Re: Do you use a GPS. . .which one?

[B-17 Pilot]

. . .This has probably been discussed before but I am looking into a Sky Caddie SG5 and was wondering what other people might use. . .or, not use?! I have read that the Sky Caddies are best. Any feelings on this one?

Mike

[BASHERBAKER69]

Hi

a word of caution

arent Sky Caddies or any other electronic devices measuring distance contrary to the rules of golf?... check this before you buy.

Also, good golfers always have a feel instinctively for how far it is to a pin!

bb

[mutadayen]

Honestly, im not a fan of GPS systems that do the measuring for you. I think golf should ban them and go back to having people feel out the clubs based on depth perception and thinking. I think the GPS stuff takes the guess work out of the game all-together. Im a young golfer but I do think golf should stay traditional in certain aspects...

[i-Guy]

I own the Skycaddie 2.5 (new for 2008) and I would check them all out as they have different options as well as membership options. I have had mine for a couple of months now and have used it on a couple of differnet courses and I love it for the following reasons:

1) Information - In this day and age of the internet, information is a wonderful asset and definitely helps you be more comfortable with the shot you are about to hit becuase you have confidence in the yardage information.

2) Pace of play - don't have to mingle around to find my yardage...heck if I was a pro I would be standing there wating for my caddie to get me the yardages so I just us this instead as I am an Amatuer...also great when you spary one into the other fairway and you need to know how far it is back to the green or over a hazard without having to take to much time walking it off.

3) Distance I hit clubs - The Mark feature allows you to see how far you hit the ball with any club.

PS: These are legal for USGA handicap purposes and even for a tournament if the rules of that tournament allow them.

[highscoreinky]

I own the SG3 Sky Caddie. Best golfing investment I had made. To basherbaker69 and mutadayen who play based on instinct, does this mean you don't even look for yardage markers in the fairway? You just instinctively know the yardage you have left to any pin on any hole on any golf course? If so, that's very impressive.

Pace of play should be quicker using an electronic tool than walking up and down the fairway looking for yardage markers or having to rely on stakes near the fairway that may or may not be accurate.

Last year someone moved all of the yardage marker stakes on one of our local courses and placed some 50 yards further back, some 20 yards closer to the green, etc. Took two weeks before anyone said anything and had them placed back at the appropriate locations. Caused many regulars to have higher scores than usual. Discrepancy was reported to the club house by someone using a Sky Caddie.

[BASHERBAKER69]

hi

no disrespect but i totally disagree with Skycaddies-knowing how far it is is one of the skills of golf that you pick up over time-and if you re playing in a tournament you must do your own homework. Golf should remain golf and not become a quasi-computer game!

bb

[highscoreinky]

Sky Caddies don't allow you to stay on plane, compress the ball, line up putts, have the proper grip, stance, or alignment or joystick the ball into the hole.

The tour players rely on caddies for yardage for the most part and you will see some refer to their own yardage books sometimes. Should caddies only be allowed to carry and clean clubs and not provide yardage for a tour player since a pro player should "instinctively" know the distance to any creek, bunker, front, middle or back of any green or any hole on any golf course?

[i-Guy]

no disrespect but i totally disagree with Skycaddies-knowing how far it is is one of the skills of golf that you pick up over time-and if you re playing in a tournament you must do your own homework. Golf should remain golf and not become a quasi-computer game!

Valid points but how do you think Pro's do their homework??? Skycaddie or range finder is how...they simply write the yardages from various points on the course that they got with a skycaddie or range finder in a yardage book as they play their practice round. So when they hit their drive the next day to a certain point then all they have to do is calcualte the distance differences between where they landed and the point they marked the day before during the practice round...We do not do this for a living so we are doing it on the weekend as we are playing the round..therefore the need for yardage help...now if you play the same course all the time I am sure after a while you will have a good feel for the distances from various spots on the course but I play around 3 differnet courses and I find the skycaddie very helpful in replacement of a practice round...

[klaymon]

hi

Then you would also agree that pros should not be using caddies that have yardage books. Tiger's boy doesn't

just carry his clubs you know...

[BASHERBAKER69]

Hi

i don't mind yardage books, just electronic aids....

bb

[immts007]

Hi

I like your ideas, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter! I assume you prepare it on one of these?