Callaway Golf 300 Pro Laser Rangefinder Review

Name: Callaway Golf 300 Pro Laser Rangefinder
Price: $350 CAD online
Features: Mid-priced laser rangefinder, slope technology, pin acquisition technology (PAT), hard carrying case, 6x magnification, 5-1000 yard range, audible notifier

Website: https://www.callawaygolf.com/accessories/course-gear/rangefinders/gps-callaway-300-pro-laser-rangefinder.html

Pros: Easy to use, quick results, lightweight, quick-access hard case, accurate

Cons: On calm days flag may be difficult to capture, CR2 battery is not the most common

Callaway Golf 300 Pro Laser Rangefinder with hard carrying case (Photo: Toronto Golf Reviews)

Value:
Build/Quality:
Effectiveness:
Features:

Overall Rating:  4.5 out of 5 

 

I've put off purchasing a laser rangefinder for quite some time now, but finally decided to take the plunge. I was looking for a reasonably priced model that could give me an accurate reading that also took into account slope. After a bit of research, I decided to purchase the Callaway Golf 300 Pro laser rangefinder.

Let's look at some of the specifications of the 300 Pro. To start, the unit itself is relatively lightweight, at 0.5lbs. The focus-adjustable eyepiece offers 6x magnification which allows for a measurement range between 5-1000 yards with a claimed accuracy of +/- 1 yard. In terms of size, the unit measures 4.25" x 3" x 1.75", a good size that fits nicely in your palm. It is also water and fog proof. The unit is powered by a single CR 2 battery (included) and also comes with a hard case that features both a zipper and elastic drawstring.

There are two modes on the rangefinder. The first is the "basic" mode, in which you can aim down essentially any target (flags, bunkers, front of greens, etc.) quickly. The second mode incorporates Callaway's Pin Acquisition Technology (PAT), which allows you to lock on to the flagstick from within 300 yards, ideally producing a more accurate measurement. It also features an audible "birdie" sound, to indicate when you've locked onto the pin, which can be turned on or off. Both modes incorporate slope technology, which allows for more realistic yardages.

 

I've been putting this device to the test for the past week and here are my thoughts. My first impressions of the device were that the unit is small, but built solid. I like the feel of it in my hands, very ergonomic, and the rubber exterior gives me confidence that I won't drop it. I think it could survive a drop on the course though without any problems. 

Operating the device is about as straight-forward as can be. You simply select one of the aforementioned modes, aim down your target, and press the button. Less than a second later, you have your yardage. I do like that, in all modes, the unit provides you with both the raw and slope-adjusted distance, which I think would most certainly help a player develop perception skills of their own, for when using slope technology is not allowed (i.e. tournament play).

I'm a big fan of the case as well. I like its ruggedness, which allows me to not have to worry about damaging the device between shots. The elastic drawstring is super convenient and makes for quick access. One of the deterrents for me purchasing a rangefinder was the amount of time I thought it would take to use. With the Callaway 300 Pro, I've found that the entire act of taking the unit out and finding a distance takes about five seconds. It even works while wearing sunglasses, which is super convenient on those sunny days.

In terms of accuracy, I'm happy to report that this device is bang on for me. For example, I usually hit my 7-iron about 146 yards. I was lucky enough to get that exact yardage on an approach shot according to the rangefinder, including slope. I hit my shot perfectly pin high (albeit a little left of target, but that's another story!). I also found that measuring a target multiple times produced the same result, which was reassuring, unless the rangefinder managed to not pick up on my target (see below). 

Speaking of which, the only negative thing I encountered with the device was that during calmer conditions (i.e. flag is still), I was having trouble getting an accurate reading using the PAT mode. This was not a big deal, as I could simply switch back to the basic mode and get a reading of the front of the green or hole itself; the quickness of the measurement actually allows this to be done pretty fast. I also found that during one of my rounds, the rangefinder was having difficulty due to a white plastic sign in the background behind the flag. These issues could be common across other rangefinders as well, so it suffices to say that you should always measure a couple of times and double-check on-course markers for accuracy. What's the saying, measure twice, shoot once?

I'm also not the biggest fan of CR2 batteries, mainly because of their availability. It would be better to see a rechargeable battery or a more common one such as a AA/AAA. But this would probably drive up costs. Callaway makes up for this though by giving you a 200-measurement reserve/buffer when the battery indicator comes on.

