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GPS and Laser Range Finders. Do you use them?


mizuno_lover

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Over here in the sunny land of OZ it is legal to use both Laser Range Finders and or GPS devices in amateur competition.  I find them very handy and have become somewhat reliant on them and a GPS device is a must on a course I haven't played before.  I find they speed up my game but in some quarters here there is talk that they slow it up.  There is also talk of banning them in competition.

 

My question is do you use them and are they legal in competitions.  What are your thoughts on their effect of speeding or slowing up play?  Do you think they are a good thing for the game? :huh:

My Bag

 

Driver:  :ping-small: G25 Stiff shaft
3 Wood:  :mizuno-small: JPX 850 16 degree. Fujikara Orichi 65 gram stiff shaft
Hybrids: 3 & 4 :mizuno-small: JPX 850 Fujikara Orichi 65 gram regular shafts
Irons:  :mizuno-small: MP- H5 3 - 6 iron dynamic gold XP 115 gram stiff soft stepped
Irons:  :mizuno-small: MP 54 4 - PW dynamic gold S300
Wedges:   :mizuno-small: MP T4 52 degree,  :titelist-small: :vokey-small: 56 degree 10 degree bounce, :titelist-small: :vokey-small: 60 degree 10 degree bounce.
Putter:  :ping-small: ZB S

 

Evil prospers when good men do nothing.

 

Honorary member Texas BBQ Curtin Circa 2015 

 

 

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I don't use them but it's legal according to the USGA and R&A rules, your local Amateur Governing will normally follow the rules of both the R&A and USGA.

 

If your distance-measuring device is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect your play like gradient, wind speed and temperature, then it's is not permitted. 

 

Some guys will take a long time before they address the ball and others not, think you will get a lot of different comments on slow play or not.  I don't have a problem with the device, as long as the user enjoys his round, it's all good by me. 

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I use a GPS.....Garmin G6 that shows a pic of the hole so that I can plot my layups.  It has been very helpful.  I am looking at Rangefinders now as MG Golf has introduced their own mfg rangefinder for only $150.

Driver: image.png.6ba1c8a254ad57aa05e527b74c2e04ba.png0311 XF 10.5* w/Project X Cypher 40 gram Senior shaft or 0811 XF 12* w/Evenflo Riptide CB Senior shaft

Fairways:  image.png.80321f01fc46450b6f428c7daf7b3471.png0211 5W & 7W w/ Evenflo Riptide CB  regular shaft and Tour Edge E521 9W w/Fubuki HD50 regular shaft

Hybrid: None in bag at the moment

IronsTitleist T300 5-PW w/Fubuki MV Senior graphite shafts w/Golf Pride Tour

Wedges: Edison forged 49*, 53* and 57* wedges with KB PGI Senior shafts(80 grm).

Putter: 33” Evnroll ER6R or  ER2 or Bellum Winmore Model 707,   or Nike Method Core Drone  w/Evnroll Gravity Grip

Bag: Vice cart bag(Black/Lime). 

Ball: Snell MTB Prime X, Maxfli Tour/S/X CG, Titleist Pro V1x or Titleist TruFeel

Using Shot Scope X5 and Pinned Rangefinder

 

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I think they are great for the game IF you are someone who always walks off their yardage. If you're someone who looks at the sprinkler head and looks at the 200/150/100 stakes and says well I'm about x yards away and then grabs a club and goes, then they'll slow you down.

 

I have a leupold and I'll use it maybe five or six times a round. I'm more of a feel guy, so I'll say well it feels about this and then grab a club. Pull it out for every par three and then if I'm unsure, generally from 210-250 range I will need it.

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Use them all the time.  Got a great deal on a Nikon Coolshot AS last year from GolfGalaxy.  Worth every penny.  They are legal for the tournaments I play. 

