GPS Watches

[NM Golf]

Originally Posted by tuffluck

i get that, i think my point is being missed though: if you're a weekend golfer and not using the "cheating" mechanisms of your phone's apps, i don't think what you're doing should be considered violating any rule.

players on the PGA Tour can't wear shorts during competition.  does that mean when i wear shorts on a Saturday golf outing that i should disqualify that particular score from a handicap calculation?

OMG! I am sorry I brought up the whole rules thing. Geez man, Let me say this and try to stay on topic at the same time. Maybe you can understand this if I sum it up. From my perspective, and the perspective of several others on this forum, we believe someone would be better off with a dedicated GPS device instead of a smartphone application. I believe this is even more the case if said person was currently or soon to be competing in Tournament golf due to the possible legality issues associated with using a smartphone during competition.

If you like your phone app that's great, I have used one on my iPhone 5 and it worked fine. I just think its more of a pain in the butt to deal with and I know one of the associations I occasionally play in does not allow the use of phones.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by tuffluck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

As has been mentioned, some phones have a compass, or a compass app, and that immediately gets one onto shaky ground.  There are so many apps which a phone can have that would make it illegal for play.  It's because a phone can have all of those other things with nobody any the wiser that many competitions are not allowing them.  Just because your distance app doesn't show anything else, it doesn't mean that some other app on your phone won't do something which isn't allowed.

i get that, i think my point is being missed though: if you're a weekend golfer and not using the "cheating" mechanisms of your phone's apps, i don't think what you're doing should be considered violating any rule.

players on the PGA Tour can't wear shorts during competition.  does that mean when i wear shorts on a Saturday golf outing that i should disqualify that particular score from a handicap calculation?

No, because it isn't against the rules for the average player, only for certain competitions and some hoity-toity clubs.  Using a disallowed electronic device is against the rules for all play.   It's as simple as that.

[tuffluck]

I guess we are both arguing with brick walls here. I do not care if it is illegal. Just as shorts are illegal in PGA play, I will continue to wear mine and use my app so long as tar and feathering isn't the consequence for getting caught. It is a silly ass rule to defend and tell someone they aren't playing the game of golf if they choose to violate it.

[walk18]

Y[quote name="tuffluck" url="/t/65025/gps-watches#post_813624"]actually i think if you go back and look, the original concern was that a gps app could be illegal.  i simply said as long as you aren't using it to cheat, who cares, because it's not like the average golfer follows all of the rules anyway.  after that comment several people felt the need to defend the rules of the game, and we end up here. i really don't care what rules people play by either, but i think if you're really concerned about the legality of a cell phone gps app, then don't get it.  but the reality is that it isn't a violation that's going to give you an advantage over the guy with the (legal) bushnell as long as you aren't using it to get wind speeds and such that was previously mentioned (and i don't use it for that). and for the record i would take relief and a penalty if my ball landed on a rock, though i didn't know that was the actual rule since i have seen pros elect to hit off of the surface instead.  exception for me being if i was pretty certain i could catch the ball cleanly but didn't want to take a chance, the ball would be moving and i wouldn't be counting.  i acquired this personal revision when on day one of owning, my vokey ran into the cart path and lost about $15 worth of it's head.  the ball landed on the green and i made the par putt, never mind the obstruction/destruction after the strike of the ball occurred.  never again, but that's just me. [/quote]you know you get a free drop if you land on a cart path, right?

[spike100]

I have the Garmin Approach S1 wrist gps. I really like the device. It only provides distance to the green (front/middle/back), but that is all I need.

1) My batteries last about 36 holes

2) The Garmin comes with thousands of courses pre-loaded.

3) It’s very accurate. I’ve compared this against a laser rangefinder.

4) It’s definitely worth the price.

[Chas]

I use a rangefinder and have started using the GolfLogix app which I like a lot.  But I have to say I like the idea of looking down at my wrist at any time and getting the data.

Next birthday?  My wife is such an enabler ....

[Clambake]

Originally Posted by Chas

I use a rangefinder and have started using the GolfLogix app which I like a lot.  But I have to say I like the idea of looking down at my wrist at any time and getting the data.

Next birthday?  My wife is such an enabler .

I've got a rangefinder, used to have a handheld GPS, and have tried the apps on the phone, but I like my Garmin S1 better than all of them.   Although the price of the phone apps is very attractive (often free), I didn't like what it did to the phone battery and also found it difficult to view in bright sunlight.

The phone, laser, and handheld GPS all required digging out a device to look at yardage.    Yes, I know that having to pull a phone out of your pocket or pull a device out of the bag isn't exactly challenging and physically difficult, but there is something about the freedom of just a quick glance at the wrist to have all you need to know.    It's also great for those times when it is cart path only and is one less thing to carry out to the ball.     I know it sounds funny, but the watch is so easy and unobtrusive it almost feels like having a caddy whispering in my ear what my yardage is.   If it would only carry my bag for me also.

And Chas, you point it, such goodies are perfect little birthday presents.   If your wife is anything like mine, she automatically thinks golf when it comes time to buying me a gift, but she has no idea what to get.    Something like a Garmin S1 is sooooo much nicer and practical than getting one of those golf gifts that sounds good to the spouse but is useless to the golfer, like a gold plated putter.

[montru]

I have had quite a few GPS's over the years, starting with the SkyCaddie SG1 then the GolfLogix hand held unit, I now have the Garmin S1 and I love it!

I also use the GolfLogix App on my iPhone 5.

If I'm playing a course I'm familiar with, I just use my watch, if I'm at a course where I do not know specific distances to hazards etc, I will pull out the iPhone and get the info I need.

