask me for a yardage is on a par 3, but then usually the other 2 (we play threesomes) have a range finder and we all just share what we got.

[SadTrombone]

But if neither myself or you have one, and I walk off a yardage, and you ask "what did you find?" I'm going to tell you, regardless of whether we are competing or not, because it's just as easy for me to tell you, as watch you walk it off and get the same distance I did, 45 seconds ago.

That works great when the balls are next to each other, or reasonably close enough that it is a good guess they will be the same or close to the same yardage.

 

What I'm talking about is when someone's 30 yards away and they want to know their yardage. No way in hell am I going to let them use my range finder to find out...pace it off.

 

Same thing at the range, I don't want to tell you what the yardage is to the water cooler at the end of the tee area. If you want to know what the yardage is from where I'm hitting at to where I'm hitting to, fine. Just don't ask me yardages to 93 different trees, tees and flags. Pace it off.

 

-mini

[KevCarter]

They always say you can learn a lot about a person by playing golf with him. You can also learn a lot about people reading threads like this... :friends:

[idiotbox]

They always say you can learn a lot about a person by playing golf with him. You can also learn a lot about people reading threads like this... :friends:

 

 

I agree. I use a GPS during tournaments and I give yardages without fail. They still have to hit the shot. Many of the other guys use lasers and we confirm yardages with my GPS. I did play a tournament with a guy who would not share yardages without anyone except his cart partner.

[SadTrombone]

They always say you can learn a lot about a person by playing golf with him. You can also learn a lot about people reading threads like this... :friends:

I agree. The sense of entitlement in American shows through right here. It amazes me that some people feel that because they are playing with you, they're entitled to you beaming their yardage too. Absolutely stunning.

 

-mini

[Blues Golfer]

Well I guess that's the point. Right now your bogey golfer can probably guess the yardage, and come within 5 or so yards of the range finder. Or they know how to pace it off. The closer to scratch, the more likely they can estimate a distance more accurately than that.

 

When these things become commonplace, if ever, a lot of people are going to lose the ability to judge that with just looking, maybe even...YOU.

 

Something to think about.

 

:friends:

[SadTrombone]

When these things become commonplace, if ever, a lot of people are going to lose the ability to judge that with just looking, maybe even...YOU.

 

Something to think about.

 

:friends:

Who says I've ever been able to "just look" and guess a yardage? I have a real hard time with it, actually.

 

It sucks at work when I'm told to (and do) report a two mile left base.....and tower says "Sir, you're about a mile out..."

 

Embarrassing.

 

-mini