GPS, was card holder

[greenail]

Ok, since no one had any great solution for a card holder I am looking into a GPS solution. I have a WM5 phone that supports bluetooth and via bluetooth GPS. I have GPS in my car and LOVE it, so I figure why not bring it with me everywhere, have a phone/score card/stat tracker/club distance DB/email/gps/mp3 player.

I ordered an I-Blue GPS reciever which has some real nice stats including 30 hour charge, and 350 hour standby. There are several software packages out there and what I'd really like to be able to do is draw a line on the map and have it tell me how far my target is, as well as the standard distance to green. I have scoured the internet and have not found a good review of a product combination like this. Anyone have any experience with this stuff? I've notice alot of golfers are real club/shaft/grip nerds but don't do real well with high tech stuff, please prove me wrong.

I'm looking at these 3 primarily

http://www.starcaddy.com/features.cfm

but you need to pay for maps :(

http://www.gps-golfpro.com/

unclear how well it works

http://www.intelligolf.com/

doesn't seem easty to update your maps. no realtime location on course map.

I'd be happy to make a review if someone could get me course maps and trial licenses. I'd also be happy to test out some other recievers, the SIRF 3 chipset seems to have a big following, and I think garmen is comming out with a new one as well.

[greenail]

I've heard it is tough to get accurate from > 220 with a range finder, it also doesn't let you see uphill, through trees etc. My goal here is consolidation, not bringing a suitcase of gear out on the course. I'd like to be able to know how far I need for a layup, clear a dogleg turn, cut a corner.

[iacas]

I've heard it is tough to get accurate from > 220 with a range finder, it also doesn't let you see uphill, through trees etc. My goal here is consolidation, not bringing a suitcase of gear out on the course. I'd like to be able to know how far I need for a layup, clear a dogleg turn, cut a corner.

I have a laser range finder, and I've never had problems like you suggest you will.

There are almost always trees, bushes, stakes, something - at the corners of doglegs, etc. I can aim my range finder at a golf ball sitting in the fairway 120 yards away and get an accurate reading - trees, flags, and bushes are BIG targets in comparison. How often do you need a super-accurate yardage when you're in the trees? You're likely punching out or playing a non-standard shot anyway. You can't get a yardage up a hill if you can't see the flag, no, but a GPS yardage isn't going to help you, either: if it's that much uphill, you're guessing at what club to use anyway. Of course, none of that will hold your scorecard, so I can't topple the consolidation complaint you have, but don't rag on the range finders if you haven't used one in those situations. P.S. I can easily get a range from 250-260 with the range finder to the flag. Outside of that, it's hit or miss. But trees and other larger objects I can measure out to 400 yards or more. If you need yardages over 400 yards or to the pin from over 260, you need $5k to enter Q School, not a range finder.

[greenail]

I hate to be a dick, but I wasn't realy looking for advice on GPS vs Laser Range finder, there is tons of info online for that. I'm looking for those who have experience with a bluetooth GPS and a PDA phone. As I said before i'm looking to carry less on the course, not more. I can abandon my paper score card, and pencil and since I need to be able to email I need my phone most weekdays I play. Please, lets not turn this into a GPS vs Range discussion, perhaps I need to start a new thread for that.

[iacas]

I hate to be a dick, but I wasn't realy looking for advice on GPS vs Laser Range finder, there is tons of info online for that. I'm looking for those who have experience with a bluetooth GPS and a PDA phone. As I said before i'm looking to carry less on the course, not more. I can abandon my paper score card, and pencil and since I need to be able to email I need my phone most weekdays I play. Please, lets not turn this into a GPS vs Range discussion, perhaps I need to start a new thread for that.

And I hate to be a dick (well, not so much), but I don't like to let incorrect statements slide without being corrected. So don't make incorrect statements and your threads will likely stay more on topic.

[gas_can]

greenail,

Fair enough, I retract my posts.