Golf Town Tutorials - Tech

Bob Weeks

TSN Senior Reporter

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In years gone by, the only way to determine how far you were from the hole was to either pace it off or look for a sprinkler head.

But these days, thanks to modern technology, you can get precise distances to the hole or other objects with a click of your finger or a glance at your wrist.

The category of GPS and laser distance measuring is only about a decade old, but it has already become an almost essential item to put in your golf bag. In fact, at Golf Town stores across Canada, the technology desk is often one of the busiest spots in the store as players look to find how these devices can help them play better golf.

One of the leaders in GPS technology, Garmin, has units that work for cars, sailors, runners and, of course, golfers.

The newest model from the company is the Garmin Approach S20, which you wear on your wrist. The stylish unit can be worn as a regular watch and comes preloaded with 40,000 courses.

The S20 gives precise yardages to the front, middle and back of every green, as well as all hazards, doglegs and layup locations. It records every shot you take throughout your game so you can look back on your game with help from the AutoShot Round Analyzer.

There’s also a green map so you can see the depths and widths of the putting surface. You can also keep score on your S20, and it can be synched up with your smart phone to get alerts of calls, emails and texts so you don’t miss that important one from the boss or your spouse.

Garmin has a number of other watches in the Approach family, as well as the Vivoactive, which will give you golf distances as well as track running, swimming, biking and other activities.
 
If you’re interested in learning more about how you’re swinging, Garmin has another unit for you. The TruSwing attaches to your club and can provide great feedback on what’s going on with your game. The TruSwing can help you learn about your swing tempo, speed, club-path measurements, and critical club angles such as shaft lean and shaft lie angle, and much more.

The device is small and unobtrusive so it won’t get in the way as you work on your game on the range. Through the Garmin Connect community, you can also see just what all the numbers mean and track your progress over time. And if you pair the TruSwing with one of the Approach watches, you can see the data right after you swing. Perhaps best of all, the information will create a 3D image of your swing so you can see how you’re doing.

If you prefer to point and shoot, then Bushnell could be the choice for you. The Tour V3 is an ergonomically designed unit that features Bushnell’s JOLT technology, which vibrates the unit when it makes a connection with the flag, ensuring that you know you’re locked on the pin instead of the tree behind it.

The V3 is accurate to within one yard and can deliver a distance from five yards up to 1,000.

The Tour V3 Slope model can also make compensation for any rise or fall in elevation, giving you an even more accurate read on how far you need to hit your next shot. It’s also rainproof and comes with a two-year warranty.

There’s a reason why every PGA Tour caddie carries a rangefinder with him. While they can’t use them during tournament play, they are staples during practice rounds as they ensure they know just how far every bunker, hazard and green is away for their player.

Under the Rules of Golf, some units can be used during tournament play if approved by the committee as a local rule. If you are playing in a tournament, check with the organizers before you starting getting laser or GPS distances.

If you’re unsure as to whether you’d prefer a point-and-shoot device or a wrist-worn one, consult with an expert at Golf Town, who can help you make the right choice.

No matter what you choose, you no longer have to go in search of a sprinkler head to get your distances. Now there are no more excuses for pulling the wrong club.