Best of both worlds I suppose.

[spike100]

Originally Posted by montru

I have had quite a few GPS's over the years, starting with the SkyCaddie SG1 then the GolfLogix hand held unit, I now have the Garmin S1 and I love it!

I also use the GolfLogix App on my iPhone 5.

If I'm playing a course I'm familiar with, I just use my watch, if I'm at a course where I do not know specific distances to hazards etc, I will pull out the iPhone and get the info I need.

Best of both worlds I suppose.

Best reply so far. You understand.

[ay33660]

I have the Callaway Upro and the Leopold rangefinder and I am now considering the purchase of the Garmin GPS watch.

One of my regulars at the club got one recently and just loves it. He too has acquired a variety of range finders and GPS units over the last few years.

He likes the watch because he doesn't have to take it out, easier and faster than the range finders and because we mainly golf at our home club, we know where all the hazards are.

I bought the Golflogic app for my phone but only used it once.

Drained too much of my battery and because I golf at a private club I kept on getting the evil eye from other members. We have a very strict no cell phone policy.

Tuffluck you seem very happy with using your app and that's good for you. Do you belong to a private club? If so what is the policy on cell phones?

[OoAaronoO]

Hey lookingto get a golf watch, kinda looking at the Bushnell neo ion and the Garmin s20. I read the one thread here about some watches... really didn't get too much info. So if anyone has input  about either or both . Would be great, or even something close in price and a better product 

[lastings]

I haven't read this thread, so sorry if i repeat.   But. Get an Apple Watch.   It's just a way better investment.  A couple reasons. 

1) from a golf standpoint, it's as good as anything out there.  I use the hole19 app, which is free.  In about 10 rounds, I've never come across a situation where the yardage on my watch has been more that 2 yards different from the cart gps, or a marker on the course.   So, accuracy is not an issue.  And it gives distances to front, middle, and back. Also, you can pull out your phone and get distances to anywhere on the hole, if you wanna know how far away a bunker is or whatever.  

additionally, there are apps you can pay for which are way better (theoretically), though I wouldn't know.  I've always been willing to pay for a better app if need be.   I planned on it when I got my watch, but I am yet to find a flaw in this fee one.  So, don't fix what ain't broke.

2) an Apple Watch has everyday functionality that golf gps watches don't.  For the same price, or less.  

2a) this is a negative.  -- you have to charge an Apple Watch every night.  I forget to do stuff like that.  So, I don't wear it every day.  But...  I never forget to charge it the night before I golf in the morning. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[paininthenuts]

On 2/21/2013 at 8:09 PM, dfreuter415 said:

I am considering purchasing a GPS golf watch. Has anyone used either the Bushnell or Garmin products? Here are my questions...

1) Do the batteries need charged before every round?

2) How difficult is it to upload courses?

3) How accurate are they?

4) Are they worth the price?

I have a TomTon golfer 1st addition. I bought it new on ebay for £90 ($135) and it's brilliant. Over 40,000 courses built into the software. Gives distance to the front/middle/back of green. Lay ups, and hazards. You can enter your score, and download them onto your PC and smartphone. You can also update the software free of charge using your phone or pc. Finds a signal quickly, and the battery life is excellent.What's more, it is waterproof, unlike most golf watches, and also looks quite cool. 

[OoAaronoO]

On 8/11/2016 at 9:42 PM, lastings said:

I haven't read this thread, so sorry if i repeat.   But. Get an Apple Watch.   It's just a way better investment.  A couple reasons. 

1) from a golf standpoint, it's as good as anything out there.  I use the hole19 app, which is free.  In about 10 rounds, I've never come across a situation where the yardage on my watch has been more that 2 yards different from the cart gps, or a marker on the course.   So, accuracy is not an issue.  And it gives distances to front, middle, and back. Also, you can pull out your phone and get distances to anywhere on the hole, if you wanna know how far away a bunker is or whatever.  

additionally, there are apps you can pay for which are way better (theoretically), though I wouldn't know.  I've always been willing to pay for a better app if need be.   I planned on it when I got my watch, but I am yet to find a flaw in this fee one.  So, don't fix what ain't broke.

2) an Apple Watch has everyday functionality that golf gps watches don't.  For the same price, or less.  

2a) this is a negative.  -- you have to charge an Apple Watch every night.  I forget to do stuff like that.  So, I don't wear it every day.  But...  I never forget to charge it the night before I golf in the morning. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apple watch is not an option for me.android user.

[TimS65]

Garmin S20 is good. Been using one for about 3 months. Autoshot function is handy to track your stats. I use mine to enter all my scores. online software app isn't so good - not as detailed as Game Golf etc and cannot make corrections if a score was entered wrong. Get the odd shot that says it was 27000 yards!!!! 

[Porkrind]

I bought a Garmin VivoActive early this year and so far I love it. Yes you have to recharge the battery but it charges extremely quick and gives me all the info I need at the glance of my watch. I have an iPhone and downloading courses is a snap. Garmin uses their iConnect app to manage its course uploads. It's pretty nice. There is more I could use it for such as hazards but I haven't tried doing it. 

[gregsandiego]

12 minutes ago, Porkrind said:

I bought a Garmin VivoActive early this year and so far I love it. Yes you have to recharge the battery but it charges extremely quick and gives me all the info I need at the glance of my watch. I have an iPhone and downloading courses is a snap. Garmin uses their iConnect app to manage its course uploads. It's pretty nice. There is more I could use it for such as hazards but I haven't tried doing it. 

How does it charge? Is there some kind of docking station? Or does a cable plug right into the watch?

[Porkrind]

It uses a magnetic docking station