The PGA Tour has introduced a trial period allowing the use of distance-measuring devices (DMDs) for a four-week stretch, starting at the RBC Heritage event. This initiative aims to address pace of play concerns and gather feedback on the impact of DMDs on speeding up the game. Players and caddies can use DMDs to determine raw distances only, with penalties for violations.
The trial follows previous experiments in 2017 and ongoing efforts by the Tour to enhance pace of play, including a new policy on timings and the establishment of a Speed of Play Working Group. While some players believe DMDs may have a minor impact on pace, others emphasize the influence of factors like group size on round times. The Tour also plans to release pace-of-play data to the public, aiming to provide context for average stroke times in different game situations.