Opinion & Analysis
The Death of the Home Course Advantage
As golf rangefinders and GPS devices become increasingly affordable, should we be questioning the influence they have in our weekly matches? Are their presence and a golfer’s reliance on such aids having a negative effect on the game?
We’ve all been there at some point, standing on the first tee aidless when over wanders your opponent from another club, rangefinder in hand, lasering the flag on the green of the opening par five before smugly turning toward you. He exclaims the yardage listed neatly on the tee sign as if his own ingenious calculation, even adding the half yard for extra effect. There and then, this isn’t your course any more, leaving you standing naked eyed and already behind.
There are several problems with this technological advantage coming to the game, proclaiming to be the savior of your distance troubles and directing the course planner in a Frisbee-like motion toward the bin. But shouldn’t we ask whether this is a major case of pay to win, and whether golf as a sport is paying the price?
Let’s talk advantage. Say you’re a member of a course for several years. Chances are you have an idea of what clubs to hit where. Yet as a person that transitioned from being aidless to owning both a GPS and a laser rangefinder (I won the GPS, don’t worry, I’m not THAT guy), the gap between what you think and what you know is often pretty hefty.
You know that 130-yard par-3 where you religiously hit a 9 iron? Turns out it’s only 121. That dogleg par-4… yeah, the 150-yard marker sign is almost 15 yards out if you hit the middle of the fairway. These gaps are ones that make things a little shaky, a couple of shots advantage a round perhaps. Not ideal, but hey, maybe the other guy just has really good depth perception.
BUT then, he hits a banana slice three holes to the right. Does he deserve his GPS watch to scorch an invisible line through the trees and tell him he has 161 yards to the heart of the green? That’s something that even as a member you would never stand a chance of calculating. Don’t get me wrong, I think the tech is great, but these gadgets can influence the outcome of a match far more than any club technology ever could.
More than 50% of golfers surveyed by Golfweek said they have used a golf distance-measuring device.
At this point you’re probably thinking, but I invested in my game, isn’t that the same as taking lessons? In one sense, yes, but the rules on coaching are that you can’t have it during a match. So where do we draw the line? The implications these gadgets have are not limited to an imbalance in making calculations on the course, though. Many can relate to the religious laser man, adding a minute to his pre-shot routine while he unclips the tool, hopelessly tries to laser the pin before returning his savior to its case. I’m all for being precise, but zapping every single shot into a green slows the pace of a group at a time where the focus of golf as a sport is increasing the speed of play.
At the end of the day, we have to make the game more appealing to new players and kids. Not only is pace an issue, but myself and most others I know have all but lost the ability to visually judge and calculate distances since purchasing a rangefinder. Should we support the process of numbing ourselves to the satisfaction of calculating the distance and getting it spot on? This was one of my most rewarding feelings as a junior golfer, and now you see fleets of 10-year-olds just pulling up the numbers from a tool in the same manner that they take an iPad with them to family meals, proceeding to sit silently the entire time.
Furthermore, shouldn’t we be preaching the ability to judge and learn distances to new players, rather than stating that the way forward is with a gadget probably more expensive than a beginner’s full set of clubs? Everyone knows golf is becoming increasingly costly to take seriously. Are we scaring off new players by throwing around gadgets like this? Imagine being new and aidless to the game, wanting to learn how to gauge distances and being told the BEST way to do so is with this pricey bit of kit.
Wouldn’t you feel hopeless?
I can’t find the words to express how big a help these tools can have for our games. But are they really fair? Do they have a place in competitive amateur golf or should we be doing more to preach the natural process of figuring out distances as ambassadors of this great game?
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
KK
Jan 13, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Phones have free GPS apps now. If you’re too lazy or dumb to download a free app, that’s on you.
Marc Smith
Dec 22, 2016 at 5:42 pm
Firstly, probably a poor choice of title for an article related to DMD’s.
Regardless of whether you have a range finder, GPS, stroke saver or even accurate yardage markers, you’re still not going to “know” the perfect line off the tee, or the subtle breaks in greens unless you’ve played the course several times before – so home advantage is still key. Just because you can see something from a great distance on a course, does not mean you know what’s there or hiding!
So to the actual point, are DMD’s fair if all golfers don’t have them?
