GPS? What to do?

[TwillDog]

OK, I have $300 credit with GolfSmith - won it randomly for doing surveys. Didn't know exactly what to do - I think I even asked here. My first impulse was to get a new bag, maybe some shoes and some ProV1's. Also thought fleetingly about a rangefinder (GPS). Asked the wife, and the wise woman says I should do the rangefinder - I will always just go out and buy myself a bag, or shoes or balls. When will I have that type of free money/access to purchasing something that nice? That's not something I would just go out and buy myself. Now you know why I married her....
Anyway, looking for some info on which is the best GPS. I don't mind throwing in a couple of extra dollars to get one if it's necessary (though I'm not looking to put another $100+ for something like the SG5...). Which systems do you guys have, which is the best, do they all come with a yearly subscription that needs to be purchased; how does it all work. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using a Rangefinder as opposed to GPS? I have little knowledge on the subject.
My initial research says I should look at the SkyGolf SG3, SG4, the Dennco Sonocaddie, or one of the Bushnell Range Finders. I'm personally figuring GPS is the way to go, but if there's something else to know, let me know it.
Thanks for your help in advance, folks! Hoping to get a lot of good info here and make an order next week so I can have it in time for a little Florida trip!

[TexasWedge]

I would get either the SG3 or SG4. I don't know much about the Sonocaddie, but many of the other GPS devices don't have the intelligreen feature like the SkyCaddie. The intelligreen feature shows the actual diagram of the green exactly as it is shaped from wherever you are on the course. Many of the other GPS devices only give you a front, back and center measurement which aren't always as helpful when you're playing from the wrong fairway.

Plus, as we may have just deduced from others on another thread...Google Earth is not that accurate and some GPS devices for golf use google earth to do their mapping.

Have fun spending that $300 at Golfsmith and don't worry about how jealous we all are of you!!!!!

[TwillDog]

Originally Posted by Texas Wedge

I would get either the SG3 or SG4. I don't know much about the Sonocaddie, but many of the other GPS devices don't have the intelligreen feature like the SkyCaddie. The intelligreen feature shows the actual diagram of the green exactly as it is shaped from wherever you are on the course. Many of the other GPS devices only give you a front, back and center measurement which aren't always as helpful when you're playing from the wrong fairway.

Plus, as we may have just deduced from others on another thread...Google Earth is not that accurate and some GPS devices for golf use google earth to do their mapping.

Have fun spending that $300 at Golfsmith and don't worry about how jealous we all are of you!!!!!

Yeah, TW, I was just reading about the Google Earth deal. I normally wouldn't use GE for golf anyway, but it was an interesting read. What is the annual or monthly fee for the SkyCaddie service?

[JPsuff]

.


If you're going to go with a GPS, then SkyCaddie is the way to go.

I have a SkyCaddie SG-2 and it's all I need. It's been replaced with the SG-2.5 which is supposed to be more ergonomic, but other than that it has the same features as the SG-2.

As you probably know, there is also an SG-3, SG-4 and an SG-5. They're basically all the same thing other than some claim to be waterproof (as opposed to water resistant), another uses regular batteries and the SG-5 has a color screen.

I've looked at them all and I'm sticking with the SG-2. I don't need "waterproof" (if it's raining THAT hard, I'm going home), I like the rechargeable batteries as opposed to having to carry extra regular batteries. I just have to remember to charge it the night before I play, but I've actually gone more than two rounds over a two-week span on one charge.
As far as the color screen is concerned, if that's what you really think you need then go for it, but for almost $200 more than the SG-2 I hardly think it's worth it.

The SkyCaddie is accurate and easy to use and gives you instant yardages to the front an back of hazards, "carry" yardages for various hazards and other data-based obstacles and front, middle and back yardages to greens.

SkyCaddie does not give you yardages to pins. I think that is coming in the future once they get all of the details and "permissions" worked out with member courses.
Most resort courses, for example, have a GPS in their carts and they also have dedicated pin sheets and each time they cut new pins, they load that data into their GPS and you get actual pin yardages via GPS. I believe that SkyCaddie will have this feature eventually, but to be perfectly honest with you, I've never found that to be a problem.

