No Yardage Markers

[Ron]

Hello:

I relocated to Mid Cities (DFW), Texas and the Golf Club where I play is very nice with two 18 hole courses.  The only problem is;  they used to have GPS carts and they changed their carts the month that I got here and will be remarking both courses in the traditional way.  They are NOT, however, setting the world on fire getting that done, and it is extremely difficult to play courses that you are not familiar with which don't have yardage markers to boot!  Both courses also have blind shots.    What's best to use in a situation like this, a Yardage APP or a Range Finder.  I'm a Senior and still have a single digit game from the middle Tee but I'll be honest, I am NOT doing very well with no yardage markers.  Their scorecards do not show the layout of each hole either so I have dumped a few beautiful long iron shots into water or hazards which I forgot (Being new) were there.

I'm sure folks will just say, "Find another course." (There are certainly plenty here) but, this course is 3 miles from my house, and I get an EXCELLENT Senior rate with a Cart M-F.  It is hard to beat in that respect and the courses are well maintained, the Staff is excellent, and this course is very active with something going on all the time because they have lots of room, plenty of parking, plenty of golf carts, restaurant, bar, party pavillions for food prep and or catering, etc.  They do many Corporate Outings and have it down to a Science so that you can play even when they have these Outings and you are not inconvenienced.

Back to my dilemma, rangefinders are expensive for a Senior on a "Fixed" and usually turn into junk very quickly and yardage APPS can slow pace of play with the loss of signal, etc.

Any suggestions?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DeadMan]

Cheapest option will probably be an app for your phone. Unless the course is in the middle of nowhere and you lose service often, it will work fine. You could also scout out sites like ebay for a used rangefinder or GPS unit, but you're still probably talking $100 or so. An app would be at most, $10?

I don't use my phone for this, but I'd imagine there will be people who use apps that can give you recommendations.

Edited November 27, 2017 by DeadMan

[NM Golf]

Go with an app, although you can pick up a cheap small GPS for under $100 new like the Bushnell NEO. Won't have a bunch of bells and whistles, but they tell you front, back, and middle.

[MarvChamp]

I use GolfLogix on phone. It's free but you can get premium for about $25/year to avoid ads. (I also have SkyCaddie watch, for good measure, heh-heh!). Welcome! -Marv

[Eric C]

The phone apps didn't work for me at all because they were so slow, and kill battery life quickly.  My Bushnell range finder, however, has been with me for 5 seasons and has held up wonderfully. She's been dropped, had beer slopped on her, and forgotten on more than one tee box ... but somehow she still keeps going. 

I can see where new lasers at $300+ are steep for a fixed income, and they also won't give you the hole overview you are looking for.  There are some nice GPS's for less money though, and probably used available on Craigslist and other websites. If you can get several seasons out of them it really starts to make a lot of sense.

[cutchemist42]

I use hole19 and really like it.

[Pardner]

Love my "Golf Buddy."  Just push a button and the Golf Buddy tells me (using voice) the center of the green or hold the same button and it tells me front and back.  I don't have to struggle looking at some display that I can't see anyway with my poor reading eyesight.  I have a Bushnell laser rangefinder too but I typically just want to know where's the middle of the green is at.  Occasionally I'll use both the golf buddy and rangefinder to verify if the pin is front, back, etc.  Golf Buddy's are relatively inexpensive too, usually around $100.  As far as blind shots go, the golf buddy may not be a lot of help for that, and a better GPS that has mapping will be a lot better for that, but I personally don't usually miss not having those sort of capabilities.  On rare occasion I'll use my 18 Birdies phone app for course layout with GPS, but it's usually just too much trouble.

[David in FL]

If you like, a quick search on this site will lead you to a bunch of "rangefinder vs GPS" threads that might help you.  

I don't know what you mean about rangefinders turning to junk though.  I've had my mine 7 or 8 years now and know those that have had theirs longer than that...

FWIW, I've owned both, and find the rangefinder the hands-down more useful.

[colin007]

For the time being, just get a free app.

[Ron]

14 minutes ago, David in FL said:

If you like, a quick search on this site will lead you to a bunch of "rangefinder vs GPS" threads that might help you.  

I don't know what you mean about rangefinders turning to junk though.  I've had my mine 7 or 8 years now and know those that have had theirs longer than that...

FWIW, I've owned both, and find the rangefinder the hands-down more useful.

David:   I bought a Bushnell Pin Seeker back in 2007 which cost me just "South" of $500.00 and it lasted 1 season and QUIT!  Shipping both ways to Kansas from Long Island, NY and out of warranty repair would have cost me almost what I paid for it.  I threw it in the garbage.  I used a yardage app on my iPhone for a while last season but the battery kill, features I didn't need, sales Ads, and slowness made that a disruption to my game.  I'm a pretty solid player and ALL I really need is  Middle of the Green!  I have no use for the "Gimmick" stuff.  Perhaps the Rangefinders have improved in 10 years.  I see many fellows using them and they are considerably smaller than that Bushnell "Brick" that I was toting around.  Thanks to everyone for all the feedback I'm receiving.  It is very much appreciated!   I'm going to do my homework after reading everything.

