The Golf Monthly debate - two forumers wanted...

[brendy]

Price wasn't the main concern. If everyone hit the fairway, gps would be obsolete. We are handicap golfers, we miss fairways. I never said get rid of all markers. I said that it should be a challenge and By that I mean that you should live and die by your own yardage calculation, not by what a third party can tell you exactly in real time.
I think the r11 argument is empty in that it is a club, a single brand of a club that most golfers use., many golfers are using 10+ year old gear and are still scoring competitively.
If golf was only recently invented and gps was there from inception or near enough to be seen as integral, I'd have one. Golf has been around for hundreds of years now, plenty of golfers shot great scores without them, I don't see it as a necessity of the game just yet.

 

[FourPutt]

But it's not about it being a necessity. It's about whether they are made legal.

If you don't feel the need to use one, that's fine, but if it increases the enjoyment of the game for a majority of golfers, why shouldn't they be allowed?

As has already been argued, pros have caddies who go out taking measurements etc and provide pros with reliable yardages which just helps them to play to their potential. All a GPS system is is a caddie in your pocket, unfortunately, they just won't carry your clubs!

My personal opinion is that GPS devices mean you can spend more time getting out there and hitting the ball properly and less pacing out the distance from the nearest yardage marker. It makes the game more enjoyable for me anyway.

 

[Imurg]

Hold on Brendy, one of the prime points you're making is that gps is available to all but is expensive. So is the R11, 910, RazrHawk etc etc. They all cost 200 quid or more so you're back-tracking on that.

Also, what's the genuine difference between having a yardage given in "real time"by a gps and getting that yardage from a piece of paper? Is the yardage going to have changed? If you pace the yardage out you're getting it in "real time" as well....???

I can't understand why golfers can accept technological advances like ProV's, 460cc drivers, movable weights, custom fitted shafts to name a few, but wont accept a different means of getting a yardage reading when that information is freely available to be aquired by " traditional" methods.

 

[Dodger]

Brendy,time to quit,yer talking oot yer aris.....I bet you'll be peaking over my shoulder at Ballylifin or are you banning them for the weekend?!

 

[brendy]

Ian, the R11 is £200+ yea, but again you are picking on brands and not a general item, MD drivers are £85, some brands even less again NEW, how many £50+ GPS devices do you see though?
As I said price is only part of the argument against them. I honestly think that if you can come up with an accurate yardage from info freely available on the card and markers on the course then you don't need a DMD. Speed of play rarely comes into it as in my experience on a Saturday you are always waiting for your next shot or are fairly close to a marker of some description.

Alan, you can stick your gps up your own 'arris! We'll see who needs one

This does make me smile though, I give reasons why I personally dont think they should be allowed for competition use, everyone else tries to shoot my reasons down rather than reinforce why they should be used, is it a debate or what?


As a piece of technology it is marvellous, including Sat Nav etc as I said, I am no technophobe, but electronic gadgets for golf? Not for me just yet.

 

[Dodger]

Ban the electric trolleys!!!

 

[Bacardibatman]

If everyone hit the fairway, gps would be obsolete.

what a steaming pile of plop that statement is

what? so ppl only use gps from the rough?

 

[MizunoGreyhound]

+1

Banning electronic devices should therefore include Powacaddy and the like Therefore, if you are lugging your bag around 18 holes getting more and more knackered, or having your clubs chauffeur driven on the latest electric/remote controlled trolley how is this fair in the same way as your DMD argument.

Aint it great to have a debate like this

 

[brendy]

Do you not agree that if you hit a drive and end up off the fairway, you are more likely to gain advantage in using a distance measuring device over someone who isnt?
When the R&A say they are ok, thats fine, they are the ones who try to uphold the traditions of the game.

+1

Banning electronic devices should therefore include Powacaddy and the like Therefore, if you are lugging your bag around 18 holes getting more and more knackered, or having your clubs chauffeur driven on the latest electric/remote controlled trolley how is this fair in the same way as your DMD argument.

Aint it great to have a debate like this

Absolutely! survival of the fittest and all that

 

[SammmeBee]

When the R&A say they are ok, thats fine, they are the ones who try to uphold the traditions of the game.

Haven't they already?!

 

[brendy]

Not entirely no.

 

[SammmeBee]

So the R&A say they are fine then (under Local Rule) ....?

 

[brendy]

Under local rule yeah, they have no plans to allow them generally though.

 

[viscount17]

Under local rule yeah, they have no plans to allow them generally though.

they must have a cast iron crotch with all the fence sitting they do

 

[brendy]

Yea haha

I suppose they are torn between tradition and out and out technology making the game too easy. There is something about golf and petrol engines that just shouldn't be meddled with too much. I put golf gps up there with leccy motors.