Range finders will be allowed at the PGA Championship in May

The Professional Golfers’ Association of America is to allow players the use of distance-measuring devices during competition rounds at its three annual major championships – the PGA Championship, the Women’s PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship.

Such devices, including laser rangefinders and global positioning system (gps) units have previously been only allowed for practice rounds.

The new rules will come into effect this year, starting with the PGA Championship that is scheduled to held at Kiawah Island in South Carolina in May.

Any distance measuring device will have to have its slope-adjusting capabilities turned off, so that changes in elevation is not compensated for, and no club recommendations can be offered by the device.

Increasing the pace of play, appears to be a main reason for allowing range finders and gps units.

“We’re always interested in methods that may help improve the flow of play during our championships,” said Jim Richerson, president of the PGA of America.

“The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the rules of golf. Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”

With the exception of the European Tour’s Legends Tour, range finders are not currently allowed for any tournaments on any of the main professional tours for men or women.