:taylormade-small: M1 10.5* - Tour AD BB-6X
:titelist-small: 10F.d. 13.5* - Graffaloy Bi-Matrix X
:titelist-small: 915Hd 20.5* - Aldila Tour Green
:titelist-small:  T-MB 2-iron - Aldila Tour Green
:titelist-small:  716 AP2 5-PW - KBS C-Taper Lite X
:vokey-small: SM6 50/56 - DG S400

:cameron-small:  Kombi S 35"

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If it's a course in familiar with I rarely need one. I prefer GPS over laser because you have to have a line of sight with a laser and a quality GPS will have visual overlays where you can pick specific spots

In The Bag
Driver: TaylorMade M2 (2017) w/ Project X T1100 HZRDUS Handcrafted 65x 
Strong 3 wood: Taylormade M1 15* w/ ProjectX T1100 HZRDUS handcrafted 75x
3 Hybrid: Adams PRO 18* w/ KBS Tour Hybrid S flex tipped 1/2"
4 Hybrid: Adams PRO 20* (bent to 21*) w/ KBS Tour Hybrid S flex tipped 1/2"
4-AW: TaylorMade P770 w/ Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Black Onyx S400

SW: 56* Scratch Tour Dept(CC grooves) w/ Dynamic Gold Spinner
LW: 60* Scratch Tour Department (CC grooves) w/ Dynamic Gold Spinner
XW: 64* Cally XForged Vintage w/ DG X100 8 iron tiger stepped
Putter: Nike Method Prototype 006 at 34"

Have a ton of back-ups in all categories, but there are always 14 clubs in the bag that differ depending on the course and set-up. Bomb and gouge. Yes, I'm a club gigolo.

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I use a Garmin G3 all the time, it's the best golf purchase I've ever made. Speeds me up as I don't spend time walking round and sorting a yardage out. Brilliant to have when playing a new course as well as it shows small picture of hole and can get yard ages to hazards.

 

I do also have an old bushnell, I only use that rarely - it's good but my game doesn't usually require me to be accurate to that level!

 

Legal in all amatuer play I've been involved in.

Rest in peace long sticks - I'll remember you

 

TM Burner Superfast 2.0 TP Regular

TM RBZ Stage 2 Fairway 14.5 stiff

Adams Blue Hybrid No. 3 stiff

Adams Super xtdHybrid 21.5 Stiff

 

Ping G30 4 and 5 Iron - Regular CFS Shaft

Ping i25 6 - PW Regular CFS Shaft

TM Y Groove Gap Wedge

Cleveland CG10 Sand Wedge

 

PingTR Piper Putter, adjustable shaft, SuperStroke Fatso

 

Titleist StaDry Cart Bag

 

Motocaddy S3 Pro Trolley

 

Foot Joy City, Adidas Boost Boa and Adidas Superstar shoes

 

Pro V1x in the summer, Titleist Velocity in the winter.

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I use one of those little handheld GPS devices. $70 and is within a yard or two of the laser finders I've tested it against. It only does greens though, front center and back. I would like a laser one so I could find the distance to bunkers, hazards. trees etc .... Right now I've just got to guess and that gets me in trouble often times.

:taylormade-small: R15 White 10.5° Accra FX-260 M4

:titelist-small:        915F 3W Aldila Rogue Black 110 stiff 

:titelist-small:        915H 4H MRC Diamana D+ Whiteboard 90 HY Stiff

:titelist-small:        716 T-MB 3 iron True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT S-300

:taylormade-small: Rsi 2's 5-9 - True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT S-300

:vokey-small: SM6 46

:vokey-small: SM6 52* 

:vokey-small: SM6 56*  

:callaway-small:  Mack Daddy 2 PM grind 60* 

:scotty-cameron-1:   Newport 2.5 Dual Balance

:titelist-small: ProV1X 

 

 

Game Golf : kfilly20

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I'm in the camp of "sometimes" using a GPS or rangefinder, but mostly on courses I'm not familiar with or on par threes.

 

IF you play slow, they'll make you slower.  If you're not, they might even speed up play.

What's In the Bag

Driver - :callaway-small: GBB 

Hybrids  :cleveland-small: Halo XL Halo 18* & :cobra-small: T-Rail 20*

Irons  :cobra-small: T-Rail 2.0

Wedges :ping-small: 60* TS / SCOR 48* 53* 58*

Putter     :scotty-small:

Ball :callaway-logo-1:

Bag Datrek DG Lite  

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Yes. I currently only use a Skycaddie SGX. Prior to the SGX I used a handheld GolfLogix model. I use these types for Front, Middle, Back numbers. Sometimes I use the shot distance measuring feature. I have a pretty old Bushnell early model LRF but it's not all that accurate or is it able to lock onto targets well. Like FOZ I'm looking into buying the LRF that MG (MasterGrip) has on their site. Knowing MG as I do I'd I feel like this LRF would be an excellent value.

