Range of Possibility

Loren Mooney

July 13, 1998

Originally conceived to help the military and law-enforcement officers draw a bead on the bad guys, handheld range finders are now showing up in golf bags—though not at USGA events, where they're banned—and in hunters' packs to help sporting types gauge distances in unfamiliar territory. The Bushnell Yardage Pro Compact 600, which retails for $399, is effective up to 600 yards in all conditions and doesn't need reflectors. It also has a scanning feature that lets the user judge multiple distances on the horizon with the push of a button. Best of all, the lightweight, farsighted gizmo is no bigger than two sleeves of golf balls.