For accurate "to the pin" yardages, an optical or laser range finder will do that, but they rely on a clear line of sight and most require a stable target. So if you can't see a pin, or it's moving a lot in the wind, you might not be able to get an accurate yardage with a rangefinder.
SkyCaddie can give you distances to greens without your having to actually see them (such as beyond a stand of trees or over a hill).

Ideally, if both GPS and rangefinder technologies could be combined, you'd have an ideal unit, but if I were forced to choose one I'd go with the GPS.

Brand New SG-2.5's are going for around $249.00 with the SG-2's (if you can still find them - and you can if you look) are going near $200 or so.



Hope this helps!




-JP

[TexasWedge]

SG2,3,4,5 all have the same yearly fees. You can pay nothing and map the courses yourself (up to 5 I think).
Or you can pay $30 to have access to any course in your state.
Or you can pay $50 to have access to any course in your country.
Or you can pay $60 to have access to any course in the world.
And by access, I mean you can download to the SkyCaddie any course they already have mapped in their database. I hope that helps!

[TwillDog]

TW, JP, thanks so much for the info! Very helpful. Hoping to get a few more reviews soon, but for now, I'm still leaning SG3 or SG4. We will see... thanks again!

[JimSomebody]

TD, Here are two past threads of possible interest to you about SkyCaddie

I want a SkyCaddie, there I said it!

The New SkyCaddie SG5

[drstroud]

I just picked up the SG2.5 and really like it from what I can tell. Too much winter going on right now. The newest models (2.5 and 5) have an external antennae as opposed to the 3 and 4 with the internal antennae. Head a rumor that the external were much better than the internal. May make sese if the newest one have it.

[PA PLAYA]

I'd certainly take your wife's advice and get the GPS.

I have the sg3, and the only thing I don't like about it is that it uses disposable batteries, it isn't equipped with a rechargeable lithium battery like the sg4. If I had it to do over, I would've opted for the sg4 for nothing more than convenience. But you can get rechargeable batteries for the sg3 (of which I have).

Annual course-listing memberships for the website vary. The basic membership for access to courses that have been marked for skycaddie use in the entire US is about $50/yr. They offer other packages, but you just need to go to their website to figure out what would be best for you, what courses are listed, etc..

Their site will give you pretty much all the info that you need.

[Batteaux]

Originally Posted by TwillDog

Yeah, TW, I was just reading about the Google Earth deal. I normally wouldn't use GE for golf anyway, but it was an interesting read. What is the annual or monthly fee for the SkyCaddie service?

I just got mine and signed up for the 'birdie' package - 1 state or 1 prov. and it cost me $35 for the year - but once you have the courses you want (up to 10) it's not obligatory to pay the annual fee.

[OnePutt]

If you are set on a GPS, you might want to check out the Golf Guru GPS system. It now comes with a believe 3 years membership, which you don't get with any other system. I happen to use a laser range finder, and I'll tell you why. For one thing I can get exact yardages to the flag, not just to the front back or middle of the green, which I believe is more important to know. As for picking up the flag. It's not that hard to do. All I do is rest my hands on my golf bag to steady myself, and that's all it takes to get a reading out to 290 yards or more. I say 290, as that's the fartheest I've measured, could be longer but I've not had a need to date to measure from farther out. A laser is also good for getting your carry distance at the range with all your clubs. I just hit a ball, see where it lands, and laser to the spot the ball lands. You can also use the laser to get exact yardages to those sighs on the range. Most are not correct. Then you can hit an iron to the sighs and get your exact yardages pretty easily. Can't do that with a GPS. And with a laser, there is no annual fee to pay. And battery life is a couple years, not one or two rounds of golf as with a GPS. That's one more fee you have with a GPS. ONe last item. You can use a laser at ANY course. but with a GPS if the course is not mapped and in their database, you're stuck. Yes, you can map the course yourself, but that takes hours to do.

