I must be missing something. Here's an article about a laser gun that gives a golfer precise distance to the pin.

Laser Link Golf, produces a hand-held device that gives golfers that information. Golfers aim a gun-like device at the flagstick, push a button and a laser is shot at the pin.

About a second later, the beam bounces back off of a reflective prism either attached to or built into the flagstick and the golfer learns the distance to the flag. Instead of having to pace off the yardage from sprinkler head or "eyeball" it from the 150-yard stake in the middle of the fairway, golfers can instantly receive accurate information.

On a shot-by-shot basis, the amount of time saved can probably only be measured in seconds. But those seconds can multiply quickly for four golfers over an 18-hole round.

I'll have to try this out to know better, but I see several problems with this. First of all, busting out a gun and pointing it at the stick everytime you set up for a shot is just plain awkward. Second, at the better courses now now, most carts have GPS readers on them to tell you roughly how far you are from the pin. I think these will trickle down and be ubiquitous before long, thus making these guns redundant. Lastly, my sense is the problem this is being addressed -- slow pace of play -- won't be helped much by this. Why? Golf play is slower than it was a generation ago because there are more golfers playing today, and thus more bad golfers on the links. A device like this won't help bad golfers make much better shots. The only thing that will help that is for them to learn how to play better.