Zeroing in: Rangefinders

The Skinny on Rangefinders and GPS If you’re in the market, here’s what you need to know

By Justin Onslow Tee Times

Unless you’re a Tour professional with a caddie in tow, it’s hard to argue against the use of distance-measuring technologies like hand-held GPS units and rangefinders. After all, most of us average amateur golfers are just concerned with hitting our best shots in the right directions and at the right dis tances. Even for the most skilled golfers, though, there’s no shame in utilizing the best tech nologies in golf to improve play and card the lowest score you can muster. Golf has al ways been a game predicated on technological advancements – from putters to drivers, three- and four-piece golf balls to the ultralightweight shoes on our feet – and no tech nology has improved more in recent years than distance-measuring aids in the form of GPS and laser rangefinders. Joe Hallett, who won the 2018 Horton Smith National Award for the PGA of Amer ica’s top educator and is the Director of Instruction at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tennessee, has a lot of experience using both GPS units and rangefinders to coach his players. He understands the value of both.

Why a Rangefinder?

Laser rangefinders are beautifully simplis tic. To get an accurate measurement of distance, a rangefinder will bounce a laser off whatever you point it at, then calculate the time it takes for the laser to bounce back. That time calculation gives the rangefinder an extremely accurate distance from the user to the object. Point. Shoot. Done. Rangefinders have their drawbacks, but there’s no denying how effective they can be at taking precise measurements a golfer re ally needs to hit his or her best shot. Some rangefinder units even take into account “praxtical” distance to an object factoring in elevation changes. “The one I see in every kid’s bag right now is a Bushnell, and they do have some that have an adjustment for height or alti tude,” says Hallett. “If you’re hitting uphill, effectively you’re hitting the ball 150 yards instead of 144, for instance. The average person, if they’re going to play where it’s not very flat, they should have that feature.” Rangefinders also come in handy on the range for dialing in club distances. “A rangefinder is going to cost you a lot less money than buying a launch monitor, and you can learn your yardages on the range and then use that same piece of equipment out on the golf course,” he adds. “Learning your yardage outside depending on the area of the country you live in or on a hot, humid day compared to a cold day – those are all things that are vital for average golfers.” Easy to use, versatile and accurate, a rangefinder can go a long way toward im proving your golf game in short order, and ranging from $150 to $600, there’s one with the right features and price point for every player.

Why a GPS Unit?

GPS units (whether handheld, an app on your phone or a watch on your wrist) use satellite data to provide golfers with accu rate measurements from anywhere on any course. They’re usually accurate to within a yard or two, and many have the added ben efit of displaying hole layouts on the display screen so golfers know exactly where they can hit their next shot. “You can look at those maps (on the GPS unit) and see what the smartest zone is you can hit,” Hallett says. “You’re looking for the widest area, for instance.” A rangefinder may give you an accurate measurement to a bunker along the

Joe Hallett, Director of Instruction - Vanderbilt Legends Club

right side of the fairway, but it doesn’t give a player a detailed overview of the hole to know if that’s the best area to hit to in the first place. In addition, rangefinders have limitations when it comes to what they can take a dis tance reading of. If there are trees in the way or you’re hitting a blind shot over a ridge, there’s nothing to take a measurement of. Hallett, who reps SkyGolf GPS equipment, has seen practical examples of when a GPS unit is far and away a better choice. “There was a college tournament a couple years ago that SkyGolf provided units for, and the girl that ended up winning said if she didn’t have that, she wouldn’t have won this tournament,” he says. “She bailed her drive way out on the 18th hole and it was in the other fairway, but she could get an exact yardage because she knew where the pin was. You try to shoot that through the woods with a laser rangefinder, you’ve got no chance. “If you’re on a heavily tree-lined course, you may look more toward a GPS than a rangefinder.” Every good GPS unit is fairly precise, but Hallett says SkyGolf technology differenti

ates itself in a unique way. “The one thing I know sets SkyGolf apart is that they physically send a person to the golf course with a geographical satellite unit, and that person walks the golf course and marks it,” he explains. “When you see a golf course marked up, someone has been there and taken every mark.” Given the more complex nature of GPS units – which vary in size and features far more than do rangefinders – selecting the right one is a little more complicated, but the market is also a little bigger. Options can range from free phone apps to $100 (or $700) watches and handheld units $500 and under.

Why Use Either One?

“I think the area most people agree on is it GPS and rangefinders shouldn’t be allowed in tournament play,” says Hallett. That said, even tournament caddies will sometimes use rangefinders during practice to verify distance in yardage books. There’s certainly a time and a place for them in the tournament world. For everyone else, the time and place is always and everywhere – for one simple reason. “The first why that any player should be us ing them is it speeds up play,” Hallett adds. “There’s just no question that those speed up play. Nobody likes to play slow. They like to play and keep moving.” Instead of hunting for yardage markers or waffling between multiples clubs based on estimations, players can easily reference a GPS unit or point and shoot with a range finder, select a club and let it rip. It’s a matter of efficiency, but it’s also about playing better and carding better scores. With advancements in GPS and rangefind er technology, both are easier to use and more affordable than ever. And both can make anyone a better golfer. So, why use either one? The better ques tion is “why not?”