All in all, it's clear that convenience and ease of use were at the core of the design of the Callaway Golf 300 Pro laser rangefinder. It's simpleness, quickness and price easily make up for any issues one might have with errant readings. I would recommend this product for golfers of all skill levels who want a quick way to determine their yardage with accuracy, as well as their own perception skills.

Do you own a Callaway Golf 300 Pro laser rangefinder? What are your thoughts about it? Let me know in the comments below.

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

How COVID-19 Has Grown the Game of Golf

 

It goes without saying that we are currently living in uncertain times. It seems that everywhere you look, every industry or facet of life, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, golf being no exception. 

To say the golf industry has been on a rollercoaster ride for the past year is an understatement. But from what seemed like the darkest depths of the industry and in the unlikeliest of situations, golf appears to have emerged stronger than ever. In this article, I explore the reasons why I think the COVID-19 pandemic has ultimately grown the game of golf, at least here in Canada.

 

To accurately analyze this perspective, let's go back to the beginning of this ride, about a year ago. I had written an article outlining a concern I had for the golf industry; in particular, reasons why I thought more people weren't golfing and what we could do to fix it. It was an article born out of confusion I had on my part, or perhaps necessity. At the time, some considered golf a fading local industry. Naturally I was skeptical, but as I watched course after course close down and sold for land, city officials lobby for the removal of municipal courses based on viability and so on, it was difficult to ignore.

Fast forward to March of this year. As many of us golfers and courses were preparing for the upcoming season, the entire world was shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, I thought it would have a minimal effect on the industry, keep in mind the Ontario golf season usually kicks off in mid-April. I thought surely it would pass by then. But, as the delays and closures were extended, things began to look grim. Like in many other industries, we had no idea what impact closures of this length would have on the already "fading" golf industry. 

 

So, in these dark times, how did the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, in my opinion, ultimately lead to positive growth in golf? Let's examine this in detail.

I'll look at it from the perspective of Ontario, as that's the only perspective I can speak from. Outbreaks of COVID-19 resulted in the province going into a state of lockdown at the end of March, with non-essential services and businesses forced to close down or, in the case of golf courses, delay their opening. This resulted in a large portion of the population having to work from home or stay home all together. At the beginning of May, it was announced that golf courses could open up for business, to the joy of many golfers but concern to others. I had mixed feelings about this, mainly what the ramifications would be if outbreaks began occurring at courses.

But it was here, during the most uncertain of times, where golf began to grow. On one hand you have people suddenly having more time to themselves, but unable to do the things they want with that time, as a result of the lockdown. On the other hand, you have golf courses being one of the first things to open up. Add these together and you have the perfect situation for growth and a means for introducing new people to the game. In my "Why Don't More People Golf?" article, I noted that time was a major issue as to why more people weren't golfing. My solution was to promote the 9-hole round. A different approach was inadvertently taken as a result of COVID-19; people were given more time.

Perhaps more importantly was the psychological side of things. Adults and children wanted to get out. When you live in a small, crammed city apartment, where you've spent the last month or so, the vast openness of a golf course, that feeling of being immersed in nature, amongst the trees, seems very appealing. If fact, it was reported by TSN's Bob Weeks recently that rounds at the City of Toronto's municipal courses are up by 5,000 over last year.

Credit for this growth must also be given to the courses themselves. While golf is a relatively safe sport compared to others, in terms of contact and distancing (My slices have been social distancing me from my playing partners for years!), many courses have implemented additional measures to reduce risks, such as disinfecting carts, touchless ball retrieval systems, patio-only dining, etc. Had these measures not been in place and outbreaks began occurring at courses, the golf industry would be in serious, most likely irreparable, trouble. 

Golf courses have also cut down on the number of tee times they offer per day, in an attempt to lessen the amount of people on the course at any given time. In my experience so far, this appears to have the added effect of reducing the time it takes to finish a round. So now not only do people have more time for golf, the act of golfing could take less time. 

 

For years, golf has struggled to get people to try it out, to get them over that initial hurdle, for various reasons. COVID-19 has inadvertently set off a sequence of events that has ultimately led to people having more time and a desire to get out, with golf being available to meet that desire. And as I noted prior, it's a very addicting game, once you're in and you like it, it's difficult to shake off. 

