Rangefinder GPS Data and Course re-designs

[CaptainRon]

My local course has recently undergone some re-designs as well as switching the nines. This got me thinking about how the changes would affect the GPS devices being used for the course and how and if the major brands would update their GPS data. I asked at the pro shop who advised me that major brands of GPS devices could be re-mapped by the user. Of course, that's not quite what I wanted to hear ... for one thing, if I use my GPS at a course I've never played before, I normally wouldn't know of any re-designs and would simply rely on the information provided by my device.

So, does anybody know how the major brands revise or update their GPS data? Do they rely on users or the golf course,

[iacas]

I imagine that even if the hole number was wrong, the GPS would know which hole you were on. It wouldn't assume you were on the third hole (a par three) when you're really playing the twelfth (a par five) for example.

[mvmac]

I imagine that even if the hole number was wrong, the GPS would know which hole you were on. It wouldn't assume you were on the third hole (a par three) when you're really playing the twelfth (a par five) for example.

This would be my line of thinking as well. I would guess you'll still get the correct mapping/yardages but the hole number would be wrong.

[tcnbtx]

My local course in New Braunfels Texas was reopened last October after  13 month renovation.  The renovation included several holes changing number (old 9 became new 18) and all holes had physical design changes to the fairways and greens. It took about three months after reopening before Sky Caddie was updated with new information. The club pro or staff must contact the device company (e.g. Sky Caddie) for them to schedule their staff to remap the course.

In the interim, you can use the existing software mapping for holes if the greens did not change location. If tees changed, then you will get the correct distance. As was mentioned above, if the hole number changed, then you use the old number hole info, on the new hole. For example, I could use old number 9 info while playing the new 18th hole. Obviously, the physical changes did not show up on the device, so I made some  notes for the holes. I used the new sprinkler head yardages against what the sky caddie showed for that location to compare old to new.

Hope this helps.

[CaptainRon]

Yes, that does help and thanks. Now I know the process for Sky Caddie.

Since I wrote the original post, I've contacted Bushnell (I use their hybrid rangefinder). They've informed me that either the golf course or a member can contact them, then they will send out a form detailing any changes. They say that they will have the changes available within three business days of receiving the completed form.

What remains unclear (at least for Bushnell) is that I'm still unclear as to how they receive the GPS data since there's no place on the form for GPS coordinates. I've replied to them asking that particular question.

For clarification, I know that most GPS rangefinders can be modified by the user (if the user is aware of the changes) but I'm more interested to know of the general process for changes for the major manufacturers. I'm surprised (and impressed) to know that Sky Caddie would do the actual mapping rather than rely on a user to submit data. This seems to give their data some credibility. And under these circumstances, I feel that taking 6 months to post changes is reasonable.

[RayG]

I had an issue with a course in the Poconos last year while using the Golf Logix app. They reconfigured three holes and it hadn't been updated when I played it. After the 6th or 7th hole, all the tee boxes and greens were off kilter. I contacted them the next day through email. In a couple of exchanges with captures of Google Earth showing the old and new positions of tees and greens, it was fixed and roughly updated within a week. A full course update would happen a bit later. Next time around (a few moths later), all seemed good.

[CaptainRon]

That's good info. Thanks, Ray