The change in legislation by the R&A legalising the use of rangefinders has created an upsurge in demand for these GPS devices and golfers of all ages and abilities are beginning to acknowledge the shot-saving benefits of using them.

Among the best is GPS-8 from GolfLogix - described as the most functional, durable and easy-to-use handset on the market.

Founded in 1999, GolfLogix was the first company to introduce a hand-held GPS device to the golf industry. The company's reputation for developing high-quality GPS technology that is simple to use and durable, has been further enhanced by this new GolfLogix GPS-8 handset.

Co-developed with Garmin, the market leader in consumer and commercial GPS sectors, the GPS-8, which shows front, centre and back of green distances, is the only 100 per cent automatic rangefinder.

New features include a six-hazard-per-hole display and the distance of the last shot. This means players can learn to understand their own game and make better club choices that will ultimately knock shots off their round. The new GPS-8 is also the first handset to be 100 per cent waterproof, making it the most robust on the market.

Palm-sized, it has an easy-to-read screen that automatically shows key distances in big bold numbers, making it user-friendly. It can hold information for up to 20 courses at a time and is compatible with Mac, Vista and XP applications.

GolfLogix users have access to 15,000 mapped courses via the company's website. If the course the player requires is not available, they can e-mail a request and the new course is mapped within seven days. The GPS-8 is certainly in a strong position to capture the market.

Another handy gizmo' is SkyCaddie's SG2.5, a new entry-level model to replace its hugely popular SG2. With the news that the PGA has sanctioned the use of GPS rangefinders in all its professional events this year, the new SG2.5 has been designed to meet the surge in demand for SkyCaddies.

Lighter than its predecessor at just 3.8 ounces (108 grams) and with a 70 per cent increased screen resolution and almost 50 per cent increased battery life, the SG2.5 is the lightest, most compact and most effective rangefinder on the market.

The 4.5x2.2inch device includes the patented IntelliGreen technology, which enables golfers to measure the full depth and exact shape of the green from any angle of approach - even from adjacent fairways.

Up to three key distances can be calculated and sown simultaneously, including carry to the front and back of the green, plus any target point in between - enabling golfers to use the four-way thumbpad to position the cursor where the flag appears on the green, and to read a distance based on the angle of attack.

With an RRP of £169.95, it is packed with all the exciting features that make SkyCaddie already the official rangefinder of the PGA.

Golfers enjoy the benefit of a 128x128 pixel resolution screen, automatic backlighting, a mini-USB port, rechargeable lithium battery with 14 hours of life, charger, belt clip, quick-start guide and installation CD.

Like its bigger brothers, the SG2.5 is packed with the specialist golf information that sets it so clearly apart from its competitors.

It gives instant and accurate information via satellite, which includes exact yardages to the front of bunkers and water hazards.

The yardages on every single course have been measured on foot by Skycaddie's UK team of course enablers'. Using real golfers to provide course information also allows SkyCaddie to programme each course's layout with fairway targets' or safe zones where to lay-up to avoid trouble.

Jackie Hitchcock, of SkyCaddie, said: "We are experiencing phenomenal growth in sales and interest in SkyCaddies and the SG2.5 is a superb entry-level model. It is a significant improvement on the SG2, which was an incredible success, and we're confident it will be a massive hit with golfers."

With almost 2,000 courses mapped in Europe and more than 17,000 worldwide and available for download from www.skycaddiegps.co.uk - demand in the UK for the innovative hand-held units has been growing dramatically.

The SkyCaddie SG2.5 conforms to USGA/R&A rulings and golfers are able to download courses they want to play via annual SkyPlayer membership schemes, making them perfect for the travelling golfer.

For more information, visit Wheatley-based SkyCaddie's website at www.skycaddiegps.co Other devices to consider include SureShot GPS, which is a hand-held device using GPS technology. It can be used on any course and costs about £235.

Specific shots can be measured and recorded, such as driver distance. Once the player has measured distances for each club, the information is stored and used to suggest a club selection.

Sonocaddie Golf GPS measures distance to the green, targets and driving distance, and acts as a digital scorecard.

Do you ever misjudge distance only to find yourself in a hazard? Sonocaddie helps avoid those by assisting you to play smarter and manage the course better.

Sonocaddie automatically calculates the distance to any point on the course, allowing you to concentrate on your next shot.

There are many other GPS aids on the market, so look round and perhaps try them out before you commit yourself to buying one.