Should you be allowed to use a GPS during a tournament?

**CG031** · July 10, 2009

My friend and I were having this discussion just a few days ago. We both play in the same tournaments, and he has a GPS that tells him pretty accurate distances, while I don't.

Personally, I think it's fine if you use it in a regular round, even for your handicap - that doesn't bother me. But when you're competing against other golfers who don't have the luxery of having a GPS, it's an unfair advantage IMO. For me to have to walk off and guess distances when we are both playing a course that we may not know, it's really unfair IMO.

What are your views on this? I'm talking specifically in TOURNAMENT play .

**senorchipotle** · July 10, 2009

My friend and I were having this discussion just a few days ago. We both play in the same tournaments, and he has a GPS that tells him pretty accurate distances, while I don't.

hell no! that's cheating. unless everyone at the tourney will be provided the same yard finder, it's blatantly unfair.

**Knockglock** · July 10, 2009

Personally, I feel that it is a slippery slope. What if someone's GPS malfunctions? I guess what would probably happen is that they would be out of luck.

I just feel like it is basterdizing golf too much. It's just a little bit too unnatural. However, I do think GPS is very cool, so I am torn. It's hard to say for me.

**CG031** · July 10, 2009

hell no! that's cheating. unless everyone at the tourney will be provided the same yard finder, it's blatantly unfair.

That's how I feel - but he's like, 'well, no one is stopping you from going to buy one.'

Well, actually there is, since I can't afford to go spend 150-300 dollars on a range finder at the moment!

**ukalum** · July 10, 2009

Nobody said life had to be fair.

Should it be illegal to use the newest technology $400 driver since not everyone can afford one? The latest irons, balls, grooves, coaches, etc??? Golfers get to choose their equipment.

While not affordable to all, that's just the breaks of the game.

**Taylor Shrake** · July 10, 2009

I honestly don't see a problem with it. As long as the equipment doesn't change the weather or field conditions, and you swing at the ball without computerized help.

**enis750** · July 10, 2009

doesnt matter to me really
although i didnt like using one
i lost my feel and relied too much on what the yardages were, rather than feeling it out
sounds stupid but its true
posted 3 of my worst rounds all year w it...since not using it, i shot MUCH better

i was looking at it from like 20-60 yds?? why...pull the 56 and go dude
its now sold and my feel is comin back!

**lazykoala** · July 10, 2009

In practice its fine, but in a tournament absolutely not. In my opinion reading distances with just the naked eye is a skill that should be used, and required in tournament play. I don't think anyone in the PGA uses one during tournaments so that should be the standard of what all golfers try to achieve. Thats what makes golf challenging and fun, utilizing many different skills that you learn in practice during tournaments.

**zeg** · July 10, 2009

I don't think they should be used. As was said above, figuring your yardage is part of the game. I really don't have any interest in using one, even for practice rounds.

I don't buy the "not everyone can afford them" reason, either. To me, it seems that the distances between fixed objects on the course are points of information. The distance between your ball and a point on the course, IMO, should be up to you and your caddy to determine. That's why, e.g., I don't have a problem with a detailed map or yardage book, but I think a rangefinder or GPS crosses the line.

**Parker0065** · July 10, 2009

I don't agree with those who think it's unfair or cheating!!!

Here's my take on it and this is from +35 years experience. I have a Skycaddie, and it works great and I believe it gives me very accurate yardages to the hole. The real question is, does it give me more accurate yardages than if I paced it off from a marker. For me, the answer is NO! I can pace the yardage just as accurate as Skycaddie.

So what does that mean, that means when you take my Skycaddie away, all your doing is slowing down play, and thats absolutely all your doing to me,,lol! I'm still going to come up with the yardage to the hole! Kind of seems like a no-brainer to allow GPS devices! For those that can't afford it then they still have the ability to pace off yardage and should be allowed the time to do so!

I think the people that get upset about GPS are insecure about thier ability to pace yardage.

Like I said, I've got a lot of experience in pacing yardage so I look at the Skycaddie as a great way to speed up play for me more than giving me any "Super Secret Advantage",,,,lol!!!!

Now all that being said,, I don't allow my son to use the skycaddie, he has to pace off the yardage. I do this for two reasons, one is the Junior Tour he plays on does not allow GPS, but the main reason is I want him to learn how to pace his yardage! I look at GPS like my parents looked at basic calculators in the 70's. Thier great to come up with quick answers but you should understand how they get those answers,,,same thing with a golf GPS!