You make valid points about being able to afford said items, but why is that any different to being able to afford custom fitting, the newest/best equipment to suit your swing/game or coaching?
Non of the pro’s use a “visual” guide to yardages, so why should we, and they’re much better than us! I’ve paced yardages, used GPS and now use a range finder and I can guarantee, I’m much quicker using my range finder, even on shorter shots! The amount of times I’ve used strokesavers and stood deliberating about which tree they meant, or exactly where the back of the bunker is, definitely takes longer than zapping the flag.
Slow play is not caused by using DMD’s, just look at the pro’s, most PGA rounds are 4.5 hours at best and they’re not using them – I’d actually like to see them used to help speed up play! Most slow golfers I know are not slow due to using too many devices, it’s because they wait until it’s their turn then decide to start their routine!
Golf is hard, even for the lower handicap amateur golfers! So just like cavity backs, large sweets spots, drivers with offset and counter balanced putters, why shouldn’t we be able to see exactly how far we’ve got to a flag? Because, no matter how good the yardage/equipment, it all comes down to how you execute the shot – and we all know there’s no guarantees there
Brad
Dec 22, 2016 at 8:27 am
We use tech to save time. That is the point of technology. Tour players have there caddies running from the next fairway over to get yardages to the green, if amateurs did that people would be hitting into them.
creeder
Dec 22, 2016 at 7:34 am
i am all for tech. Now, for most players and i mean 90% percent. knowing that the shot is 67 yard verses 52 yards. is not going to make much difference.
TR1PTIK
Dec 21, 2016 at 9:16 pm
I don’t think you’re going to find too many sympathizers on here. BTW, your example of a coach does not apply in a weekend foursome or a dozen+ other scenarios. Also, don’t pros have caddies that walk off yardages for them – and hasn’t that pretty much always been the case? Your argument about slowing pace of play is flawed as well because if players are constantly air-mailing greens or dunking shots in the pond, then they probably aren’t going to be keeping pace with the group in front.
DJ
Dec 21, 2016 at 7:13 pm
so you’re voting for slow play. unfortunately i can’t pay a caddie nothing when i’m playing for fun. if we do play for money – $5 or $10 – should i give the caddie 5% or 10% ? that’s a hole ‘nother discussion (spelled “hole” like that on purpose). if everyone is using one or has the option to use one, then let the purist be coming up short on those approaches.
btw…use them on the tours.
Matt
Dec 21, 2016 at 3:51 pm
In my experience on my home course elevation changes, wind direction and green surface play more of a role than just distance alone.
SV
Dec 21, 2016 at 3:37 pm
In general the technology probably speeds up play if you don’t know the course. On your home course I don’t know what effect it would have. Personally I prefer GPS because I have the yardage instantly. Getting the laser focused in takes longer with my shaky hands.
BIG STU
Dec 21, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Farmer is dead on it. I can take you to my home course that I have played for 14 years now. You can have as many range finders and GPS units you want but there are some things that only come with local knowledge. There are places on those greens because of the undelation that I would rather be 20 foot from the pin in the right place than 10 feet in the wrong place. Also with the ocean only 1.5 miles away there are certain wind patterns on certain holes that without local knowledge will jump up and bite you. Also on that course any GPS unit will be about 10% off. Us local members learned that back in the infancy days of GPS when we had them on the carts. And it still holds true today with a hand held GPS or a watch type ones. We have done proved it too many times. Laser finders seem to work well
Andrew
Dec 21, 2016 at 3:02 pm
When will the PGA allow range finders? The amount of time pro’s waste measuring yardage is a joke. The technology is there, use it. I watch the PGA for the shot making not for the player’s ability or caddy for that matter, to measure the distance to the pin. Please no more 6 hour rounds in PGA tournaments.
Joey5Picks
Dec 22, 2016 at 3:19 pm
They aren’t “wasting” time getting a yardage. They’re deciding club, where to land it, whether it should sit or run out. Those wouldn’t be affected by using a rangefinder. Rarely do tour pros need only the yardage to the hole. They get the yardage to a spot on the green, the front, how much to carry a bunker, how far to a ridge on the green. Only a yardage book tells you those.