My Sun Mountain bag currently includes:   TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png 771CSI 5i - PW and TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png PFC Micro Tour-c 52°, 56°, 60 wedges

                                                                               :755178188_TourEdge: EXS 10.5*, TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png 929-HS FW4 16.5* 

                                                                                :edel-golf-1: Willimette w/GolfPride Contour

 

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I use the golf pad app that was free for the android/ Google play store. Great shot tracking feature and doesn't drain the battery.

range finder during tourneys and practice rounds to really hammer out club yard averages.

I find a lot of practice swings slows down play. Though I don't think anyone is slower than keegan bradley at this point.

My Mixed-Bag:

 

Driver:      :callaway-small: Mavrik Sub zero, ventus black 7x

Fairway:     Still looking!

Irons:         :mizuno-small:MP-18 MB 4-PW

Wedges:     Miura K Grinds

Putter:       Evnroll 1.2 blade

Ball:        :srixon-small: Z star XV

 

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I have used a GolfBuddy GPS for years, then my wife got me a Bushnell Laser for Christmas.  I like it because I can get distances to objects besides the flag.  The negative for me on lasers is that you know the yardage to the pin, but you have no idea where the pin is on the green.  Yes, I know, some courses have pin sheets, but the last few courses I have played (Bend Oregon) that had pin sheets, they were incorrect.  I missed having the front/middle/back yardages of the GPS.  So now I use both; actually my wife and I use both.  She uses the GPS when we stop the cart at a ball, and I laser the pin and/or bunker.  Works OK.  

 

I think they speed up play for me, because on an unfamiliar course, I am looking for sprinkler heads.  The problem these days is that with all the measuring devices, courses don't put yardages on sprinkler heads anymore.  Except for the high end courses, most don't even use GPS on carts anymore either.  It used to be a trend that courses started getting GPS systems to speed up play, but now everybody has their own, and courses are getting rid of them.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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I have a GPS watch (Bushnell Neo XS) and Garmin G6 GPS and don't use either of them really at all.  I normally forget to charge the Garmin and really can't play golf with a watch all that well.  I end up just using my Bushnell V3 most days and it works fine for me.  Only good part is that the watch and GPS were tournament prizes so I don't feel guilty by not using them all that much.

 

I do think that they speed up the game and have become somewhat reliant on using them.  Where I think they slow the game down is when someone feels the need to use both a range finder and GPS for every shot.  For most people a yard or two is not going to make a difference at all.

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   Sim Ti 22* HZRDUS Red 75g 6.5

   Sim2 Rescue 22* Diamana Thump 100x

   X Forged CB 5 - PW MMT 105 TX 

   Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner

   Toulon Madison BGT Fire 34.75"

   Z Star Diamond

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It's nice using both.  The laser tells me how far to the pin, and the GPS gives me an idea where the pin is on the green with the front/middle/back.  

 

If I were by myself, I would not use both.  That would slow down the game.  The GPS works better for large greens when you can tell where the pin is by flag color.  For smallish greens I like the laser.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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I use a rangefinder, I hit the flag and choose a club, the Only golfers faster than me are the ones who play speed golf, so for me if it slows me down its a good thing. What I look for is just a general distance to the flag. The range finder is quick and simple.

Lefties are always in their Right Mind

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I've got the combo laser/GPS.  Best of both.  I can shoot the flag from the cart, compare it to the GPS reading and determine how far front or back from center.  Comes in handy on the frequent cart paths only days.  

Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts.

In my Ogio Ozone XX Cart Stand Bag:

Ping G400 10.5 Deg Driver, stock Stiff shaft
TM Rocketballz 19 Deg 5 Wood, stock Matrix Osik Stiff shaft
TM Rocketballz Stage 2 21 Deg Tour 4 Hybrid, Rocketfuel 80h Stiff shaft 

Callaway Apex CF 16 Irons, 4-P, Stiff Shafts
 
Scor 48 and 55 degree wedges.  
Renegar 60 Deg Steel Shaft Lob Wedge

TM Ghost Spider Si 38" Counterbalanced Putter

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I've got the combo laser/GPS.  Best of both.  I can shoot the flag from the cart, compare it to the GPS reading and determine how far front or back from center.  Comes in handy on the frequent cart paths only days.

 

You knew you were a dead man walking as soon as you replied to this thread didn't you? :)

 

An important factor with lasers is common sense. If the hole is 340 and you crack one down the middle, the pin looks close but the yardage says 160 you may wish to reshoot it, just in case you caught a tree behind the green or something. Someone here at an issue once but I won't say who.

