Anybody have any thoughts/opinions on the GPS systems out?

[Will]

Im considering getting either one of the SkyCaddies or the GolfLogix GPS handhelds. I dont really need one, but Id like them for my own personal amusement more than anything else. Anybody have an opinion or experience with either and if so, which would you suggest?

[deronsizemore]

Have you thought about a laser rangefinder?

[GolfSavage]

Will, we had a pretty good discussion in this thread:

GPS? What to do?

If you can sort through the few posts that seemed to ignore that there are options and each person has to decide what's best for them, you'll find some good info. A lot of it is first hand knowledge and comparisons, as well as info on alternatives you may not have considered.

[EddieC]

Will, I bought a GPS Golf Guru and have used it now for about a month. Am happy for the most part and they've just come out with some editing features that allow you to add targets (bunkers, trees) whatever, while you're playing a round so that it'll show up the next time you play. The unit will give you distance to hole, bunkers and most hazards depending on how well the "mapper" mapped the course. If the course you want to play isn't on there site, send them a request and it takes about 7 days. There are many out there, GPSgolf guru is one and it works pretty well. It will also keep stats as you plod along with a statistics feature. You can enter GIR/FH/Your score and it'll keep it all in one handy place. The unit will also fit in your back pocket and is smaller than most peoples wallets. Lasers are also nice for distance to trees and such, just really depends on what you want to do. I have both and like the GPS a bit better, it's quicker and does the stats/score thing which I like. Sorry to ramble, just one guys opinion on what I've used, hope it helps.

[Nineteen & Life]

Thoughts? Opinions?

The devices are slowing down the game. Our course had them stock -- and got rid of them mainly due to slow play.

It got and gets kinda old seeing the same old:

Golfers laser-sighting punch shots from the woods for three straight holes; causing a backlog --and then telling the ranger that "I'm a 3-handicap and just paid $100 to play this course -- get off my case! I'm using a rangefinder!"

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by Nineteen & Life

Thoughts? Opinions?

The devices are slowing down the game. Our course had them stock -- and got rid of them mainly due to slow play.

It got and gets kinda old seeing the same old:

Golfers laser-sighting punch shots from the woods for three straight holes; causing a backlog --and then telling the ranger that "I'm a 3-handicap and just paid $100 to play this course -- get off my case! I'm using a rangefinder!"

I disagree. For the few of us that use them and have some common sense about us, they greatly speed up the game. For the idiots that try to laser off everything (even from the woods) it still speeds up a little. If the idiots weren't using the laser, they'd still be wondering around looking for a yardage marker and then trying to walk off the yardage that way, which I have to assume would take longer.

I get what you're sayin' though. The sad fact is that there are more people with zero common sense playing golf than ever before. It's the guys that take seven practice swings over each shot, the guys that will sit in the cart and wait for their buddy to hit rather than grabbing a club and getting ready to hit while the others in the group are hitting, the guys that want to look at a putt from every possible angle before pulling the trigger, the guys that hit a drive 250 yards on a par 5 and still have 280 to the green and somehow think that they need to wait for the green to clear before they can hit their 3 wood although their driver didn't even come close to going the same distance that they need to reach the green. I could go on and on forever with these, but you get the point and I'm sure you already know anyway.

I have to believe that generally, people aren't that dumb, but for whatever reason they get on the golf course and it's like they lose all control of the common sense part of their brain.

[Nineteen & Life]

Thank you for your response, DS.

It's a mathematical fact that the Monday following every major we are backed up...due to reasons you stated.

We double-tee; and set our turn times @ 2:08.

Edit:

People ain't that dumb. They just rude.

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by Nineteen & Life

It's a mathematical fact that the Monday following every major we are backed up

Well of course... everyone watches golf on the weekend and gets the golfing bug so they go out Monday and think they are professionals.

[JPsuff]

Originally Posted by deronsizemore

I disagree. For the few of us that use them and have some common sense about us, they greatly speed up the game. For the idiots that try to laser off everything (even from the woods) it still speeds up a little. If the idiots weren't using the laser, they'd still be wondering around looking for a yardage marker and then trying to walk off the yardage that way, which I have to assume would take longer.

