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Laser Link Makes Tournament Debut at Dye Cup Electronic measuring device provided accurate distances and a quicker pace of play Contact Holly Geoghegan MADISON, Wis. (June 24, 2003) -- It was just a matter of time before a tournament committee chase use an EMD (Electronic Measuring Device) for tournament play. When that day arrived it would make sense to use a handheld device rather than a standard cart-bound GPS system. The day for this momentous decision was May 9, 2003. The event was the prestigious 23rd Dye Cup played at Crooked Stick in Carmel, IN, one of Pete Dye's more famous designs and the permanent home of this event that pairs a renowned club pro with an outstanding amateur played for 36-holes of competition. "We've already had the Laser Link here at the club," offered Crooked Stick head professional Jim Ferriell, "so we didn't have to be sold on how great they are. I know that since the first day they were put in use here at Crooked Stick, they've been a very popular addition to the club." The reason these target-specific units are so popular is their extreme accuracy. There's no chance that the beam is honing in on any object other than the flagstick where the prism is located. What the players in the Dye Cup field got was the exact distance to the hole and nothing else. Moreover, and this proved to be an important factor, unlike some GPS systems, the Laser Link QuickSilver isn't adversely effected by inclement weather. There was, however, another benefit of the usage of the Laser Link QuickSilver that didn't occur to most of the players in the field until after the first round. It took almost a half -hour less time to complete than the opening round the year before. "I'd have to say that it does speed up play," said St. Louis CC and former PGA Tour winner Steve Spray. "You don't have to go to a sprinkler head, then look at the pin sheet to see how far plus or minus the hole is from the center of the green and then compute the answer. All you have to do is aim, shoot and read and you have the answer. It's much better than the standard GPS system." It goes without saying that the club pros were impressed. At the private club, a quicker round usually means a more enjoyable one for the members and therefore a better overall golf experience. At the public facility, the golfer gets the same benefits while the use of the Laser Link QuickSilver could mean up to an extra half -hour of tee times per day. By the end of the season, this would mean a substantial bottom line increase at the end of the season. Spray was also impressed with the accuracy of the LaserLink Quicksilver. "Before the tournament," explained Spray, "Pete (Dye) explained to me about how it worked. I know that we double checked the Laser Link a couple of times with the sprinkler head and the pin sheet and it (the QuickSilver) was right on." On the second day of the Dye Cup, the players had to deal with another source of frustration, poor weather. Normally, a rain delay will pour down a sufficient amount to limit golf carts to the cart paths. This would render standard GPS systems useless unless you can cipher the triangulation successfully. With the Laser Link QuickSilver, all you have to do is aim, pull the trigger and read the yardage and you have the same reading rain or shine. "That is a big plus," said Spray. "You know it's accurate and can be used in any kind of weather." Laser Link QuickSilver is allowed by the USGA for use in rounds where scores are to be posted for handicap purposes. Local rules can be created for their use in tournament play. Laser Link is located in Madison, WI. It is the premier handheld electronic measuring device in all of golf. Laser Link is a target specific unit with a beam that hones in on a prism. The handheld unit emits a class one laser beam that will not cause any harm to the eye. For more information: contact Rob O'Loughlin at 1-866-909-4653. |