GPS - I'm Sold!

[Potor_36]

I bought a Sonocaddie last week from Pip on these very forums and finally managed to get it out on the course for a test this evening. As you can probably guess from the title, I'm very impressed with it, and the idea of GPS as a whole.

Firstly, I found it a big advantage to have instant access to distances to hazards when laying up. This was something I previously had to guess at (not the most helpful course planner ever at my place) with occasionally disastrous results.

But the biggest thing was knowing exact yardages to the back and front of each green, as there are a fair few that are 30+ yards long. Of course, this only helps if you know where the pin is positioned, but I always have a rough idea because the club have a red/yellow/white flag colour scheme to denote front/middle/back pin locations. A very nice consequence of this is that far from slowing me down as I had feared, using the GPS unit actually sped up my round as I could just read values off a screen instead of having to work out how far forward or behind the nearest distance marker I was, so I knew almost straight away what club to hit.

My opinion is probably influenced slightly by the fact that I scored 43 points and kept a double bogey off the card for the first time ever, but I really can't see what people have against them

 

[Leftie]

My opinion is probably influenced slightly by the fact that I scored 43 points and kept a double bogey off the card for the first time ever, but I really can't see what people have against them

The fact that you scored 43 points is a good starting point



Well played btw

 

[Region3]

A very nice consequence of this is that far from slowing me down as I had feared, using the GPS unit actually sped up my round as I could just read values off a screen instead of having to work out how far forward or behind the nearest distance marker I was, so I knew almost straight away what club to hit.

Who'd have thunk it.

When I started playing again I couldn't believe you could get a 'satnav' for the golf course but since I've had one I'm totally converted. Saves so much time, especially if maker posts are scarce.

I hope the good scoring continues

 

[jasondransfieldgolf]

I use another make and the thing that makes them so good is that they help you improve your course management by giving various yardages to ditches, bunkers etc. Definitely a must for ever keen golfer.

 

[Durango]

I think I'd get a few strange looks if I had one at my course. "Who the fack does he think he is..!"
Infact I don't think I've seen anyone use one on my course..

 

[The19thHole]

what is the screen resolution like?

Would I be better off buying an iphone course guide app say or a Golf GPS?

 

[BoadieBroadus]

I'm still in two minds about them. Played an unfamiliar course a couple o weeks back with differen playing partners, one with a iphone app, one with a laser. Every single tee shot was "How long does the laser say?" "What doesyour GPS make it?" Well the marker says this and it's about 8 yards away..." fo about 5 mins, then a big fade miles off line.
I think there is a standard at which it makes a difference, but these were 12 handicappers and it seemed more information than they needed.
I think they're probably very useful from 100 yards in where more glfers are capable of butting a decent straight strike on a ball. But arguing the yardage of a 180-ish yd par 3, seemed totally pointless.

 

[Potor_36]

what is the screen resolution like?

Would I be better off buying an iphone course guide app say or a Golf GPS?

The screen resolution on mine seems fairly good (Sonocaddie V300), its obviously not up to the standards of an iphone but its perfectly good enough for what it does. My only gripe would be that the screen could be a little bigger, but its not really an issue. As for phone app vs. dedicated unit, the phone app is MUCH cheaper (assuming you already have the phone ) and probably just as useful, but as I understand it you aren't allowed to use the phone GPS in competitions because the phone is capable of other stuff which would break the rules somehow.