LinksTurf
Assistant Pro
Hi folks. I got a nice new Garmin S1 GPS watch for Xmas from my daughter. I downloaded the "latest" maps and was a little surprised on going to my home course (Carnoustie Buddon) to discover that the maps did not reflect the movement of a green by 67 yards in March 2013. The course has undergone further major changes including the introduction of 2 new holes at the start of this year and merging of others. This has also required renumbering of some as well. Garmin have still not remapped the course. Here is the latest of several emails to Garmin Golf.
"I contacted you via your web form requesting an update to the above named course on 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] JANUARY 2014. Your initial response suggested you would try and complete the update by April, but it has not even been included in the July update. I should be pleased if you could explain to me why you have not yet updated the course, and also tell me whether or not you are committed to having it included in your next update in October 2014? I have to say I am incredibly disappointed in Garmin. One of the holes on this course had its green moved 67 yards from your mapped position in March 2013 (17 months ago). Since the latest changes took effect earlier this year, your mapping is completely wrong on 12 of the 18 holes, rendering my Garmin device essentially useless, yet your company shows no urgency in providing a service to me or its other customers on this very, very busy course. Meantime, Skycaddie had this course remapped nearly 3 months ago, despite being told later than you were of the changes. I’m sure you can understand my disappointment that the whole of the golf season will have been completed with me being unable to take full advantage of my new Garmin watch."
Mostly Garmin Golf (based in the US) don't respond, but after persistent pressure from myself and their UK Customer Service team, eventually I got this.
"I cannot give an arbitrary time frame for when this course will be updated in our CourseView maps. We have a multiple reference process that we use to ensure accuracy and an updated product that we can be confident publishing. At this time we are unable to acquire all of the required data, and this lack of data is delaying the publication of an update for Carnoustie Buddon Golf Course.
I can certainly understand your frustration, but I also hope this explanation shows you our dedication and eagerness to get this course included as soon as possible. The next quarterly update is scheduled for October. Thank you for your persistence and your patience. I am sorry I cannot give a more conclusive response."
So basically, no clear explanation for the delay. All it requires is a guy to turn up with the right equipment and walk the course... or don't they do that? Where else are they getting this data they find so hard to collect? Also no commitment to have it sorted by October. I like my S1, but its only useful when I'm not on my home course. GPS devices are worthless with inaccurate and outdated maps. I contacted the guy who walks the courses in the UK for Skycaddie directly via Twitter in March, even though I don't have one. It was mapped 6 weeks later. Garmin only update in batches on a quarterly basis, whereas Skycaddie publish each individual new map as and when it becomes available, usually within a week of having been walked by the GPS guy. If my device breaks, you can be sure that my replacement won't be a Garmin!
"I contacted you via your web form requesting an update to the above named course on 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] JANUARY 2014. Your initial response suggested you would try and complete the update by April, but it has not even been included in the July update. I should be pleased if you could explain to me why you have not yet updated the course, and also tell me whether or not you are committed to having it included in your next update in October 2014? I have to say I am incredibly disappointed in Garmin. One of the holes on this course had its green moved 67 yards from your mapped position in March 2013 (17 months ago). Since the latest changes took effect earlier this year, your mapping is completely wrong on 12 of the 18 holes, rendering my Garmin device essentially useless, yet your company shows no urgency in providing a service to me or its other customers on this very, very busy course. Meantime, Skycaddie had this course remapped nearly 3 months ago, despite being told later than you were of the changes. I’m sure you can understand my disappointment that the whole of the golf season will have been completed with me being unable to take full advantage of my new Garmin watch."
Mostly Garmin Golf (based in the US) don't respond, but after persistent pressure from myself and their UK Customer Service team, eventually I got this.
"I cannot give an arbitrary time frame for when this course will be updated in our CourseView maps. We have a multiple reference process that we use to ensure accuracy and an updated product that we can be confident publishing. At this time we are unable to acquire all of the required data, and this lack of data is delaying the publication of an update for Carnoustie Buddon Golf Course.
I can certainly understand your frustration, but I also hope this explanation shows you our dedication and eagerness to get this course included as soon as possible. The next quarterly update is scheduled for October. Thank you for your persistence and your patience. I am sorry I cannot give a more conclusive response."
So basically, no clear explanation for the delay. All it requires is a guy to turn up with the right equipment and walk the course... or don't they do that? Where else are they getting this data they find so hard to collect? Also no commitment to have it sorted by October. I like my S1, but its only useful when I'm not on my home course. GPS devices are worthless with inaccurate and outdated maps. I contacted the guy who walks the courses in the UK for Skycaddie directly via Twitter in March, even though I don't have one. It was mapped 6 weeks later. Garmin only update in batches on a quarterly basis, whereas Skycaddie publish each individual new map as and when it becomes available, usually within a week of having been walked by the GPS guy. If my device breaks, you can be sure that my replacement won't be a Garmin!
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