Use of Distance Measuring Devices

The JAGS Tour Board of Directors and Rules Committee made the following decision regarding use of Distance Measuring Devices:

A JAGS Tour Tournament Competitor may use a device that measures or gauges distance ONLY during tournament play. The device cannot be used to measure conditions that might affect a player’s play such as gradient, wind speed, temperature, or assist a player in making a stroke or in his play etc.

The USGA and R & A issued the following, abridged, information in a Joint Statement:

"Permitting the use of a measuring device to provide the same information that can be obtained through use of a yardage book or on-course markings is not considered to diminish the skill level required to play the game...

A Clarification of the Rules...

2. When the local rule is in effect, distance-measuring devices must be limited to measuring distance only. The use of a distance-measuring device would constitute a breach of the Rules if:

• The device has the capability of gauging or measuring other conditions that might affect play (e.g., wind speed, gradient, temperature, etc), or;
• The device has some other non-conforming feature, including, but not limited to, recommendations that might assist the player in making a stroke or in his play, such as club selection, type of shot to be played (e.g., punch shot, pitch and run, etc.), or green reading (i.e., a recommended line of putt), or other advice-related matters. However, it is permissible to use such a device, during a stipulated round, to access distance information from previous rounds that has been processed prior to the commencement of the current round (e.g., a chart of all club yardages), or;
• The device has the capability to assist in calculating the effective distance between two points (i.e., distance after considering gradient, wind speed and/or direction, temperature or other environmental factors).

There would be a breach of the Rules even if all of the above features can be switched off or disengaged, and in fact are switched off or disengaged..."