Accessory Review:
Bushnell Medalist Laser Rangefinder
by Jeffrey Reed

The world of golf is a fast-paced scene – just look how quickly the large square-headed drivers have been accepted as mainstream equipment. But is there any other piece of equipment or accessory that has been as widely accepted as the laser rangefinder? Probably not.

Enter Bushnell Outdoor Products, a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products. When the United States Golf Association, Royal and Ancient Golf Club, Royal Canadian Golf Association – and finally in November 2006 the Golf Association of Ontario – all announced they would permit the use of distance-measuring devices by local rule, that opened the floodgates for rangefinder sales. Bushnell leads the pack with its top-notch offerings, which now include the Medalist, a small but mighty lightweight device which boasts a range of up to 300 yards +/- one yard to the flag – without the use of reflectors.

Fresh on the heels of its outstanding PinSeeker 1500 rangefinder, Bushnell’s Medalist is a winner. Like its predecessor, the Medalist boasts PinSeeker technology. This allows you to easily access a view and yardage for the flag, without inadvertently getting distances to background targets like trees which have stronger signal strength.

Weighing in at only 9 oz., the Medalist measures 1.7 x 4.5 x 3.8 in. It’s powered by a simple 9-volt battery, included with your purchase. There’s an attractive protective case, too, which can be clipped onto your golf bag. That’s exactly what I do when I use a Bushnell rangefinder at new courses. And if your regular foursome includes old-school feel golfers (guilty as charged), or slow players who constantly seek out sprinkler heads for yardage, you’ll be ahead of the game if you play with a rangefinder.

The Medalist is so easy to use, even a novice golfer can take it out of the box and benefit from its myriad of features during the first round. Digital technology allows precise distance measurement from 5 to 1,000 yards with superb +/- one yard accuracy. It features 4x magnification, PinSeeker technology which zeroes in on the flag, plus automatic scan modes. The Medalist can read in both metric and Imperial measurements. It reads flags up to 300 yards, trees up to 700 yards, and reflective surfaces up to 1,000 yards. Targeting modes include PinSeeker, Scan, plus built-in Rain and Reflector modes.

The Medalist has found a permanent place among my golf gear. When you travel to as many golf courses as I do, it’s great to have a palm-sized caddy in your hand. I like Bushnell’s slogan, too: “Because Every Swing Counts.”

When the GAO announced it would allow the use of distance measuring devices like the Medalist, it fell short of stating that rangefinders speed up play. However, the association did say, they did not slow down play. I tend to believe, if using a rangefinder helps in club selection, it certainly can speed up the pace of play, and that is a great thing in this era of five-hour rounds.

Bushnell is experiencing great success with its line of rangefinders, which include the PinSeeker 1500 Tournament Edition, PinSeeker 1500 Slope Edition, and the Yardage Pro Tour model. The Medalist carries a suggested retail price of $299 US.

I believe Bushnell’s advertisement campaign featuring El Nino, Sergio Garcia – like me a self-professed feel golfer – is a smart move. It shows that everyone can benefit from the devices. Even Sergio will use a Bushnell rangefinder when playing a practice round at a new course, or one that has been redesigned for tournament play.

If a rangefinder can be found in the hand of a pro, wouldn’t it help your game, too? Visit www.bushnellgolf.com to learn more about the Medalist rangefinder from Bushnell Outdoor Products.