golfrewind.com

I don't know if you would consider this golf equipment, but I wanted any feedback on this handheld gps (SKYCADDIE) that has been advertised on the golf channel by Peter Jacobsen.

thanks
Ted

As far as I am concerned, this is just another step in dumbing down golf. Today's golfers, including the pros, are spoiled with all of the doodads available. Yardage books, GPS systems, rangefinders, they all go together to take out an important part of playing golf: experience. It takes a long time to develop a sense of distance and club selection. Something that most of today's golfers don't have. Take away the cheaters and most of them would have a hard time breaking 90.

But, this from the perspective of someone who grew up playing the game without all the aids. Maybe Skygolf, rangefinders, and the other stuff is necessary for the 21st century. I only hope there are still a few of us old duffers left who love the challenge of facing a shot and having to reach back over years of playing to choose the right club and watch the shot go exactly where we planned.

I can't speak for those of us who apparently have mastered the game, but have yet to make it past the local club game. Although, I can say, save your money and if you are interested in GPS technology check out Sureshot.

The all-knowing, all- powerful, all-omnipotent USGA has declared rangefinding tools are legal. However, it's still kinda fun to actually do the math. I was given one for X-mas ( not the SkyCaddie), tried it and found it really slowed things down. IMO, save the money (the SkyCaddies are expensive), and use the money for green fees, or something really useful.

To me that is just another example of gimmick golf, and an expensive gimmick at that. I don't need the latest hi-tech wonder gizmo to enjoy golf. I agree with the rest of you guys...save your money on the gizmo junk and spend it on greens fees. Next it will be battery operated, computerized golf clubs. They now make high end fishing reels with computer readouts, so computerized golf clubs are sure to come eventually.

Pro's use yardage books that have much more information than you get out of a GPS range finder. Golf courses provide yardage markers on sprinkler heads. Whats the difference? Using a GPS just gives you the same information without having to search for a sprinkler head. i use the Star Caddy GPS system. It works great. It gives you the distance to hazards as well as the capability to measure the distance between any two points on a hole. GPS range finders are a good thing.

I for one am looking forward to getting a GPS system of some type. I know I will shoot lower numbers by having a more exact yardage to the pin. Plus I will be using it for practice to know exactly how far I hit each club. The GPS systems are not taking anything away from being a natural golfer. It gets down to you can either hit the ball or not. If you want to get better just hitting a ball out in a field will only get you so far.

You can call my new laser range finder a gimmick if you like, but I call it a tool of the game. BTW, A tool that probably every professional golfer benefits from. I haven't had the opportunity to use my range finder yet but I won't be using it to specifically enhance my enjoyment of the game. Like the rest of my custom fit clubs and high performance golf balls, I'll be using it to help me improve my game.

I have a Sky Caddy, they are fantastic. Not only does it give you the distances to the front, pin, and back of greens on most courses it will show you a diagram of the whole green. This helps if there is a hazard or swale in front of the green and the pin is in the front, I know how far I want to hit it to be just beyond the flag. Also, a pin in the back of a deep green will call for one more club to get it all the way back. It is a tool that can help you score well if you can control the distances of your clubs.

I have a bluetooth GPS device and a Pocket PC. I have used Intelligolf for a few years. Last week, I played nine holes with the GPS and it was realy great. To hit a shot you need to know the proper yardage, this just makes it easier and more accurate. I hit 77% GIR, missed one par3 and one par4, both six irons.

I don't have one/haven't tried it, but I can't see how it would be anything other than beneficial and help speed up play to have that kind of information at your fingertips. Pros get it all from their caddy, why shouldn't we?

The one feature that I saw on the infomercial yesterday that I hadn't seen before is where you can hit your shot, press a button on the side of the thing, walk to your ball, press that button again, and get an exact distance of how far you hit that shot. How awesome would that be to know?

Overall I think it's a good development.

Does anyone know what the final cost is on the thingy? And how can you determine if your club is on the list of ones that offers the service?

Click here - SkyGolf Website . . . you can search for your available courses using your zip code.

I've had my sky caddie for about 2 months now and absolutely love it. It's especially helpful for shots off the fairway (which I seem to do alot), I'm not guessing my yardage. The only downside to it is...You'll actually get to see how far you hit your drives, which for me was a major disappointment. "You're never as long as you think you are."

According to their web site, it's $350 for the unit itself then subscription plans starting at $20/year for 5 courses.

I got one for christmas from Mrs. boomer...and you can call it what you want but i found it only speeds up play with a confident yardage vs. steping one off from the closest head and trying to judge to tanget involved with not being exactly in line with that sprinkler....I for one love the fact that i can stop at the ball with my cart. Pick it up and have front middle and back of the green yardage just by looking at the screen. unless you have a book with the depth of the green from every angle of the fairway, or rough ,my Sky caddie will give you all of that in 5 seconds. apparently if a sky caddie slows you down, try RIF. Thats the only thing i can think of that would make it slow.......