Yardage Markers

some interesting observations, and comments, here.

we are currently reviewing this as part of a response to a raised query, hence my questions....

1. irrigation head markers; how can something you have to go to read, then assess it's relative distance to your ball, ever be quicker than a GPS positioned by your ball? even if your ball was right on it it won't be quicker as you will have to take a drop :)
2. many people find it really usefull to be able to assess their tee shot targets on strange courses using visual 150 indications, hence their proliferation. This has always made sense to me, but they need to be removable but from proper mountings. Trees grow, even dwarf conifers, which really doesn't make them very sensible as markers, even less so wehn they are the only conifers present! So 150 removable posts seems to make huge sense.
3. anyone whose capable of judging their approach shot to the green from over 180 is going to have a DMD nowadays, so 200's seem OTT, but 100 does make sense as an additional aid for those without DMDs (still looking for that person but that's another story). Same removable posts.
4. coloured discs (paint) on the fairways requires a lot of maintance and has limited visibility for anyone not close by. They seem to be a carry over from early Tour set ups and were provided to assist the building of the players yardage charts. Most caddies now trust DMDs, most....personally I believe the most professional looking paint on a golf course is the use of clear lines to designate water hazards; but I'm probably biased there!
5. I'm trying to get data on course planner sales because I rarely see people using those nowadays for distance referencing, although some use them for distances to things, rather than from things to the centre of the greens. It will be interesting to see.

If people think I'm wildly out with any of the above I really would appreciate any counter points. Cheers.
 
100 does make sense as an additional aid for those without DMDs (still looking for that person but that's another story).

Over here :whoo:

And yes 100 yard markers would be handy, especially on short par 4s and par 5's. 200 markers would also be useful on some holes. I'm not bad judging against 150 markers if I'm within about 40-50 yards either side but it gets tricky when it's more than that. I hardly ever pace out from the markers, and only ever do it while walking towards my ball - life's too short and rounds are too long. ;)
 
some interesting observations, and comments, here.

we are currently reviewing this as part of a response to a raised query, hence my questions....

1. irrigation head markers; how can something you have to go to read, then assess it's relative distance to your ball, ever be quicker than a GPS positioned by your ball? even if your ball was right on it it won't be quicker as you will have to take a drop :)
2. many people find it really usefull to be able to assess their tee shot targets on strange courses using visual 150 indications, hence their proliferation. This has always made sense to me, but they need to be removable but from proper mountings. Trees grow, even dwarf conifers, which really doesn't make them very sensible as markers, even less so wehn they are the only conifers present! So 150 removable posts seems to make huge sense.
3. anyone whose capable of judging their approach shot to the green from over 180 is going to have a DMD nowadays, so 200's seem OTT, but 100 does make sense as an additional aid for those without DMDs (still looking for that person but that's another story). Same removable posts.
4. coloured discs (paint) on the fairways requires a lot of maintance and has limited visibility for anyone not close by. They seem to be a carry over from early Tour set ups and were provided to assist the building of the players yardage charts. Most caddies now trust DMDs, most....personally I believe the most professional looking paint on a golf course is the use of clear lines to designate water hazards; but I'm probably biased there!
5. I'm trying to get data on course planner sales because I rarely see people using those nowadays for distance referencing, although some use them for distances to things, rather than from things to the centre of the greens. It will be interesting to see.

If people think I'm wildly out with any of the above I really would appreciate any counter points. Cheers.

My comments after seeing many types and using all sorts of DMDs and Strokesaver type books quite often these days!

Yardage on sprinkler heads are really good, though if the course is used for a Pro tournament this can be awkward as they generally need to be removed! Anyone using them is going to pace to the sprinkler, so no issue with speed. I memorised all the ones on the 2 courses at the first club I belonged to that had them and have always been good at estimating certain distances (from cricket pitch length to 5 yards from previous sporting ventures). Front of green distance makes more sense than centre as pin sheets, if provided) can then tie in simply.

Distances from around 120 in are the most important to get right - for the same reason that wedges are scoring clubs. Ten yards out from 200 is an ounce more oomph or a small amount difference in spin, but it's the near the green distances that are the most important to be accurate with - at least up to about 30 yards from the pin where feel often dominates (except for ladies!).

150 seems to be the post that those courses that only have 1 post use. Not a bad compromise - but see above. Don't see any link between distance posts and lines from tee etc - though if they happen to be convenient....

Strokesaver type course guide books tend to be adequate for tee shots, but pretty useless after that. Not many have sufficient distances from that 120yd point. Only the 'Professional' ones provide the sort of info I look for - those distances, areas/dostances on green. The Pro ones show distances to/from edges of bunkers and from sprinkler heads. If Strokesaver ones show those (from everywhare) they would be more useful!

Pro caddies tend to use Bushnells for practice rounds - often with the Slope option - but make notes on the pro course guide relevant to their player. Club caddies look more professional without DMDs imo, though quite a few ladies (daftly imo) want to be reassured about the distance - even quite short ones!

200 post still seems a logical distance post to have - and 250 on Par 5s.

Discs on fairways are not really required, if any of the other methods are employed imo. And consequences of hitting them can be interesting!

I personally think that course planners are more souvenirs than useful documents during the round. I had something around 130 different ones a while ago.
 
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