James
Dec 21, 2016 at 2:17 pm
How many kids have you told to get off your lawn recently?
Kevin
Dec 21, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Yes, people can get a little crazy with using their rangefinder. But, due to the rangefinder and GPS era, a reasonable number of courses have stopped maintaining their yardage markers or have simply done away with them. Would it be fair to ask all these courses to pay up to put in a yardage marking system, which although it is not hugely expensive, it is an unnecessary cost on an already very tight budget.
Most groups I play in we rely on one person with one range finder although most of us have one ourselves. They give us a distance from their ball or a common area between everyone and we figure it out from there.
You are saying that the technology for a new player may be counter productive to their development, do you also take the same stance on game improvement irons? Should we start every junior golfer off with a set of Wilson blades so they can get a true understanding of where the game has come from?
I understand your argument, but I believe that it is a flawed argument from the start as you are only looking at one very small aspect of the entire game of golf. You say that someone is paying for performance. Welcome to the game of golf! Lessons cost money, practice costs money, everything cost money. And, although you can remain competitive with equipment you can buy off the used rack from 3 years ago, look at how many people have ordered PXG 2-3 times the cost because they think it gives them the smallest of advantages on the course.
I think the rangefinder is a huge plus for the game of golf. I think you learn more about your game and can grow more if you use one. With courses becoming more and more difficult, more and more deceiving with false fronts and bunkers hiding the front of the green, the rangefinder has almost become an essential part of any golfers equipment who is trying to improve their game.
Jack
Dec 22, 2016 at 9:39 am
I agree I don’t miss having to find a mud covered sprinkler cover only to find that that one isn’t marked. Nothing slows play down like when I bring the wrong set of 3 clubs that I thought was within the range but really none of them were playable.
Justwellsy
Dec 21, 2016 at 1:33 pm
I would argue that using a laser rangefinder speeds up pace of play, not the other way around. I don’t even think you can argue otherwise. If you’re not using a laser rangefinder, that’s your own fault. I found a used one online for $75 that works perfectly fine when I compared with with my buddy’s brand new $400 model. College kids are allowed to use rangefinders during tournaments and a lot of other amateur tournaments are now allowing them as well. I think it’s great for the game.
GPS is a different story. It’s not nearly as accurate as laser and you never know when the reading has recalculated (at least on the models I’ve used). They’ve been off by as many as 7 yards when I compare to my laser. If you hit the ball 3 fairways over, yes I agree you should suffer the consequences and not have a GPS to guide you. HOWEVER, if you’re a serious golfer, taking the time to gauge any sort of distance to the green from there is going to take some time and inevitably slow down play. So I guess I’m torn when it comes to that.
I’m all for speeding up the game in any way possible and laser is a fantastic way to do this. I also happen to agree with a previous comment that stated home course advantage is more about knowing the breaks in the greens and how the fairways roll out, etc. Anyone can figure out raw distance if you take long enough, which is the biggest problem in golf that we are trying to fix. Don’t get me wrong, I wish courses were 25 holes and a par of 100. I want to be out there playing as many holes as possible because I love it, but that’s not for everyone. Some people like playing 9 holes and will only play 18 if they can get it done in a timely manner. Top Golf is so successful partly because you can choose how long you want to be there. With golf, half of the enjoyment for me is coming out with a score at the end of the round. Sometimes that takes 4 hours and sometimes it takes closer to 6.
farmer
Dec 21, 2016 at 12:11 pm
The biggest advantage for playing a home course is knowing the greens, where to miss and the proper lines. Not the raw distance to the target.
McPickens
Dec 21, 2016 at 2:30 pm
exactly
Chris
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:35 am
Nice start, but it kinda came off as a bit preachy, and not just because you used the word ‘preach’ a few times. Better to hint at the potential problems with tech than to declare it.
Having used Golfshot since early 2010, I wouldn’t think of dropping the extra benefits I get from the tech. I believe it has allowed me to play faster, not slower. I can pinpoint within seconds twenty different distances, instead of wasting time running around looking for a sprinkler head that may or may not be marked, only to then walk off the yardage to my ball, and then begin the process of trying to calculate in my head the likely yardage to various trees and hazards protecting the green, the front, back and pin location.
