Iphone GPS

[traviswise]

Hope this isn't a repost but I wanted to inform those of you with Iphones of something I found out recently. There is a free, I repeat, free application that is a golf GPS program that you can download. I am not sure how long it's been out but I have had it for well over a month.

Of course, I thought, well this can't be that accurate. The set up was the only part that took some effort. It already had a limited database of courses that other users had programmed in but unfortunately my local course wasn't there.

So, in order to map your course it directs you to an online web page that uses google's satelittle maps and ask you for the tee, any points of interest (bunkers, etc.) and the middle of the green. You drop pins and map out the entire course this way.

Once I had done this, my club had a demo of the Golf Buddy GPS that I took along with me for a round of golf. I did this, more or less, b/c I wanted to check the accuracy of the Iphone's program.

On almost every hole it was never 2-3 yards different than the Golf Buddy. Worse difference I experience was 5 yards.

Now, it doesn't automatically roll to the next whole for you, or automatically know where you are when you get out of the car but that is negligable for me.

In summary, you can either spend $350 for dead on accuracy or save your money like me and take the chance on 2-3 yards for absolutly $0 dollars.

[ctowntex]

What's the name of the app you downloaded? I had a golf GPS app once but I never got the GPS to work right. It would always tell me the distance to the north pole.

Needless to say I deleted it and have been wanting a good golf GPS app.

[iacas]

The GPS in the iPhone is considered to be accurate to within about 10-12 yards. That's nowhere near acceptable enough for most people. You may as well use the already free yardage markers on the course...

You get what you pay for, and the iPhone wasn't built to give the most precise GPS measurements (nor the battery to last while using GPS for 4+ hours).

[traviswise]

The GPS in the iPhone is considered to be accurate to within about 10-12 yards. That's nowhere near acceptable enough for most people. You may as well use the already free yardage markers on the course...

I am just basing it on real world test and letting you guys know. Obviously use at your own risk. 10-12 yards for me isn't a big deal with a high handicap like I have.

I don't know the name, just search in the app store.

[Lefty22]

I am just basing it on real world test and letting you guys know. Obviously use at your own risk. 10-12 yards for me isn't a big deal with a high handicap like I have.

There are at least five different free gps apps for the iPhone; not reallythat helpful a post if you can't look on the phone and give the name...

As to accuracy, I think the 10-15 off is the worst case scenario. I use vcaddy every now and then and it's ok but I'm thinking the neo sounds pretty good. The iPhone apps usually don't do even basic things like add a point on the hole or hit a "shot" button to mark a shot distance. Honestly I hate having my phone on me while playing...

[dozer996]

I've used V Caddy and it isn't really accurate in my opinion. I'm not going to rely on inaccuracies when I'm on the course. I'd rather use yard markers or feel at that moment, next investment for me is going to be a range finder. I feel that GPS is hit or miss, especially living in Michigan where the weather is different every day and it pretty much is cloudy all the time so satellite measurements can't be all that accurate.

Not down playing your find at all, I've been using the 3-G capable Iphone for GPS apps since they launched last year...I've paid for apps and used the free one's hoping to find a great alternative to yard markers, but I haven't been successful yet with them.

[supersport]

I downloaded Scorecard that that be uploaded/migrated via phone to Oobgolf. Pretty cool way to track your shots (bad shots in my case). It has a gps option for 3G but the only bad thing other than the yardage discrepancy is having to set the flags on each hole if playing the course the first time with phone. Only used it once on a par 3 course by the house and used it twice to keep score and upload to Oobgolf.

E

[traviswise]

The app is called 'myCaddie'.