[GolfSavage]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

If you are set on a GPS, you might want to check out the Golf Guru GPS system. It now comes with a believe 3 years membership, which you don't get with any other system. I happen to use a laser range finder, and I'll tell you why. For one thing I can get exact yardages to the flag, not just to the front back or middle of the green, which I believe is more important to know. As for picking up the flag. It's not that hard to do. All I do is rest my hands on my golf bag to steady myself, and that's all it takes to get a reading out to 290 yards or more. I say 290, as that's the fartheest I've measured, could be longer but I've not had a need to date to measure from farther out. A laser is also good for getting your carry distance at the range with all your clubs. I just hit a ball, see where it lands, and laser to the spot the ball lands. You can also use the laser to get exact yardages to those sighs on the range. Most are not correct. Then you can hit an iron to the sighs and get your exact yardages pretty easily. Can't do that with a GPS. And with a laser, there is no annual fee to pay. And battery life is a couple years, not one or two rounds of golf as with a GPS. That's one more fee you have with a GPS. ONe last item. You can use a laser at ANY course. but with a GPS if the course is not mapped and in their database, you're stuck. Yes, you can map the course yourself, but that takes hours to do.

Wish I could keep the rangefinder as steady as you claim. And with any wind, that flagstick moving around is a tough target to hit, especially from over 175 yards. Oftentimes I have to measure to a bunker lip, or a tree off to the side to get a general idea of distance. If it's >200 yards, just hitting the green will suffice, so I don't need to know pin position. Once I'm inside 150, I might get a reading off the stick to help with club selection. Then I'd have to take several other readings and remember them all to help decide if I need to fly it in and stop it, or hit the front and let it run back. But if I had SkyCaddie, I could then see several factors at once - distance to clear bunkers, trouble behind the green, distance to front edge, etc. and make my shot selection quicker and with more confidence. As long as you have a line of sight and a target, the laser works fine and can give you the basic info you need. But try finding the distance when you have to hit over a stand of trees, or the green is on the other side of a hill. Doglegs are pretty tough, as well. The laser rf is a great tool, but it has its limitations. As it is, I make the most of my rangefinder, happy to have at least that much info. It's also useful during hunting season! But if I had the fundage to buy a SkyCaddie, I'd already have one!

[deronsizemore]

I would also go with a laser rangefinder. The Bushnell PinSeeker 1500 is an awesome device. They've released a couple new, smaller models this year I believe that should also be good. I was in the same position you are in before I got mine. Couldn't decide on GPS or a laser finder, I'm glad that I went with the laser. It was a little more money up front, but I don't have to pay any annual fees, don't have to worry about downloading courses before I play, and don't have to worry about someone marking the yardages wrong on the courses that I download. Not to mention the exact yardage to the flag +/- a yard. I would rather have that than a front/middle/back yardage.

Originally Posted by GolfSavage

Wish I could keep the rangefinder as steady as you claim. And with any wind, that flagstick moving around is a tough target to hit, especially from over 175 yards.

Not sure what laser rangefinder you've used (or have) but if you get a Bushnell with the Pinseeker mode, you don't have to worry about holding it steady. The pinseeker mode will lock in on a flag without even having the crosshairs on the flag. I can set the cross hairs off to the right (or anywhere) and it will still pick it up. The farthest distance I've been able to measure with mine to a flag is 540 yards (par 5 tee to green).

[GolfSavage]

Originally Posted by deronsizemore

I would also go with a laser rangefinder. The Bushnell PinSeeker 1500 is an awesome device. They've released a couple new, smaller models this year I believe that should also be good. I was in the same position you are in before I got mine. Couldn't decide on GPS or a laser finder, I'm glad that I went with the laser. It was a little more money up front, but I don't have to pay any annual fees, don't have to worry about downloading courses before I play, and don't have to worry about someone marking the yardages wrong on the courses that I download. Not to mention the exact yardage to the flag +/- a yard. I would rather have that than a front/middle/back yardage.



Not sure what laser rangefinder you've used (or have) but if you get a Bushnell with the Pinseeker mode, you don't have to worry about holding it steady. The pinseeker mode will lock in on a flag without even having the crosshairs on the flag. I can set the cross hairs off to the right (or anywhere) and it will still pick it up. The farthest distance I've been able to measure with mine to a flag is 540 yards (par 5 tee to green).

I've got a Nikon. Does the course have to put the little reflectors on the pins for the Bushnell to pick it up?

[titaniummd]

I like my rangefinder. It is helpful for the driving range to determine distances, if unmarked which mine are (2 courses). It is useful on the course, obviously. When I see a group in front, I zap them to see if they are 'hittable' within the range of my club. It works out to 200 yards for flags. It doubles as a 'telescope' and the battery lasts a long time.

