IHSA says 'no' to range finders on golf course

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:30PM

It didn't help Nick Hardy win the Chick Evans

Junior Amateur Championship, but there was rarely a hole during the

match play final July 30 when the Glenbrook North freshman golfer didn't use

a distance range finder.

At 5-feet, 100-pounds, Hardy gave up as much as 20 yards a drive to

his opponent, fellow freshman Doug Ghim from Buffalo Grove. But Hardy

made up for it with dead-on approach shots and solid putting. Ghim

defeated Hardy on the final hole of match play at Steeple Chase Golf

Course in Mundelein.

Both players took advantage of the Illinois Junior Golf Association's

new rule over the summer that allowed range finders, a hand-held

telescopic device that measures the distance from one point to the

viewer. Hardy stands behind his ball, places the flag stick in the

range finder's cross hairs and presses a button twice to get a reading

inside the device, such as "125.2 yd."

IJGA officials discovered that many of their members were already

using range finders during practice rounds. A poll indicated that

nearly 50 percent of the association's members owned a range finder in

their household.

"We talked about it for one year and went to the junior golf summit as

part of the PGA's merchandise show," IJGA Executive Director Carrie

Williams said. "We have estimated that there are five state

associations that do it."

The IJGA provided a discount to its members who did not own a range

finder, offering a $249 Callaway-Nikon model normally priced at $299.

One of the reasons behind the decision was to speed up the pace of

play. One IJGA official claimed this summer's average round has been

reduced by as much as 15 minutes to 4 hours, 30 minutes, although

there is no determination how much that can be attributed to range

finders or more efficient staff members running the tournament.

Is there an unfair advantage for players who own range finders

compared to those that don't?

"(Players) can share the range finder. It's the same (information) as

a sprinkler head or tree, as far as yardage," Williams said.

Range finders are becoming part of the mandatory equipment for college

golfers and the IJGA features serious-minded, elite golfers that are

among the best in the state. It is more likely that IJGA members would

make the investment to buy the expensive range finders.

"If we put the technology in their hands, that will create an even

playing field," Williams said.

The IHSA currently bans range finders although boys golf administrator

Kurt Gibson was unaware of the IJGA's use of them.

"We don't allow them, although I have not heard of a lot of talk from

coaches saying this is something they wanted to allow high school

golfers to use," Gibson said.

Hardy, who shot a 1-over-par 72 for second place in his first high

school meet, is back to measuring yardage by looking at markers on the

course. He purchased a used range finder on eBay for $125.

He predicts the IHSA will follow the IJGA's decision in the future.

"Maybe one day. The IJGA did it and (the IHSA) could do it," Hardy

said. "I think it speeds up play. You don't take extra time to walk

off 30 yards. The yard markers are not the right distances

sometimes."

Jack Halpin, coach of three-time defending Class 3A state champion St.

Viator, is an at-large member to the IJGA board and the board's only

high school head coach. He helped approve range finders for IJGA play,

but does not believe the IHSA will allow them.

"It would be hard for the IHSA," Halpin said. "We don't have people

all over the state (to afford it). You have to realize how difficult

economic conditions are."

But Halpin's Lions use a range finder during practice rounds. He

teaches his players to measure yardage accurately by pacing off their

range. The players then use the battery-powered range finder to

determine how close they were to their predicted mark.

"It's a great way to train them," Halpin said.

Range finders aren't even the latest in technology to determine

yardage. The Ridgeland, Miss.-based SkyGolf company produces the

SkyCaddie, billed as the "#1 Rangefinder in Golf" on its website.

The company used lasers to measure the distances and features on over

700 golf courses in the state. The company, which started in 2001,

claims a database of 26,000 golf courses worldwide. Golfers can use a

hand-held device with a Global Positioning System to gauge distances

to the hole, green, bunkers and water. Top-of-the-line models can give

you an aerial view of the hole in relation to your shot.

Golfers go to the SkyGolf website to download the information on each

course. The website advertises devices between $249.95-$399.95.

SkyCaddie information can be downloaded for The Glen Club, Glenview

Park and Sportsmans Country Club, and even nine hole courses such as

Antesberger, Glenview National and Willow Hill.

An elite course, such as Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena, does not use

GPS technology on its golf carts like many other courses, but sells

the hand-held device for $500 at its pro shop.

Eagle Ridge Director of Golf Erin Strieck was also unaware that the

IJGA has allowed range finders.

"I think it's sad they let junior golfers use them," Strieck said.

"I'm a club professional and I don't even own one."

One of Glenbrook South's top golfers, junior Quinlan Prchal, played in

only one IJGA event and competed in other summer tournaments that did

not allow range finders. He walked off his yardage in American Junior

Golf Association events and relied on pin sheets, which display the

length and depth of greens.

"I have (a range finder), but I don't always use it," Prchal said.

"Range finders do not get the ball in the hole. In the grand scheme of

things, it does not make a difference."

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