Things have been pretty much the same at the Dogwood Invitational since its inception in April 1941. For the first time in the event’s history, this year’s 93 amateur golfers are allowed to use distance measuring devices, or rangefinders.
At the start of 2014, the United States Golf Association approved the use of distance-measuring devices in all USGA amateur championships and their qualifying events. The change in USGA’s rules prompted Dogwood Invitational tournament chairman Edward Toledano and the rest of the board to make a change to their rules.
“That was a trigger for us, when the USGA makes a change that way we’ll look at it and make a decision, and this year we decided to use them,” Toledano said. “It’ll be a test for us to see if pace of play changes. Because the argument is that pace of play is faster when you’re shooting with a laser versus walking around looking for a spot, counting it off.”
The counter argument to using the rangefinders is that traditional golfers in the past didn’t even use yardage markers on the fairway. It was all purely based on feel.
When Allen Doyle won the Dogwood in 1994, distance measuring devices, which essentially serve as GPS systems for golfers, were not allowed on the course.
On Wednesday, Doyle joined 1966 champion Charlie Harrison on Day 1’s honorary tee to start the 48th annual Dogwood Invitational at Druid Hills Golf Club.
“When they called I thought it would be a good way to get back here, to see the young kids in action,” Doyle said. “They’re unbelievable, big and strong. They’ve got a good technique compared to my lousy technique. It’s a treat to see youth; it’s always fun to be around it.”
Depending on how this year’s tournament plays out, Toledano said he and the other directors will decide if allowing rangefinders is a change they’d like to keep.
“They’re still going to shoot it with a laser; they’re still going to count it off so I’m not very confident that there is going to be a pace of play change,” Toledano said.
Recent Georgia Tech graduate Seth Reeves was in the lead after the first 18 holes. He shot a 7-under 72. Reeves shot seven birdies, two bogeys and one eagle. Though this was his fourth appearance at the Dogwood, it was the first time Reeves was allowed to complete the course with his rangefinder.
“In college we’re allowed to do it, so it keeps me in the same routine,” Reeves said of using the rangefinder. “It’s a whole lot easier to just be able to shoot the pin, shoot a hill or a bunker or something versus trying to find a yardage finder, trying to step it off. It’s just way more accurate and way more efficient.”
Robert Mize, a sophomore at Columbus State, and Zachary Healy, a freshman at Georgia, tied for second behind Reeves. Both Mize and Healy shot 6 under in the first round with six birdies a piece.
The tournament ends Saturday after the fourth round of the tournament.
Toledano said most of the golfers at the Dogwood Invitational are also collegiate golfers and are used to using rangefinders in practice and competition, since the NCAA doesn’t have any rules against them. He estimated most all of the golfers were using rangefinders Wednesday.
“I would almost guarantee you every single one of them has got it,” Toledano said. “Now there may some guys who maybe didn’t hear me or didn’t read the rules who aren’t doing it today but tomorrow they’ll be doing it. There’s no doubt.”
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