Skycaddie membership

[shivas irons]

Ive got a chance to but a Skycaddie SG5 an older model and wonder will it still function correctly without the annual membership? Ive got one of those free gps apps on my phone so cant see the point in paying membership for the same function .

 

[BTatHome]

Subscription quoted for that model.

Some models like the aire do not require subs (but they only get front/middle/back) and some of the watches are like that too.

 

[turkish]

I don't understand how in this day and age GPS companies business model survives when competitors don't charge for the service.

What added benefits are there in the subscription?

 

[DCB]

Without a live sub it's not much use. Got an old model lying in a drawer myself for that very reason.

You could map your own course if you wanted, but ....

 

[Coffey]

I don't understand how in this day and age GPS companies business model survives when competitors don't charge for the service.

What added benefits are there in the subscription?

I believe that the courses on SkyCaddie have been walked and manually calculated for the yardages whereas companies like TomTom just use satellite and GPS to map the courses. In saying that, I have a TomTom and my PP has a SkyCaddie and they are always nearly identical (maybe 2 yards out max, and thats not to say that the SkyCaddie is the correct one!)

 

[turkish]

I believe that the courses on SkyCaddie have been walked and manually calculated for the yardages whereas companies like TomTom just use satellite and GPS to map the courses. In saying that, I have a TomTom and my PP has a SkyCaddie and they are always nearly identical (maybe 2 yards out max, and thats not to say that the SkyCaddie is the correct one!)

Well that's my point exactly- I don't think how long term it can last when you are getting pretty accurate readings already for free (after you have paid a not insignificant sum) with another device.

 

[shivas irons]

I don't understand how in this day and age GPS companies business model survives when competitors don't charge for the service.

What added benefits are there in the subscription?

Completely agree,ive been using the Golfpad gps thats free to install and no membership and works perfectly
I just considered the Skycaddie cos so I could attach it to my bag but theres no way i'd pay a membership for it.

 

[BTatHome]

All very logical until your course , or the one your visiting, has made changes then it might be years before your GPS is showing changes. My old course has made many changes over the last few years (new holes, greens, bunkers, ditches and layout) and from all the GPS systems Ive seen only skycaddie is correct, golf buddy did make one change a couple of years ago but nothing since then. Garmin and the others are still working on the course from about 4 years ago.

All credit to them skycaddie are at least active in making changes to their devices, just a shame when you use it for the same unchanged course that you still have to pay!

 

[Val]

Well that's my point exactly- I don't think how long term it can last when you are getting pretty accurate readings already for free (after you have paid a not insignificant sum) with another device.

Does google maps have an up to date picture of your street/house? I know the one they map on mine is at least 4 years old. If you put that into golf terms then a course under going changes may have ditches, bunkers etc added or taken away, skycaddie physically map courses and update the maps annually.

IMO their subscription id worth it, if you use a GPS and play 15-20 courses a year.

 

[turkish]

Well obviously that was the added benefit I was missing... but in saying that as much as I feel I take golf serious I can deal with the odd time a (major) change has been made to a course and that my garmin might not be 100% accurate. Horses for courses

 

[Val]

Well obviously that was the added benefit I was missing... but in saying that as much as I feel I take golf serious I can deal with the odd time a (major) change has been made to a course and that my garmin might not be 100% accurate. Horses for courses

Horses for courses till you have a blind tee shot and there is a fairway bunker now in the landing area for your driver

 

[shivas irons]

My course hasnt changed since the mid 90's and theres no planned changes ahead,i'll stick with my free gps app.

 

[turkish]

Horses for courses till you have a blind tee shot and there is a fairway bunker now in the landing area for your driver

Och c'mon I'm no having that- how many times has that actually happened in the last 10 years you have played and how much have you spent on subs?

Cost benefit analysis needed here

 

[Val]

Och c'mon I'm no having that- how many times has that actually happened in the last 10 years you have played and how much have you spent on subs?

Cost benefit analysis needed here

I don't have a skycaddie so the cost is zero

Edit to add - let me through this in, you use a Titleist driver, why not a donnay or a benross? Surely they do the same thing?

 

[GB72]

I do have issues with the Skycaddie model but appreciate it suits many, especially those playing numerous courses.

The first is the need for an annual subscription. I would be happy with a system like my car Sat Nav. I pay when I want my maps updated. If I do not and I am happy to use the old one, I can still use all of the features on the device.

Second is the fact that it allows for profit on 2 fronts. The devices are expensive and then you pay the annual sub. If a device was sold as a loss leader and the money was made up on the subscriptions then it would seem more equitable.

Then again, I am not the person that Skycaddie is aiming for. The courses near me rarely change and I do not play that many other courses.

 

[macca64]

Got one on a really good deal £100, so paying the money for subs isn't to bad.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I was a sky caddie user for many years and it was ideal where the courses had been mapped on foot and was totally accurate including course upgrades on several local courses I've played including new bunkering which simply didn't show on PP's GPS devices so you're paying for a greater degree of accuracy (on the assumption the course allows them on to map).

However given that I usually only play my own course and it hasn't had any changes and my unit began to play up I decided to opt for the Garmin S8 as I didn't want to pay the charge any longer, especially with an unreliable unit