Want to know what’s the best golf GPS 2009 systems? Well, there are quite a few. You see, the golf GPS market is quite crowded and there’s a lot of consumer confusion. You can spend $150 on a golf GPS or you can spend $400. The real question you need to ask yourself is what do you want your golf GPS to do for you, and how much do you want to pay. To help you out, though, I’m going to talk a little bit about some of the best selling golf GPS systems on the 2009 market. That way you’ll be in a better position to figure out what’s the best golf GPS 2009 for your needs and budget.
Garmin Approach G5
The thing I like about the Garmin Approach is the large bright touch screen. When I play golf, my goal is to enjoy myself, not fiddle with a bunch of buttons, and the touch screen makes this possible. The Approach comes with all the golf courses already downloaded, no annual fee! It keeps score and also accurately measures distances. This one is definitely on my list of best GPS 2009 systems for golf.
SkyCaddie SG5
The SkyCaddie SG5 has a large color display and a ton of features. One thing I like about the SkyCaddie SG5 is the fact that the distances are displayed with really large numbers. Easy to read in bright sunlight. It also gives you distances to the front, center, and back of the green. There are more than 23,000 courses in SkyCaddie’s database. You have to have a membership plan, but those run $30 or so. Again, this should be on the list of best GPS golf 2009 systems.
Sonocaddie V300
Another golf GPS that found its way onto my list of best golf GPS 2009 units was the Sonocaddie V300. Its main feature is a large, bright 3D display. Of course, it measures distances, but it also tracks shot length, keeps score, and helps you statistically analyze your past games. It will keep track of every single shot you make, which is useful if you’re trying to better your score on a particular course. Again, this takes a membership, but it’s not that expensive.
Golf Buddy Pro GPS
No list of best golf GPS 2009 devices would be complete without the Golf Buddy Pro GPS. ( I should also throw Golf Buddy’s Tour GPS in, too.) The Pro changes the picture of the green to match your angle of approach, which is a feature I think is really neat. Like the Garmin Approach, it’s already pre-loaded with all the North American courses. It automatically loads not only the course, but also the hole you’re on. (With some others you have to do this manually.) Also, it has a very easy to read screen.
Callaway uPro Golf GPS
No list of the best golf GPS 2009 systems would be complete without the Callaway uPro. As far as graphics, the uPro is miles ahead of everyone else, except perhaps the Garmin Approach. It measures distances to the hole. You don’t have to have a subscription, but to get the detailed information you want, you’ll want one. It’s not expensive, though.
Golflogix Golf GPS-8
I might be partial to Garmin. They have such a reputation for quality in the auto GPS market. So, it’s no wonder they have more than one entry in my list of best golf GPS 2009 systems. The Golflogix Golf GPS-8 is quite a bit less expensive than previous models I’ve talked about, but it has plenty of power and features. It automatically detects the course you’re on. Displays distances to the front, center and back of the green. You can measure the distance of your last shot, and also keep track of distance by club, which is a great feature for those of us who think driving ranges are boring.
iGolf Neo
The last entry on my list of best GPS 2009 devices is the iGolf Neo. The Neo costs quite a bit less than a Garmin Approach or a Callaway uPro, but it still has plenty of great features, not to mention the fact that it’s really small. The screen is not that small, by the way. Again, you’ve got distance to front, back, and center of the green, distance to pin, and last shot distance. You can input up to four custom points per hole as you play. You have to pay a membership to access iGolf’s database of over 35,000 courses, but again, that’s not expensive.
As you can see, there’s quite a range of prices and features. The important thing, however, is to figure out your budget and what you want your GPS for. That way you can make the maximum use of my best golf GPS 2009 list.
By: Rick Cole
Posts Tagged ‘Golf Gps’
Best Golf GPS 2009
February 20th, 2010Using a GPS For Golf
February 11th, 2010
In this article I will give you 10 benefits of using a GPS for golf. With the rapid development of GPS technology, using a GPS for golf has become very popular throughout the world, and in particular America and Australia.
Why has using a GPS for golf become so popular?
Well quite simply the information you receive from a GPS is both accurate and extremely useful.
When using a GPS for golf you get the following benefits:
Distances from where you are to varying parts of the course and hole in play. This includes the overall length of the hole, the distance to the beginning and end of the fairway. Distances to hazards, both to reach and to carry the hazard, as well as distances to the front, centre and back of the green. All this information is extremely useful and time saving. No more measuring out or guessing of distances. Most Golf GPS models are accurate to within a couple of yards. Get to know how far you hit the ball with each club. A lot of players who have been using a GPS for golf say that this can be quite a humbling experience. Believing that they hit a driver (or any club) a certain distance and then discovering that they in fact don’t hit it that far seems to amaze them. Truth is most amateurs think they hit the ball further than they do. Gain confidence. Knowing the distance that you hit each club gives you an incredible amount of confidence when playing. No longer do you have to worry about a three quarter or “between clubs” shot. This alleviates tension and allows for a smooth swing. Ever wondered why the pros seem to know exactly which club to use and get the distances exactly right? Their caddies are paid to know exactly how far it is to the pin, what clubs they hit that distance and to advise the player accordingly – exactly the information you will get from using a GPS for golf. A Golf GPS is extremely useful when you have hit a wayward shot; say behind some trees, where you would ordinarily have no idea of how far it is to get the ball back into play or to the green. Without a line of sight you can confidently play your shot knowing that your ball will (or should – as you still have to execute the shot) land back in play or where you intended it to go. Play anywhere any time with confidence. If playing at a strange course for the first time or a course that you do not play that often – such as when you are on holiday – you have the advantage of not having to worry about distances. Most GPS models come preloaded with a number of local courses or courses can be downloaded as required. In addition you can ‘map’ or plot your own points on every hole and so customize your GPS specifically for your own use. Using a GPS for golf will speed up play. It is amazing how many players report that this happens. Even one GPS in a four ball seems to speed up play considerably. Shoot lower scores and reduce your handicap. A lot of people who use a GPS for golf say that they have shaved shots off their rounds from the very first time they use a GPS. Quite simply a GPS takes a lot of tension out of the equation and this definitely makes for better scoring. Be the envy of your mates – they’ll all want to play with you. Or more likely want you to help them with their distances. Analyze your round after the game by using the built in statistics available in most GPS models. Enjoy your game more. If you are playing well you will naturally enjoy it more.
So there you have it – 10 benefits to using a GPS for golf. If you haven’t already tried using a GPS for golf do yourself a favor and go out and get one today.
By: Lawrence Bredenkamp
