Skycaddie or GolfLogix

[wrx_junki]

I would rather play by feel and markers but the yardages displayed on the signs and scorecards were off by up to 15-20 yards so I am thinking of getting one. The person I played with I think had a Skycaddie and it was very useful off the tee on par 3's.

[joshtpa]

I am the exact opposite. I want to know exactly how far I am away, or atleast within a couple of yards. Markers down where I live in Tampa, are not always that accurate. I want my score to reflect my abilities, not guessing. But everyone is different.

[DJYoshi]

do any of you guys have the sonocaddie? it looks awesome. I've been debating b/t GPS or range finder...i like the range finder b/c it has slope.... do the GPS help you with terrain changes? etc?

[NJDuffer]

I would rather play by feel and markers but the yardages displayed on the signs and scorecards were off by up to 15-20 yards so I am thinking of getting one. The person I played with I think had a Skycaddie and it was very useful off the tee on par 3's.

When you say the yardages on the signs were off, what do you mean? Off compared to what? What did you use as a benchmark for the yardages?

[joshtpa]

do any of you guys have the sonocaddie? it looks awesome. I've been debating b/t GPS or range finder...i like the range finder b/c it has slope.... do the GPS help you with terrain changes? etc?

I started with a Sonocaddie last year and really hated having to pick that thing up and focus everytime. Plus sometimes hitting the flag was a pain. So I switched to gps.

[Fourputt]

do any of you guys have the sonocaddie? it looks awesome. I've been debating b/t GPS or range finder...i like the range finder b/c it has slope.... do the GPS help you with terrain changes? etc?

Using any device that measures slope is illegal in any competition or for handicap. Even if you turn off the slope feature it isn't allowed.

I've been using a Nikon Laser 440 for the last year, but I've got a gift card for the pro shop and nothing much to spend it on, so I ordered a new Bushnell Pinseeker Tour V2 rangefinder. It picks up the flag better from a longer range than the Nikon does. I don't like being tied to a subscription or a computer to access courses like you are with the GPS, and the rangefinder can give me the distance to anything I can see, not just what someone decided to program into it. On an unfamiliar course, I don't really want to be hitting much farther than I can see anyway.

[DJYoshi]

Using any device that measures slope is illegal in any competition or for handicap. Even if you turn off the slope feature it isn't allowed.

I knew slope was illegal in competition. I didn't know it was illegal in scoring for handicapping purposes. I guess that answers my question.

Now it's just the matter of GPS or Range Finder. they both have perks!

[Fourputt]

I knew slope was illegal in competition. I didn't know it was illegal in scoring for handicapping purposes. I guess that answers my question.

Just FYI:

Appendix I - Part B - Item 9

9. Distance-Measuring Devices If the Committee wishes to act in accordance with the Note under Rule 14-3, the following wording is recommended: "Distance-Measuring Devices: [Specify as appropriate, e.g., In this competition, or For all play at this course, etc.], a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used."

This also applies to using it for handicap, although if you do it then you are only hurting yourself by setting a mark with a device that you can't use in competition. As best as they can, the ruling bodies try to maintain some sort of human element in the game in spite of the technological nature of the modern game. Making adjustments for elevation and wind are still up to your ability to judge by feel and experience.

[wichitapenguin]

skycaddie 4 shows all hazards to front edge and to carry

also shows end of fairway yardage

[joshtpa]

That actually depends on which course you play. All of the skycaddies use the same maps. So if it was fully mapped, they all show the same data.

[sonicblue]

I played with a guy today who had the GL (not sure the version). He said he looked into both seriously, went with GL, has not looked back. He told me the SC equivalent to the $30 GL plan was like $130. In the end, seeing as how I scooped up the GL GPS-8 (newest version) via deal spot (ebay) for $239, I don't think there's a contest.

FWIW, anyone considering whether or not a GPS unit is even worth it, don't think on it any longer. My round today was so smooth, I couldn't believe it. I can't say I'm hitting the ball so well I can really judge the accuracy, but to get to your ball - ok, 144 front, 160 center, pick club, go! It's fantastic. And this what at a course I was familiar with, but you would still be left seeking out markers, and you still find yourself in slightly different places that you can't judge based on experience. I only wish I could have actually walked into a store to buy it so I could take it on my weekend trip.

[joshtpa]

I played with a guy today who had the GL (not sure the version). He said he looked into both seriously, went with GL, has not looked back. He told me the SC equivalent to the $30 GL plan was like $130. In the end, seeing as how I scooped up the GL GPS-8 (newest version) via deal spot (ebay) for $239, I don't think there's a contest.

That is not correct. The skycaddie national plan is much less than that, so it is not true.

[OrlandoGolfBlogger]

Been using SkyCaddie SG5 for about two weeks, so far so good. Only problem I've encountered is some of the hazards and "target" shots aren't mapped. One course I played the SG5 showed probably 95% of the hazards and their distances and the other was more like 70%.

I'm a huge fan of the ball marking feature, that allows one to mark their ball and see how far the shot was hit. For me personally, I've noticed since using it that I always over estimated my shots by about 15-20 yards (male ego, go figure...).

I like the concept that a person actually went to the course to mark the distances and not just satellite images.

Anyone know of a unit that can track your game? I want to be able to record every shot and upload it to a computer and see exactly where my shots went wrong, etc...

[Corgidog]

[QUOTE=NJDuffer;149316]My firend submerged his GL for 15 minutes with no ill effects. I did not email him back to find out why he would need this feature but ok. I guess I can envision a situation where it falls in the water near a drop but it seems like
being waterproof is overkill.

Why would any sane person submerge his GPs unit in water for 15 min?

[tbird54]

I bought the Golflogix and have used it now about 4 times. It was a breeze to program (Windows XP Home) and I don't have to touch it while I play. I think it's great!

[gr8hntr]

i have used my Golflogix 8 times now and all i can say is WOW
this thing is gr8 ... i have told players in other fairways
how far to front and center of greens ( i was over there hittin mine back into
my fairway LOL) and they checked out my Golflogix and said they would
be buyin one...

i know it has save me strokes and thats what its all about
im sure the skycaddie will work also ... i just trust Garmin
because i own the gps 12 cx .. its about 15 years old and still works
as good as the day i got it ... i use it every year turkey hunting
and it has always got me back to the truck !!

[ardman]

Golflogix question:

Will the GL work if the annual subscription expires? It says unlimited download of courses for a year. If i spent that year, downloading all the courses i intend to play, will i be able to use the GL for years on end (pending the courses stay pretty much the same)??

thanks

sorry if i'm a newb asking stupid questions

[lordhamster]

I bought a used GolfLogix off ebay but it has not arrived yet, so I have some questions.

The manual says the GolfLogix will determine which course you are on and automatically advance the holes. But that makes me wonder how well this feature works.

For example, on my home course... the back 9 regulation and the par3 course have teeboxes that are only about 40 yards apart. How will the GolfLogix know which course I'm trying to play?

Similarly, lets say I'm hitting off hole #5 and then slice the ball off to the right onto the parallel fairway of hole #6. When I walk over there, to hit my ball, will GolfLogix think I've moved to the next hole? Do I need to then manually set the hole back to #5?

The hole setting does not concern me as much as the course setting... because as far as I can tell you can't set which course you are on. In those situations where two courses are right next to each other this may be a problem.