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Golf GPS systems: What you should know

How they can improve your game


Posted: 22 March 2009
by Bob Warters

Two types of hand-held, distance-measuring GPS devices
Golfers are constantly looking for ways to improve and shoot lower scores. But there are many ways to do this without completely overhauling your swing or trying to implement the latest tip from a pro who spends many hours a day honing his or her technique.

One way to quickly improve your game is by practising effective course management and a golf GPS device can make this much easier. These devices - costing anything from around £200 to £400 - can assist any golfer to sharpen their course management, shoot lower scores and increase their enjoyment of the game.

golf gps system
System on board the Motocaddy G5 powered trolley

As with the latest Motocaddy G5, they can even be built into the handle of a powered trolley.

As I've mentioned before I'm a bit of a techno-phobe when it comes to mobile phones, i-Pods and sat-navs in the car but I've just taken delivery of my first hand-held Golf GPS system to review and am apparently a perfect candidate to learn how to make the most of it and quickly get over my phobia.

I'm an experienced golfer who plays by feel and intuition to a reasonable standard but feel I have hit the wall in terms of taking that next step to mid-single figure handicap status. Hopefully a Golf GPS will help me achieve my goal.

Golf GPS devices can be used to determine a golfer’s exact distance to the flagstick from different points on the the course. They will also identify how far other hazards such as water, bunkers and trees are from your ball.

It consists of an electronic device with GPS (Global Positioning System) capabilities - using signals from satellites circling the earth to navigate your way around a golf course. The Golf GPS holds customised course maps and data points and accesses up to six or eight satellites to establish your position on the course and then displays your distance to relevant targets. Remarkable.

The benefits of playing golf with a Golf GPS device include:

Knowing your exact distance to the front, centre and back of the green

Golf courses routinely provide distance markers at 150 yards or metres to the front or centre of the green or from sprinkler heads placed throughout the course. However, rarely does a golfer find their ball directly in line with one of these markers and knowing the exact distance to the front, centre and back of the green from any point on the course eliminates the guesswork and to choose the correct club for the flag position. The Golf GPS also allows a golfer to plan ahead when they are in a position where they need to lay up short of the green to a comfortable distance.

Knowing accurately how far you hit each club in your bag

Most Golf GPS devices contain a shot distance feature to measure how far a golfer hits each of their clubs. You may know approximately how far you hit a certain club based on practice on the driving range but they're not always accurate on golf course with elevations. Knowing these distances under playing conditions can lead to improved club selection and lower scores.

Knowing the distance to hazards

Golfers are presented with multiple situations during each round where they must determine what distance they need to either hit over or lay up short of water hazards, bunkers and other obstacles. Instead of guessing or estimating these distances a GOlf GPS device give an exact measurement to help you avoid them.

Increased Confidence

Golf is as much a mental game as a physical game and if a golfer knows the exact distance to their intended target and how far they hit each of their clubs, they will swing with greater confidence and produce better shots. Again this undoubtedly will lead to lower scores.

WHAT Golf GPS DEVICE DO YOU USE?

For a chance to win one of the latest Golf Buddy hand-held GPS measuring devices worth over £300, tell us about the system you're currently using. Submit a comprehensive review and give it a rating and at the end of March, we'll assess the entries and award a Golf Buddy device to a worthy winner.

To submit a review CLICK HERE


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Discuss this story

Bob says: 

"For a chance to win one of the latest Golf Buddy hand-held GPS measuring devices worth over £300, tell us about the system you're currently using. Submit a comprehensive review and give it a rating and at the end of March, we'll assess the entries and award a Golf Buddy device to a worthy winner. "

Bob - As I've got a Skycaddie SG5 why would I want to win another DMD?


Posted: 23/03/2009 10:53

Dick - must admit i thought similar - maybe you could compare the two and see if they come up with the same numbers?


Posted: 23/03/2009 13:00

Ebay?
Posted: 23/03/2009 13:05

I don't own a DMD so how can I post a review? I think this comp is null and void and I should win the golf buddy for pointing out the fatal flaw. It's discriminatory don't you know...
Posted: 23/03/2009 13:31

       I use my eyes, the 150 yard markers, the wind strength and direction and my experience, also sometimes a course planner on a strange course.  It seems to work for me, however my brother has recently purchased the latest Sonocaddie V300 series GPS around £250 plus unlimited course downloads and no annual subscription.

It looks great and is in colour and most of the time it agrees with my own estimation of distance.  Joking aside if your off the fairway and coming in from a different angle it is very useful.  If I could afford one I would by the Sonocaddie V300, although it is not green intelligent it gives distances to front, middle and back of greens.

