Course yardage accuracy

[duncan mackie]

So the players use lasers to copnstruct a yardage book and then spend more time in comp rounds translating those yardage books back to real time yardages. So apart from justifying part of the caddies role there really doesnt seem to be any reason not to allow lasers on tour, and if it will help to speed up play, can only be a good thing.

Youre prob right that the dinosaurs who make the rules will keep them banned for another decade or two though lol

I don't disagree with the principle but I do think you are missing something else here.

At that level the amount of information being used constructively (in most cases!) is quite significant on both tee and approach shots. A yardage map/plan/book is by far the fastest method of delivering the required information in practice.

Visiting a new course, or one played infrequently, I will use a course planner off the tee and in conjunction with my Sky Caddie for approach shots (in the latter case it's finished with 90% of the time before I even get to my ball ie 'there's a bunker in front/behind the green - noted and move on'). On home/known courses this all becomes second nature and we almost instinctively know which club and conditions relate to which hazards and angles from the tee.

So enabling DMD's during play would almost certainly risk slowing play down as there becomes an increased focus on doing it now rather than more thoroughly before play.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

"our" course is pretty spot on.

I don't see the issue of using Bushnell or similar in any game at any level, no different to using a yardage book

Then again I have never seen anyone use one

You have never seen anyone use a DMD ?

 

[One Planer]

Played a course today as a visitor. On a Par 3, yardage on card and on Post says 174: actual yardage 142- must be a pain for visiting teams in competitions.

What's your worst experience of the 'posted' distance compared to actual ?

I had something interesting happen over the weekend at my gaff.

Drove off on our Par 4 second. The hole plays a shade under 400 yards. After walking to my ball, I found it, quite literally 3 yards past the '150' marker. At our place, the measurement s are to the middle of the green.

I knew the flag was towards the middle and would have to land the ball short to allow for the firm ground. Decided on a 9 iron which is usually my 130(....ish) club.

Proceeded to hit it to pin high on the fly, one bounce, a little roll and ended up in the fringe at the back of the green.

No way on this green Earth I hit a 9 iron 150 on the fly.

Went out and played the hole again when I finished. Hit PW landed short, hopped on.

Either I'm hutting the ball (much) longer, or the yardage markers aren't right.

I'm leaning towards the latter.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The only GPS to trust :thup:

:smirk:

Yeh - but what about the poor sod who doesn't have one - he must be able to trust yardages. You shouldn't have to rely on technology to get a pretty good yardage.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Youre prob right that the dinosaurs who make the rules will keep them banned for another decade or two though lol

Should already be banned from Closed Club Comps - IMO. They are unnecessary. If they are necessary they are unfair - IMO...

 

[fundy]

Should already be banned from Closed Club Comps - IMO. They are unnecessary. If they are necessary they are unfair - IMO...

I guess imo that makes you a dinosaur, but then I think we already knew that

 

[backwoodsman]

Should already be banned from Closed Club Comps - IMO. They are unnecessary. If they are necessary they are unfair - IMO...

I guess imo that makes you a dinosaur, but then I think we already knew that

Gents, gents...... pleeeeeeeeese don't start us down DMD or not thread again ...

 

[Deleted member 18645]

The average golfer would have to realistically know how far they hit the ball before using a DMD. I played with a 24-handicap clown the other day who wanted to know if the yardage on a par 3 was 175 or 180 so he could decide what club to hit. He still had 140 for his second shot and 75 for his third.

 

[drdel]

In my OP I think I was just a bit miffed that the marked distances couldn't be relied upon and were so far adrift.

In my opinion if a Club had Red, Yellow and White Tee marked distances to the centre of the green then they should be reasonably accurate (i.e + or - 4yards) otherwise what's the point.

And, wouldn't any visiting team be put at a disadvantage?

 

[duncan mackie]

In my OP I think I was just a bit miffed that the marked distances couldn't be relied upon and were so far adrift.

In my opinion if a Club had Red, Yellow and White Tee marked distances to the centre of the green then they should be reasonably accurate (i.e + or - 4yards) otherwise what's the point.

And, wouldn't any visiting team be put at a disadvantage?

I think we all agree the sentiment; sometimes there's a little confusion between the tee plates/posts and the tee markers of the day, especially if they are on different areas!, but it sounds as if they have moved things around a little and not changed their tee post yardages - very sloppy.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Gents, gents...... pleeeeeeeeese don't start us down DMD or not thread again ...

aw come on - I haven't had my whinge on this for ages. But I won't as I am in acceptance that if you want accurate yardages without bugging everyone by pacing everything out then you have to get a DMD. So maybe I'll just bug everyone

Actually one lad I played with on Sunday (who sprayed is ball all over the place) said to me on the 1st Hole that if I wanted a yardage at any point then I should just ask him and he'll do it for me. That's the way to do it. Not like other guys I've played against in 4BBB matches who treat yardage from a DMD as their information and not to be shared with an opponent - prats.

