Are Rangefinders Allowed in the 2024 US Women’s Open After the Massive DMD Controversy Last Year?

Will Nelly Korda secure her third career major win this year, or will Allisen Corpuz defend her title at the 79th US Women’s Open? These are among the questions that will be answered at Lancaster Country Club this weekend. But before stepping onto the greens, are there any rules for the pros to keep in mind? Absolutely!

While there are only a few rules to watch out for, the main question revolves around a specific piece of equipment: the “range finder.” Why just the range finder? Well, the answer has an intriguing backstory. Let’s explore further and uncover its history!

Rangefinders could lead to disqualification at the US Women’s Open

To maintain fairness between players and spectators, the USGA issues separate sets of rules. However, there are no exemptions for fans or professionals; if one fails to comply, they face separate punishments. During the 2023 US Women’s Open, Thai golfer Natthakritta Vongtaveelap unfortunately fell victim to a breach of one such rule.

The 21-year-old LPGA Tour rookie began her tournament at the Pebble Beach course. She was just five holes in when her nightmare came true, and she was disqualified. Her caddie, Jinsup Kim, repeatedly used a rangefinder on the greens, a prohibited distance-measuring device. This action is clearly against the rules of the U.S. Women’s Open or any event organized by the USGA and R&A as outlined in Rule 4.3.

While first-time use only results in a penalty, repeated use leads to disqualification. Players are permitted to use equipment to aid their play in a round, but not to give them an unfair advantage. In Vongtaveelap’s case, a breach of the rule occurred as rangefinders could potentially offer an advantage on the greens.

As per Rule 4.3 of the USGA which pertains to the use of equipment, golfers are allowed to use tools such as distance-measuring devices or compasses for getting information on distance or direction. They are prohibited from using tools that would help them measure elevation changes, interpret distance or directional information, and align the ball. The PGA of America allows the use of rangefinders in the major events organized by them.

The incident may have occurred due to confusion because, in major amateur events like the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Junior Amateur, pros and their partners can use rangefinders without the slope function. However, in all Open championships, rangefinders are strictly prohibited. However, the Thai golfer isn’t the only one who has been disqualified for breaking the rules.

Who was the other golfer who became a victim of this rule?

In 2023, during the Korn Ferry Tour, Zach Williams, who had recently turned pro, found himself in a similar situation. This occurred when he qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour’s Memorial Health Championship in Springfield, Illinois. Ready for his first event on the circuit, he also experienced something new: disqualification for using rangefinders.

In the first round, after reaching even-par through two holes, the professional used the prohibited device twice. This resulted in a violation of Model Local Rule G-5, where one use incurs a two-stroke penalty, and two uses lead to disqualification, as per Rule 4.3. While these incidents are not common, they can be devastating for golfers, making it essential to always keep these rules in mind.

This year’s US Women’s Open starts on May 30 at Lancaster Country Club. Stay tuned for all the action.