A True iPhone GPS "Caddie" App

jonkarn · September 2, 2008

So I am waiting for apple or the open source geniuses out there to come up with a complete gps caddie application. Besides the typical golf GPS info like distance to front/mid/back/hazards and shot distances, why can't it have real-time wind direction and speed? What about keeping track of your full shot distances with each club, then "recommending" a club based on wind speed green height and average club distance? What about topographic green displays showing breaks? Showing previous course stats? Keeping track of putts, chips, sand shots, distance for full shots, handicap, fairways hit, what clubs used from Par 3's based on that days tee box location? What about aerial shots of course like uPro? Sorta like a uPro mixed with a scorekeeping/handicap website like OOBGOLF.com, with a dash of computerized caddie mixed in? With the touch screen preventing the use of menus like the other pain in the butt GPS units, and the quality of the graphics and processor speed it seems to be well within reach. SO? Whats taking you guys so long? I would pay $100 if not more for an application like this!!! And I dont even have an iPhone yet! But I would buy one in an instant if there was. I dont need to bring my phone and my GPS to the course! We're waiting......

hwrd · September 3, 2008

There are a couple of things that are holding back your "Caddie" App.

1. The iPhone GPS is not accurate enough for golf. It will usually show your location within +- 10 yards (which isn't quite accurate enough)

2. There is no possible way to get the wind direction and speed of your location. Wind can vary greatly over a golf course, so unless there is measurement instrumentation at your exact location, you really have no way of knowing.

I believe that some of the things you are asking for are already available in individual iPhone apps. However, getting them all together would be a gargantuan feat and probably not realistic for the investment it would take.