I get what you're sayin' though. The sad fact is that there are more people with zero common sense playing golf than ever before. It's the guys that take seven practice swings over each shot, the guys that will sit in the cart and wait for their buddy to hit rather than grabbing a club and getting ready to hit while the others in the group are hitting, the guys that want to look at a putt from every possible angle before pulling the trigger, the guys that hit a drive 250 yards on a par 5 and still have 280 to the green and somehow think that they need to wait for the green to clear before they can hit their 3 wood although their driver didn't even come close to going the same distance that they need to reach the green. I could go on and on forever with these, but you get the point and I'm sure you already know anyway.

I have to believe that generally, people aren't that dumb, but for whatever reason they get on the golf course and it's like they lose all control of the common sense part of their brain.

I was saying the same things about people versus par fives thirty years ago.
People haven't changed, there's just more of them.

But as far as speed is concerned, I believe that a GPS is slightly faster in terms of use than a laser rangefinder because there's no sighting involved. If I'm in the trees and I need to know how far I am from, say, the front edge of the green, it's right there on the screen. No sighting or sight lines necessary. With a GPS, I don't even have to actually be able to see the green at all.

As far as actual distance to the pin versus middle of the green, yes, laser rangefinders are more accurate in that regard. But considering that even the pro's regard the actual pin location as low on their list of priorities (as opposed to front edge, hazard, side and back edge dimensions), I can't see where the average golfer really needs that kind of accuracy.

Like I've written before, ideally some kind of hybrid unit would be best; one that has all of the "stock" dimensions currently available on most GPS systems along with an optical rangefinder digitally connected to the GPS so that IT'S readings can be incorporated into the final readout along with the GPS data. But since that will likely take years to develop, the current GPS systems are, in my opinion, more than adequate for everyday use.

Speed of play has little to do with such toys though. I've played with people who use optical rangefinders so often that they can reach for the device, sight a target and have the unit back on their belt in seconds. A person who needs to know the yardage to every conceivable target or obstruction is most likely that way about everything in their life and their obsessive / compulsive behavior would be there even if the gadget wasn't and they'd likely be slowing things down anyway.

Both GPS and optical rangefinders have their good points and bad points, but I think that from an overall ease-of-use, "blind shot" and practical measurement point of view, I'd lean towards GPS.


-JP

[PA PLAYA]

Slow golfers will be slow golfers, regardless. I've spent plenty of time as a ranger/player assistant to qualify that opinion. So those who blame GPS (or whatever) for slow play, that's just a convenient excuse to pardon the facility for not enforcing pace policy. Most facilities now days don't want to confront the problem, because it means confronting patrons and potentially irking them. Then they make the traditional excuse to those playing behind them that it's just really busy, things will eventually pick up in a few holes. Yeah, right.... Once a facility gets that reputation, it never leaves.

But that's another story.....

As far as the GPS, I have the sg3. I've enjoyed it. I have heard some negative feedback from a lot of people over the past few months about Skygolf customer service, however. I've been fortunate to not need their assistance, but with that many people complaining (about a dozen instances) there's got to be some truth to it.

That said, if I had it to do over I would've probably gone with the sg2.5 model. Cheaper, smaller, basically the same features as my unit. But again, the customer service aspect is something you're gonna need to factor in.

Don't know anything about GolfLogic, so I can't give you any feedback one way or the other.

[JimSomebody]

I'm happy with my SkyCaddie (SG2), which I bought late last season. Now I can just walk to my ball and check it for my yardage, without having to hunt for yardage plates and step off the distance.

When my ball is near a yardage plate, I've noted that the SkyCaddie disagrees by as much as 4 yards. And once I played with a guy who also had a SkyCaddie, and when we stood at the same spot, the two SkyCaddies disagreed by as much as 4 yards. But +4 yards is no big deal for my game.

[Nineteen & Life]

Originally Posted by deronsizemore

Well of course... everyone watches golf on the weekend and gets the golfing bug so they go out Monday and think they are professionals.

I LIVE in the golf capital of the world and work for a golf school.

Well, of course.

Everyday...is like Monday. Every day is silent and gray.

[J.D.]