 

At any rate, I'm a laser guy. I've yet to play in a tournament where they were banned. There is normal the warning about wind gauges or slope but who cares, telling me the wind is blowin 9mph and feeling it on my face are the same thing anyway.

 

Generally speaking I will shoot my yardage from the cart and extrapolate the actual distance, it's just the fastest way to do it. In a tournament, when play has slowed down, I will be more precise.

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

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Ha, got me!   I had let that incident slip out of my memory.  Just to correct things, laser said 140.  But it was indeed to the tree forty yards behind the green, I admit.  I did nail that tree with that 8 iron, however.  

Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts.

In my Ogio Ozone XX Cart Stand Bag:

Ping G400 10.5 Deg Driver, stock Stiff shaft
TM Rocketballz 19 Deg 5 Wood, stock Matrix Osik Stiff shaft
TM Rocketballz Stage 2 21 Deg Tour 4 Hybrid, Rocketfuel 80h Stiff shaft 

Callaway Apex CF 16 Irons, 4-P, Stiff Shafts
 
Scor 48 and 55 degree wedges.  
Renegar 60 Deg Steel Shaft Lob Wedge

TM Ghost Spider Si 38" Counterbalanced Putter

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I can see why you opted to get the combo laser/GPS unit!!  Good call.  I like having both to see how much room I have on the green before/after the pin.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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laser Rangefinder. Used to use phones GPS but gave up on the apps. I like that it's quick and get mark targets. I usually can see where the flag is on the green and if I know the course well enough should be able to envision a shot that will help get me there.

 Driver:   :callaway-small:  Epic Flash 12 Degree

Wood: :callaway-small:  GBB 3 Wood
Hybrid: :callaway-small: Razr 4 hybriid stiff stock shaft.
Irons: :callaway-small: X2 Hot 4 iron (pro version) 5 iron - Gap Wedge (non pro version).  KBS 120g Shaft stiff cut 1/2  inch bent 1°upright
Wedges: :vokey-small: 52° 56° and 60°.
All grips are Golf pride grips midsized
Putter (lefty):  Odyssey Metal-X #8 34", stock shaft bent 2° Superstroke grip
Golf Balls:   :titelist-small: 2018-9 Pro-V1x and Prov1s
Shoes:  :footjoy-small:  Dryjoy tours

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We have some holes where you can't see the green, let alone the flagstick. Laser is useless, but GPS works OK.

 

I am really not good enough to stop a ball near the pin, so I usually go for the center of the green. That's why I like GPS, but I also like to know a distance to carry a bunker, to a dogleg, or the distance to the end of a fairway past a dogleg or before a hazard. That's really a benefit of the laser.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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Looking at all these positive post, seems to me I am missing something in my bag.  I am not too bad with 130 yards to the pin but think it could help my game from 160-200!  Any suggestions what I should get?

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Hey Rev should we be posting signs like this one wherever jaxbeachpackerfan plays? ;)

 

sign.jpg

My Bag

 

Driver:  :ping-small: G25 Stiff shaft
3 Wood:  :mizuno-small: JPX 850 16 degree. Fujikara Orichi 65 gram stiff shaft
Hybrids: 3 & 4 :mizuno-small: JPX 850 Fujikara Orichi 65 gram regular shafts
Irons:  :mizuno-small: MP- H5 3 - 6 iron dynamic gold XP 115 gram stiff soft stepped
Irons:  :mizuno-small: MP 54 4 - PW dynamic gold S300
Wedges:   :mizuno-small: MP T4 52 degree,  :titelist-small: :vokey-small: 56 degree 10 degree bounce, :titelist-small: :vokey-small: 60 degree 10 degree bounce.
Putter:  :ping-small: ZB S

 

Evil prospers when good men do nothing.

 

Honorary member Texas BBQ Curtin Circa 2015 

 

 

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Looking at all these positive post, seems to me I am missing something in my bag.  I am not too bad with 130 yards to the pin but think it could help my game from 160-200!  Any suggestions what I should get?

the Bay is your friend. I found my lasers on there. 

