The finale of the Internet Invitational, Barstool Sports’ and Bob Does Sports’ viral love letter to golf and online chaos, delivered the digital drama golf didn’t know it needed. With nearly 3 million views and counting, the episode lit up screens, stirred up debates, and proved once again that golf, for all its traditions, is hardly immune to modern controversy. Especially when you toss in influencers, camera crews, and a possible rules violation that had rulebook loyalists clutching their 14-club limit.
A Golf Rule Violation Hiding in Plain Sight
At the heart of the chatter: a rangefinder. Specifically, the possible use of the slope function, which calculates yardage adjustments based on elevation. A cool bit of tech, no doubt. But in the eyes of the Rules of Golf? It’s a slippery slope, literally and figuratively.
Rangefinders are practically standard issue for recreational players. They’re fast, precise, and save golfers from the age-old ritual of pacing off sprinkler heads or decoding cryptic fairway markers. Professionals rely on them in practice rounds, using them to log data and lock in their strategies. But in tournament play, they’ve been largely restricted, until recently.
In a nod to modernity (and perhaps pressure to quicken the pace of play), the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours launched a six-month trial allowing rangefinders in tournaments. But there was a crucial caveat: the slope function must be off. On paper, it’s a simple requirement. In practice? Ask Davis Riley. At the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, he penalised himself two strokes after realising his device gave two numbers — a telltale sign the slope was active.
“I was assuming that the rangefinder was in the proper mode and shot it, and two numbers came up,” Riley admitted. “It was just kind of one of those moments where your heart sinks a little bit.”
The Rule You Didn’t Know You Were Breaking
That same heart-sinking feeling crept into the Internet Invitational when viewers caught wind of the slope situation. But here’s the twist: this isn’t just a pro-level problem.
According to the USGA, Rule 4.3a applies across the board, whether in a tournament or not. You read that right. Using the slope function during a casual weekend round? Technically against the rules. That rule doesn’t get left in the clubhouse when the stakes are low.
The logic is simple: rangefinders with slope “artificially eliminate or reduce the need for a skill or judgment that is essential to the challenge of the game.” Elevation awareness is considered a core part of shot-making. Relying on tech to handle it crosses the line from assistance into advantage.
Casual Rounds, Serious Implications
So where does that leave the average golfer?
Craig Winter of the USGA puts it diplomatically. Yes, the rule stands, always. But most casual rounds aren’t officiated, and enforcement is largely a matter of personal integrity (or mutual indifference). In other words, using slope on Saturday morning probably won’t land you a penalty, just don’t expect a legit handicap score if you do.
The Internet Invitational might have brought influencers to the course, but it also brought attention to a rule many didn’t even realise they were breaking. In a game where etiquette is king and tradition reigns supreme, even a tiny toggle switch on your device can swing you from savvy to suspect.
Whether you play it straight or slope it sly, the rules haven’t changed, we’re just finally noticing.
