White stakes… red stakes… sprinkler heads… who needs ‘em?

The days of pacing off your distance to the pin or, even worse, taking a wild guess at it are over with one of the latest range finders in your arsenal. In 2006, the USGA made them legal to use in handicapping and tournament play, as long as they only tell you distance (no slope, wind direction or speed, etc.) So now it’s just a matter of how high-tech (and small and portable) you want to be. GPS systems are generally smaller and lighter than laser range finders and don’t require a clear line of sight to a target. The course must be pre-mapped manually or downloaded from a website for an annual subscription (from $20 to $60, depending on the number of courses.) Accuracy depends on the strength of the satellite signal and can be affected by cloud or tree cover, but most GPS systems offer loads of extra handy features. Slightly larger than GPS units, laser range finders tend to be slightly more precise. Anything you can line up in the crosshairs can be measured — and they are weather resistant. These are the range finders you see PGA Tour players using during practice rounds. They do require a fairly steady hand and a clear line of sight to the target. Whether you choose GPS or laser, range finders give you more confidence when selecting a club, while also helping you dial in how far you hit various clubs in different conditions, which should ultimately lower your score.