That and I now have a complete record of the hundreds of rounds I’ve played, with scores, notes, foursomes, photos, stats, etc.
Peace
Double Mocha Man
Dec 21, 2016 at 6:05 pm
Your last sentence gave you away. How much do you delay your group inputting all that info? I have a friend with the same app and there’s no camaraderie, no banter, no chit chat between holes… his face is buried in his Golfshot app. And worse, I don’t think he uses any of the stats ’cause he keeps getting worse. That’s my nickel’s worth.
Scott
Jan 5, 2017 at 3:47 pm
Double, I think that I play with the same guy. Mr. Tech Stat guy. I love it when he starts telling me how he has play the hole the last so many times, but can do noting with the info.
Bijan Matin
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:27 am
Hi bubba, thanks for the feedback. However don’t you think having a solid short game isn’t a part of home course advantage, but purely the mark of a good golfer? In terms of knowing where to miss, I have to agree with you there, valid point. Iron distance is fairly consistent I agree, but Dave Peltz also placed a lot of emphasis on the fact that from say 130 in distance becomes far more inconsistent and therefore more important than missing left or right. Obviously I know this is split between the golfer having the shot and knowing the distance, do you think this has any weighting in the discussion? Thanks for the feedback, I didn’t think many would agree with my perspective!
Double Mocha Man
Dec 21, 2016 at 6:13 pm
Good point on skewed home course handicaps. Maybe the USGA just needs to start adding 2 strokes to every home round we play???
On the other hand, if i want to play a “money” round with a guy I try to get him onto a neutral course.
Charlie
Dec 21, 2016 at 10:39 am
Is this article about pace of play, or home course advantage?
I know at my home course where I can miss two fairways over and still have a shot into the green. I also know what hills have been mowed closely so the ball will bounce back into the fairway or on the green. So no, home course advantage is not dead.
Oh, and laser rangefinders absolutely speed up pace of play.
Bijan Matin
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:16 am
Hi Charlie, it’s a bit of both. This is my first article so I’m still finding my feet, working on it!
I appreciate that in your case you know where you can miss and still hit into greens, but does your opponent who may have never played at your course deserve that advantage from a bad tee shot purely because they paid for a gps watch? In my experience in some cases range finders may speed up play. However, from playing far too many four hour plus rounds as a three ball, havent you ever experienced someone who uses one excessively? I find especially in matches people will laser pins from 30 yards to 260+, which has certainly added a significant amount of time to rounds.
Just a bit of background for my perspective, thanks again for the feedback.
Ron
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:43 am
Of course he deserves to the advantage! As golfers we all strike the play the best possible golf we can; doing that includes using all the legal equipment available to help achieve that. It should not matter if you use this equipment at your own course or elsewhere. I can’t in good conscience hold it against someone for using a legal tool.
Ron
Dec 21, 2016 at 4:32 pm
Another thing… Knowing the distances are a small thing when talking about home course advantage. The real advantage resides in knowing bounces and what greens will do.
aaron
Dec 21, 2016 at 3:43 pm
I think that is a really silly argument…..by your logic you’re saying the most difficult thing and the biggest advantage in golf is knowing the distances……again that is silly, if your opponent hit his tee shot in the trees off the fairway he doesn’t have an “easy” shot by knowing the distance, he still has the trees, lie, other impediments to deal with and then execute a shot out of those areas…..and any good course would have a yardage book identifying each hole and the hazards it has….Like others have said home course advantage has always been on and around the greens, how a fairway slopes and which clubs to take off the tee for the best and most likely approach (those things would never be replaced by a device) and as far as pace of play goes- it isn’t the pinging of yardage that slows up play…it is the not knowing what distances you hit clubs, the indecisiveness of what shot you think you can hit, the 47 practice swings, and the list goes on and on but not one of them is the 2-3 seconds it takes to acquire the yardage
Congrats on the first article and look forward to more articles and more discussions
Bryan
Dec 21, 2016 at 10:37 am
My rangefinder has undoubtedly sped up my pace of play. I use the scorecard or yardage book on most tee-shots to try to hit a shot to a certain yardage and area on the fairway for the approach shot, and then use my rangefinder on shots to the green. It takes me literally less than 10 seconds to stand over my ball and get the distance. This is much less time than walking around to find a marker, pacing it off or eyeballing it, and then questioning the accuracy of the marker to begin with. I do agree that it can be an unfair advantage if someone does not have it. But I know in my league if one team has it, the other team can ask for the GPS, or rangefinder distance at any time during the round.