Equipment Corner

PUMA Golf’s RS-G shoes bring running shoe vibe to the links

PUMA Golf, long revered as a trendsetter and innovator in the golf footwear space, continues to push the envelope, with its new RS-G shoe. Inspired by PUMA’s extremely popular RS series of shoes first introduced in the 1980s and recently rebooted with multiple drops in 2019 and 2020, the RS-G (Running System – Golf) delivers unconventional, lifestyle-inspired vibes with all the performance technologies needed to play 18 holes. Incorporating the same, bold, chunky silhouette as the sportstyle

version, the RS-G’s reengineered upper is seam-sealed and completely waterproof, with microfiber leather and TPU skin that delivers protection from the elements, keeping your feet dry all day long. The outsole traction pattern has exag

gerated and pronounced Carbon Rubber lugs strategically placed in different zones of the outsole to provide traction while the performance Fusion Foam midsole delivers improved, bounce-back cushioning combined with a Softfoam sockliner for the ulti mate step-in comfort. “The RS-G shoes are the perfect combination of street and sports style combined with modern technologies and updates that make them relevant to today’s golfer,” said Andrew Lawson, PLM Footwear, PUMA Golf. “Once you put these shoes on, you’re not going to want to golf in anything else.” The RS-G shoes are available for both men and women in a variety of eye-catching colorways (Vaporous Gray/Thyme/Pureed Pumpkin; White/Quiet Shade/Quarry; and Black/Quiet Shade/Dark Shadow for men, and the same Vaporous Gray/ Pureed Pumpkin, White/Quiet Shade and a stunning Peachskin/High Rise color for women). The shoes feature a price of $130 per pair and are now available on line and at retail. For information on PUMA Golf’s entire 2020 footwear collection, visit pumagolf.com.

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Spotlight: PGA Professional Eric Brown Vanderbilt Legends Club, Assistant Golf Professional

Family: Wife Danielle, sons, Ethan, 15; Corbin (17 months old) Home Town: I grew up in Mansfield Ohio, which is located between Cleveland and Columbus. Tee Times: When did you take up the game of golf? Brown: I started playing golf at a young age. My father had a golf club in my brothers and my hands once we learned to walk. Toddler, yes Tee Times: When did you decide to make golf your career? Brown: I made the decision to pursue my career in golf the summer of 1998 Tee Times: When did you acquire your PGA Class A? Brown: I was elected to the PGA February 2001 Tee Times: Name your last two stints in golf and titles prior to present Brown: I was the Head Golf Professional at Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club , June 2016-March 2018. Prior , I was the First Assistant Professional at Belle Meade Country Club, April 2006-June2016 Tee Times: When did you come to Legends Club? Brown: I joined the team at Legends Club in March of 2018. Tee Times: What is your title and what duties there? Brown: Tournament operations for our s and outings,

Eric and wife Danielle

along with merchandise management, club fitting and instruc tion.

Tee Times: Do you give lessons?

Brown: Yes. I give lessons to our members and also to our guests.

Tee Times: What do you love most about being a PGA Professional?

Brown: There are so many aspects that I love, but high up on the list would be to help players enjoy this game that I grew up loving and playing myself.

Tee Times: How much time do you have to play golf?

Brown: Currently I play golf roughly 2-3 rounds a week.

Tee Times: Who in the golf industry steered you toward making golf a career? Brown: There have been multiple people who have influenced my career, but the main people who have supported and mentored me would be my parents, W.D. and Ginny Brown, and PGA Profes sional Paul ‘Shim’ McGoy. I was fortunate to have a dad and a great professional work and instruct me at my home course, Shelby Country Club in Shelby, Ohio. “Shim” is in Carmel, California now.

Congratulations to Tee Times Associate Editor Justin Onslow and his beautiful bride, Lauren on their June 5th Wedding!

Rob Akins knew early on he wanted to teach

Continued from page 14

story are going to just get lost.” Video is a much better tool, Akins said, but even too much of that can be detrimental. “Video is very helpful, but you have to be very careful,” he said. “People see too much. They see the things that are really important, but they might start seeing some other things. Technology can be really good at the right time; at the same time, it can be really hard for a good player.” Akins uses Toms as an example. “The best player I ever taught was David Toms,” he said. “I think I stopped letting him see his video five times in 18 years. I didn’t want him thinking that technical. Everybody plays by feel. But a beginning player can really learn a lot from video because they are all over the place. There is a right time and right place for it all.” These days, Akins estimates he gives between seven and nine lessons per day. That’s down from his peak, when it could be up to 11 or 12 in one day. He said he usually arrives at his golf academy at Spring Creek Ranch early and stays late. But the goal always remains the same – he does his best to see that each student

rob@akinsgolf.com 901-457-7813

moves closer toward their goal. “Accomplishments sometimes for my older students are different – if I can get them to break 80 then that is just an amazing thing,” he said. “But probably the biggest reward is when I have a child that I teach go to college and do well. They are young and you have the oppor- tunity to really influence their game and impact their character about who they

are. I’ve had people win big tournaments and that’s great, but there are a lot of dif- ferent ways to impact somebody’s life. Obviously, somebody winning the PGA Championship impacts their life, but other kids just going to school and get- ting a degree and becoming a doctor, that impacts their life. It’s rewarding when you have a chance to change somebody’s life when they are a kid.”

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