So in summary it is slightly better than my own estimations but is too expensive for me and would be classed as a luxury item.  However I would gladly love one and would love to take your latest Golf Buddy hand held GPS measuring device off your hands. In return I would give you a full comprehensive report on how it rates especially on the weird and wonderful places I find on the course, that isn't marked on a course planner


Posted: 23/03/2009 14:11

As previously mentioned in my last post I do not own a DMD however my brother has a Sonocaddie V300 GPS.  I told him about this competition and the winner received a new hand held GPS DMD. He likes his so much he said he wouldn’t want another type, so he agreed to review it for me so that I could enter your competition and hopefully win one. 

Admin edit:ED says: 'I put your brother's review on to the site, Gordon (what's his name by the way so I can change the by-line) though ideally it needs to be placed within the review system and if the brand isn't there you let us know in advance so we can add it.
Posted: 23/03/2009 16:06

Bob

Is this competition still current, if so when is the closing date and have I entered in the right place?

Many Thanks


Posted: 23/03/2009 22:29

I have a Sky Caddie and it is excellent.  They are mainly beneficial from 100 yards in.  Often us amateur golfers are short of the pin and I reckon it's because inside 100 yards we view shots too short.  Often I check my Sky Caddie and can't believe I've still got 70/80 yards.  Trust it and you pepper the pin rather than leaving yourself a 30 foot putt!

Also I play a lot in Portugal and course planners there give you metres to the front of the green.  Sky Caddie delivers yards to the centre taking out any calculations or conversions from metres to yards.  I wouldn't be without mine!

Chris Banner


Posted: 26/03/2009 07:22

I use Freecaddie on my smartphone. It's free (obviously) to download and works extremely well with excellent accuracy. Courses are mapped through googlemaps, so any course viewable on google is available.

I have also used Freecaddie to map courses in Majorca, and found them to be precise, which is something the course yardage (metres) markers at some clubs do not appear to offer.

The downside of the free version is that hazards are not mapped, though the pro version (Around £14 I believe) allows every bunker, pond, area of rough, and even slopes to be mapped.

I have found GPS an invaluable addition to game improvement and would certainly recommend obtaining an accurate system, particularly if, like me, you tend to play more than a few shots from adjoining fairways rather than the one in play!

How does it compare to Golf Buddy systems? Well, as I can't afford one I'm unable to say, but if I were to win one (  ) then I would be happy to offer a serious and comprehensive comparison between professional systems and freely available downloads.


Posted: 26/03/2009 09:28

I have a Bushnell Yardage Pro XL which I purchased from the US about 4 years ago.

It is a stunning piece of equipment and anyone that has tried it finds it intuitive to use as well as simple to get the information you want.  The product and technical details are:

Product Features
  • Water-Resistant
  • Accuracy to +/- one yard from 10 to 1000 yards away
  • 4x magnification
  • Internal reticle which makes estimating the range to the pin quick and easy
  • Great for golf
Technical Details
  • Model: 20-2025
  • device_type: Rangefinder
  • rangefinder_type: Laser
  • Camera Magnify Power: 4
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 21 millimeters
  • Weight: 10.4 Ounces
  There are 4 targeting modes you can use: Scan - handy from a distance, the unit constantly measures while you are using it, so you can check distances to bunkers, flag, trees behind green etc.  I use this most of the time as it lets you check you have not missed the flag and measured somewhere beyond the hole. Rain - rain can cause distortions in the reading because it can reflect the beam back.  Using this mode minimises this problem. Zip - When you don't have a clear line of sight to the green, this ignores nearby objects,  Very useful for tree lined courses Reflector - I rarely use this, it means you can get distances to further objects (up to 10,000 yards!) So what's it like to use in practice I hear you ask.  Well, as said, it is quick and easy to use.  It comes with a handy pouch that can be attached to the bag and although the pouch has a clip, I find it is very secure during rounds without fastening the clip and it makes it that little bit quicker to get in and out. Taking a reading can take a second in normal conditions, in windy conditions or with a hangover it can take longer!  You hold the unit like binocculars and turn it on, you then get a heads up display with cross hairs.  Get your object between the crosshairs and hold the power button.  You will then get a reading.  A very reflective surface will give a quick reading, not so reflective takes longer! In between rounds I am happy for it to stay on my golf bag in the boot of the car (with the pouch closed) and it does seem to be a hardy little implement.  I have never had to change the battery despite using it regularly.  I recently took it with me to Portugal.  I was worried the baggage handlers might damage it but it survived intact.  All I did differently was wrap it in a towel and put it in a jiffy bag inside my golf bag. Personally I think it is great and it has definitely helped me learn how far I hit with each iron (a mental database that increases each time I use it).  Anyone that has tried it has expressed positive feelings about it. The model I have may now have been replaced with smaller models, but having tried some of them, I am confident mine is every bit as good if not better than what is on offer.  In rating it I will take into consideration the ease of use, portability, practicality, aesthetics and cost.  The model scores very highly on the first four parameters.  It is easy to use, compact and a great looking piece of kit.  Where it slightly falls down is the price tag which is around $300 and doesn't include the import tax due.  For this reason I will give it 4.5 out of 5.

Posted: 26/03/2009 14:23

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