Traditional or modern?

[Losttheplot]

Was having a chat with a fellow golfer yesterday and he raised an interesting outlook on something.

I said about using a GPS and how easy it makes knowing your distances and he said he'd rather just use on course markers.
I then asked if someone offered you a GPS for free would you choose to use it or stick with the traditional course markers and he said he prefers the traditional 'man Vs the course' battle and still wouldn't use a GPS.

does anyone else feel the same??

 

[brendy]

You didnt read the for and against in the mag a few months ago then did you
Most definitely against, it is one part of the game that never changes, you against the course, to me gps is using advice from a 3rd party. Some may disagree but figuring out yardage is part of the game.

 

[One Planer]

Yes, me!

I don't have a GPS, or a rangefinder for that matter.

I try and estimate distances by knowing roughly how far I hit a particular club and, to me, that is part of the fun of the game.

Pick my landing zone and make an educated guess as to the club.

I'm not anti-GPS/Range finder, just prefer to think my way round rather than being told.

 

[lobthewedge]

Play it as you see it, man against the elements. No GPS.

 

[TonyN]

I'll argue for it. Knowing the distance as the crow flies isn't a challange. Its there for everyone to know with the markers. It just takes longer to pace it out.

So having the GPS cuts out the pacing part and saves time.

Its taking everything else into account, wind, lie, elevation, landing zone etc that is the challenge.

GPS are just electronic course books really. Do all those against not use those either?

 

[USER1999]

he'd rather just use on course markers.

Are these not cheating too?

Is not the mark one eye ball a good enough gauge?

I see more of an issue with other modern kit than I do with a gps.

Balls should be of leather stuffed with pigeon feathers, clubs made of wood, hickory shafts and all, golf shoes should be made like hob nail boots, clothes of tweed, bags of heavy leather, no tees, just a bag of sand.

Until this idiot is true to the game as it was designed, I would not listen to a word he said. Once he has accepted modern advances in the game, then picking and chosing to suit yourself and your own twisted logic is just being silly.

We are in the digital age, and a gps is just a digital course planner.

 

[Monty_Brown]

Not for me, but more out of habit than any ideological objection.

Others are welcome to use them. They still have to swing the club.

 

[Crawfy]

I'll argue for it. Knowing the distance as the crow flies isn't a challange. Its there for everyone to know with the markers. It just takes longer to pace it out.

So having the GPS cuts out the pacing part and saves time.

Its taking everything else into account, wind, lie, elevation, landing zone etc that is the challenge.

GPS are just electronic course books really. Do all those against not use those either?

I'm with you on that Tony. One of the factors that extend the round duration for Pro's is the Course guide consultation, reading caddy's notebook and pacing out from yardage markers. If us regular punters follow that path, then we are in for loooong rounds.

A quick look at a rangefinder gives the same info faster - therefore cutting down time on each shot, and reducing overall round time

 

[Monty_Brown]

I hope it's not going off topic to ask the GPS users on here... what sort of difference has using one made to your game? Are you able to quantify if or how many shots it saves, or is that a how long is a piece of string question?

I am not being cynical, I am genuinely interested. If the numbers stack up I could be persuaded

 

[bluewolf]

I have a GPS and use it to confirm the yardage that I already have in mind for the shot. Its the same as a course planner but quicker. To refuse to use one due to it being non-traditional is ridiculous in the extreme. Advances in technology have happened in EVERY aspect of the game, and to refuse to use 1 while using another is either hypocritical or naive. If you choose not to use one as you just prefer not to then fair enough.
Oh, and the GPS has probably not saved me any more than a shot or maybe 2 on my own course, but does help on never before played courses...

 

[brendy]

I'm with you on that Tony. One of the factors that extend the round duration for Pro's is the Course guide consultation, reading caddy's notebook and pacing out from yardage markers. If us regular punters follow that path, then we are in for loooong rounds.

A quick look at a rangefinder gives the same info faster - therefore cutting down time on each shot, and reducing overall round time

Prove that it is faster Crawfy, at our club only a couple of guys use GPS, their fourballs are no faster (one guy in our fourball uses one, by the time he clicks onto the correct hole and gets an accurate measurement, I have already got my yardage sorted). If we can get round in 4 hours which happens week in week out then there is no problem with speed of play.