We've spoken thus far about the positive impacts of COVID-19 on golf, but there are no doubt unavoidable consequences. In particular, the off-course social aspect of the game has been completely minimized,  as courses attempt to reduce contact between players and staff. The entire act of checking in before a round seems robotic, assembly line-like. To many golfers this is a concern or possible deterrent from the game. But we should all recognize that this is for the better and necessary, at the moment. 

Something must be said as well for how COVID-19 has affected professional golf. Like many other sports, professional tours began to cancel events once the pandemic began. Their return, however, was earlier compared to most other major sports (for example, the PGA Tour returned with the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 8th). With no other professional sports to fill the TV time slots during this time, golf tournaments began to receive more coverage, hence more exposure to kids and adults who may not have otherwise seen a tournament before (although online-only streaming for some tournaments has taken place).

When the fan-less tournaments did return, they were different; there's no other way of putting it. From what I've seen, it looks like we're seeing more laid-back versions of golfers and tournaments, but I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing. We're seeing a different but more personal side of golfers. The golfers appear to be relaxed and making the most of the situation, by interacting with each other, reporters and the camera more often. I personally think this is a form of the professional golfer that is more relatable to. Could this encourage more people to pursue the game, either locally or professionally? It's hard to say but it doesn't seem out of the question.

But fans are missed by the pros, as many have said, and can you blame them? Imagine walking down the 18th hole on a Sunday, just a putt away from winning your first tournament. That atmosphere cannot be recreated without fans, especially for events such as the Ryder Cup, which thrive on fan energy and presence.

 

I would like to end off with a few messages. This article isn't meant to be a "COVID-19 was a good thing" type deal, because it isn't, and it should not be looked at that way. Many people have died from this virus, loved ones lost in the worst of circumstances and conditions. This article is simply an attempt to explain what has been happening in the golf industry here in Canada. It's something I've found rather interesting and the point of this article was to piece it all together.

While the article may appear to be written from the perspective of hindsight, this is still an ongoing situation, both in terms of golf growth and the virus itself. We are currently at a pivotal point in these series of events. We must all do our part to prevent the spread of the virus. As I mentioned above, it is very easy for me to envision a scenario where outbreaks begin to occur at courses, with drastic consequences. We cannot let our guard down. It would be irresponsible of me to write this article and not encourage each and every one of you to follow course and government rules concerning the virus. Golf Canada has a webpage dedicated to this.

 

What's more important than the state of the golf industry however is the lives of each golfer. If we all play our cards right though, we will emerge from the pandemic healthy, with a flourishing golf industry to return to. 

 

Stay safe and remember to follow the rules, 

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

 

I've given you my perspective of the issue, but what's yours? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and lets start a dialogue.

 

COVID-19's effect on the game of golf is ultimately dictated by our discretion towards the virus (Photo: PEI Golf Association)

Showdown at St. Andrews: Perez emerges victorious over Southgate at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Sunday at St. Andrews, there is perhaps no better setting for the conclusion of a golf tournament. This year, the Old Course would end up playing host to a dramatic battle between Frenchman and European Tour rookie Victor Perez and Englishman Matthew Southgate, with Perez emerging on top, capturing the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. 

The two golfers finished their third rounds tied for the lead at 20-under. Both had played the Old Course relatively well over their first three rounds: Perez on Thursday, shooting a 64 and Southgate on Saturday, shooting a 65. The stage was set for an unlikely showdown between the two golfers.

Perhaps it wasn't the showdown we wanted, but looking deeper into these two golfers, it was certainly a showdown we could have expected. You see, despite being relatively new to the European Tour, both golfers had connections to links golf. Perez, in his rookie year, had been living in nearby Dundee for the past 18 months, no doubt honing his game on the many links courses in the area. Southgate, in his fourth year on tour, was no stranger to competition at the Old Course. In 2010, as an amateur he won the St. Andrews Link Trophy. He is also a member at Carnoustie. These connections would prove to be invaluable to both golfers.

With the stage set, the two golfers began their final round on a cold and windy Old Course. It was Southgate who would take the lead at the turn. Despite bogeying the first hole, he rallied back, birdieing holes 5-7 and 9; good enough for a one shot lead over Perez. His lead would grow to two shots after a three-putt bogey by Perez on the 11th hole. But Perez persisted; a birdie on the 14th hole and a bogey by Southgate evened out the score. 

