Which GPS?

[jamielaing]

I am looking into getting a GPS watch for the coming season and wanted to ask if there is an obvious way to go?

Garmin seem to be leading the way but, looking at them, the standard ones don't offer a lot other than the distances. Top of the line gives maps but are very pricey.

The Tom Tom watch shows distances to hazards and these are preloaded. Coming in at £200 this seems the way to go for me however does any one know if these are any good?

 

[Beezerk]

Golf Buddy WT4 would be my shout, awesome sleek looking thing which works a treat.

 

[jamielaing]

Golf Buddy WT4 would be my shout, awesome sleek looking thing which works a treat.

Just googled it, looks nice. Does it tell you where hazards are? I am conscience I would want that as am looking to play in some opens this year!

 

[CMAC]

threads like this just get everyone shouting out the one they like.

Better saying what you want a GPS for and how you will use it? i.e I only want F/M/B on my Skycaddie (Skycaddie most accurate as they actually walk the course and map it). If you want to know every yardage to every hazard and a colour view of every hole etc etc then sobeit, but I prefer to use my eyes for that and affirmation of yardage to the greens.

Whats your h/cap out of interest? I'm guessing above 12

 

[apj0524]

The was a recent Post on this and my shout would be the Skycaddie Linx, in my view at a discounted prive of £160 even with the annual membership it is much better value than any of the Garmins, especially as you will get Skycaddie Mobile for free which is used on your phone so in effect you have a watch and a hand held GPS for the price of the Watch

 

[NWJocko]

I posted a thread on this recently.

After a lot of researching I think I'm going to get the Golf Buddy WT4. Other one I looked closely at is the bushnell Neo XS

Loads of reviews online and there's reviews of both of those models in the Review section on here that are very good and worth reading

 

[jamielaing]

threads like this just get everyone shouting out the one they like.

Better saying what you want a GPS for and how you will use it? i.e I only want F/M/B on my Skycaddie (Skycaddie most accurate as they actually walk the course and map it). If you want to know every yardage to every hazard and a colour view of every hole etc etc then sobeit, but I prefer to use my eyes for that and affirmation of yardage to the greens.

Whats your h/cap out of interest? I'm guessing above 12

Front Middle Back is the main thing but, with playing unfamiliar course, I want to know distances to the hazards. I would be using my eyes but I want to know that if there is water about 200 yards away can I take it on or not. Additionally I played a course last season where I couldn't see water due to blind shots. I don't need the colour screens etc however I would look for more than just F/M/B.

Playing off 11, aiming for 8 this season.

 

[jamielaing]

Thanks for info folks. The main features I would like are for F/M/B and distances to hazards. The TomTom has a line with hazards marked either side (correlating to where the hazards are and distance). This would be good for me but I don't know that I trust Tom Tom being new to sport units.

 

[Beezerk]

Just googled it, looks nice. Does it tell you where hazards are? I am conscience I would want that as am looking to play in some opens this year!

Yes, bunkers front and back on my course, used it on another course as well and it picked up all the water, bunkers, ditches etc.

 

[jamielaing]

Yes, bunkers front and back on my course, used it on another course as well and it picked up all the water, bunkers, ditches etc.

Thanks. Worth a decent look!

 

[BrizoH71]

The Shotsaver SGX255 gives distances to up to five hazards as well as FMB distances... I love mine, and it isn't too bulky or intrusive. Only downsides I've found is the battery life isn't overly great, lasts about 27 holes or so, and takes a wee while to pick up the course you're playing.. it can take about 3 minutes for it to locate my local course.

Charging is a pain though, as I don't think the charging clamp is particularly easy to line up.. it should be, matching four wee pillars to four wee discs in the back of the watch, but for me at least its a lot harder than it looks/sounds! Still, you can pick them up for <£120.

 

[Bert]

I have the tomtom and it's brilliant especially for the hazard and lay up distances which it gives you, plus it is a nice looking watch.

 

[Kellfire]

Garmin Approach series. Excellent bit of kit. Colour maps and a touch screen so you can work out distances to anything. Buy as high a spec as you can afford. I love mine.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

which GPS - hmmm - let me think...dunno - never used one.

 

[YorkshireStu]

There is a free mobile app called Hole19 which seems remarkably good.
You can download thousands of UK courses and track your scorecard/handicap also.

You don't have to use the GPS with it either and use the range finder only.
It's worth a download, even just to check it out.

 

[Marshy77]

Rather than start another thread I thought I ask about 2nd hand gps - the clip on your bag style rather than a watch. Looking for a cheap 2nd hand system as I've never had one, not sure whether I need one but like the choice of knowing the yardage.

 

[NWJocko]

Rather than start another thread I thought I ask about 2nd hand gps - the clip on your bag style rather than a watch. Looking for a cheap 2nd hand system as I've never had one, not sure whether I need one but like the choice of knowing the yardage.

Marshy, I've an old Skycaddie 2.5 you can have cheap if you want to try it?

You'd need to take out a Skycaddie subscription (£30 I think?) but not looking for much for the unit itself as got a watch now.

If you're interested drop me a pm and I'm sure we can sort something out, no worries if it's not what you're after though

 

[CliveW]

The was a recent Post on this and my shout would be the Skycaddie Linx, in my view at a discounted prive of £160 even with the annual membership it is much better value than any of the Garmins, especially as you will get Skycaddie Mobile for free which is used on your phone so in effect you have a watch and a hand held GPS for the price of the Watch

I too looked at the Lynx but wanted to use it as an alternative to my SG5, but keep them both so I would use the Lynx when carrying and the SG5 when using my trolley. The problem is that if you have two SkyCaddie devices, you need to pay two subscriptions to use all the benefits.

 

[tugglesf239]

Avoid the Golfbuddy VT3

Its the older one that can be a watch or a belt clip on unit.

I have had one for a while and it is the most unreliable, fragile and annoying bit of kit i own.

The touch screen is garbage, the woman voice is on by default and is highly annoying. Trying to turn off the sound every round on a unit that has a dodgy touch screen usually winds me up a treat.

And the watch strap broke after first use.

Cant say anything on the newer Golfbuddy units like the VT4 as i have never used one. I will also say that the new BB5 unit looks very smart

Honestly i think its just the touchscreen that has ruined my device. Having nice buttons would have probably changed my opinion. It is very accurate and is good in that respect.

 

[Roops]

Really like the look of the Golfbuddy WT4. I currently have a Bushnell Neo. I love the device, but Bushnell have just decided to totally shaft me by removing the ability to save courses I have already downloaded. I have to pay for them again if I want to use them. Given this, I will be taking my money elsewhere with my next purchase. Defo Watch style for me and like that Golfbuddy.