Rules 06 Tip #2 Range Finders

ARE RANGE FINDERS LEGAL OR ILLEGAL? Our current Rule 14-3 says that range finders are illegal. But a note says the Committee can make a local rule allowing them to be used.
… Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment:
For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play;



The following was added in 2008:


Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only.


ADVICE OR NOT ADVICE? A current decision, 8-1/2, says you can share with anyone the distance between her ball and the hole.
8-1/2 Exchanging Distance Information
Information regarding the distance between two objects is public information and not advice. It is therefore permissible for players to exchange information relating to the distance between two objects. For example, a player may ask anyone, including his opponent, fellow-competitor or either of their caddies, the distance between his ball and the hole.
But if the information was determined by a range finder and the local rule for a range finder has not been adopted, the player asking for advice will be disqualified.
This following was added in 2008:
Except when the Local Rule allowing the use of distance-measuring devices has been adopted (see Note to Rule 14-3), information regarding distance must not have been obtained from an artificial device used during the stipulated round. A player who obtains distance information that he knew was measured by anyone with an artificial device during the player’s round is disqualified under Rule 14-3. (Revised)

REMEMBER: You can share the distance you see on your range finder with those with whom you are playing, if the course where you are playing has adopted the local rule.