Golf Forums - Golf GPS : Which one ?

Golf GPS : Which one ? Options
#1 Posted : Wednesday, September 28, 2011 2:52:06 PM
Dougie Gray
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Folks,

The newly acquired Mrs Gray is pressing me for gift ideas for my (upcoming) birthday..

I'm thinking GPS gizmo / rangefinder type, but looking for feedback based on your experiences, either good or bad.

Which should I go for, and what are the key factors that should be taken into consideration when presented with the current options on the market ?

Your support is appreciated..

dg 
#2 Posted : Wednesday, September 28, 2011 4:10:30 PM
Steve South
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 Hi Dougie,

I have GolfLogix gps on my phone and a Bushnell Tour V2 rangefinder. Both are great, but if I had to choose one it would have to be the rangefiner. Compared to a gps:

- You dont have to worry about the battery so much
- You can get the range to any hazard
- You don't need to worry about gps reception, although it is usually fine out on course
- You don't have to worry about downloading courses, especially useful if you travel abroad regularly or play courses that may not be mapped.
- You can use it down the range to get the true yardage to any target.

The benefits of the gps type device for me are:

- You can usually enter your score and track your stats with them, that is all I really use GolfLogix for now
- If you are behind a tree you know the distance to the green without having to walk around it to get a rough distance with the rangefinder. 
- GolfLogix gives you an overhead view of the hole which can be useful.

If you do go for a rangefinder, the tour v2 is great. Small, light and can easily pick out the pin. You are welcome to take a look at both on Saturday, see you then.

Steve












#3 Posted : Wednesday, September 28, 2011 6:42:05 PM
Ian Mullins
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I'm with Steve on this.......

I use the GolfLogix app. on my Blackberry and its great for a rough idea of distances and its free!

Not sure I would pay £200+ for one of the many on the market now, as I dont think it would give me that much more. However, I notice quite a few TSGers out on the course now using the Garmin wrist watches and they all seem happy with them!

Ian


#4 Posted : Friday, September 30, 2011 9:32:14 PM
David Pipe
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 I am a big fan of GPS systems ... so much so, that I find it very difficult to play without one anymore.  I previously had the SkyCaddie SG5, which I really liked.  I then made the mistake of switching to the Golf Buddy World Platinum.  I was attracted to it because of the touch screen (you can tap anywhere on the hole, and it will tell you the distance to that point) - and also the fact that ALL 40,000 courses are pre-loaded with no downloading required.

However, I found it to be very cumbersome in many ways ... too many taps/inputs needed to record your score, and it didn't seem to connect to the satellite very well.  Plus the screen was quite difficult to read in bright sunlight.

I've switched back to the SkyCaddie, to the SGX (the latest model) and am VERY happy with it.  Sure, you have to download courses and pay the annual fee ... but in my expereince, the SkyCaddie's are the Cadillac of GPS units.  Very reliable, great screen quality, easy to record your score and stats, and your scores/stats are automatically uploaded to the website for analysis.  Awesome piece of gear.

David
#5 Posted : Saturday, October 1, 2011 11:57:48 AM
TSG
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Hi Dougie

I've had a 'Shotmiser' for the last two years, and am very happy with it, and extremely impressed with the aftersales service also. When I bought my G500, the deal on downloading courses was not as good as it is now, but I would still buy one. The G700 comes with unlimited courses, no subscription, and you only pay if a course has not been previously mapped, and I reckon I might trade in for that. You can pinpoint distances to hazards etc. and I would not want to play without one now. Have a look at their website.
I play in a Society from time to time where a number of members use the Garmin watch type GPS. It only gives distances to front, middle and back of green, no other info., and has not always had the courses needed. So, cheaper but nowhere near as useful. I reckon if you pay for decent equipment and use it, it justifies the cost.
Hope this helps
#6 Posted : Sunday, October 2, 2011 9:26:47 AM
Dougie Gray
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Thanks guys, all great feedback for what is considered "work in progress".. Thanks to Steve I briefly tried out the Rangefinder and Dave P showed me the Skycaddie SGX..