If I got a GPS it would be the SG3 for the option to use rechargeable batteries. The Garmin GPS is another top consideration.

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by GolfSavage

Does the course have to put the little reflectors on the pins for the Bushnell to pick it up?

Nope, not at all. Just the flagstick. I use it too to pick up the yardage markers in the fairway (when they are poles).

[tg@osgp]

guess I'll put my $.02 worth in......I have a Nikon 500G rangefinder, (for about 2 yrs), and think it's great. Several of my buddies have the SkyCaddie and when I'm with them more times than not we use my rangefinder.....it's faster, and accurate to the pin, not just front, center, back (although with my game it doesn't much matter). I can also use it on the range when they move the 'teeing areas' around. Also, it's a one time investement not yearly fees, etc., and it works on EVERY course. As far as the reflectors, I've played on a couple of course with those, and my rangefinder is good for over 250yds, without the reflectors its accurate to about 200yds.....I think the 500G is about $225.00(us) now via the internet (AMAZON).

[JPsuff]

.




Faster?


I have never seen a rangefinder that is "faster" than a SkyCaddie. I'm not saying that such a thing doesn't exist, just that I've never seen one.

Like I've said before, I keep my SkyCaddie clipped to my carry bag. When I put the bag down, I tilt the SkyCaddie up towards me so I can see the screen, and the "Center" yardage is there in big bold characters along with the "Front" and "Back" yardage. I even say them aloud to myself such as, "'seventy-six middle, fifty eight front, ninety four back" or whatever the display is showing me.


I can't think of anything faster than that.

So now I know that my minimum carry is 158 and with the "center" dimension known, I know I have exactly 18 yards between the front of the green and the middle, and the thinking goes on from there.
Hitting at a pin isn't always the way to go. Sometimes, if you know the greens, it might be better to be below the hole or beyond it and knowing what all my options are allows me to make a more informed decision than just, "It's seventy-nine to the pin". I know that SkyCaddie can't give me the yardage to the pin itself, but as I look at a green, I can see where the pin is most of the time and based on the other measurements, I have a pretty good idea of where it is and what I need to do.

That said, I find that knowing the distance to the front of the green as well as the distances to clear hazards or layup distances (which do involve pushing a couple of buttons to get) are more valuable than knowing the exact location of a given pin.

As far as accuracy goes, I have never found my SkyCaddie to be anything other than accurate. In fact, I have taken it along with me even while playing resort courses which are always "carts only" and those carts have rather elaborate GPS systems and time after time I find that the SkyCaddie numbers match the cart's GPS numbers identically.

Look, this is one of those "Tastes Great/Less Filling" arguments that are very common when one group supports one technology and another group supports a challenging technology and I understand the loyalties and justifications that go with that.
But I do believe that a GPS system versus a rangefinder is a bit of an "apples and oranges" argument. The fact that a rangefinder requires a clear line of sight and a "target" already puts it behind GPS which requires neither.

Suppose, for example, you're faced with a shot over a rise in the fairway and somewhere beyond that rise the fairway runs out and beyond THAT is a lake. How does a rangefinder help in that situation? But with a GPS, I know how far the lake is and where the fairway runs out and it even suggests a "layup distance".

Not only that, but with SkyCaddie's "Intelligreen" feature, the display shows the layout of the green from where I'm standing, not just the way it's shown on a scorecard. So if the green is long and thin as I see it from the fairway, it will be shorter and wider from my current point of view if I've hit a shot into an adjacent fairway, for example. The display will show me the "adjusted" dimensions (front, middle, back) so I can make a much more educated club choice than simply knowing where the "pin" is. I suppose this argument will go on forever, or at least until SkyCaddie can download daily pinsheets like the resort course GPS systems do, but as far as I'm concerned, I can't think of a quicker and easier way of knowing what I need to know on a golf course than using a SkyCaddie.


-JP

[OnePutt]

GolfSavage; I can't hold my laser steady enough to get a reading off a flag much past 125 yards. But when I rest my hands and the laser on my bag, or a golf cart if my playing partner is ridiing, then I can get reading out well past 250 yards. Try resting your hands on a bag or cart, and let me know if this solves your problems. It should. If not, your laser isn't powerful enough to get a reading at that distance. Remember, maximum range of a laser will vary. Some go out to over 550 yards, some will not give a reading past 200 yards. You need to check the spec on some lasers and get the one that meets your needs, and fits your price range. Ons made and sold for hunting tend to be less expensive than those sold for golf.