**Fourputt** · July 10, 2009

Personally, I feel that it is a slippery slope. What if someone's GPS malfunctions? I guess what would probably happen is that they would be out of luck.

Using a rangefinder is is somehow more technological than a 460cc titanium driver? Than a 4 piece ball that comes straight out of a high tech chemical factory? When you show up on the course with a hickory shafted "spoon" and a feathery ball, then you just might be able to state your case convincingly.

In practice its fine, but in a tournament absolutely not. In my opinion reading distances with just the naked eye is a skill that should be used, and required in tournament play. I don't think anyone in the PGA uses one during tournaments so that should be the standard of what all golfers try to achieve. Thats what makes golf challenging and fun, utilizing many different skills that you learn in practice during tournaments.

And using your naked eye has improved your handicap from what to that fine 30 you now sport?

BTW, all of the distances in that oh so pure yardage book that the pros use.... all came from their caddies walking the course with one of those terrible laser rangefinders... Get real people. As long as the Rules of Golf allow them to be used, they are going to be used. I own both a laser and a GPS.... I use them in tournaments because my club has instituted the local rule that allows them. They can be used for handicap rounds even your club doesn't allow them for tournament play. That certainly doesn't mean that you have to use one though. You purists can go on wasting time stumbling around pacing off yardages or guessing at distances if you like... nobody is stopping you. But I will have my toys along and if anybody playing with me wants an accurate distance to something, I'm more than happy to provide it if it's convenient. Oh yeah... that's legal too. If even one player in a group has one he can provide the information from it to others if he chooses to do so, and most players I know will do that as long as it doesn't cause an undue delay in the game. That too is perfectly legal under the rules. All these devices do is make public distance information available faster than any other method, and when used correctly actually speed up play. If that's a problem for you, then stay away from my course.

cbetofop · July 10, 2009

I hate them. I think you should be able to judge distances without a GPS/Rangefinder or withour a Caddie walking the course if you are a pro.

But........they are legal and probably here to stay, so like other technologies they will become part of the game.

***iacas*** · July 10, 2009

But when you're competing against other golfers who don't have the luxery of having a GPS, it's an unfair advantage IMO.

You do know that you can ask him what yardages he gets, right?

For me to have to walk off and guess distances when we are both playing a course that we may not know, it's really unfair IMO.

Others have responded, but I agree with them: life's not fair. He might have a better driver than you. And how is having to "walk off yardages" unfair? You have to walk an extra 10 yards?

What are your views on this?

If the tournament allows it, it's perfectly fair. Easy question.

As long as the Rules of Golf allow them to be used, they are going to be used.

Right on. Not fair? Rules of Golf say it's fair (if, again, it's allowed by the tournament committee).

**dkinser86** · July 10, 2009

I think they should be allowed in tournament play. Not using it just slows down play. And I look at this another way. If I'm playing a tournament on a course that is very unfamiliar to me, I like having that overhead view that tells me yardages to hazards and things like that.

**mtsalmela80** · July 10, 2009

Total ownage, dont bother to opine until you change your forum handicap to at least 10!

Personally, I was close to buying a short subscription ro the new Verizon gpsgolfshot gadget, but then realized knowing exactly how far you are from the hole doesn't help when you have only about a 30% chance of acutally getting of a crystal clean shot.

**kfowler** · July 10, 2009

Unless a tournament specifically bans them, I think they're fine.

I think the best argument for using them is the pro's yardage book.

**jaragon126** · July 10, 2009

I agree with some ... GPS is awesome ... but since it's not legal in pro tournaments I don't think it should be legal in any tournaments. I know that the USGA rules allows some "local rule" that allows courses to allow or disallow them if they want ... but I think the bottom line is that they aren't legal in PGA tournaments so I don't think they should be legal in amateur tournaments either.

Lol on a side note: it's funny ... most of the time I see people with GPS ... they are HORRIBLE golfers

Edit: I do like what one of you said about speeding up play ... playing 6 hour rounds on the weekends is horrible. I do know how to pace off my distances, and I walk so I do it ahead of time so as to not slow down play. Most of the people I see play waste too much time waggling & fidgeting over the ball ... not getting their yardages. They spend 5 minutes standing over the ball, only to hit it 10 feet in front of them.

I guess the big hang up I have is that they aren't legal in the PGA so I don't think they should be legal in any tournament play.

***iacas*** · July 10, 2009

Unless a tournament specifically bans them, I think they're fine.

I believe a tournament has to specifically

allow them, not the other way around.

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Should you be allowed to use a GPS during a tournament?

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1. Should Golf GPS be able to be used during tournaments?

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