Caddy using Compass?

[roho]

At the Honda I see Mitchell's caddie looking at a compass on the tee(announcers said it was compass) but no explanation of what it does for Mitchell's game.

 

Can anyone here shed any light on what a compass does for the golf game?

[jvincent]

If you know that the wind is from the East (or supposed to be) the compass can be useful.

[ThinkingPlus]

At the Honda I see Mitchell's caddie looking at a compass on the tee(announcers said it was compass) but no explanation of what it does for Mitchell's game.

 

Can anyone here shed any light on what a compass does for the golf game?

Wind direction for one thing as long as it remains out of a primary direction during the day. If there are local geographic areas like Indio in Palm Springs it can help with putting.

[Ignatius Reilly]

If you know that the wind is from the East (or supposed to be) the compass can be useful.

 

My experience is that i) winds tend to swirl, and ii) winds tend to change over the day and iii) the weather forecast only gives vague directions like "South-east".

 

I can't imagine that having a compass telling you where SE is will be any more accurate than looking at trees and throwing a little grass. It's most important to know what direction the wind is blowing right here and right now, rather than what was predicted for the local airport a couple of hours ago.

 

Like Bryson, I'm a physics major so I "get" science and instruments and measurements and such.

 

But I tend to play by "feel" anyway....

[HitEmTrue]

At the Honda I see Mitchell's caddie looking at a compass on the tee(announcers said it was compass) but no explanation of what it does for Mitchell's game.

 

Can anyone here shed any light on what a compass does for the golf game?

 

Was it a blind tee-shot? Maybe they had mapped out the direction of tee shot using a compass.

 

< grasping at straws >

[Steele47]

Way above my pay grade.

[BMC]

Find their way back to the clubhouse?

 

His caddie is pretty bizarre.

[howellhandmade]

So people will talk about him.

[Kevinx]

Using anything like a compass and green reading books is cheating. These things take away what the course designer wanted you to figure out on your self. What's next. Using that putter Rodney Dangerfield used in Caddyshack.

[braincramp52]

Using anything like a compass and green reading books is cheating. These things take away what the course designer wanted you to figure out on your self. What's next. Using that putter Rodney Dangerfield used in Caddyshack.

 

Sorry, compass is legal.

[dropkicked]

If you know that the wind is from the East (or supposed to be) the compass can be useful.

 

My experience is that i) winds tend to swirl, and ii) winds tend to change over the day and iii) the weather forecast only gives vague directions like "South-east".

 

I can't imagine that having a compass telling you where SE is will be any more accurate than looking at trees and throwing a little grass. It's most important to know what direction the wind is blowing right here and right now, rather than what was predicted for the local airport a couple of hours ago.

 

Like Bryson, I'm a physics major so I "get" science and instruments and measurements and such.

 

But I tend to play by "feel" anyway....

I would say that having a compass and knowing exactly where the sustained gusts are coming from is an advantage. Your location says Toronto, not much swirling winds locally.. We have a fairly sustained system that doesn't necessarily change throughout the day. If anything, like clockwork winds typically pick up after 10am.

 

So you're comparing yourself to Dechambeau? :)

[Kevinx]

Using anything like a compass and green reading books is cheating. These things take away what the course designer wanted you to figure out on your self. What's next. Using that putter Rodney Dangerfield used in Caddyshack.

 

Sorry, compass is legal.

I know it's legal. It still doesn't make it right.

[braincramp52]

Using anything like a compass and green reading books is cheating. These things take away what the course designer wanted you to figure out on your self. What's next. Using that putter Rodney Dangerfield used in Caddyshack.

 

Sorry, compass is legal.

I know it's legal. It still doesn't make it right.

 

It's probably on the USGA's agenda as something they need to fix. :taunt:

[Hateto3Putt]

I want to meet the guy who's game improves 1/10 of a stroke because he knows which way is Southwest.

[dropkicked]

I want to meet the guy who's game improves 1/10 of a stroke because he knows which way is Southwest.

LoL!

I see it as the player or caddie, being in a very pressure packed situation and not having to stress out about another factor in decision making.

As with reading greens, I believe that reading the trees and surrounding environment to gain a sense of wind direction is a learned skill. Any device that takes away from having to make a judgement call from experience and knowledge is IMO, providing an advantage.

[HitEmTrue]

I want to meet the guy who's game improves 1/10 of a stroke because he knows which way is Southwest.

LoL!

I see it as the player or caddie, being in a very pressure packed situation and not having to stress out about another factor in decision making.

As with reading greens, I believe that reading the trees and surrounding environment to gain a sense of wind direction is a learned skill. Any device that takes away from having to make a judgement call from experience and knowledge is IMO, providing an advantage.

 

It may be allowed because direction is public knowledge, just like yardage. The direction could also be determined by looking at a good map. Or asking someone, “which way is east?”

 

[Ignatius Reilly]

If you know that the wind is from the East (or supposed to be) the compass can be useful.

 

My experience is that i) winds tend to swirl, and ii) winds tend to change over the day and iii) the weather forecast only gives vague directions like "South-east".

 

I can't imagine that having a compass telling you where SE is will be any more accurate than looking at trees and throwing a little grass. It's most important to know what direction the wind is blowing right here and right now, rather than what was predicted for the local airport a couple of hours ago.

 

Like Bryson, I'm a physics major so I "get" science and instruments and measurements and such.