[Leaguegolf]

My range finder tells me exatly how far it is to any obstacle I can see on a golf course. Does a GPS tell me how far it is to that overhanging limb or to the far side of that creek that runs across the the fairway when I'm hitting from the wrong fairway? I ask because I'm not familiar with Skycaddie and I really don't know. What i doknow is that it only takes me a second or two to acquire any target that may be an obstacle on my next shot. That's plenty fast enough for me.

[GolfSavage]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

GolfSavage; I can't hold my laser steady enough to get a reading off a flag much past 125 yards. But when I rest my hands and the laser on my bag, or a golf cart if my playing partner is ridiing, then I can get reading out well past 250 yards. Try resting your hands on a bag or cart, and let me know if this solves your problems. It should. If not, your laser isn't powerful enough to get a reading at that distance. Remember, maximum range of a laser will vary. Some go out to over 550 yards, some will not give a reading past 200 yards. You need to check the spec on some lasers and get the one that meets your needs, and fits your price range. Ons made and sold for hunting tend to be less expensive than those sold for golf.

Nikon ProStaff Laser 440, range well over 400 yards, which is enough to encompass most of my shots!

Even if I keep my hands rock steady on top of the cart or bag, I can't control that moving flagstick 200 yards away! Especially if the green is elevated and I can't see the first foot or so of the pin. Also found in bright sunlight, which we tend to get a bit of here in Florida, it's harder to read off the stick.

I haven't used it in my last dozen or so rounds, mainly because they've been played on courses I know, and the only time I need a reading is if I hit a wayward shot and am where I can't see the green. And there are a couple of courses that SkyCaddie hasn't surveyed yet, so a rangefinder is the best bet on those. I did find it easy to get readings off the group ahead while playing on crowded courses. And when playing a new or unfamiliar course, getting a reading off bunkers, mounds and trees can always suffice.

I do like using my "range"finder at the range to know what the marked distances really are.

One thing I found I disliked, whether it's SkyCaddie or rangefinder, is carrying the device. I usually wear shorts which don't require a belt, so I don't wear one. So I can't use the little case to keep the device on my hip. If we're on a course using carts (which is 95% of the time), I leave it in the cart. Many times I walk over to my ball and leave the cart with the other guy. Of course, then if I need the rangefinder I either have to wait for him to come over with the cart, or go ahead and just guess the distance. Since I hate slow play and wasting time, I just usually go ahead and play the shot.

[tg@osgp]

I understand and do agree with the "taste great/less filling" comparison....to each his own.

As to the basis for my comment...my partner and I carry both devices in the "glove box" area of the cart. When we pull up to the ball, I can sit in the cart (side by side), and give the yardage much quicker then he can. I don't know why....his unit is probably 2 years old....maybe it take a while to acquire the signal....don't know. The other problem he has is that when he downloaded our home course, it was not mapped correctly, (bunkers in the wrong place on two holes). I guess that could be corrected, again I don't know.

I would guess that overall, my preference for the rangefinder was based on the fact that it is pretty much a one time investment, (other than batteries), and actually we seldom use either device on our home course since we pretty much know the yardages....but I can tell you for sure that if we travel, and he hasn't paid to download the course, then obviously I think the rangefinder is a better option.

All said and done....everyone is entitled to their opinion, everyone is different, and that's what makes this world a nice place.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by GolfSavage

One thing I found I disliked, whether it's SkyCaddie or rangefinder, is carrying the device. I usually wear shorts which don't require a belt, so I don't wear one. So I can't use the little case to keep the device on my hip. If we're on a course using carts (which is 95% of the time), I leave it in the cart. Many times I walk over to my ball and leave the cart with the other guy. Of course, then if I need the rangefinder I either have to wait for him to come over with the cart, or go ahead and just guess the distance. Since I hate slow play and wasting time, I just usually go ahead and play the shot.

I have one of these that I've attached to my rangefind and my golf bag. Works great!

