Can rangefinders speed up tour pros?
PGA Tour plans to test the DMD hypothesis (again) at upcoming signature events
Xander Schauffele and his caddie made good use of rangefinder in winning 2024 PGA (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The PGA Tour, in its renewed efforts to address the scourge of slow play, is again considering using distance measuring devices (DMDs) at PGA Tour events.
The tour has experimented with DMDs in the past but ultimately determined that they are not beneficial for limiting slow play and passed on the idea.
However, after surveying its fans, the PGA Tour is again interested in DMDs as a potential answer to the question.
“We’re trying to find the right part of our schedule to give us the best sample,” said Gary Young, PGA Tour senior vice president of rules and competition. “I think where we will see the biggest benefit to them are in some of our smaller fields where we’re in pairs, so we’d like to have a sample possibly of some of our signature events.”
As the PGA Tour sees it, the potential benefit will come from when shots are off the fairway, and calculating the distance with a yardage book takes longer than from the fairway.
That is what the PGA of America found since they allowed devices at their events in February 2021.
While it is difficult to measure whether DMDs speed up play because its events are played at different courses yearly, Kerry Haig, the PGA of America’s chief championship officer, confirmed that they believe DMDs assist when a shot is taken from off the fairway.
The PGA of America entered its fifth year of allowing DMDs with the intent to find different ways to improve the pace of play.
“The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf,” said Jim Richerson, former president of the PGA of America. “Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”
The PGA of America has seen that players and caddies either solely use the DMD, only use their yardage books, or use one tool as confirmation.
The Rules of Golf provide for the use of distance and directional information under Rule 4.3a (1)
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).
It’s assumed that the PGA Tour will move quickly to start their test with DMDs, likely at one of the next two signature-event invitationals at Torrey Pines (Genesis) or Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer) but no later than the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event in April.
Said Young: “We’re hearing it from our fans; they use them week in and week out. ‘Why would you hold that back if it could possibly improve pace of play, speed of play? Why aren’t you doing it?’”