Serious golfers are always looking for ways to fit more golf into their schedules. Many times, that means hitting the course before sunrise, or near sunset. New rangefinders from Bushnell, the Pro 1M series, can be an asset to those kind of players, helping them zero in on targets in low light conditions.

But it’s not only golf addicts that will benefit from the Pro 1M Series – golfers of all levels will appreciate the rangefinder’s Vivid Display Technology (VDT), which provides improved resolution and sharper, clearer views, whether you’re focusing on a distant flag or the cart girl two fairways over. VDT does this by improving light transmission, providing extra brightness in the display. It also provides four adjustable brightness options, which allows users to personalize the level of brightness in the display.

“The brightness and quality of the display is amazing,” said John Novosel, a Bushnell representative. “It’s like HD … the numbers seem have a raised effect. They really pop off the screen.”

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The Pro 1M series replaces Bushnell’s Pro 1600 series, and will be available in both Tournament and Slope editions. It features the same 7x magnification of the 1600 series, but has an improved range — 5 yards to 1 mile. It also offers faster readings, and even tighter accuracy tolerances. Bushnell advertises the Pro 1M as being accurate to +/- 1 yard, but according to Novosel, it is actually closer to +/- 0.5 yards.

The Pro 1M rangefinders also offer improved battery life over their predecessor, which Bushnell says boosts acquisitions by 35 percent.

“For a serious golfer, that means 1-2 batteries per year,” Novosel said.

The battery compartment is also different than the 1600 series. The rangefinder uses a 3-volt battery, instead of a 9-volt, and is designed with a Posi-Thread battery door. The door screws on and off, much like the battery compartment on Bushnell’s V2 series rangefinders.

The rangefinders will be available Feb. 1. The Tournament model will retail for $499.95, and the Slope model will retail for $599.95. Both models include a 3-volt lithium battery and carrying case. Look for the PRO 1M rangefinders to be in the hands of PGA Tour players beginning in late January.

Click the link to view a PDF about the key features of the Pro 1M series.

Caring for a Bushnell: Like most high-end electronics, only high quality replacement batteries should be used with Bushnell rangefinders. According to Novosel, using low quality replacement batteries in a Bushnell rangefinder could cause corrosion within the unit.