We are not pros and do not have caddies to stand and consult with so it isnt a problem either.

This debate is regarding GPS only, noone mentioned leather golf balls so no need to deflect from the weak argument that GPS is here to save the day.

They are not electronic books by the way. They are real time distance devices.
Stroke savers are there to show you general yardages and bunkers etc in the distance that you may not see from the tee/fairway etc. they dont give you exact yardage from anywhere on the course which is where the argument comes in that you should have to figure out your yardage yourself when you miss the fairway.

 

[brendy]

I hope it's not going off topic to ask the GPS users on here... what sort of difference has using one made to your game? Are you able to quantify if or how many shots it saves, or is that a how long is a piece of string question?

I am not being cynical, I am genuinely interested. If the numbers stack up I could be persuaded

Monty, the guy in our fourball has unfortunately risen since getting his GPS. Not scientific but doesnt shout "buy me" neither.

 

[Monty_Brown]

I hope it's not going off topic to ask the GPS users on here... what sort of difference has using one made to your game? Are you able to quantify if or how many shots it saves, or is that a how long is a piece of string question?

I am not being cynical, I am genuinely interested. If the numbers stack up I could be persuaded

Monty, the guy in our fourball has unfortunately risen since getting his GPS. Not scientific but doesnt shout "buy me" neither.

That's interesting to hear. One of my doubts is that I, and a lot of amateurs, simply don't strike the ball consistently enough to capitalise on such an accurate yardage figure. It's generally direction, not distance, where I throw away shots.

Also, it does seem that there is a certain amount of "fannying about" in using a GPS, when I should be thinking about the shot and swing .

 

[USER1999]

Why does he have to find the hole he is playing on, mine updates automatically.

I brough up leather balls, as in my view, there have been far more technical advances in golf kit which could, and should be viewed as cheating / gaining an advantage long before considering yardage measurement.

An annotated stroke saver, such as the pro's use will give very similar info to a gps or laser. They also have the advantage of a second opinion, which I do not have.

 

[Bacardibatman]

a gps has less to do with it than a large headed club making up for talentless ppl who couldnt hit a ball out of a sweetspot if it wasnt the size of an orange


but then again ...i wouldnt use a gps if i was playing regularly at a club as a member, rather than a different ones every time as the nomadic transient hobo golfer that i am


*flees

 

[Mike_j_golf]

As far as i know golf would Traditionaly have been played with a caddy carring you bag giving you lines off the tee and on the greens you also have Fore caddies spotting your ball, so i think we have gone backwards dragging you own bag around with you. It's very little difference between a stroke saver and a gps.
Mike

 

[Monty_Brown]

I brough up leather balls, as in my view, there have been far more technical advances in golf kit which could, and should be viewed as cheating / gaining an advantage long before considering yardage measurement.

Could some more, erm, senior members of the forum confirm what general reaction was like when metal woods came out? Did some people denounce them as heresy? I'm just curious if some technology is welcomed with open arms while other stuff is see as the Devil's work?

 

[One Planer]

I'm just curious if some technology is welcomed with open arms while other stuff is see as the Devil's work?

Like a chipper

 

[Monty_Brown]

I'm just curious if some technology is welcomed with open arms while other stuff is see as the Devil's work?

Like a chipper

You welcomed chippers with open arms?

Surprised you are admitting it here

 

[jammag]

GPS is one of those things where if you use one you love it and all for it. If you dont use it or have no need for one then you will be against it. Much like the said chipper you use and and it goes well you love it all for it yet if you dont have one you see it as pointless and you can do a job with something else.

Chipper like 8 iron, gps like vision.

Personally I have used a version of gps on my phone during a practice round and I didnt really find it much use. I like the idea its me against the course I try and work out the shot in my head with how far away I think I am and it helps me stayed switched on. If someone said to me your x yards away so that means you take this club then it takes a bit of fun away from it.

To work out roughly how far away I am doesnt take long as generally you are working it out as you walk towards your ball. Rather than get gps out and then wait for it to configure and away you go.

All I would say is if you use one and you say it hasnt helped you then why are you using it. If you use one and its taken off a couple of shots then do you feel this means you havent got the right thinking brain to make the correct decisions on your own or does it just boost your confidence knowing your hitting the right club?