Rangefinders gain acceptance with PGA

Rangefinders at the Senior PGA

by ed travis

The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship comes to Southern Hills Country Club May 27 to 30 and is eagerly anticipated by golf fans though limited numbers will be allowed on property. This is the 83rd Senior PGA; the first being contested in 1937 at Augusta National Golf Club. Last year’s Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will be only the second top tier professional tournament where the use of distance-measuring devices (DMDs) will be allowed, the first being the PGA Champion held the prior week. The PGA of America made the announcement in February approving the use of DMDs citing a 2006 change in the Rules of Golf that included a provision giving local tournament committees the right to OK their use. Until the February announcement DMDs have not been approved by any of the top professional tours including the PGA Tour though competitors in the U.S. Amateur have had the option since 2014.

Jim Richardson, president of the PGA of America was quoted in the release to the media, “We’re always interested in methods that may help improve the flow of play during our Championships. The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf. Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”

During practice rounds professionals use DMDs, usually laser rangefinders

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