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

[jaragon126]

I voted no, not because it's unfair but because it's against the rules in the rulebook (as Fourputt mentioned). Yes I do see that as a side note in the rules it says that any local committee can change the rules as they want ... but techinically the rule states that "the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner: b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play;".

It's a weird rule, and one that I wish would go away because the pace of play implications of using a distance measuring device are awesome ... but technically the rule states you can't use a device that measures distance.

Am I wrong?

[iacas]

As of now, the Rules do not allow you to use "artificial devices" or"unusual equipment"

I think everyone's assuming that the tournament is allowing rangefinders. It was disingenuous at best of you to quote a rule without citing the local rule exception.

Measuring is legal. If a rangefinder's legal, it's just one METHOD of measuring. If you think it's "unfair" to have a different "method" than anyone else, then you must think it's also unfair that some players ride in a cart while others walk (though which one has the advantage, I don't know). Or maybe it's unfair to use Stack and Tilt, since that's another method of swinging. Or putting left-hand low, yet another "method" of doing something that's otherwise perfectly legal.

Am I wrong?

Yes, you're wrong. Committees can't just make whatever they want legal. The USGA has specifically made it acceptable for range finders to be used, legally, at the committee's discretion.

Again, I think everyone's answering the question assuming that the committee in this fictitious "tournament" has enacted the provisions the USGA allows. If not, it's not just unfair, it's illegal.

[David in FL]

Am I wrong?

If a local committee specifically allows it, then I'm afraid so.

[Fourputt]

I voted no, not because it's unfair but because it's against the rules in the rulebook (as Fourputt mentioned). Yes I do see that as a side note in the rules it says that any local committee can change the rules as they want ... but techinically the rule states that "the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner: b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play;".

Yes you are wrong. If the committee or club chooses to institute the local rule then it IS the rule. It isn't a "side note". It is no different from any other local rule. If a local rule is in force then it IS a rule of golf. Read Rule 33-8a and Appendix I.

The committee or course cannot simply "invent" a local rule and put it in force. To be legal, it must be approved by the USGA or R&A; rules committee. There are a great many local rules that have been reviewed and approved by the ruling bodies (USGA and R&A;) for use as needed. Some exist for protection of the course or environment, some for necessity because of a peculiarity in the design of the course, some for temporary conditions, and some, like this one, because there really wasn't a good reason not to. My understanding is that the only reason that it isn't a regular rule is because the R&A; balked at that and the USGA had to settle for this compromise.

[kfowler]

I lol'd. Only using one club. Imagine someone teeing off with their putter!

Van de Veld played the same famous 18th hole he lost the Open on using a putter to see if he could beat his score. He tied it with a 7. HA!

[iacas]

Van de Veld played the same famous 18th hole he lost the Open on using a putter to see if he could beat his score. He tied it with a 7. HA!

It's actually better than that:

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/briti...bob&id;=4308812

Source: URL linked On his third try, Van de Velde made a double-bogey 6 using only the putter.

[whip_it_out]

I think everyone's assuming that the tournament is allowing rangefinders. It was disingenuous at best of you to quote a rule without citing the local rule exception.

And you're assuming I didn't try, which is only about half correct. I made a quick skim over the USGA's website and a google search to try and find his exception, not to find it, then stopped meaning to resume that search after a while.

Had I not had an absolute brain fart, I would have noticed it was at the nottom of the page . I know of that exception, and should have included it in my original post.

[whip_it_out]

You treat it as if you are somehow more principled than those of use who will use them. It isn't a matter of principle, it's a matter of the Rules of Golf, pure and simple.

But I'm not going to defend my point here, and then go completely defy myself. That would complete hypocrisy. You may think I'm an idiot for that, but that's okay.

[rshelton]

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.

Are you freakin' kidding me? The caddies have the courses mapped nine ways till Sunday. Only it's done pre tournament and written down in their yardage books. If you think the players are "eye ballin" the yardages, you're nuts (nothing personal

). I don't think whether someone can afford a GPS has anything to do with it. Like someone said earlier, not everyone can afford the latest and greatest club/ball technology, but no one whines about that.

