Addicted to GPS..

[vkurup]

I use a Garmin G6 and it is an amazing piece of kit.

Yesterday, played a social game on a different course and forgot to take my GPS. To complicate things, some of the holes did not seem to have their 150y markers in place. My playing partners kindly gave me the yardage. However I realised that I just could not read my yardages - my guess was about 20-40 yds off the official one depending on contours. I am sure that before I got the G6, my readings were not off by that much.

Similarly, thnx to the Tomtom, thesedays no one seems to know how to get A to B without switching on the irritating woman.

 

[bigslice]

same here if i play a course that i dont have i really have to think. but gps makes it easy to enjoy the game better. it also helps to know ure yardages for ure clubs

 

[dotty001]

snap, i lost even on my own course !! and i only use front middle back !

although the other day on my own i started marking yards to different hazards , which seemed a little sad !

 

[DaveyG]

snap, i lost even on my own course !! and i only use front middle back !

although the other day on my own i started marking yards to different hazards , which seemed a little sad !

Pulled my tee shot waaay left today and was on another fairway with loads of trees to get over. knew exactly where to aim for the green but didn't have a clue at the distance. 2seconds check of the watch... out comes the right club... nice strike and a walk through the trees to see my ball in the centre of the green... Never would have expected GIR from there

 

[chrisg]

I'm looking at getting a gps next week for my birthady - I'm thinking probably a watch type but which brand?

Garmin S1 seem good value and no subscription fees, so is probably the favouite... but which brand performs best?

 

[duncan mackie]

.... but which brand performs best?

Garmin's engine is excellent, which is hardly surprising given their wide range of GPS devices in many fields. I wouldn't be surprised if it's not actually used in the Skycaddie units to be honest (the USB connector on my 2.5 is the same fitting as the Garmin unit in the car...

The differences are in the course mapping - but on a watch I wouldn't worry about that too much.

If I was getting a watch it would be a Garmin unit.

 

[CMAC]

just the opposite for me- charge went after 8 holes then had to rely on my eyes like the old days, was pretty accurate

 

[markgs]

love my g3 my batteries ran out on the 11th hole and i was lost did not even know my way to the club house

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I've had the s1 for a few months now and wouldn't do without it. But I do try and guess the distance before looking at my watch so I'm not 100% reliant

 

[el marko]

Admittedly ive never used one, but doesn't this type of equipment take quite a few elements out of the game? i have used my phone to check the yardage on the scorecards are correct but never in the middle of a hole. Personally i love trying to guess the distance and rarely over get it wrong distance wise, it feels far more satisfying than having a computer decide what club i need

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Admittedly ive never used one, but doesn't this type of equipment take quite a few elements out of the game? i have used my phone to check the yardage on the scorecards are correct but never in the middle of a hole. Personally i love trying to guess the distance and rarely over get it wrong distance wise, it feels far more satisfying than having a computer decide what club i need

Not for me no. The pros play practice rounds and mark distances/hazards etc on their shot savers.... they have more info at their fingertips than I'd ever have. But I can see why from the purists view that they wouldn't be used.

 

[upsidedown]

Admittedly ive never used one, but doesn't this type of equipment take quite a few elements out of the game? i have used my phone to check the yardage on the scorecards are correct but never in the middle of a hole. Personally i love trying to guess the distance and rarely over get it wrong distance wise, it feels far more satisfying than having a computer decide what club i need

The computer doesn't decide , you do based on the information it gives you and how far you can hit a particular club/shot. This has been going on for years but was way too expensive for most golfers as it was called a caddy

 

[vkurup]

I could not do with a watch... I dont wear one on the course, so would struggle to wear a GPS watch. One of my friends wears a Garmin G3. He loves it.

But given a choice, I would go for a Garmin G6 unit rather than the watch or the G5. The biggest advantange of the G6 over the G5 is that the G6 can be charged at home and does not need batteries. Also much smaller and effective touch screen. Another brilliant advantage of the G6 over a watch is that it also give distance to hazards & layup distance rather than just front-middle-back

 

[Davey S2]

I have a Garmin G3 and love it..

It threw a bobbly on Saturday and for some reason I couldn't load any maps. It's sorted now thanks to an on line update but its the first time I hadn't used it for a couple of months and I really missed it and that was on my home course. Playing on 2 courses I haven't played on for years this week and really glad it's working again.

I don't find the batteries too bad. I bought a big pack of Duracels in Costco for £8 which will last for ages.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I think my laser is just as much part of my routine as it is important in club selection.

 

[Jack_bfc]

I upgraded my 'device' last week and now having the bunker/hazard position and carry has helped a lot.

I am pretty good at estimating from the fairway markers, but having the extra info of bunker/hazard carry and front/middle and back really does help.


Some on here would have all 'devices' banned.....

 

[Davey S2]

I have a laser range finder as well but havent used it since I bought the Garmin.

Compared with the Garmin its a faff to use but I will still probably keep it as a back up.

 

[louise_a]

I really missed mine, when I left it at home the other week, I mostly rely on it for distances under 100 yards and really struggled judging my pitches.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Admittedly ive never used one, but doesn't this type of equipment take quite a few elements out of the game?

Well it takes the element of having to guess how far it it to the green or hazards, depending on how much info your gps has. Which in my book has made the game more enjoyable. Which I kind of thought was the main purpose of playing a sport.

And for a lot of people knowing how far it is is one thing, but actually hitting it that distance is another.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Admittedly ive never used one, but doesn't this type of equipment take quite a few elements out of the game? i have used my phone to check the yardage on the scorecards are correct but never in the middle of a hole. Personally i love trying to guess the distance and rarely over get it wrong distance wise, it feels far more satisfying than having a computer decide what club i need

Oh @el marko you Philistine - get with technology mate - you are onto a loser here with that line of thought