[GolfSavage]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

I have one of these that I've attached to my rangefind and my golf bag. Works great!

Well, since my golf bag is also on the cart, that won't help much! Thanks anyway!

[OnePutt]

GofSavage; You need to be aware that the number on your Nikon tells you how far you can get a reading off of a reflective object, not off a flag. If you look on the websites, you will find the max distance each model is good for to different things. One is too a tree, a flag, a deer or a reflective object. Each will be different. I have a Bushnell Yardage Pro 500. and I can tell you for a fact, it's not going to pick up a flag much past 200 yards. The most I've gotten is 205 one time. It works okay to 190 yards most of the time, but not often past that. With your Nikon 440, that 440 most likely means 440 yards to a large reflective object, like a house or car, not a small golf flag. The best thing to do is check their site and see what they show for your laser to a flag. This could explain why you're having problems past 200 yards to a flag, it's just not powerful enough.

[tour_insider]

Originally Posted by Texas Wedge

SG2,3,4,5 all have the same yearly fees. You can pay nothing and map the courses yourself (up to 5 I think).
Or you can pay $30 to have access to any course in your state.
Or you can pay $50 to have access to any course in your country.
Or you can pay $60 to have access to any course in the world.
And by access, I mean you can download to the SkyCaddie any course they already have mapped in their database. I hope that helps!

Is that a one-time fee, or yearly?

[OnePutt]

Those are annual fees, you pay every year if you want to download any data.

[GolfSavage]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

GofSavage; You need to be aware that the number on your Nikon tells you how far you can get a reading off of a reflective object, not off a flag. If you look on the websites, you will find the max distance each model is good for to different things. One is too a tree, a flag, a deer or a reflective object. Each will be different. I have a Bushnell Yardage Pro 500. and I can tell you for a fact, it's not going to pick up a flag much past 200 yards. The most I've gotten is 205 one time. It works okay to 190 yards most of the time, but not often past that. With your Nikon 440, that 440 most likely means 440 yards to a large reflective object, like a house or car, not a small golf flag. The best thing to do is check their site and see what they show for your laser to a flag. This could explain why you're having problems past 200 yards to a flag, it's just not powerful enough.

Thanks for the info, but I'm no newb when it comes to rangefinders. I was calibrating, maintaining and using laser rangefinders in the USAF long before they became a consumer product. Of course, those were usually either mounted on a tripod, and/or gyroscopically stabilized! But the basic tenants of laser reflection and aquisition remain the same.

My problems are not with the Nikon's capabilities, as I've used it to zero in and measure the distance to a small stake (about 1" wide) with a streamer 250 yards from a deer stand. The Nikon will give me a sufficient reading off SOMETHING when I'm over 200 yards from the green, but rarely is it the flag or pin. More than likely the Bushnell, with it's Pinseeker optics, is better able to pick up the 1/2" diameter pin than the Nikon. There is a "scan" function where you can move it about and it is supposed to read the nearest reflective object. If I can see the bottom foot or so of the pin and scan across it, I can usually get a reading, as that part doesn't tend to move as much as the top. Or if it's calm or the wind is steady enough to keep the flag itself in a proper position, I can get a hit on it. But conditons aren't always perfect.

I'm sure if I used it more I'd learn a few more tricks to get better readings, but as I said before I need a better way to carry the unit so I have it when I need it, without it interfering with my swing.

[OnePutt]

Just so you know, my Bushnell 500 doesn't have Pinseeker capability, it's a model designed for hunting, not golf. Could be the wind just blows harder by you.

I just went to the nikon site and the max range for your 440 is listed as 440 yards. My Pro 500 is listed as more than 500 yards. So my bet would be your laser isn't much good past 200 yards to a flag. I say this because I've only gotten one reading past 200 yards with my Pro 500, a reading of 205 yards. I could be wrong here, but if my Pro 500 will not get a reading past 200, I don't see how your 440 would pick up a flag that far. Not trying to argue, just wanted to let you know what I get with mine.

[TwillDog]

Originally Posted by JimSomebody

TD, Here are two past threads of possible interest to you about SkyCaddie

I want a SkyCaddie, there I said it!

The New SkyCaddie SG5

Thanks, Jim. I actually looked those up and read them; just wanted any newer information, and specifically wanted to compare and contrast. Appreciate the help!

