Rangefinders w/ slope are illegal...

[cloran]

Richie and I have been talking a bit about rangefinders w/ slope reading capabilities (see: Cloran's witb).

I was set to by a Bushnell V2 w/ slope or Bushnell 1600 until my wife said: "Why would you buy it if it's illegal? That's cheating."

You are not allowed to post a score for HC if you use a range finder wslope... even if that feature is never used... even if it's disabled. Period! Can't use it and post a score...

So I bought a Bushnell Medalist.

Some people say: "Who would know?"

The answer: I would, and even though the rule is garbage it's the rule.

[Richie3Jack]

The rub to me is that if you just conform to the dumb rule, the rule will never change.

I always tell people that on the major tours, particularly the PGA Tour, they might as well play from a different rulebook these days.

I remember going to the old BC Open near Binghamton, NY and following around Chris DiMarco and he asked for relief from some casual water. He got it and then I walked over that area and it was no more wet than what you would see from dew during a morning round of golf.

I respect the fact you don't want to use a rangefinder with slope to break the rules. Personally I don't have any rangefinder or GPS. I think the rule is stupid and if somebody broke the rules during a handicap round, I really wouldn't think twice about it.








3JACK

[cloran]

I do agree with you, Richie. It's a really dumb rule... but just knowing that the rule exists is enough for me to get a different version of the rangefinder. I don't think I'd be leading a charge to change the USGA's stance on the issue, and I ain't no marter...

My goal is to get to a level where I can compete in some local Am events. Can you imagine being DQ'd for using a rangefinder that had slope capabilities... regardless of whether you used them or not. The penalty isn't a stroke or two... it's DQ.

In the end the only person suffering will be me I suppose. Sure, maybe my HC would be a little lower with the slope readings; but I'm not into having a vanity handicap anyway. If it's a 15 by the rules, then it's a 15... not a 14.3 because I use a slope rangefinder.

What's the really stupid part is that the slope numbers aren't restricted at all, just how they are calculated and where they are retrieved from. I can go the course the day before, write down every slope and club changes with my illegal rangefinder, then play with those numbers the next day... no problem there. Isn't that REALLY stupid?

The Pro's have the pin placements early so they can have their caddies roll some putts to get the break... they can use the slope rangefinders to get accurate yardages during practice rounds, etc... but someone looking to post a score for their HC, ILLEGAL!

[bentshaft]

I agree with all comments...however, golf would be a much better game if the rangefinder issue was indeed the dumbest rule in golf!