Then came the infamous par 4 17th hole "The Road Hole". Perez placed his second shot safely onto the green after hitting the fairway with his opening drive. Southgate, on the other hand, drove his tee shot further but into the rough, resulting in a poor second shot that landed on the green, but much further away. A two-putt by Perez and three-putt by Southgate separated the two and pars on the last hole by both resulted in Perez winning the tournament by a single shot.

For Perez, the win is career defining (thus far) and his first on the European Tour. It is also most certainly the highlight of his 2019 season, having just one top-10 finish this year: the Hong Kong Open, which was also his first European Tour tournament. On top of the $800,000 in prize money, the Challenge Tour graduate will move into the top-70 of the World Golf Rankings and top-20 on the European Tour money list. He is also the first Frenchman to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

On his win, Perez stated. "The emotions were really high all day. It was really cold and windy, a long day out there and I felt I was able to battle. It wasn't easy, Matt played amazing. I was expecting some of the guys to charge and we were fortunate that it was kind of a one on one battle on the back nine. There's nothing like a win. The confidence that you get from getting it done, it's so difficult at this level to win. Being my first year, I'm obviously delighted."

On the pro-am side of the tournament, it came down to Tommy Fleetwood, who was paired with horseracing executive Ogden Phipps II and Rory McIlroy, who was playing with his father Gerry McIlroy. Both teams played extraordinarily well and finished at 39-under over. Interestingly enough though, the tie was not settled with a playoff, as is the case in most tournaments. Instead, the team whose pro finished with the lower final round score wins, being Fleetwood in this case with a 64 over McIlroy's 67.

As always, we finish up our coverage with our picks results, which for the most part, were relatively good:

1) Rafa Cabrera Bello: T61 at 8-under
2) Alex Noren: T15 at 17-under
3) Tom Lewis: T5 at 19-under

I said it at the start of the week, the winner of this tournament was going to be a golfer who had a history with links courses and it turns out that could have equally have been Perez or Southgate. Our dark horse pick Tom Lewis had an excellent week, in particular shooting a 65 at Kingsbarn and 64 at the Old Course over the weekend. Noren also played well but did have reoccurring trouble on the Road Hole. Cabrera-Bello unfortunately missed the cut.

Overall, like so many editions before it, the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship did not disappoint. We saw it all this week, excellent golf from the world's best golfers, a collection of perhaps the finest links courses in the world, and of course dramatic storylines. These are just a few reasons why I'll be watching this tournament again and again every year.

Congratulations once again to Victor Perez. Who did you think was going to win? Let us know in the comments below,


-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

France's Victor Perez wins the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

(Getty Images)

2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Preview

This week, the European Tour travels back to St Andrews, Scotland, the home of golf, for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The prestigious tournament is iconic for its star-studded pro-am and is considered by many as a jewel of the European Tour. It is also unique in the fact that it is contested over three courses: the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie Golf Links and Kingsbarns Golf Links.

The tournament was first contested in 2001 as the Dunhill Links Championship and its format is similar to its PGA Tour counterpart, the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Professionals are paired up with an amateur for the entire length of the tournament. Over the first three rounds, groups will get the chance to play all three courses, with a 54-hole cut being made of the top-60 professionals and top-20 pro-am teams. The final round is then played at the Old Course, where the professional with the lowest 72-hole score is crowned the winner. Likewise, the winner of the pro-am is the team with the lowest 72-hole score.

Over the years, many celebrities and notable persons have had the chance to play this illustrious tournament. This year, the amateur field consists of singer/actor Justin Timberlake, footballer Luis Figo, boxer Wladimir Klitschko and (naturally) Bill Murray, just to name a few. 

Each course this week will test golfers in different ways. Fresh off its hosting of the 2018 Open Championship, Carnoustie, also known as "golf's greatest test", will play at 7,412 yards. Kingbarns will play at 7,150 yards and is the newest of the courses in the rotation. Lastly, the iconic Old Course, with its enduring and prestigious history, will measure 7,307 yards. The chance to play these courses in this format truly is something special.