Will hope to see someone with the Golflogix app or the Shotmiser and check them out before informing Mrs Gray what her selection of birthday present is to be....

dg
#7 Posted : Sunday, November 6, 2011 6:30:13 PM
TSG
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Just played with a guy that had a Garmin Approach G3 Golf GPS Unit was very useful :)
#8 Posted : Tuesday, November 8, 2011 7:28:26 PM
Mark Tucknott
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Got one off Tesco's website £189 (collect from store tomorrow)    we'll give it a try Sunday mate
#9 Posted : Wednesday, November 9, 2011 7:44:45 AM
aidan mcmahon
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screwfix are doing a golf scope for £20 product code 35615 , i will try it out on sunday and let you know how i got on
#10 Posted : Wednesday, November 9, 2011 7:54:13 PM
Mark Tucknott
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aidan mcmahon wrote:
screwfix are doing a golf scope for £20 product code 35615 , i will try it out on sunday and let you know how i got on

That won't help with bunkers, ponds etc
#11 Posted : Friday, November 11, 2011 11:03:58 PM
Bernard Potter
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I have got the Garmin S1 Golf watch. Simple to use, loads of courses available, but obviously no pictures!. Not very useful for dogleg holes, since always shows shortest distance to green, not necessarily the mos practical!
#12 Posted : Sunday, November 13, 2011 11:52:05 AM
aidan mcmahon
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aidan mcmahon wrote:
screwfix are doing a golf scope for £20 product code 35615 , i will try it out on sunday and let you know how i got on
i tried it out this morning and its ok it was near enough right to the fairway markersbut you need a steady hand to get the correct alingment my mate who shakes like a good un had no chance with it lol.it will make a cheap golf prezzie for xmas
#13 Posted : Sunday, November 13, 2011 5:40:08 PM
Mark Tucknott
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Mark Tucknott wrote:
Got one off Tesco's website £189 (collect from store tomorrow)    we'll give it a try Sunday mate

Very handy little tool it may not have improved my score on this occassion, but I can see it will
#14 Posted : Monday, January 30, 2012 7:34:52 PM
Jonathan Crickm...
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I use a Snooper Sapphire S280 (Shotmiser) and I cant fault it:

1) The course downloads are free for life (I've had 40 on it at once with no problems)

2) It acts as a Satnav in your car too, once you have downloaded the course, you have an option that allows you to drive straight to it!

3) Speed Camera detection is included which is also free up-dates for life - I've had it 2 years and have now cleared all the points from my license.

4) If they don't have a course map for you - they will map it within 2 weeks.

I also have a Laser rangefinder which I use on our PGA academy par 3 course - mage by Pargate which is good, but form all the GPS features I would guess I'd choose that by preference.
#15 Posted : Tuesday, January 31, 2012 6:23:30 PM
Colin (66.6) Sa...
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I have Golfshot on my iphone . I have used it for 18 months . It cost £18.99 to download and it is excellent. One tip , when your on the course if you tap the bottom left corner of the screen it puts the app into sleep mode , this saves the battery life. I can do 18 holes using aprox 40% of the phones battery life.
#16 Posted : Wednesday, February 8, 2012 8:47:42 AM
Kathy Hylton
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Colin Samuels wrote:
I have Golfshot on my iphone . I have used it for 18 months . It cost £18.99 to download and it is excellent. One tip , when your on the course if you tap the bottom left corner of the screen it puts the app into sleep mode , this saves the battery life. I can do 18 holes using aprox 40% of the phones battery life.



Yeah I recently discover it too. It was great.
#17 Posted : Monday, March 26, 2012 10:38:18 PM
Adam Peek
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 If you are considering buying a GPS unit please avoid golfgps.org, snoopergps.org, and thecaddy.co.uk. I used one of these, placed an order for the SkyCaddie SG5 back in mid Feb and still waiting. Waiting on a refund that sadly I dont think I'll get as having done a bit of research it looks like they're all run by the same bloke and he has form for setting up online golf companies, not fulfilling orders and then liquidating the firms. A bit of a sickener as when I ordered it was priced  only slightly cheaper than the mainstream firms and therefore not suspiciously underpriced. Chalked up to experience and will never use again an internet firm that I've not heard of! 

To cheer myself up I ordered the new SkyCaddie SGXw from Scotsdale Golf (an excellently priced firm by the way!). Hopefully due to be delivered tomorrow. Will post up a review when I've had a play with it! 