 

[Dan2501]

The average golfer would have to realistically know how far they hit the ball before using a DMD. I played with a 24-handicap clown the other day who wanted to know if the yardage on a par 3 was 175 or 180 so he could decide what club to hit. He still had 140 for his second shot and 75 for his third.

Difficult with the higher handicapper though. I know, when I strike my 8 properly I can push it to 155, and know my yardages pretty well, but the issue comes when you fail to strike the ball, and that's the difficulty with higher handicappers. I know how far my irons should go, so in theory, knowing the yardage is important, it's just putting that theory into practice, and providing a consistent strike every time that's difficult.
I know that buying a GPS has definitely helped my game though, when I'm playing a course I don't know it's been great, especially abroad. So good on him for wanting to know the yardage, it means he's thinking about his game, and at least knows how far his clubs should go given he strikes it properly. He didn't execute his plan on that occasion, but at least he's thinking about his game, and planning how he's going to play the hole. I think it's something that a lot of higher handicappers would benefit from.

aw come on - I haven't had my whinge on this for ages. But I won't as I am in acceptance that if you want accurate yardages without bugging everyone by pacing everything out then you have to get a DMD. So maybe I'll just bug everyone

Actually one lad I played with on Sunday (who sprayed is ball all over the place) said to me on the 1st Hole that if I wanted a yardage at any point then I should just ask him and he'll do it for me. That's the way to do it. Not like other guys I've played against in 4BBB matches who treat yardage from a DMD as their information and not to be shared with an opponent - prats.

Yeah, I hate that. If I've got my GPS on, the information is available for everyone to use, knowing the yardage is just one thing, it's executing a good shot that's important. So I don't understand the people who treat it like the yardage is a massive secret.

 

[palindromicbob]

aw come on - I haven't had my whinge on this for ages. But I won't as I am in acceptance that if you want accurate yardages without bugging everyone by pacing everything out then you have to get a DMD. So maybe I'll just bug everyone

Actually one lad I played with on Sunday (who sprayed is ball all over the place) said to me on the 1st Hole that if I wanted a yardage at any point then I should just ask him and he'll do it for me. That's the way to do it. Not like other guys I've played against in 4BBB matches who treat yardage from a DMD as their information and not to be shared with an opponent - prats.

I'm very much the same. If anyone I'm playing with want a yardage or a lend of my laser I'll happily oblige. I will always make sure that I show it to them though in case they accuse me of false info if the GPS might not be 100%.

 

[backwoodsman]

Should already be banned from Closed Club Comps - IMO. They are unnecessary. If they are necessary they are unfair - IMO...

I guess imo that makes you a dinosaur, but then I think we already knew that

aw come on - I haven't had my whinge on this for ages. But I won't as I am in acceptance that if you want accurate yardages without bugging everyone by pacing everything out then you have to get a DMD. So maybe I'll just bug everyone

Actually one lad I played with on Sunday (who sprayed is ball all over the place) said to me on the 1st Hole that if I wanted a yardage at any point then I should just ask him and he'll do it for me. That's the way to do it. Not like other guys I've played against in 4BBB matches who treat yardage from a DMD as their information and not to be shared with an opponent - prats.

I'll happily share yardage with anyone - partner or oppo. Knowing the distance is only a fraction of the business. (For me anyway) As for the OP, we have yardage on the sprinkler heads as well as the 150 markers - and they tally pretty well with my skycaddie.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'm very much the same. If anyone I'm playing with want a yardage or a lend of my laser I'll happily oblige. I will always make sure that I show it to them though in case they accuse me of false info if the GPS might not be 100%.

Aye - but it would be nice if DMD/GPS gizmo users could make the offer on the 1st tee. A new little rule of etiquette as some of use non-users feel a bit shy about asking once we've all got going

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Anyone can ask me what the yardage is whenever I'm using my laser - no issues with that

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Aye - but it would be nice if DMD/GPS gizmo users could make the offer on the 1st tee - some of use non-users feel a bit shy about asking once we've all got going

Seen people react negatively when someone has made the offer

So I wouldn't offer unless asked.

If someone wants the yardage then ask - simple.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Anyone can ask me what the yardage is whenever I'm using my laser - no issues with that

As above - I think it should be etiquette before all tee off that you offer rather than wait to be asked. Would be nice.

 

[Slab]

I find the course markers pretty accurate. I think errors occur when players don't understand or distinguish between markers to middle of green/front of green (& any change when its a par 3) or on doglegs

I'd like a DMD but cant justify the money but would be happy to get one for crimbo etc although I generally find that inside 150 to flag then I'm pretty good at working it out visually (to within 10% normally)

Also an FC having their DMD on yards and thinking club selection in meters is always fun to watch

 

[Deleted member 15344]

As above - I think it should be etiquette before all tee off that you offer rather than wait to be asked. Would be nice.

And as above - won't give any information until asked