[TwillDog]

Thanks to all who've replied with opinions on the topic. Compelling arguments on both sides. On one hand, I like the one time pay option of the Rangefinders, and the reading to the flag itself (I'm not that good, but it's a nice thought!), and the ability to be able to get readings to specific marks easily. On the other hand, GPS is pretty solid too; readings to many spots (I can figure a tree to be x yards if I know that bunker is y yards...), green front, back, and center are enough for me, and in some senses better than just knowing the flag - with maps, you know the depth of the green. Still a tossup though. The main factor holding me back on the GPS is paying $50 bucks a year (I'd do national because I play all along the Gulf Coast) for 10 courses. Drawback to Rangefinder is it's more difficult to handle and get yardages, and it can't give a yardage to things you can't see...
We'll see - I need to order this week though.

[JPsuff]

.


Many of the responses here and on other threads regarding GPS seem to point out the yearly fee as being a concern if not an outright deal-breaker.
Now, I'm not going to presume that I know anything about anyone's personal finances or fiscal solvency, but with what we as golfers pay yearly in terms of green fees, range balls, equipment, food and transportation - not to mention, lessons, magazine subscriptions and other ancillary costs - which easily total in the thousands of dollars, I honestly can't see how a once-per-year cost of fifty dollars for a "National" SkyCaddie membership should be that much of a chin-scratcher.


I mean no offense, but it seems like a "nickel-and-dime" argument to me.


Just an observation.



-JP

[OnePutt]

JP. You make a good point, but I don't think it's a deal breaker, as much as why pay a fee every year when you don't have to do it with a laser? Plus you can get a laser for as little as $150. Depending on which SkyCaddy you get, the cost can be $450, and you still have to add in the annual fee, plus battery life is very short with a GPS. My laser takes one 9V battery, and I'm still on the first battery after 4 years use. Can you say the same for a GPS. My understandng is they get one or two rounds per battery. That adds up rather fast if you play a lot of golf.

TwillDog; I don't know where you get this idea. Drawback to Rangefinder is it's more difficult to handle and get yardages, and it can't give a yardage to things you can't see...
I use a laser all the time, and it's not hard to handle and get yardages. It's really quite simple to use, and fast. As for not getting a reading to something I can't see, well, that's true, but if I can't see it, most likely it wouldn't help me if I did know the exact yardage to it. I'd have no way to aim my shot, so what difference would it make if I knew the yardage without the direction ?

[JPsuff]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

JP. You make a good point, but I don't think it's a deal breaker, as much as why pay a fee every year when you don't have to do it with a laser? Plus you can get a laser for as little as $150. Depending on which SkyCaddy you get, the cost can be $450, and you still have to add in the annual fee, plus battery life is very short with a GPS. My laser takes one 9V battery, and I'm still on the first battery after 4 years use. Can you say the same for a GPS. My understandng is they get one or two rounds per battery. That adds up rather fast if you play a lot of golf.

TwillDog; I don't know where you get this idea. Drawback to Rangefinder is it's more difficult to handle and get yardages, and it can't give a yardage to things you can't see...
I use a laser all the time, and it's not hard to handle and get yardages. It's really quite simple to use, and fast. As for not getting a reading to something I can't see, well, that's true, but if I can't see it, most likely it wouldn't help me if I did know the exact yardage to it. I'd have no way to aim my shot, so what difference would it make if I knew the yardage without the direction ?

Like I said, far me it from me to presume to know what one considers expensive or unnecessary.


But on the issue of batteries, my SG-2 has a rechargeable battery. And before anyone mentions that my electric bill pays for charging it, I have a portable charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter in my car, so since I'm already spending gas money to drive to the course, I get a "free" charge along with it.


-JP

[OnePutt]

Okay, so you don't have to pay for electricity to charge you battery. But did the GPS come with both charges, or did you have to buy an extra charger for the car? And how many 18 hole rounds do you get on a charge. Just wondering what would happen if you can't get 2 full rounds on a charge and decide to play 36 holes one day? I"m not trying to be stupid, I honestly don't know how long a GPS will last on one charges.

