In reading the PDGA iphone app thread i saw there is a proposal to allow smart phones and rangefinders to determine distance during rounds under review by the Board for use starting in 2012.

While I really like knowing accurate distances when I throw, especially from the tee, I am not so sure about this.

I'm a big believer in a level playing field and it seems to me the folks with smart phones and range finders, and have the distance control to use them effectively, would have an advantage over those who don't have them.

Am I missing something here?
Any other points of view?
Other than the new PDGA app having the capability to do this is there a good reason to make this change?

How would you prevent people using GPS on their smart phones once the app is being used for scoring? It's time to make the step. Distance measuring devices are already allowed in ball golf if the club or event allows it. In addition, PGA players don't even need measuring devices because they already have caddybooks with distances down to the yard.

The current rule preventing their use in disc golf is unfair when local players know the distances and players from outside the area discover there are no tee signs or some distances are wrong or pins have changed or there aren't any distances on the scorecard. There are other ways to gage distance inexpensively that can be built into things like minis once making measurements is allowed. Mark Ellis has posted a simple method using reference points on his hand.

How would you prevent people using GPS on their smart phones once the app is being used for scoring?

Was one of the first thoughts that went through my head when I heard the smart phone scoring app was being released.

A couple of questions and thoughts on the matter...

GPS version of a course
Question - Will the course being played have to have been mapped out or marked for the baskets already? or is that going to be up to the individual to map out the course?

Thought - If it is up to the individual, I can understand the use since the individual basically did his homework for the tourney. If it mapped out by the local club or host, then not everybody has access to a smart phone and that would create a large discrepency between the players and be an unfair advantage.

Rangefinders
Question - Will the host club or tournament be responsible for supplying ALL contestants with rangefinders? or will it be up to the individual player to supply his or her own?

Thought - Some rangefinders can be very cheap,(just not very accuate) and possibly could be supplied by the host, but that means extra cost. If the individual supples his/her own then they as an individual could buy at whatever price they wanted to the most accurate they could afford. This second scenario might mean that some individuals could not afford one and thus would be again at an unfair advantage.

I do not know what the answers are, just some questions and thoughts.

Any others???

The GPS coordinates for baskets are being entered in other disc course databases already (not PDGA). Players would be able to map and upload coordinates or they might already be there in a future version of the PDGA Course Directory or some other ones.

The optional measurement devices would be little different from the existing monetary choices players make for the number and quality of discs bought and used, bags, quad shocks and carts used, higher tech shoes and clothing, even an umbrella. Distance measurement would simply be another option to consider. Everyone has their own opinion regarding how much these items improve your score. Rangfinders would be just another item for Am merch prizes and potential sponsorship from Bushnell.

I see your point about being just another monetary choice players can make but this seems like a different thing somehow.

Maybe it is the cost. Those able to afford a quality range finder, assuming they have the distance control to take advantage, seem to have a big advantage.

I would hardly call the locals advantage unfair in the same way since I can play any course prior to the tourney to work out the distances.

I don't see range finders being provided to all players ever though.

Rangefinders
Question - Will the host club or tournament be responsible for supplying ALL contestants with rangefinders? or will it be up to the individual player to supply his or her own?


Yes, they will also be required to supply every player a disc golf bag, 20 discs, mini marker, towels, sunscreen, umbrella, hat, shirt, shoes, shorts and pink panties ;)

Yes, they will also be required to supply every player a disc golf bag, 20 discs, mini marker, towels, sunscreen, umbrella, hat, shirt, shoes, shorts and pink panties ;)

That will be cool except I already have the pink panties.

Now DAT wuz funny! :D

Yes, they will also be required to supply every player a disc golf bag, 20 discs, mini marker, towels, sunscreen, umbrella, hat, shirt, shoes, shorts and pink panties ;)

I've heard that many pros just want that umbrella.

Plus I hope this doesn't cause techie players to wear out their 30 second rule grace period. Call out those time infractions - 27, 28, 29, 30. FOUL!

It won't be long before the technology will be built into (sun)glasses with a video camera, earphone and holographic display that shows how far you are from the pin as you walk up the fairway. You'll wiggle your left ear to start video and your right to stop. Raise your eyebrows to rewind and check to see if the player foot faulted or left the ground before releasing a putt jump. Tap the left corner of the glasses to start the timer and a buzzer goes off at 30 seconds or 3 minutes.

It won't be long before the technology will be built into (sun)glasses with a video camera, earphone and holographic display that shows how far you are from the pin as you walk up the fairway. You'll wiggle your left ear to start video and your right to stop. Raise your eyebrows to rewind and check to see if the player foot faulted or left the ground before releasing a putt jump. Tap the left corner of the glasses to start the timer and a buzzer goes off at 30 seconds or 3 minutes.

Climo can do all that stuff already. Ever notice how he knows what the dude's on the other cards are doing at all times and can strategize accordingly. Either someone in the crowd's flashing him hand signals or there's technology in them there ears!

Frankly, I doubt many would really benefit from using a range finder, aside from the putt circle. If you can't tell if it's 100' or 50', something is wrong with your vision. The difference between 50' and 55' is negligible. If a sign is wrong or missing, the TD needs to be reprimanded.

Frankly, I doubt many would really benefit from using a range finder, aside from the putt circle. If you can't tell if it's 100' or 50', something is wrong with your vision. The difference between 50' and 55' is negligible. If a sign is wrong or missing, the TD needs to be reprimanded.

The range finder issue is a crossover from ball golf, where knowing the exact yardage is a HUGE advantage. Because putting is so much more difficult in our sister sport, and especially when firing to a small green which may have pins tucked close to the edge (and where being off the green can be disastrous) the difference between, for example, 160 yards and 165 yards to a ball golfer is absolutely an enormous one.

In disc golf, the same concepts can somewhat apply but to a much smaller degree, imo. It's really not so much at closer ranges but further out. For example, to some disc golfers, the difference between 300' and 325' on flat ground may be a big one - if the former, I may try to throw a midrange but I surely need at least a fairway driver for the latter. (Extend those distances out for those who aren't noodle arms :)) So on a pro par four hole where we've all thrown our drives and are looking at upshots of unknown length such as above, having a range finder can make all the difference in the world for some folks.