I played in a tournament this weekend that allowed distance measuring devices to be used. The format was 36 holes individual stroke play.

In my 3some two of us had rangefinders and one player did not. On the tee at the first par 3 hole, the guy without the 'finder asked me what yardage I got when I shot the flagstick. I told him I didn't think I was allowed to tell him. He then asked to use my Bushnell, and I told him that I did not think that was allowed either. The other guy told him the yardage, and agreed to let him use his rangefinder for the rest of the round, and they both looked at me like I was being a dick.

Neither guy played well enough to affect the tournament, so I did not report them to the committee, but I think they should have been penalized for breaking a rule.

Is there a rule against letting a competitor use your rangefinder? Does the rule against advice include giving a competitor yardage numbers from your rangefinder?

Not against the rules. I know someone here will give you a great explanation. They did not break the rules.

Providing yardages is considered common knowledge and within the rules. As to sharing the rangefinder, here's from the USGA site:

If the Committee has adopted a Local Rule permitting the use of distance-measuring devices, these devices may be shared by players (see analogous Decision 5-1/5 regarding the sharing of equipment other than clubs).

Shoot. Now I really feel like a dick. Thanks, guys.

Be a nice idea if range finders came with an etiquette and pga rules sheet pertaining to their usage. Especially since the rules are fairly new to some of us old timers.

You just need to make sure you have a rule book, or easier yet, look it up on the USGA website.

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/rules.html

Here is the definition of advise:

Advice
"Advice" is any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke.

Information on the Rules, distance or matters of public information, such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on the putting green, is not advice.

Kevin

so I can't tell someone which direction the wind is blowing but I can tell them what the yardage is correct?

While I agree we should all keep up on the rules and have a copy of "The Book", It just seems like a fair amount of confusion could be avoided if manufactures included Guidelines on etiquette and rules, specific to range finders, with their units.

Just hoping an OEM might see this and take a hint.

-Yeah right!


PS.
Isn't yelling "fore !" giving advice?

Why in the world would yelling fore be considered advise?

laseranimal,

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Advice
"Advice" is any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke.

Information on the Rules, distance or matters of public information, such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on the putting green, is not advice.

=============================

Good question. My opinion, after not finding anything about wind in the decisions, is that wind direction could be considered public information, but I can't find it in black and white. It sounds like you may have some experience with this question, care to share it along with the answer? I would LOVE to be enlightened...

Kevin

I don't know about everyone else...

But when I yell "fore!" i'm giving "advise" to duck.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people will emphatically state the rules incorrectly. I once had someone tell me I couldn't tee of with a 3-wood because that's considered a fairway wood, so it can only be used in the fairway.