I can see having a gps is beneficial for a course Ive not played before.

But the few courses we have around Shreveport, Ive played so many times, I have a good idea what all the yardages are, and a good feel for what club I need for the second shot.

JD

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by Nineteen & Life

I LIVE in the golf capital of the world and work for a golf school.

Well, of course.

Everyday...is like Monday. Every day is silent and gray.

So you're in Myrtle Beach? Or are you in another "golf capital of the world?" Myrtle is the only place I've known to go by that title.

What golf school? I'll be down there in the first of July

[bjdrivers]

Hey Will, where do you live in Arkansas?

[Will]

Im from Jonesboro, you?

[OnePutt]

Check out Golf Guru and compare prices and features to the other GPS systems on the market. then decide which company and unit fits your needs. I"m happy so far with the Guru.

[TwillDog]

I started the other thread commented on here about the GPS. I ended up getting the SkyCaddie 2.5. I'm not going to champion any one GPS over another - they all do the same job. It's just a matter of what you want it to do, what you want it to look like, and what you want to pay. I personally think GPS is a bit better than lasering because it takes no time to use. Yes, it will take a minute to catch up to your location, but it will still be quicker than lasering the pin AND that bunker/pond in front of the green. And yes the yardage may vary a bit, like JimSomebody said, but unless you are really good and completely dialed in, 3-5 yards isn't the end of the world. I usually just aim middle/back anyway - most of us underclub and don't reach the green. For a front flag, I just look at the middle of the green yardage.
I clip it on my bag and as soon as I get to the ball, I have a yardage to work with. Quick and easy. Even if you know some of the distances on your course, it's useful for those spots where you are inbetween.

[GolfSavage]

Originally Posted by TwillDog

I started the other thread commented on here about the GPS. I ended up getting the SkyCaddie 2.5. I'm not going to champion any one GPS over another - they all do the same job. It's just a matter of what you want it to do, what you want it to look like, and what you want to pay. I personally think GPS is a bit better than lasering because it takes no time to use. Yes, it will take a minute to catch up to your location, but it will still be quicker than lasering the pin AND that bunker/pond in front of the green. And yes the yardage may vary a bit, like JimSomebody said, but unless you are really good and completely dialed in, 3-5 yards isn't the end of the world. I usually just aim middle/back anyway - most of us underclub and don't reach the green. For a front flag, I just look at the middle of the green yardage.
I clip it on my bag and as soon as I get to the ball, I have a yardage to work with. Quick and easy. Even if you know some of the distances on your course, it's useful for those spots where you are inbetween.

Good for you, TD! Glad you found a unit you like. Hope you get a lot of use out of it and it helps you enjoy the game even more.

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by TwillDog

I started the other thread commented on here about the GPS. I ended up getting the SkyCaddie 2.5. I'm not going to champion any one GPS over another - they all do the same job. It's just a matter of what you want it to do, what you want it to look like, and what you want to pay. I personally think GPS is a bit better than lasering because it takes no time to use. Yes, it will take a minute to catch up to your location, but it will still be quicker than lasering the pin AND that bunker/pond in front of the green. And yes the yardage may vary a bit, like JimSomebody said, but unless you are really good and completely dialed in, 3-5 yards isn't the end of the world. I usually just aim middle/back anyway - most of us underclub and don't reach the green. For a front flag, I just look at the middle of the green yardage.
I clip it on my bag and as soon as I get to the ball, I have a yardage to work with. Quick and easy. Even if you know some of the distances on your course, it's useful for those spots where you are inbetween.

Glad you got something you like. I'm sure you'll find that it comes in extremely handy!

Have you ever used a laser before like the Bushnell with Pinseeker? Litterally takes less than two seconds to get a reading on a flag, tree, bunker, hill, etc.

[OnePutt]

I'm not sure how a GPS can be faster than a laser if the GPS takes a minute to catch up. As Deron stated, you can get a reading with a laser in a couple of seconds once you know what you're doing. I"m not knocking the GPS systems, as I've got one, just stated that a laser is very fast and easy to use, just like a GPS system. Both systems are good, and both have a place in golf. Buy what you like and what fits your budget best.