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SkyCaddie become official supplier

SkyCaddie – the leading golf GPS rangefinder – has become the PGA’s official distance measuring device and will be used during one of its prestigious tournaments for the first time this year.

Players in the Glenbrae PGA Fourball Championship will be allowed to use lightweight hand-held SkyCaddie GPS rangefinders during the event’s eight qualifying rounds and also in the Final at Fulford Golf Club in October.

Jackie Hitchcock of SkyCaddie said: “We’re delighted the PGA has recognised that SkyCaddie is simple to use and fast, giving golfers accurate information and speeding up play in the process.

“Our innovative GPS technology gives precise distances from tee to green – and exact yardages to hazards in between – and the PGA clearly appreciates the benefits the SkyCaddie has over other devices.”

SkyCaddie combines state-of-the-art GPS technology with precision-mapping by foot to give golfers the vital information they need to reduce their scoring through improved course management.

The meticulous mapping process involves physically walking courses and marking all hazards, their ‘to’ and ‘carry’ points, as well as all run-outs and ends of fairways. They also mark ‘Fairway Targets’ – a safe area off of the tee – and on longer and more difficult holes they also give another safe ‘Lay-Up Target’.

Jim Croxton, PGA sponsorship manager, said: “This is the future and I think in two years’ a lot of golfers will have one of these.

“SkyCaddie are market leaders in this field and we’re delighted to have them on board.”

Rangefinders were approved as a condition of competition by the R&A and USGA in January last year, and currently devices can only be used in competition if a Local Rule allows them.

But the R&A are expected to discuss relaxing the conditions for their use in competition play in October.

Added Jackie: “The PGA has proven to be extremely forward-thinking and view the use of rangefinders in competitions as part of the future of golf.

“They made SkyCaddie the official rangefinder because of its ease of use and the speed with which players can use the product, play the shot and move on.”

SkyCaddie has been a huge success on the PGA EuroPro Tour, with more than 160 golfers regularly using the devices and Tour bosses seeing pace of play improve dramatically.

Added Jackie: “SkyCaddie makes the game faster and more enjoyable. Our partnership with the PGA signals a whole new era for amateur and professional golfers.”

October 8, 2007