 Driver:   :callaway-small:  Epic Flash 12 Degree

Wood: :callaway-small:  GBB 3 Wood
Hybrid: :callaway-small: Razr 4 hybriid stiff stock shaft.
Irons: :callaway-small: X2 Hot 4 iron (pro version) 5 iron - Gap Wedge (non pro version).  KBS 120g Shaft stiff cut 1/2  inch bent 1°upright
Wedges: :vokey-small: 52° 56° and 60°.
All grips are Golf pride grips midsized
Putter (lefty):  Odyssey Metal-X #8 34", stock shaft bent 2° Superstroke grip
Golf Balls:   :titelist-small: 2018-9 Pro-V1x and Prov1s
Shoes:  :footjoy-small:  Dryjoy tours

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The Bushnells are brilliant but expensive so any model you choose you will have a great unit.  I have the V3 and it vibrates when it has what you are aiming at.

My Bag

 

Driver:  :ping-small: G25 Stiff shaft
3 Wood:  :mizuno-small: JPX 850 16 degree. Fujikara Orichi 65 gram stiff shaft
Hybrids: 3 & 4 :mizuno-small: JPX 850 Fujikara Orichi 65 gram regular shafts
Irons:  :mizuno-small: MP- H5 3 - 6 iron dynamic gold XP 115 gram stiff soft stepped
Irons:  :mizuno-small: MP 54 4 - PW dynamic gold S300
Wedges:   :mizuno-small: MP T4 52 degree,  :titelist-small: :vokey-small: 56 degree 10 degree bounce, :titelist-small: :vokey-small: 60 degree 10 degree bounce.
Putter:  :ping-small: ZB S

 

Evil prospers when good men do nothing.

 

Honorary member Texas BBQ Curtin Circa 2015 

 

 

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Thank you, any model you can suggest?

If the courses you play have prisms I go leupold every day! U.S. military uses their optics for a reason. Though the pin seeking tech won't lock unless the flag has a prism. Price comparable to Bushnell but the build quality will feel way sturdier.

I am bias. But I've owned both a Bushnell z6 and currently a leupold Gx-3i2.

My Mixed-Bag:

 

Driver:      :callaway-small: Mavrik Sub zero, ventus black 7x

Fairway:     Still looking!

Irons:         :mizuno-small:MP-18 MB 4-PW

Wedges:     Miura K Grinds

Putter:       Evnroll 1.2 blade

Ball:        :srixon-small: Z star XV

 

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Thank you, any model you can suggest?

I've only used Bushnell. MGS ran a whole thing on most wanted laser. Check that out. 

My only advice would be find one you like, set a price and wait on eBay till an opportunity comes to grab it.

 Driver:   :callaway-small:  Epic Flash 12 Degree

Wood: :callaway-small:  GBB 3 Wood
Hybrid: :callaway-small: Razr 4 hybriid stiff stock shaft.
Irons: :callaway-small: X2 Hot 4 iron (pro version) 5 iron - Gap Wedge (non pro version).  KBS 120g Shaft stiff cut 1/2  inch bent 1°upright
Wedges: :vokey-small: 52° 56° and 60°.
All grips are Golf pride grips midsized
Putter (lefty):  Odyssey Metal-X #8 34", stock shaft bent 2° Superstroke grip
Golf Balls:   :titelist-small: 2018-9 Pro-V1x and Prov1s
Shoes:  :footjoy-small:  Dryjoy tours

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I have both a laser rangefinder and GPS.  I recently traded in my Skycaddie SGX for the Skycaddie Touch.  My laser rangefinder is an fairly cheap brand you probably never heard of.  Paid about 1/2 of what most of them cost.  I rely mostly on the Skycaddie.  While it is great to know how far it is to the flag, I like knowing how much room I have from front to back of the green.  

Check out www.littlejohngolfleague.com a Greater Houston Traveling Golf League

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I use a laser reasonably often, but I'm pretty comfortable using yardage markers on the ground too, especially if I have a yardage guide so I can see hole and green shapes.  I had to laugh once at a friend playing at MidPines with me, in NC.  They have yardages to the front, middle, and back on every sprinkler within about 250 yards of the greens, and most of the greens are too small to even have a front or back. He'd stand next to a sprinkler and look at his GPS and pick his club.  For some reason, the GPS was off that day, so he'd regularly hit 2 clubs short or long, and wonder what was going on.  I suggested he just MIGHT want to pay attention to the sprinklers, and he looked at me as if I was the crazy one.  

:titleist-small: Irons Titleist T200, AMT Red stiff

:callaway-small:Rogue SubZero, GD YS-Six X

:mizuno-small: T22 54 and 58 wedges

:mizuno-small: 7-wood

:Sub70: 5-wood

 B60 G5i putter

Right handed

Reston, Virginia

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