Rangefinders aren't permitted on the main tours, so how can the PGA of America allow them? Here's what the Rules say...
Why The PGA Of America Is Allowed To Permit Rangefinders
The PGA of America has announced that it will allow rangefinders to be used during its three Majors in 2021.
We’ll see players and caddies using, most likely, laser rangefinders during the men’s, women’s and senior PGA Championships.
So, how has the PGA of America been able to do this when distance measuring devices (DMDs) are banned across most of the world’s major tours?
Model Local Rule 8G, titled ‘Restrictions on Use of Specific Equipment’ allows a committee, or competition organiser, to “prohibit the use of any electronic distance-measuring devices.”
This is the Local Rule that stops DMDs being common place in the professional game.
However, the PGA of America are permitting DMDs under Rule 4.3a (1), which allows rangefinders to be used in competition play as long as the slope function is turned off.
The organisation runs its Majors and half of the Ryder Cup, and is separate to the other big organisations like the PGA and European Tours.
Therefore, it can essentially run its events how it likes as long as they are played under the Rules of Golf.
The Rules of Golf, of course, allow DMDs to be used at all levels of the game, albeit the tours make use of the Model Local Rule mentioned above to prohibit them.
Rule 4.3a (1):
Allowed and Prohibited Uses of Equipment
- Allowed: Getting information on distance or direction (such as from a distance-measuring device or compass)
- Not Allowed: Measuring elevation changes, or Interpreting distance or directional information (such as using a device to get a recommended line of play or club selection based on the location of the player’s ball).
Related: The best laser rangefinders
The PGA of America says that it is introducing DMDs to help with the “flow of play,” although there are doubts as to whether the devices will actually help.
Erik Van Rooyen, in reply to Trevor Immelman, tweeted that he thinks the argument that rangefinders on tour will speed up play is a “poor” one.
The South African wrote: “The argument that a range finder will speed up play is also a poor one. What does it take to step off a yardage from a sprinkler, 15 seconds?”
Immelman tweeted that if he was a caddie he would “hate the fact that there are green books and measuring devices allowed.”
“IMO [In My Opinion] it takes the advantage away from the guys who put the extra work in,” the 2008 Masters winner wrote.
Related: 7 Golf Gear Rules – Do you know them all?
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