Hello and ..........Course Yardages

Hello to all at GR. Will jump right in and see if anyone could enlighten me on the subject of course yardages.
Been playing on and of for more then ten years and could never figure if course yardages are measured at ground
distances or horizontal distances.

Hi and welcome.

I just use a range finder, I feel very lost without one.

i guess that would solve the problem. I always have trouble trusting the yardages on sprinkler heads on undulating courses. Maybe time to invest in a rangefinder.

I have a rangefinder but it makes no difference if you are playing an undulating course, unless you have a model that factors in the elevation changes.

A single handicapper saw me use the rangefinder and asked me to get him one. When he bought it, he used it for a lot of games, but after 2 months, he no longer used it.

I asked him why he stopped, and he told me that he used the rangefinder as a training tool to train his distance judgement. He did not rely blindly on the readings. He would gauge a distance mentally and then use the rangefinder to verify whether his reading was correct.

After gaining the confidence, he stopped using the rangefinder.

Hello Denmeister and Eiji.

So when you play on hilly courses, how close is the yardage from your rangefinder to sprinkler head distance markings.

Still curious how course designers measure off yardages.

A Rangefinder would probably read flat ground distance to the target as opposed to horizontal distance.

Amongst the courses that I play, the course with the least discrepancies between what I shoot with my rangefinder and the sprinkler head is TMCC(assuming center pin location). From what I understand, distance markers are measure to the center of the green.

I am very reliant on my range finder, my own judgment for distance is very bad from 100m out.

In Singapore most yardages seem to be ground distance to the centre of the green. Overseas it can vary for e.g. from sprinkler head to the front of the green, so with a back pin you will seriously underclub if you thought it was the distance to the centre.

Best way to check is to enquire at the pro shop or registration counter how the distance markers are measured off on each course, and you will get the assurance that your estimation is close to where you are aiming.

Sandypar wrote:

Hello to all at GR. Will jump right in and see if anyone could enlighten me on the subject of course yardages.
Been playing on and of for more then ten years and could never figure if course yardages are measured at ground
distances or horizontal distances.

Hi Sandypar, I have a Bushnell Rangefinder with slope rating meaning it will take in the account of slopes and everything. Really stop the guess work immediately.

Sandypar wrote:

Hello Denmeister and Eiji.

So when you play on hilly courses, how close is the yardage from your rangefinder to sprinkler head distance markings.

Still curious how course designers measure off yardages.

A Rangefinder would probably read flat ground distance to the target as opposed to horizontal distance.

As per Tituman, there are different models of rangefinders. Some take into account the slopes and give you a reading which factors in the elevation changes.

As for the one that I have, it does not have that function. I use it to get the distance to the pin and then factor in the the uphill or downhill lie.

I believe course designers will employ the professional services of land surveyors to measure the distances before starting any course construction.

It is very important to know the unit of measure that a particular course is using, as well as whether the measurement is to the a) center of green or b) to the front of the green.

My home club, RJCC is measured in Yards to the front of the green. So if the distance marker is indicating 150 and you see a blue pin, you will definitely not be playing 150 yards. At least 160 yards, and you will have to see if it is a uphill or downhill lie. If it is severe uphill, you may have to play an additional 10 or even 20 yards.

Denmeister wrote:

Sandypar wrote:

Hello Denmeister and Eiji.

So when you play on hilly courses, how close is the yardage from your rangefinder to sprinkler head distance markings.

Still curious how course designers measure off yardages.

A Rangefinder would probably read flat ground distance to the target as opposed to horizontal distance.

As per Tituman, there are different models of rangefinders. Some take into account the slopes and give you a reading which factors in the elevation changes.

As for the one that I have, it does not have that function. I use it to get the distance to the pin and then factor in the the uphill or downhill lie.

I believe course designers will employ the professional services of land surveyors to measure the distances before starting any course construction.

It is very important to know the unit of measure that a particular course is using, as well as whether the measurement is to the a) center of green or b) to the front of the green.

My home club, RJCC is measured in Yards to the front of the green. So if the distance marker is indicating 150 and you see a blue pin, you will definitely not be playing 150 yards. At least 160 yards, and you will have to see if it is a uphill or downhill lie. If it is severe uphill, you may have to play an additional 10 or even 20 yards.

"swee" I like.

I thought range finder with height differences are not allowed to be used in competition. Please enlighten me. Is it by default that normal range finder without height differences can be used in competition unless it is stated?

Hi Alfred, at this point you are correct, but only in the States. In Singapore, I don't think you are even allow to use Range Finder during local tourneys. Thats what I heard anyway.

the bushnell with slope adjustment sounds good.

i would have thought there would be a standardized way course designers measure
off yardages. Considering the many rules of golf , one would think they would lay down
some rules concerning this.

Anyway enough of this rambling.

Time to get a Bushnell.

Thanks guys for the input.

Sandypar wrote:

the bushnell with slope adjustment sounds good.

i would have thought there would be a standardized way course designers measure
off yardages. Considering the many rules of golf , one would think they would lay down
some rules concerning this.

Anyway enough of this rambling.

Time to get a Bushnell.

Thanks guys for the input.

I bought my Bushnell from BFG. Maybe you can check it out with them whether they still have stock. Remember to ask for the one which is with Slope Rating. Good luck.