Then there is also the effect that I am confident in the club/shot selection and don’t think about the yardage and selection as much as if I were using the poorly, or non-labeled markers on the courses around here.
Bijan Matin
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:55 am
Thanks for the feedback Bryan, I appreciate that for you it is a quick process. Maybe in this case I have just been cursed by having to deal with painstakingly slow rangefinder-ers, in my experience many who have a rangefinder go into ‘pro’ mode and usually follow up a 45 second lasering of the flag, all geeenside bunkers, with around ten practice swings and so many waggles that I can’t tell if my dogs tail has made it into the guys hands!
In competition, sad to say I have been on a side that does this- players would often stay away from their partners, you might get a yardsage on a par 3 by over hearing, bar that we wouldn’t give nor would they give anything. At university we would plan our pairings based on each paring having a range finder in the group.
Again, good points there, by the sounds of things your routine is far more efficient as are others in the comment section than what I have experienced!
Bryan
Dec 27, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Thanks for the reply. I think its shady if you’re playing someone with one and they don’t offer it up for use. Not the type of guys I would want to golf with for sure. I also do know the guys with looooonnnnnnggg pre-shot routines. Unfortunately finding the yardage might be the fastest part of it.
For the most part I have eliminated taking full practice swing from my routine. After watching the Pros live I could see they don’t really do that much. More of a stay loose little half swing. On feel shots around the green I still do, but that is more or less to get a feel for lie more than anything else. It has actually worked for me too… far fewer wasted good swings on a practice swing.
DeeJayMN
Dec 21, 2016 at 10:26 am
Wow, this article is awful, and based on the 15 shanks so far, i’m not alone. To each their own, if someone wants to use these aids, who cares, golf is hard enough. In my experience it speeds up play, allows golfers to learn their true club yardages, and helps correct the incorrect markers that are on the course that are usually outdated due to changes to the course. You obviously don’t have a good pulse on todays golfer and maybe your next article should be focused on why your missing the big picture.
Bijan Matin
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:07 am
As this is my first article, I appreciate the feedback and will do my best to learn from it moving forwards. And in terms of pace of play, I work for a business on the verge of releasing an app for golf clubs. In this we have been considering which features to carry forwards, from contacting a variety of golf courses I have found that they do in fact feel these aids are slowing pace of play. Obviously your circle and others here have different perspectives but from my experience here in the U.K. . Dealing with clubs, they feel that when range finders in particular come into play people use them excessively and this does slow the pace of play down in enough cases for them to become concerned. Please note that I’m not arguing here, this is just where my thoughts were founded.
– again, any constructive feedback or perspective welcome.
DeeJayMN
Dec 21, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Fair enough and I appreciate the response but what bothered me most about your article was the claim that your not THAT guy when it comes to using distance aids, and minimizing your own ownership of these aids to the fact that you won your GPS. I think whats lost in your article a little bit is that golf is meant to be fun, and beating people at your home course should be a side effect of this fun not your modus operandi for dictating how others choose to play. I’ll admit some defensiveness to the article due to the fact that I use and love my rangefinder and would be remiss not to admit that.
cb
Dec 21, 2016 at 9:58 am
on the flip side rangefinders can just as easily speed up the place of play. hitting over a water hazard for example, if you dont have the correct yardage there is the chance you can hit the correct shot but come up short then you have to hit again. obviously even when people have the correct yardage we still hit it in the water. also you want people to go out and play different courses and grow the game but nothing is worse then going to a course and not being able to fully enjoy it because you have no idea about the yardages. personally, unless im being paid to play golf, if i pay $50 for a round of golf then im taking my rangefinder so i dont spend my time looking for sprinkler heads or guessing yardages
PineStreetGolf
Dec 21, 2016 at 9:51 am
This has to be the stupidest article ever published on this typically solid website.
Buck
Dec 21, 2016 at 12:16 pm
It is better than any of the advertisements masquerading as articles, like the Adidas Boa trash.