John C, thanks for that about Vista. My son still uses XP, he says it's OK for me to use his computer for downloads. Just means a twenty mile round trip until the USB drivers are sorted, c'est la vie.
Well done PC, you will not make a better golfing purchase! Not only is the Skycaddie the Dogs..... but the guys at their UK office are so helpfull, nothing is too much for them to do from getting a course mapped to helping with downloading issues, good on them a proper pro outfit.
Bet the fools who buy the "toy game boy" systems dont enjoy this service.
Would be good if we could get an opinion on the Skycaddie from any of the Pro Golfers who use it on the EuroProTour, would be good to get their opinion, after all they are using it to help further their career, Im sure if they didnt trust it they wouldnt use it, anyone know a pro from this tour??
Youn are able to use it in competition as long as the Golf Club at which you are playing has passed a local rule to allow distance finders, there are now lots of clubs who have seen te light but Im afraid there are still those old "lets keep guessing" types who will try and resist as long as they can, it is up to the members and the golfers who realy want to improve their game to keep on to the committees and secretaries to get these systems accepted once and for all, and after all they are only providing what you have a right to know "YARDAGE" ACCURATE AND INSTANT. Having said this Im afraid the Sure Shot and Bushnell users will be disapointed to know that their units will not be allowed because they give information that is illegal, and any way the Bushnell is slow, and the Sure Shot inaccurate, so no real loss.
PC It is easy, just follow the instructions, you need to stand at the front,Back and then the Midle of the Green, then you have the yardages to the Centre of the Green from any position on the course, I did this whilst I was waiting for my course to be mapped, it was a great help, buy boy did I notice a difference when the guys from Skycaddie did map the course, I now have as much information as any Pro can have, AND IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. No more guessing or indecition..Brilliant.
"Bet the fools who buy the "toy game boy" systems dont enjoy this service."
I don't think that's very fair (you sound far too much like a skycaddie rep!)
I've used my friends sureshot on various courses and found it excellent. Distances match reliably with course markers and course guides. The service has been very good, if they don't have a course he requests it and within days it can be in the database.
It may be taken from a sat image but its available, its far more accurate than me (domestic GPS is only rated at 3 meters at best), and its free - no annual subscription to pay.
The skycaddie looks good but its less than useless if the course im playing isnt in there. Played a society day last week, he requested the course and it was done within days (free), its not on the skycaddie at all, whos the fool then?
of course I shouldnt have said what I did please accept my apologies, everyone to their own, and you are right, if the course isnt mapped then the unit is no good. Its just that unlike you I have had several bad experiences with a S.S the worst was at Royston Golf Club were two holes where in the wrong place because the map that was being used was three years out of date, I still have the unit so if anyone out there wants it please let me know. And no Im not a rep,I have retiered and play golf most days to a healthy 7.1
hmmmm, been watching this thread for a while now, and am somewhat skeptical.... have played with a guy who had one of the sky caddie things, and as I thought, some of our 150 yd markers are a good club or so out, but seriously, how many of you [us] are good enough and consistent enough to knock your whatever iron xxx yds (within the 3 yd or so tolerance that GPS can zoom in to and allowing for wind weather temperature or ball.
I am pretty sure that the vast majority of you out there play the same course week in week out and pretty much preselcect your club before you get to the ball.
Yes your right, BUT playing a new golf course will help alot, dont you think. And benefit in playing a little quicker. That the whole idea of the skycaddie and to speed up golf play.
Hi have to say that in my experience knowing a solid distance, even on my own course, makes a huge difference.
Im not that good a player at 22 (but get a lot of stick for my handicap despite not coming in much above early 30s stableford usually, hoping the breakthrough will come soon!!!) but knowing the distance really makes a big difference to me.
The classic situation to me is this:
is it 90 yards or 110 to the pin, is it a pitching wedge, sand wedge, bit of wind 9 iron etc etc
The magic cheat box says 107 to the center, but the most important figure to me is 95 to the front and 123 to the back (maybe, for example), instead of taking a 9 iron, worrying about it, backing off, timing goes to pot and knobbing it 60 yards or a sandwedge and trying to mash it. I can take a pwedge, and know for certain a full solid swing will be in the green, bit long, bit short will be OK (i usually hit about 110).
If you hit it bad well that's golf, but you know you have more confidence you made the right club choice, and as we all know confidence is half of this bloody silly game!
Prime example a few months ago, on my own course, downhill to the green, cant see the 150 marker off down the fairway, no real idea where I am, brain is saying 7 iron then wedge to the green, heart says go for it, cheat box says 211 yards, so hmmm downhill why not, 3 wood, hit the green for an easy four on SI 3 hole for 4 points (and more calls of bandit). Point is the cheat box gave me the confidence to hit a full shot with no doubt it wouldn't go long and a good chance of making the shot.
If your selling a sureshot how much do you want and where are you?
I understand what you mean about bad data, we played Garforth (leeds) the other day and there were some temp tees which obviously makes any GPS a liability if you dont see the pin is short!
Soirry had to go off line last night missed a few threads.
Paul, just call the Skycaddie office and ask to speak to a guy called Steve, Im sure he will get any Course done ASAP, he got mine done real quick, they have guys off of the EuroPro Tour mapping for them all over the UK. Lee, sorry if I spoke out of turn re the Shure Shot,I have had a guy ask about it wants to swap a putter,that will do for me.
Well, I have to say I am very impressed, it took me 20 minutes from opening the box to being ready to play. This included set-up, loading SW to PC, registering, activating my membership and downloading 4 courses.
As Fen says you don't really need it at your regular course. Though we have now used it to find certain markers out by as much as 9 yards, as we already suspected. However if you play other courses a lot then I believe it is a worthwhile toy. 2 years a savings re course planners should see it pay for itself, for me. It's also an invaluable practice aid for dialling in your iron distances.
When I go on holiday I want to enjoy my golf and maximise my scoring potential. I am sick of walking off a course muttering how I'd play differently now I know where things are etc. Will it make me a better golfer? - I doubt it, but I'll be a happier one and that's all that matters to me.
By the way, the most important info it gives, IMHO, is the distance to the back of the green. Based on our general amateur play if you aim for that distance you should never be too far away.
I've enjoyed reading this thread as i don't know anything about these things. However, I have to say that i'm a bit of a puritan - no silly putters, utilities etc. So I don't see the need for this kind of nonsense. I firmly believe that knowing the distance (horizontally) is a right, but "reading" the gradiant is something that golfers need to learn and get better at, not just get spoon fed. Although I am tempted by one for my now annual Spannish expiditions! ;)
"By the way, the most important info it gives, IMHO, is the distance to the back of the green. Based on our general amateur play if you aim for that distance you should never be too far away."
Absolutely spot on Al, that's exactly what I found. Give me a yardage to the back of the green and I'll pick a club that I can't hit that far. Our greens are small enough that I know I shouldn't be too far out.
