Comments on: Anyone Into Golf and able to provide some feedback on GPS systems? http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems An avid golfer's resource for GPS rangefinders! Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:57:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: staffingpro9999 http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems/comment-page-1#comment-65 staffingpro9999 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:51:59 +0000 http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems#comment-65 Would be more than happy to... Golf GPS systems fall into two categories; dedicated units and downloadable SW. The former require purchase of a hardware unit and some kind of maintenance program and/or cost per course downloaded. Prices range from ~150 - >450 for the units and per course costs can be up to 20, while annual subscriptions can be from 20 - 100 depending on how many courses you want, if you travel regionally, or internationally. Accuracy, availability of courses and reliability are all over the board, and may even vary depending on what unit you get from the company. SW only solutions run on a smart phone that has either a built in GPS chipset or are bluetooth synched to a gps puck or fob. While not requiring the cost of a piece of hardware, SW solutions may require initial purchase costs and/or annual agreements, OR even neither (EG free.) Pros of dedicated units is that they are generally allowed at most private clubs. SW only solutions may require you to 'sneak it by' the marshal and or show that you have turned off the phone's speaker/ringer. Accuracy wise, both are pretty darn good for the vast majority of golfers. Low single digit golfers don't need GPS as they spend most of their time in the fairway. BUT, having GPS is good for them as kirby markers and sprinkler heads don't tell you the yardage to reach or carry lakes, stream, etc. As a member of a SW only company, we see the market moving to the second type of unit. Since the phones have the capability, why would a consumer purchase a second piece of hardware that requires charging, requires downloading more SW to a PC, requires synchronizing, etc. A phone only version allows the golfer to be ready to go at a moments notice, allows OTA (over the air) adding of courses, is charged as long as you have your phone, and doesn't require you to deal with the less than decent customer support several manufacturers in this sector provide. I hope that helped.<br><b>References : </b><br>http://golftraxx.blogspot.com Would be more than happy to…

Golf GPS systems fall into two categories; dedicated units and downloadable SW. The former require purchase of a hardware unit and some kind of maintenance program and/or cost per course downloaded. Prices range from ~150 – >450 for the units and per course costs can be up to 20, while annual subscriptions can be from 20 – 100 depending on how many courses you want, if you travel regionally, or internationally.

Accuracy, availability of courses and reliability are all over the board, and may even vary depending on what unit you get from the company.

SW only solutions run on a smart phone that has either a built in GPS chipset or are bluetooth synched to a gps puck or fob. While not requiring the cost of a piece of hardware, SW solutions may require initial purchase costs and/or annual agreements, OR even neither (EG free.)

Pros of dedicated units is that they are generally allowed at most private clubs.

SW only solutions may require you to ’sneak it by’ the marshal and or show that you have turned off the phone’s speaker/ringer.

Accuracy wise, both are pretty darn good for the vast majority of golfers. Low single digit golfers don’t need GPS as they spend most of their time in the fairway. BUT, having GPS is good for them as kirby markers and sprinkler heads don’t tell you the yardage to reach or carry lakes, stream, etc.

As a member of a SW only company, we see the market moving to the second type of unit. Since the phones have the capability, why would a consumer purchase a second piece of hardware that requires charging, requires downloading more SW to a PC, requires synchronizing, etc. A phone only version allows the golfer to be ready to go at a moments notice, allows OTA (over the air) adding of courses, is charged as long as you have your phone, and doesn’t require you to deal with the less than decent customer support several manufacturers in this sector provide.

I hope that helped.
References :
http://golftraxx.blogspot.com

]]> By: Flatstick http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems/comment-page-1#comment-64 Flatstick Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:01:59 +0000 http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems#comment-64 I don't use one. One of my friends has the Sky Caddie and it works pretty well giving you distance to center of green, or to carry a bunker or pond etc. But it seems more and more courses have their own GPS on their golf carts so I don't really see the need. Part of the game of golf is judging the distance to hit a certain shot, factoring in the wind, uphill or downhill, etc and the hand held GPS is sort of like a lot of other golf gimmicks marketers come up with. Golf was played for about 400 years before GPS was invented so get back to the roots of the game, you'll appreciate it more without all the modern hype. the $300 or $400 you'll spend on a GPS will go a long way toward some lessons that will help your game a lot more.<br><b>References : </b><br> I don’t use one. One of my friends has the Sky Caddie and it works pretty well giving you distance to center of green, or to carry a bunker or pond etc. But it seems more and more courses have their own GPS on their golf carts so I don’t really see the need. Part of the game of golf is judging the distance to hit a certain shot, factoring in the wind, uphill or downhill, etc and the hand held GPS is sort of like a lot of other golf gimmicks marketers come up with. Golf was played for about 400 years before GPS was invented so get back to the roots of the game, you’ll appreciate it more without all the modern hype. the $300 or $400 you’ll spend on a GPS will go a long way toward some lessons that will help your game a lot more.
References :

]]> By: leaaed112 http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems/comment-page-1#comment-63 leaaed112 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:23:59 +0000 http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems#comment-63 gps systems can be very accurate but distance accuracy is not an exact science, especially from space. There are other factors that come into play when hitting any golf shot. You have wind, elevation, pin placement, size of the green, green speed and hardness as well as your ball. Knowing the distance to the hole is one thing , hitting it there is another. Trust your score card and your better judgment. if you choose to use one you will still have to adjust for these other factors so why spend the money for just one aspect of a golf shot. hope that helps <br><b>References : </b><br> gps systems can be very accurate but distance accuracy is not an exact science, especially from space. There are other factors that come into play when hitting any golf shot. You have wind, elevation, pin placement, size of the green, green speed and hardness as well as your ball. Knowing the distance to the hole is one thing , hitting it there is another. Trust your score card and your better judgment. if you choose to use one you will still have to adjust for these other factors so why spend the money for just one aspect of a golf shot.
hope that helps

References :

]]> By: mannyq http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems/comment-page-1#comment-62 mannyq Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:01:59 +0000 http://www.golf-gpssystems.com/golf-gps-systems/anyone-into-golf-and-able-to-provide-some-feedback-on-gps-systems#comment-62 I can only give you Feedback on SkyCaddie as that's what I have. I would recommend getting a different brand. The software is very flaky - half the time it doesn't connect with the unit so it makes it very difficult to sync. About 30% of the time I don't get a signal on the golf course and have to reset the unit. The unit is very poorly designed, and you can look at the unit and tell - even the cable is designed backwards (hard to explain but if you ever look at one, ask the sales person how to connect the cable and I would be my money he connects it backwards (the shape of the cable is opposite how you would connect it). I've heard horror stories about their customer service too, so I've never even bothered to call.<br><b>References : </b><br> I can only give you Feedback on SkyCaddie as that’s what I have.

I would recommend getting a different brand. The software is very flaky – half the time it doesn’t connect with the unit so it makes it very difficult to sync. About 30% of the time I don’t get a signal on the golf course and have to reset the unit.

The unit is very poorly designed, and you can look at the unit and tell – even the cable is designed backwards (hard to explain but if you ever look at one, ask the sales person how to connect the cable and I would be my money he connects it backwards (the shape of the cable is opposite how you would connect it).

I’ve heard horror stories about their customer service too, so I’ve never even bothered to call.
References :

]]>