Bushnell Golf Pro X3+ Link Laser Rangefinder

Why it's worth it

A laser rangefinder is the rare golf gift that comes out of the bag a dozen times a round. The Pro X3+ locks onto a flag fast, reads past 600 yards, and sticks to the cart frame with a magnet so it never gets left behind.

A rangefinder is the golf gift with the highest chance of daily use. Your golfer points it at the flag, gets a number, and picks a club. That's it. There's no app to learn, no account to make, no subscription nagging them in the spring. Bushnell says its lasers are carried by more than 75% of PGA Tour caddies, which is why almost every golfer already knows the name on the box. That recognition matters when you're guessing at someone's taste.

The Pro X3+ has a slope switch, which sounds like jargon but solves a real problem. Slope mode adjusts the yardage for uphill and downhill shots, and it's not legal in tournaments. Flip the switch and the feature turns off, so your golfer can use the same device in a club championship as on a Saturday. This version also folds in temperature and altitude, and it lets them set a home elevation so the numbers match the course they play most.

From our review of 8 gifts for golfers

What we like

• +A rangefinder is the golf gift with the highest chance of daily use
• +The Pro X3+ has a slope switch, which sounds like jargon but solves a real problem
• +Little things separate a rangefinder that gets used from one that gets forgotten
• +It unwraps well, and that counts

What to know

• –This is the most expensive way to learn a yardage
• –The features that make it special lean on a phone
• –It's not tiny. This rides in the bag, not a jacket pocket, and a walker who counts ounces may prefer a watch on the wrist instead