[tophcfa]

Anyone else notice that the reflectors are no longer on the flagsticks at the Championship courses? I have always enjoyed the fact that all the Championship courses flagsticks incorporated the simple technology that made it extremely quick and simple to shoot the yardage to the stick with a laser rangefinder. The last few rounds I have played I thought my rangefinder was going bad as it is more difficult to shoot the yardage, then I noticed the problem isn’t my rangefinder, it’s that the sticks no longer have the prisms on top. Although I can still acquire the yardage, it’s more difficult and time consuming which certainly doesn’t help speed up the pace of play.

[Bay Kid]

The prisms are expensive to replace. Golfers have a tendency to enjoy dropping the flag stick on the green. Not only does this loosen and break the prisms but also isn't very good for the green. Sad because they are very helpful.

[dewilson58]

removed over a month ago

southern oaks never had them.............i assumed others were going to follow

a lot more difficult to hit without

[Mortal1]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

The prisms are expensive to replace. Golfers have a tendency to enjoy dropping the flag stick on the green. Not only does this loosen and break the prisms but also isn't very good for the green. Sad because they are very helpful.

a tape that has a prism coating and a sticky back. They are not expensive at all and are not actually a prism, but a reflective surface with angular reflective faces. Similar to this: Amazon.com

[tophcfa]

Played Glenview today (conditions were great but greens were scary fast with downhill/down grain putts). Asked in the clubhouse, starter shacks for each 9, and two ambassadors, all about what happened to the flagstick prisms. Nobody had an answer and all seemed tight lipped, except for one person. Word is that the Villages has a contract with the Company that sells the Golf Buddy GPS based course mapping software. Apparently, eliminating the ease of using laser rangefinders might increase the sales of the products the Villages is in bed with?

[Mrs.Guy]

How do you do it on all the golf courses you own?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

That’s sux! I will never use a GPS based system anyways, but removing prisms to sell more GPS software is like the NFL referees as altering outcomes for more ticket sales

[Mrs.Guy]

I love it! Some poster puts forth a conspiracy theory and another takes it as gospel.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Mrs.Guy

I love it! Some poster puts forth a conspiracy theory and another takes it as gospel.

After seeing the lengths some corporations go with the arrogance of a monopoly, I have learned years later that what I thought was skill and professionalism was really insider manipulation of the stock market in many different ways. . .

So a small time developer with a monopoly, too easy to believe as small time operators don't usually cover their tracks very well, as its not really needed.

old finance guy

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Played Glenview today (conditions were great but greens were scary fast with downhill/down grain putts). Asked in the clubhouse, starter shacks for each 9, and two ambassadors, all about what happened to the flagstick prisms. Nobody had an answer and all seemed tight lipped, except for one person. Word is that the Villages has a contract with the Company that sells the Golf Buddy GPS based course mapping software. Apparently, eliminating the ease of using laser rangefinders might increase the sales of the products the Villages is in bed with?

Un, in addition to GPS SOFTWARE, golf buddy makes/sells range finders, that rely on then[risms.

[Paul1934]

Just use a basic Nikon cool shot with no bells and whistles. Shoot trees bunkers etc. for reference with no problems. See many with issues related to steadiness, advise them to use the cart stantions to keep their scope calm. Most players are not that consistent to require a range to the yard.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Um, in addition to GPS SOFTWARE, golf buddy makes/sells range finders, that rely on the prisms.

Darn it!!! A perfectly good "word is" theory dashed on the rocks.

[rhood]

Knowing the yardage doesn’t help my game a bit.

[tvbound]

Originally Posted by rhood

Knowing the yardage doesn’t help my game a bit.

"Knowing the yardage doesn’t help my game a bit."

While I do like to know the general yardage, especially with fast/firm conditions (more rollout) and knowing about how far it is to clear, or lay up short, of a particular obstacle - I'm pretty much there with you. I do get a real kick out of some of the guys I play with though, when after using their respective range finders they'll forcefully argue the distance they got (from the green tees). "It's 98 yards, NO, it's 101 yards!" This from guys who carry a GHIN Index - of well over 20. LOL As for the OP, I have also noticed the removal of the prisms, but I haven't found it to be real issue in getting a good yardage without them.

[dewilson58]

I heard they removed them because I was taking too much time fixing my hair in the mirrors.