#18 Posted : Thursday, March 29, 2012 3:48:49 PM
TSG
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 NONE OF THEM !!!!!!!!!
Whats the problem using the 150 yard markers at the side of the fairway,or using your own judgement, takes a lot of the skill out of the game.
How often do you hit to the yardage it tells you on these gadgets,not many I bet.
Its nice to know how far you are on any point on the course,from a certian place.But can you hit that exact yardage every time?
The forum has gone a bit quite of late lets liven it up again.
If you was to play your next round without this gadget would it make a big difference to your score,I dont think so,THEY ARE LIKE A FASHION CRAZE MUST HAVE ONE.BECAUSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????
#19 Posted : Thursday, March 29, 2012 4:14:37 PM
Adam Peek
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Jack Shelton wrote:
 NONE OF THEM !!!!!!!!!
Whats the problem using the 150 yard markers at the side of the fairway,or using your own judgement, takes a lot of the skill out of the game.
How often do you hit to the yardage it tells you on these gadgets,not many I bet.
Its nice to know how far you are on any point on the course,from a certian place.But can you hit that exact yardage every time?
The forum has gone a bit quite of late lets liven it up again.
If you was to play your next round without this gadget would it make a big difference to your score,I dont think so,THEY ARE LIKE A FASHION CRAZE MUST HAVE ONE.BECAUSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????


That's all well and good Jack, but how many courses have well maintained yardage markers? Or if the course insist on using the stupid discs in the middle of the fairway that are only any good if you are stood within a few metres of them otherwise they're invisible.
It's almost like saying why are Sat Nav's so popular, there is nothing wrong with an A-Z! Which is equally true, but what's the harm in getting a little helping hand?
#20 Posted : Thursday, March 29, 2012 9:31:32 PM
Robin Vidler
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I use the Skycaddie SGXw now, having previously owned a Skycaddie SG5 and SGX. These are the Rolls Royce of GPS units as they are mapped out by people walking the course with GPS gear on, not just estimated via Google Earth or similar. I find it difficult to play without one now.  For those doubting whether you should use one, think about why the pros have caddies with yardage books worked out through walking the course.  Why have a caddie with a distance book if there are yardage markers on the course?  I personally do not hit the middle of fairways often so like to know exact distances to hazards and greens thank you very much.
I am selling the SGX due to the upgrade to SGXw.  PM me for details.
#21 Posted : Thursday, March 29, 2012 11:27:39 PM
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#22 Posted : Saturday, March 31, 2012 4:59:32 PM
John Amos
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The one I use is the Garmin Approach S1 Watch - which gives distances to front, middle and back of the green.   It's very easy to see and use.....and I find it very useful.

Yes, many courses do have 150 yard markers - usually to middle of green (sometimes front - which is confusing), but the watch will tell me exactly how far - wherever I am.   Standing on the tee of a par 3, I know the distance wherever the tee box is and wherever the pin is placed, so I can decide which club to use.......whether I hit the right shot is another matter!

On a longer hole, if I am not within range of the green, I can decide to 'lay up' to about 100yds - again the watch helps here, but not many courses have yardage posts to assist with this.

Jack - you question how many of us hit exact yardages?   Well, the watch has a 'measure shot' mode - so on the rare occasion that I do hit that perfect drive/4-iron, etc, I'm able to measure how far the ball's gone by walking to it and checking my watch - check my yardages......you MUST agree that can be a good thing!   And it will also tell me the time!

The technology is there and will only improve...we all have a choice to use it.  I've often been asked distances by playing partners without GPS units.....maybe you'll ask one day?!!



 

#23 Posted : Monday, April 2, 2012 10:27:02 AM
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Asking the distance to a point on the course,I hold my hands up and say yes I have done this on a very rare occassion,and that was to check the 150yard marker.
When your playing in a fourball and on say a par 3,normally a couple of guys have these GADGETS, and they compare yardages to the flag,usually in conversation for everyone to know.
Normally these are different,by a few yards,then the scorecard comes out and the dispute begins because this says something completely different as well.
Then I am left with a head full of numbers wondering how far the flag really is!!!!
 "WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK,ON MOST HOLES I AM TOLD ON THE TEE WHAT THE YARDAGE IS"
maybe a ruling should be brought in regarding keeping this information to yourself,so as not to confuse those  of us that dont use them. 
In match play you are penalised for asking your opponent what club he used,what about penalising the player that gives out GPS yardages?????
#24 Posted : Friday, June 8, 2012 3:08:45 PM
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#25 Posted : Wednesday, September 25, 2013 8:36:55 AM
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