[CG031]

Are you freakin' kidding me? The caddies have the courses mapped nine ways till Sunday. Only it's done pre tournament and written down in their yardage books. If you think the players are "eye ballin" the yardages, you're nuts (nothing personal

I believe he's referring to PGA tour pro's using them during their Thursday-Sunday rounds on the course.

[walk18]

I have yet to see a good argument here against GPS.

Pros have caddies, we don't. And since they're way better than us, shouldn't we at least have the same information? Like the game isn't hard enough. You still have to hit the shot.

Not fair because not everyone can afford it is BS and has been rebutted by the better equipment argument. The cost is same as a couple rounds of golf at most. It's not that you can't afford it, you're just too cheap to buy it.

Have fun pacing off yardages, and let me play through.

[uppi]

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!

LOL. I had a buddy I played with a few weeks back, he had just gotten a GPS device. from 20 yards in he would be looking at his GPS then looking at the hole to try and confirm his distance, I was just thinking "DUDE< your 20 yards in, its a feel shot" he would then procede to shank his chip to the right side of the green lol.

Anyways, I dont believe that GPS finders should be allowed in tournament play. The pro's cant use them, why should amateurs get to. It takes away from the game in my opinion. You could say the same about the golf club technology thats out now (specifically to me the adjustable drivers are are little unfair in my opinion). To me that was always a big part of the game, was using your brain and some judgment to decide what distance you have. Look at various markers around the course, putting all the information together (wind, pin placement, yardage markers, slope and choose the correct club based on the information you have.) Its not just the yardage to the hole that I think gives players a huge advantage. These GPS devices now will show you a mapout of ALL hazards on the hole, yardages to those, correct for slope adjustments, etc. That is a huge advantage, especially that person has never played the course before. The same thing with these new adjustable drivers. Rather than fix a slice by working on ones swing, people with severe slices will just adjust the driver so they can keep the same crappy swing, but hit it straight. Its like a handicap for the handicap, and I think these kinds of things are ruining the game.

[iacas]

These GPS devices now will show you a mapout of ALL hazards on the hole, yardages to those, correct for slope adjustments, etc.

The ones that "correct for slope" are already illegal in tournament play.

That is a huge advantage, especially that person has never played the course before.

Not nearly enough to make up for the DISadvantage of never having played it before, though, huh?

Its like a handicap for the handicap, and I think these kinds of things are ruining the game.

Pros "can't use them" during tournaments, but they use them extensively to build a yardage book that's virtually as accurate. They may as well use 'em in a tournament - they're effectively doing so already.

Pros have had these accurate yardage books for a long, long time now. So, the game is ruined? NB: this isn't a "should GPS be against the rules" thread - it's a "should I use my laser or GPS when not everyone in the field has one?" thread.

[David in FL]

NB: this isn't a "should GPS be against the rules" thread - it's a "should I use my laser or GPS when not everyone in the field has one?" thread.

I'm guessing it's more of a "should someone else be allowed to use their's when I don't have one?" thread.......

[ElWagonne]

I'm voting yes on this one. The pro's being unable to use them is a faulty argument at best and can almost be manipulated to support the use of rangefinders IMO. It doesn't slow down play either, as I played a round yesterday with another guy, both of us had Skycaddies and we finished in around 3 hrs. And lastly, if one knows where to look, price is not really an argument. I bought a slightly used one for $100....if you can go out and spend $45 on a dozen balls, you probably have the income to pay for a GPS unit...just saying

[clubchamp]

2 things about this that are not making sense to me at all. 1 most of them people on here have $1500 in there bag but don't want to spend the money on a gps because having good equipment is a priority. 2 my buddy and I play every saturday he's a 10 hdcp and I'm a 2 hdcp. He has a gps and I have a rangefinder. I generally beat him by 5 to 8 strokes yet last saturday I forgot my rangefinder and beat him by 6 strokes. It only allows you to get the yardage quicker. I just want to see a valid arguement other than the some people don't have the money because walking it off gets you the same yardage it just takes a little longer.