[David in FL]

If all you want is middle of the green type info, my father has a little GolfBuddy GPS that can be clipped on your hat, or belt.  Push the button and it speaks the yardage.  Front, middle, or back of the green.  Courses are preloaded and I've found it to be very accurate.  Under $100 as I remember.

[Marty2019]

2 hours ago, Ron said:

Hello:

I relocated to Mid Cities (DFW), Texas and the Golf Club where I play is very nice with two 18 hole courses.  The only problem is;  they used to have GPS carts and they changed their carts the month that I got here and will be remarking both courses in the traditional way.  They are NOT, however, setting the world on fire getting that done, and it is extremely difficult to play courses that you are not familiar with which don't have yardage markers to boot!  Both courses also have blind shots.    What's best to use in a situation like this, a Yardage APP or a Range Finder.  I'm a Senior and still have a single digit game from the middle Tee but I'll be honest, I am NOT doing very well with no yardage markers.  Their scorecards do not show the layout of each hole either so I have dumped a few beautiful long iron shots into water or hazards which I forgot (Being new) were there.

I'm sure folks will just say, "Find another course." (There are certainly plenty here) but, this course is 3 miles from my house, and I get an EXCELLENT Senior rate with a Cart M-F.  It is hard to beat in that respect and the courses are well maintained, the Staff is excellent, and this course is very active with something going on all the time because they have lots of room, plenty of parking, plenty of golf carts, restaurant, bar, party pavillions for food prep and or catering, etc.  They do many Corporate Outings and have it down to a Science so that you can play even when they have these Outings and you are not inconvenienced.

Back to my dilemma, rangefinders are expensive for a Senior on a "Fixed" and usually turn into junk very quickly and yardage APPS can slow pace of play with the loss of signal, etc.

Any suggestions?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freecaddie

Freecaddie.com

It's a GPS-based app that installs on your smart phone, and has yardages for about 33,000 courses, plus, for a one-time fee of $4.99, it will also give you yardages to the hazards or the end of the dog leg, or whatever.  I've used it for a couple of years and it's great. 

Why spend a bunch of money when you can try this for FREE? 

 

Edited November 27, 2017 by Marty2019

[No Mulligans]

I've used a rangefinder, a GPS watch and an app on a phone. The one dislike the most was the app on the phone, I really didn't like pulling my phone in-and-out of my pocket and the difficulty of seeing the screen in the sunlight. My favorite is the GPS watch just a quick glance and I have the yardage 

[Ron]

5 minutes ago, No Mulligans said:

I've used a rangefinder, a GPS watch and an app on a phone. The one dislike the most was the app on the phone, I really didn't like pulling my phone in-and-out of my pocket and the difficulty of seeing the screen in the sunlight. My favorite is the GPS watch just a quick glance and I have the yardage 

Agreed!  I put a Yardage App (Free Caddie) on my iPhone 6+.   Because of the size of the 6+, I kept putting it on the seat because it wouldn't fit in the Cup Holder. and after my shot, I would forget that it was on the seat.....GONE! Lost my Phone 4 times.  I always found it but I finally quit while I was ahead.  I also didn't like pulling the iPhone in-and-out, of my bag, pocket, etc.  You lose your concentration!  Yardage to the middle.  That's all I need.  

[Marty2019]

3 minutes ago, Ron said:

Agreed!  I put a Yardage App (Free Caddie) on my iPhone 6+.   Because of the size of the 6+, I kept putting it on the seat because it wouldn't fit in the Cup Holder. and after my shot, I would forget that it was on the seat.....GONE! Lost my Phone 4 times.  I always found it but I finally quit while I was ahead.  I also didn't like pulling the iPhone in-and-out, of my bag, pocket, etc.  You lose your concentration!  Yardage to the middle.  That's all I need.  

I guess there has to be some reason people will pay for something they could have for free. 

I loaded Freecaddie on my iphone 6+, also. I keep my phone in my pocket.  It's never been a problem for me.  I'd rather not wear a watch. 

[MarvChamp]

@Ron , you asked, nice people gave you ideas. For the most part, you have been negative in response. No-good-o, as we say in Texas. But just my perspective. Best wishes, -Marv

[Ron]

17 minutes ago, MarvChamp said:

@Ron , you asked, nice people gave you ideas. For the most part, you have been negative in response. No-good-o, as we say in Texas. But just my perspective. Best wishes, -Marv

Somebody eat your Wheaties?  You are without question entitled to your opinion.  I don't agree with your view but if it makes you feel good, go for it.  "No-good-o, as we say in Texas." ??  My Oldest Son lives in Colleyville and I have been visiting Texas for over 20 years.  I don't recall ever hearing anyone in Texas say No-good-o. But perhaps that is colloquial jargon that you use.  I don't and never will. 

[MarvChamp]

1 hour ago, Ron said:

Somebody eat your Wheaties?  You are without question entitled to your opinion.  I don't agree with your view but if it makes you feel good, go for it.  "No-good-o, as we say in Texas." ??  My Oldest Son lives in Colleyville and I have been visiting Texas for over 20 years.  I don't recall ever hearing anyone in Texas say No-good-o. But perhaps that is colloquial jargon that you use.  I don't and never will. 

You are right of course. Not sure why I was critical; not my usual style. Regards, -Marv