How to Stop Losing Your Rangefinder
Nothing is worse than leaving the course, arriving at your home, and eventually realizing you left your cherished rangefinder at the golf course. Rangefinders significantly help golfers with accuracy and decision-making. Yet, they are easy to lose and cost hundreds of dollars.
If you recently lost your rangefinder or are worried about misplacing one, this blog post is for you! I will supply over ten methods to help you never lose your rangefinder again!
Change Your Phone Screen to a Picture of Your Rangefinder
This tactic may seem silly, but it works! If you’re like me and are not partial or sentimental about what you set your phone’s lock screen to, changing your lock screen to a photo of your range finder will help you remember to retrieve it.
Golfers typically check their phones after a round of golf. If you unknowingly left your rangefinder in the golf cart, you’ll receive an instant reminder when you look at your phone.
Store Your Car Keys Inside the Rangefinder Case
One of the most common remedies I see used to eliminate lost rangefinders is to store your car keys inside the rangefinder case. Keeping my car keys inside my rangefinder case was the first thing I tried after losing my $300 rangefinder, and I wish I had done it sooner!
Before I knew about this trick, I would always store my car keys inside a soft pocket of my golf bag. Although that is an easy and convenient place to keep my keys, keeping them inside the case of my rangefinder was just as easy.
This strategy’s protocol is to keep your car keys in your pocket until you put your bag into the golf cart. Next, take out your range finder, place it in the cart, place your keys inside the rangefinder case, and store the case inside your golf bag.
When you finish the round and retrieve your golf keys from the case, you’ll quickly remind yourself to locate your rangefinder.
Check the Golf Cart After the Round
A great habit to practice is checking the entire golf cart after your round. Look at every nook and cranny of the cart to locate spare balls and tees, headcovers, personal belongings, trash, and most importantly – your rangefinder!
I make it a habit to inspect the cart for items as part of my post-round routine. Once I take my golf bag off the cart, I place it down and give a final look at the entire cart to ensure I don’t forget anything.
Put the Rangefinder in Your Bag After Each Use
It might be a big ask to repeatedly put your rangefinder back in your bag during a round of golf. However, if you’re determined to stop losing your rangefinder, a tedious task might be what you need.
Retrieve your rangefinder from a pocket in your golf bag whenever needed. After usage, easily store it back in your bag. It’s a simple process!
Place the Rangefinder Case With Your Headcovers
I try to remove and place my headcovers back on my putter, woods, and driver after each shot. However, I eventually will throw the headcovers in the basket in the back of the golf cart.
When I include my rangefinder case in the basket along with the headcovers, it serves as a helpful reminder for me to leave the course with my cherished rangefinder!
Don’t Use the Magnetic Feature
The magnetic-side features of modern rangefinders are a gift and a curse. Oh, what a convenience it is to plop the rangefinder on the metal sidings of the golf cart nearest to your seat.
Although magnetically placing a rangefinder is convenient, it causes most golfers to leave their rangefinder behind after a round. That’s because when golfers check the cart after their round, they typically look inside the various compartments of the cart – but never the metal siding!
Since the introduction of magnetic technology on rangefinders, golf courses nationwide have reported an increased number of rangefinders left behind in carts.
Keep your range finder in the front compartments instead of magnetically attaching it to the golf cart!
Set the Rangefinder by Your Phone
After each use, if you place your rangefinder in the same compartment or pocket where you keep your phone, you’ll likely never lose it.
Like many, I check my phone periodically during a round of golf and am sure to leave the course with it. By keeping your rangefinder near your phone, you’ll ensure not to misplace it (unless you forget both your phone and rangefinder, which would be catastrophic).
Stow Away the Rangefinder on the Last Hole
Make it a habit to store your rangefinder safely in your bag on the last hole. Whether it’s a tee shot on a par three or an approach shot on a par four or five, the last time you use it, store it away!
Backup Plans
Here are some great precautions to take if you lose your rangefinder!
Sharpie Your Phone Number on the Rangefinder
Try writing your name and cellphone number on the side of your rangefinder. If the worst happens and you realize you left your rangefinder at the golf course, the person who finds it can contact you.
Not everyone is a good samaritan, but taking a minimal precaution, such as writing your phone number on the rangefinder, might cause a “bad apple” to do the right thing.
Attach an Apple AirTag to the Rangefinder
The invention of AirTags is right up there with the wheel and modern medicine in terms of breakthrough inventions. For those who don’t know, AirTags are tracking devices created by Apple that you can put on just about anything. The tracking device syncs with your phone, so if you lose your rangefinder, you can track its location.
Set a Reminder on Your Phone
Before you tee off on the first tee, set an alarm or notification on your phone around the time you think you’ll finish the round. Make the notification’s title the word “rangefinder.” Everyone occasionally needs an extra reminder!
Use a Cheaper Rangefinder
Opting for a more affordable rangefinder can alleviate the frustration of potential loss. While cheaper alternatives may not match the precision or aesthetics of pricier options, they still fulfill their intended purpose effectively!
A lower-cost rangefinder comes with the benefit that losing it won’t break the bank!
Final Thoughts
I hope you found several ways and precautions you can take to prevent losing your rangefinder. Unfortunately, I have lost multiple rangefinders over my amateur golfing career. I wish I had practiced these tactics sooner!
Whether you set reminders on your phone, store your keys inside the rangefinder case, or thoroughly check the golf cart after your round, there are plenty of ways to keep your rangefinder in good hands!
