How to Not Lose Your Golf Rangefinder

Let’s start with some honesty: If you’re Googling this topic, you’ve probably already lost at least one rangefinder. Maybe two. Maybe you’re buying your fourth and wondering if you’re the problem.

But hey, no judgement here.

Losing a rangefinder is practically a rite of passage. We get it. You’re out there feeling locked in, you’ve got your trusty Bushnell magnetically stuck to your cart like a big-timer. Then the round ends, maybe the beers hit, and sometime later that evening you realize… it’s gone. Again.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are real strategies—smart, practical, not-that-hard-to-implement strategies—that will keep your laser in your life for more than a couple dozen rounds. And we’re going to walk through them.

Put Your Car Keys in the Rangefinder Case

We’re leading off with what might be the greatest rangefinder-retention hack of all time.

Forget all the “just be more responsible” advice. Let’s speak your language: consequences.

Put your car keys in the same case or pocket as your rangefinder. That way, when the round is over and you’re packing up to head out, you have to open that case. And when you do? Boom! A visual reminder to put the rangefinder back where it belongs.

It’s simple but effective. And it can turn your bad memory into a golf tech leash.

Get a Golf Rangefinder with Find-My-Device Technology

You know what’s better than remembering where you left your rangefinder?

Not needing to remember at all.

Some devices, like the Garmin Approach Z30 and the Precision Pro Titan Elite, come with technology that allows you to track the whereabouts of your rangefinder via its connected app. That means if you ever leave it behind, you can ping its location using your phone.

Now, not every brand has this built in, so if you’re forgetful and looking to upgrade, Garmin or Precision Pro should be on your short list. It’s like Apple’s Find My iPhone… but for your precious rangefinder.

And really, if you’ve lost three rangefinders already, aren’t you kind of the perfect customer for this feature?

Forget the Cart Magnet

We all love magnets. They’re handy. They’re one of the coolest golf rangefinder innovations of the last several years. And they’re also how you lost your last rangefinder.

Here’s the problem: You stick your rangefinder to the cart frame after your approach shot. Then you chip. Then you putt. Then you celebrate your par save. You pack up, feeling good. Next thing you know, you’ve driven off and your $400 laser is still clinging to the cart. Or, unfortunately, maybe it’s already made its way into a dishonest person’s golf bag.

Solution: Stop treating the cart magnet as your primary storage option.

Put it back in its case. Or into your golf bag. Or, as we’ll get to, in your pocket.

If that sounds like too much work… just wait until you're calling the pro shop the next morning and praying that someone turned it in.

Try the Pocket-Sized Rangefinder Life

Look, if your rangefinder is stuck to a cart, clipped to your bag, or tossed in a cup holder, you’re basically asking the universe to take it from you. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

That’s one of the biggest reasons that a rising wave of pocket-sized rangefinders make so much sense. Devices like the Bushnell A1-Slope and the Voice Caddie Laser FIT eliminate the need to mess with storage. These things are featherweight (the Laser FIT is just 4 ounces!), built to be ultra-portable, and not so bulky that they feel weird in your pocket.

The Bushnell A1-Slope even has a removable magnetic sleeve. So when you do want to stick it to the cart (which you will… and you’ll forget it), you’ve got that option.

Clip Your Golf Rangefinder Case to Your Bag

If you walk, this is probably already your move. But even if you ride, clipping your rangefinder case to your bag, rather than chucking it in the deep recesses of your cart’s console, is a way smarter system.

Now your rangefinder’s not going anywhere unless your whole bag goes with it.

Pro tip: Keep the case clipped to a visible part of your bag, like near the top handle. You want it somewhere obvious so that it’s as easy to remember as putting away your golf clubs.

Make It Part of Your Routine

Golfers know all about pre-shot routines. But let’s talk about your post-shot routine, specifically what happens after you laser your target.

Don’t just toss your rangefinder onto the cart seat. Don’t just let it dangle in your hand as you walk or drive to your ball. Don’t set it on the roof of the cart like you’re inviting the golf gods to smite you.

Put. It. Away.

The same place. Every single time.

That might mean in the rangefinder case. That might mean back in your golf bag. Or in your pocket. Or even, if you’re confident, stuck back to the cart post.

The point is for you to build a habit. Make it repeatable. Make it as much a part of your routine as what you do before you hit a golf shot.

Bonus tip: Put a little mental checklist in your phone: “Wallet, keys, rangefinder.” Check it before you leave the course. Do this consistently, and you’ll lose a lot fewer of everything.

Label Your Rangefinder

Why not label your rangefinder with your name and contact information? You’re making it a lot easier on someone who finds it to do the right thing and get it back to you.

You decide on the labeling. It could be as inelegant as a piece of duct tape with your information written in sharpie. Or you could print a small label.

This is probably a good idea no matter what additional steps you take to protect against losing your rangefinder. Maybe go ahead and label both the rangefinder itself and the carrying case.

Consider a Tracker

We’re not saying you need a tracker for everything you own. But if you’ve got a history of losing stuff, then a helpful little device might not be the worst idea.

We already mentioned products like the Precision Pro Titan Elite and Garmin Z30 that have built-in tracking capabilities. But if you already own something else or decide to buy something different, options like an Apple AirTag tracker might be perfect. You could slide one into your rangefinder case.

Or, You Know… Just Get a Golf Watch

There, we said it.

If you’ve lost three or more rangefinders, it may be time to start attending meetings and to switch to something that literally straps to your body.

Modern GPS golf watches are ridiculously good. They’re preloaded with tens of thousands of courses, give you front-middle-back yardages, slope-adjusted distances, and a lot more. Some can go as far as to recommend which club you should hit.

But the best part is that with a golf watch you don’t have to fish anything out of a pocket or a pouch. No more magnets. No more tethers. No more “I left it on 17 tee box.” Watches don’t get left behind in the cart. You wear it. It goes where you go.

Problem solved.

You’re Not a (Rangefinder) Loser!

Enough is enough. No more losing rangefinders. It stops now!

A little intention, a little habit-building, and a couple of clever tricks are all you need to make sure your device actually makes it back to the car with you.

So let’s all commit to doing better. Let’s stop treating our $400 badass rangefinders like chapstick. Let’s build better routines, use the tech, and take care of our stuff.

Whether you decide to leash it, pocket it, track it, or wear it on your wrist, you’ve got options.

About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen

Marc Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.