 

But I tend to play by "feel" anyway....

I would say that having a compass and knowing exactly where the sustained gusts are coming from is an advantage. Your location says Toronto, not much swirling winds locally.. We have a fairly sustained system that doesn't necessarily change throughout the day. If anything, like clockwork winds typically pick up after 10am.

 

So you're comparing yourself to Dechambeau? :)

 

I used to windsurf, a LOT. Knowing the wind direction in that sport is probably a lot more important than it is in golf.

 

In the lake country north of here, the forecast may say SW, but the wind will be up to 90* different to that depending where you are on the lake, which shore you're closest to, which end or side of an island..... And it changes in minutes.

 

If you tried to sail using the forecast and a compass, you were going to spend most of the day swimming. The actual wind direction isn't that hard to see at any time.

 

Every golf course I've ever been on works about the same. Trees, hills, contours all shape and funnel the wind.

 

I've never seen BDC or his caddie pull out a compass on the course, and he's a brainiac, so there's that....

 

It may be allowed because direction is public knowledge, just like yardage. The direction could also be determined by looking at a good map. Or asking someone, "which way is east?"

 

That's the same reason that wearing a watch is allowed.

 

And they're about the same use on a course.

"What club should I play from here?"

"Just a second, let me check the time...."

 

I want to meet the guy who's game improves 1/10 of a stroke because he knows which way is Southwest.

 

That's essentially my point (although I think 1/10th is being generous.... :) )

[iteachgolf]

A ton of caddies and players on tour use a compass. Ton have a compass drawn in the yardage books to give direction each hole faces. I can assure you Bryson knows exactly which direction every hole faces, whether it’s from a compass in a practice round or a compass in the actual event.

[BMC]

Tossing a little grass in the air might be more accurate.

[iteachgolf]

Also keep in mind wind speed and direction at 100’ off the ground will be more constant than what is felt on the ground. Because of the temporary building and ground contours and a ton of other objects at ground level which will affect the wind, what you feel at ground level or tossing grass might be very different than what the wind is doing higher than 20’ off the ground.

[youraway2]

It helps speed up play ......

[Ferguson]

What's a compass?

[aliikane]

With the big grandstands and trees, it is difficult to know the direction of the wind. So, with the compass you can at least tell the general direction of the wind.

[cardoustie]

I came in to say it would help on tee balls with grandstands but DannyC beat me to it

[stryper]

Using anything like a compass and green reading books is cheating. These things take away what the course designer wanted you to figure out on your self. What's next. Using that putter Rodney Dangerfield used in Caddyshack.

 

Sorry, compass is legal.

I know it's legal. It still doesn't make it right.

 

While you might not think it’s “right”, it is most definitely not “cheating.”

 

[dropkicked]

If you know that the wind is from the East (or supposed to be) the compass can be useful.

 

My experience is that i) winds tend to swirl, and ii) winds tend to change over the day and iii) the weather forecast only gives vague directions like "South-east".

 

I can't imagine that having a compass telling you where SE is will be any more accurate than looking at trees and throwing a little grass. It's most important to know what direction the wind is blowing right here and right now, rather than what was predicted for the local airport a couple of hours ago.

 

Like Bryson, I'm a physics major so I "get" science and instruments and measurements and such.

 

But I tend to play by "feel" anyway....

I would say that having a compass and knowing exactly where the sustained gusts are coming from is an advantage. Your location says Toronto, not much swirling winds locally.. We have a fairly sustained system that doesn't necessarily change throughout the day. If anything, like clockwork winds typically pick up after 10am.

 

So you're comparing yourself to Dechambeau? :)

 

I used to windsurf, a LOT. Knowing the wind direction in that sport is probably a lot more important than it is in golf.

 

In the lake country north of here, the forecast may say SW, but the wind will be up to 90* different to that depending where you are on the lake, which shore you're closest to, which end or side of an island..... And it changes in minutes.

 

If you tried to sail using the forecast and a compass, you were going to spend most of the day swimming. The actual wind direction isn't that hard to see at any time.

 

Every golf course I've ever been on works about the same. Trees, hills, contours all shape and funnel the wind.

 

I've never seen BDC or his caddie pull out a compass on the course, and he's a brainiac, so there's that....

 

I'm a die hard fisherman.. have a 40' for my salmon hunting on Lake O. I've got a 2 boats at my cottage in GBay/honey harbor.. I've done some kite-surfing out of Cherry Beach

Not sure I've ever experienced swirling winds on the water, or on any course..

[BeerPerHole]

Also keep in mind wind speed and direction at 100' off the ground will be more constant than what is felt on the ground. Because of the temporary building and ground contours and a ton of other objects at ground level which will affect the wind, what you feel at ground level or tossing grass might be very different than what the wind is doing higher than 20' off the ground.

Yes, but what degree is the equation explaining the typical wind deviation in relation to altitude?

 

….hehe....Only Bryson and I know...

[Gautama]

Funny, when I read the OP I thought he meant the first compass, not the second

[roho]

Well after 27 replies I gather know one knows what the compass actually does for the golfers game.

 

Another question, do we really know what device the caddy is actually pulling out of his bib?

[iteachgolf]

Well after 27 replies I gather know one knows what the compass actually does for the golfers game.

 

Another question, do we really know what device the caddy is actually pulling out of his bib?

 

100% a compass and its 100% for wind direction.