Does no-one use a Sonocaddie?

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Pip

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Has anyone got one? They rarely seem to get a mention in the millions of "which GPS?" posts around the web, but on paper looks (to me) to be the better device. Admittedly slightly more than the SG2.5 up front, but no more fees, a good looking interface and holds all courses without up/downloading.

I only ask as I'm tempted to buy one but don't want to find out the hard way why they don't get much press.

Regards
 
Hi mate ,

in post a review section gjbike has reviewed this bit of kit. Don't know how to put the link in so this is what was said. Hope this helps.

Midnight...

Sonocaddie V300 GPS

This is my first review so go easy on me. The reason why I purchased the Sonocaddie V300 was price £245 from direct golf, compared to the skycaddie SG5 at around £270. This was in December 2008 and the fact that there was no annual subscription charge. The reason for the delay in doing the review was that my own golf club has been on winter tees and greens and only went on summer tees and greens this week.
(Did use it at Goswick links Scotland v England)
The other things that I like about the Sonocaddie V300 is that should the course be altered in anyway bunkers or water features, trees moved or added or complete holes redesigned you can update everything yourself while you are on the course at the touch of a button. If a course has not be mapped you can do it yourself
The Sonocaddie V300 is only 141grams in weight and the display is 50x40cm and is green in colour the GPS comes complete with Rechargeable battery, AC charger, USB cable, Carry pouch, Belt clip and the GPS is completely waterproof and no need for a cover. Battery life is about 15 hours depending on how you set the back light to stay on for 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds or always on. I set mine to 15 seconds no problems at all reading in normal daylight soon as you press any button the light comes on for the set time.
The memory in the GPS will hold 30 courses, 100 scorecards and track 100. After unpacking the GPS I installed the cd software on to my lap top and downloaded my home course via the internet.
The information on the screen is very comprehensive and is in colour it shows you the satellite signal, the hole that you are playing, the distance for each reference point bunkers, water hazards and distance from the front to back of the green. By pressing one button it will give you a close up of the green with the distance to the front, middle and back. As this is done in real time the yardage reading (you can set in metric if you want) numerical display decreases while walking down the fairway to the green. You can press another button on the right hand side to measures the distance you have hit your golf shot, you can go between screens and this does not interrupt anything that you are doing. The other thing that is great about the Sonocaddie V300 is that it keeps a record of your score; you just input shots taken, fairways hit, putts taken, and by pressing another button on the left hand side you can get a scorecard of your round. Press another button and you get analysis of your round all in percentages fairways hit, green in regulation, putts per hole, sand savers, double Eagles (Albatross) Eagles, Birdies, Pars, Bogies, Double bogies, and others.
The other thing that it does is that it tracks you round golf course when you view any hole you can see were you have been by leaving a blue line on the hole.
Overall really well please with the Sonocaddie V300 having been on rest days all this week and used it four times I would say that it has saved me 4 to 5 shots
Per round and it gets better, the golf club committee have allowed the use of GPS in all competitions.

As for mapping the golf course this is an email from Sonocaddie
-Dear Graham,

We thank you for your interest in Sonocaddie.

Many times we are able to extrapolate from available third party commercial Satellite photo and GIS maps (some county provide very detailed and up to date map for irrigation and surveying purpose). Sometimes, the GPS coordinate could be entered by players that enter those dates by standing right on top of the target as indicated by their sign up names. Mapping on site is very good marking tool and helps when county maps are not up to date. As mentioned, we could make the determination (if we could map the course in detail) if you send in the request.

Best regards,

Febby Chang
Service Department
Sonostar Inc
 
Thanks Midnight, I don't know how I missed that one. I'm looking at the newer Autoplay, but I think they're pretty much identical apart from the Autoplay holding 20,000 courses or so.

Amazon briefly sold them at £219 just before Xmas, so I'm checking daily for them to do it again!

Just noticed you're playing pretty near to where I live; how is Wickham? I haven't played there yet.
 
I've got one Pip, great bit of kit imho. No additional fees was a big factor in buying it, there was an offer on when I bought mine which allows me to download 30 courses free, which is plenty for me
 
No probs mate. I have just moved clubs and I am now playing at Cams. Wickham is still a nice course some nice open holes where you can let rip with the driver (I cant as it does not go straight.)

What about youself mate, where do you play ? How long for? H/C? What sort of times are you free for games.

There are quite a few on here from Hampshire mate , and also Homer is organising a forum day at his home track of Ascot I think the date is June 9th, if you fancy it.

Cheers

Midnight
 
I looked at it and thought it was a little bulky. My SC5 sits nicely in my pocket. I have to say there are some good features on the sonocaddie and its definitely worth a look but for convenience I preferred the SC.

Pip, the GM Meet is June 9th at Royal Ascot and is £50 (bacon butties and coffee, 18 holes, 2 course dinner and prizes). You're more than welcome andits a great way to meet some of the other forum members
 
Got one but haven't had the chance to use it yet but was the clear winner as far as I could see.

Of course, given the whopping advert in the guise of an article in this month's GM, it's no suprise that SkyCaddie continues to receive the positive press...
 
I now see Sky Caddie are bringing a similar no subs (?) unit out in the SGX?
Decisions, decisions!

I'll have a look at June 9th to see if I can play. It would be good to come along, I just need to double-check the work diary.
 
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