Golf - Which GPS to buy??

[Big Worm 1]

I am asking this question on behalf of a friend who is a keen golfer.

He wants to get a golf GPS for Xmas but doesn't know which to get. He has looked at various websites and they all seem to get both positive and negative reviews.

Is there one that you guys can recommend? Budget will be around £250-£300. So far he likes the look of the Garmin G6 and doesn't want one where he has to pay an annual subscription.

Thanks

[Rosscow]

Does he have an iPhone or Android phone?

If so, the best £20 he'll ever spend:

http://golfshot.com/

[snowy]

Rosscow said:

Does he have an iPhone or Android phone?

If so, the best £20 he'll ever spend:

http://golfshot.com/

Has help me improve my game no end, cant fault it for £20, and it's a one off payment, no annual fees etc etc,

or

spend £200 on a sky caddie and pay a subscription each year

GolfShot all the way!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Worm 1]

I suggested an app for his iPhone but he said that he doesn't want to risk getting it wet or damaged, whereas the GPS he saw was waterproof. He could always look at getting a waterproof cover for his phone i suppose.

[Big Worm 1]

I've just spoken to him and he already has the golfshot app on his iPhone but he said it kills his battery and only lasts about 4 hours. So if he is out playing for the day, it's no good.

Can anyone suggest a good golf GPS instead?

[Rosscow]

That's rubbish - he needs to use it better.

I drove for an hour and a half, played 18 holes, had dinner and a beer, and drove home with my iPhone using Golfshot last Friday and still had 30% battery when I got in.

If he has bluetooth on, and all of his location apps on under location services it will drain quicker. I turn my bluetooth off, and make sure only Golfshot is activated under location services.

Then I shove my iPhone in my pocket. You only need to get it out once or twice a hole so it shouldn't get too wet.

If that's all he is worried about then tell him to buy a Trent Cruiser for those long days out:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Trent-IMP120D-Thunderb...

Just stick it in his car or golf bag, I get 6 charges of my iPhone before this thing runs out of battery.

Golf GPS units are rubbish, you'll not better the Golfshot app.

[PeteSUK]

Just joined up so I could comment on this.

I don't know about this particular iphone app but just wanted to point out that as it currently stands (probably due to technophobia on the part of the R&A) most mobile apps including ALL iphone apps are illegal.

To quote the rule from the R&A "When an application that measures distance has been downloaded to the device, the application must be restricted to providing only distance information in order to conform to the Local Rule. If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not. "

i.e iphone has compass/weather etc built in to the operating system so cannot be switched off - therefore breach of rules. How a compass or seeing the weather on your phone when you are actually standing in the weather is a help is beyond me, but that's another question.

I have a Shotmiser GPS unit. It's great and no rules issues. No subscriptions and good value I think at just under £200. The customer service is also excellent. Also Pistonheads might be interested in that an SD card can purchased which turns it into a vehicle sat nav. (removed again for golf).

Hope that helps.

[skyetom]

Rather than looking for a GPS device, have you considered buying a rangefinder (laser measurement) instead? Bushnell or Nikon are both good and they fit the budget you mentioned. The benefit is that they don't need updating and there are no fees at all after the purchase price.

Just a thought...

[PeteSUK]

skyetom said:

Rather than looking for a GPS device, have you considered buying a rangefinder (laser measurement) instead? Bushnell or Nikon are both good and they fit the budget you mentioned. The benefit is that they don't need updating and there are no fees at all after the purchase price.

Just a thought...

Hi Skyetom,

The problem I have with a laser rangefinder is that on an undulating course like where I play you can't always see the target. Also I use the GPS to hit to my lay up distance which correct me if I'm wrong is not easy with a laser. Laser may be better for precise distance to the pin when you can see it.

If I want distance to the pin when I can see it I just tap the screen on the green view on the part where the pin is. Not quite as accurate as a laser but more than adequate for me.

The Shotmiser GPS I use has unlimited free downloads http://www.shotmiser.com/

[Rosscow]

PeteSUK said:

Just joined up so I could comment on this.

I don't know about this particular iphone app but just wanted to point out that as it currently stands (probably due to technophobia on the part of the R&A) most mobile apps including ALL iphone apps are illegal.

To quote the rule from the R&A "When an application that measures distance has been downloaded to the device, the application must be restricted to providing only distance information in order to conform to the Local Rule. If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not. "

i.e iphone has compass/weather etc built in to the operating system so cannot be switched off - therefore breach of rules. How a compass or seeing the weather on your phone when you are actually standing in the weather is a help is beyond me, but that's another question.

I have a Shotmiser GPS unit. It's great and no rules issues. No subscriptions and good value I think at just under £200. The customer service is also excellent. Also Pistonheads might be interested in that an SD card can purchased which turns it into a vehicle sat nav. (removed again for golf).

Hope that helps.

The above is only relevant if you play comps, obviously.

[snowy]

PeteSUK said:

Just joined up so I could comment on this.

I don't know about this particular iphone app but just wanted to point out that as it currently stands (probably due to technophobia on the part of the R&A) most mobile apps including ALL iphone apps are illegal.

To quote the rule from the R&A "When an application that measures distance has been downloaded to the device, the application must be restricted to providing only distance information in order to conform to the Local Rule. If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not. "

i.e iphone has compass/weather etc built in to the operating system so cannot be switched off - therefore breach of rules. How a compass or seeing the weather on your phone when you are actually standing in the weather is a help is beyond me, but that's another question.

I have a Shotmiser GPS unit. It's great and no rules issues. No subscriptions and good value I think at just under £200. The customer service is also excellent. Also Pistonheads might be interested in that an SD card can purchased which turns it into a vehicle sat nav. (removed again for golf).

Hope that helps.

Just had a quick look on the R& A website

"Even when the Local Rule is in effect, the device must be limited to measuring distance only. Features that would render use of the device contrary to the Local Rule include, but are not limited to:

the gauging or measuring of slope;

the gauging or measuring of other conditions that might affect play (e.g. wind speed or direction, or other climate-based information such as temperature, humidity, etc.); "


So does the iphone in my case do the following

Gauge or measure slope :- Not that i know of unless you have an app to do it

Gauge or measure wind speed or direction (no, it can get weather reports from websites)

temperature/humidity, no, again it retrives, i believe information from web sites

Link to rule on R & A web site

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/R...


Cant see any info on golfshot web site stating that it complys to the R&A Rules