What is common between all the aforementioned courses is that they are links courses, which is something that is quasi-rare on the European Tour and even more so on the PGA Tour. This is something that has always bugged me about the professional tours, they don't play enough links courses. In my opinion, a links course is the truest and purest form of a golf course; where golf was meant to be played. Things are not perfect on a links course; you are constantly at the mercy of the weather and consistency amongst conditions is far from constant. It forces a golfer to think in different ways, look for different opportunities, play the non-conventional shot, etc. All of this adds up to a unique golfing experience, and with respect to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, an exciting tournament to watch.

The professional field this week is packed with European Tour royalty in addition to the top players of the world. It's always tough to make picks for this tournament, but this year I've decided to base our picks off of recent performance and performance on links courses:

1) Rafa Cabrera Bello

2) Alex Noren

3) Tom Lewis

Cabrera Bello is our top pick this week. He's coming into the tournament off a T6 finish last week at the BMW PGA Championship and T9 and T6 performances at the Scottish and Irish Opens earlier this year, respectively. Noren also performed well last week, finishing T28. He also finished T11 at the Open Championship earlier this year at Royal Portrush. Tom Lewis is our dark horse pick, but did have a good finish at the Open Championship this year, at T11. He also won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, the final tournament of the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly Web.com Tour).

Play kicks off early Thursday morning and is sure to be full of excitement and great golf. Be sure to check it out!


And let us know in the comments below who you think will win this year,

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews 

Rafa Cabrera Bello is our top pick this week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

(Getty Images)

Danny Willett Wins Big On Home Soil

After firing off a 5-under 68 for his final round, 2016 Masters Champion and Englishman Danny Willett has won the 2019 BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club. He finished with a three shot lead over final round partner Jon Rahm. This is Willett's first win of 2019 and his last win since the 2018 DP World Tour Championship. He is also the first Englishman to win the tournament since Chris Wood in 2016.

Willett's final round was impressive, consisting of six birdies (including back-to-back on the 17th and 18th) and a single bogey. The bogey occurred on the 11th hole, where Willett found trouble with trees, but a key 40-foot putt limited the damage. Going into the final hole, Willett was up by two strokes over a pressing Jon Rahm. Rahm knew he needed at least a birdie to force a playoff, but was too aggressive with his second shot, finding water just short of the green. Willett on the other hand, took a safer approach and managed to birdie the hole for the win.

It is quite ironic that our last post here at Toronto Golf Reviews before our "break" was about Danny Willett winning the 2016 Masters. Even more ironic is perhaps the fact that at the conclusion of the 2018 BMW PGA Championship, Willett had dropped to 462nd in the World Golf Rankings, his lowest ranking since his rookie year. 

Like many golfers in the past, after his major win, Willett struggled on the course with his new expectations and off the course with injuries. He was pointless in the 2016 Ryder Cup, lost his PGA Tour card and managed just one top-10 finish in 2017. It was a low point for Willett, but not the end, although it easily could have been.

“I’ve had an undying want to get back… I was willing to change whatever had to be changed and that’s pretty hard to do… to jump full throttle into something you’re not sure if it’s going to work out or not.” the Englishman said of his post-Masters struggles.

And come back he did, after the 2018 BMW PGA Championship. His hard work paid off, resulting in top-10 performances at the Irish and Turkish Airlines Open and a win at the DP World Tour Championship. This propelled Willett up to 90th in the World Golf Rankings. Further top-10 performances in 2019 at the RBC Canadian Open and Open Championship pushed him into the top-60. Now with this win, Willett is back in the the top-40. 

Personally, I am happy to see that Danny Willett is back and not one of those "one and done" golfers. He's shown that he has what it takes to be an elite and world-class golfer. After all, he's had to battle high-profile fields in pretty much every tournament that he's won. If that's not the mark of a world class player then I don't know what is!

We end with a quick look of how our picks performed this week:

1) Matthew Fitzpatrick: T46 at 1-over

2) Tommy Fleetwood: T60 at 3-over

3) Rory McIlroy: T9 at 11-under

Not the best weeks for Fitzpatrick and Fleetwood, with both shooting over 70 in all their rounds. McIlroy on the other hand picks up another top-10 finish.

That's a wrap on our coverage of the 2019 BMW PGA Championship. Our couverage of the European tour continues this week of perhaps the best tournament on the European Tour (in my opinion), the exciting and dramatic Alfred Dunhill Links Championship!


Stay tuned for our preview and picks,

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

 

Danny Willett Wins the 2019 BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club

(Photo: Reuters)