HOw much is too much to pay for knowledge out on the course? That's up for debate all day. You feel $50 a year is a bargain. That's fine. I think $50 a month for cable TV is a big rip off. I don't need 125 channels of junk, I only want at most 10 channels. I think paying $600 a year to sit in front of the idiot box is stupid, and a waste of money. Yes, I can afford it, but I can't "Justify" it, Not to myself, which is what matters. I can afford to pay $45 for a box of ProV1's, but I don't see the need when I can get HX tour balls for $20 a box on sale. I could go on and on about what things cost, and what I don't think are worth the price, but what's the point?

[JPsuff]

.



Well, ALL of golf is superfluous. No one NEEDS to play golf at all so ANYTHING one spends on this game is excessive. It's like pickup trucks, I own a pickup truck because I use it for my business but for every "work truck" I see on the road, I see at least five that are simply ego machines that will never carry anything heavier than some curtain rods from Home Depot. Do these folks really NEED that truck?

I play Pro V's because I like them. They're the nearest thing to balata's on the market and I don't care that they cost $44 a dozen. I would not be happy with NXT's.
Or take hunting. Does anyone really NEED to hunt elk? It's a thing that some people enjoy and I find it all rather pointless myself. But if someone feels that freezing their buns off chasing an animal through the woods is their idea of a good time, then who am I to argue with them?

Everybody does something that to others might seem silly or unneccesarily expensive but does that mean they shouldn't do it? I like GPS and I don't think that $50 per year is a big price to pay for the convenience.


It takes all kinds of people to make a world.



-JP

[TwillDog]

Annual fee is definitely NOT a dealbreaker. I just wanted to know if there was one. I will say though if the fee was half the cost of the unit, THAT would be a deal breaker... I realize I spend quite a few dollars annually on golf, but at that point the laser would overrate the GPS for value.

OnePutt, I hear what you are saying, but I have to agree with JPsuff on this one. Golf, like your cable, isn't a necessity - it's pleasure spending. While I respect that you may not care to spend excessively on your pleasure, others may do so. I splurge every now and again and play courses out of my normal budget. I buy clubs and balls that I'm not necessarily at a level to use effectively (though I will say, playing golf with a ProV1 is a necessity - I play cheaper balls on my hack around rounds, but I won't ever again play a round with buddies, competetive or not, without ProV1's - there IS a tremendous difference in performance from the Dunlop's I normally play at $25/two dozen...). I have no problem paying $50 a year for the service.
And what I mean by things you can't see is there are many times when you play over a blind hill, or try to sling a hook around a dogleg. When you can't see around those areas, you need to know what's there. Sure the scorecard will show you water, and if your course has a book it will give you approximations to the water, but if you can't see it, you can't use the laser rangefinder to tell you how far it is. GPS will tell you that, or at least give you a better approximation of it. I know neither one will do everything...
Either way, it's decision time. Order goes in probably tomorrow...

[OnePutt]

I agree that there are good things about both GPS and lasers. I just don't think it's as one sided as some would tell us. Having used a laser for over 3 years. I'm quite happy with my one time expensive of $150. If I had gotten a GPS 3 years ago, I would have paid at least $350, that's the original cost of a GS2. PLus the annual fee of $50 per year for an added $150. While it may not be a deal breaker for some. I happen to think paying $150 for a laser for life, it a lot different than paying $500 for 3 years of use with a SG2, and than another $50 every year there after. If you don't mind spending more for the GPS and having to pay a fee each year, That's fine. I just wanted to make you aware that a laser is an option, and give you an idea of what a laser can do for you, so you could make up your mind with a lot more infromation to work with. I hope you enjoy what ever you get.

[JPsuff]

.




Forty years from now, who's gonna care?




When I'm on my deathbed, my biggest concern probably won't be that I spent five-hundred dollars over a ten-year period back when I was in my fifties so that I could use a SkyCaddie as opposed to a rangefinder.




-JP

[TwillDog]

OK, new question... Now I'm seeing negative reviews of the SG4 and more favorable of the SG2.5 and the SG5. I'm definitely not headed for the $450 of the SG5, but I like the idea of saving $100 and getting the SG2.5. All the same features, and with the external antenna which seems to be a selling point. The only negative is a smaller screen. I can deal with that. Thoughts? I was going to purchase this past weekend, but I think I may end up glad I waited now that the 2.5 seems to be the better choice...