Report - my experience using both gps and rangefinder together

atlanta golfer · January 1, 2008

I know there are lots of posts regarding these topics but not as many by people who use both gps and rangefinder. I received a skycaddie 3 and nikon 500g as gifts and this month have had 4 chances to play. I wanted to highlight the experience for those who might want to use both.

skycaddie: I can easily wear it on my belt via the clip. It is small and light and is not noticed when swinging, not a distraction at all. It is quick and easy to access while walking to my ball. I use it for bunkers, hazards, end of fairway, and green boundaries front and back. It also is handy to check length of shot using the mark function. A drawback is I am getting less than two rounds per set of double aa batteries and changing batteries during a round is not fun. Some of this is due to slow play / length of rounds during the busy holiday period on the courses. One of the 4 courses I played was one star so I did not use the skycaddie for this. Also, about once per round I found information that was flat wrong on the skycaddie - probably a mapping mistake. The error was easy to see and did not cause me to use the wrong club. I did not have any problem logging on with my laptop and downloading courses although the process was not as easy as it could be.

rangefinder: I found myself using this more often than the skycaddie. I used it for all the pins. I frequently shot the pin, then quickly checked the skycaddie for front or back of green if I was between clubs. The batteries seem to last a long time. It is light but a bit too bulky to wear on the belt. I found myself using this a lot for wedges and half wedges and had great success getting closer to the pin than I was used to doing, from 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 type yardages where you want to shoot directly at the pin. The rangefinder was especially useful for par 3's. On one par 3 yesterday, the green was 45 yards deep and tiered. On some other greens, since they were elevated you could not tell the pin position, you could only see the top half of the pin from below. The rangefinder was really valuable in these situations.

I did not have any "slow play" issues in using this technology, although as I said above we were typically waiting on the group ahead in these rounds. I am convinced though that this technology will speed up play. There were many situations during these rounds when my playing partners were having discussions about yardages, trying to figure them out, and I was able to take 10 seconds, get the yardage, and tell it to them, while they were still trying to figure it out. I like both devices but if I had to make a choice, I would go with the rangefinder if I only could have one.

buggyman · January 1, 2008

I completely am sold on my Bushnell 1500. I had the sky caddy and did not like it. The Bushnell goes everywhere and needs no subscriptions. Last week everyone in my group had one. Every shot it is used. I think it speeds up play if anything (WHICH IS VERY MUCH NEEDED IN GOLF). ALso when play is slow it kinda gives you something to do. I think the Bushnell is worth every penny.

glc3344 · January 1, 2008

[quote name='buggyman' post='844254' date='Jan 1 2008, 11:28 AM']I completely am sold on my Bushnell 1500. I had the sky caddy and did not like it. The Bushnell goes everywhere and needs no subscriptions. Last week everyone in my group had one. Every shot it is used. I think it speeds up play if anything (WHICH IS VERY MUCH NEEDED IN GOLF). ALso when play is slow it kinda gives you something to do. I think the Bushnell is worth every penny.[/quote]

When play is slow it gives you something to do...haha i thought i was the only one who used my rangefinder to keep myself occupied when things got slow...rangefidner is worth every penny. Probably the best golf investment i have made to date.

Solutions Etcetera · January 1, 2008

AG

Get yourself four NIMH rechargeable AA's (2000 MaH or higher) and a good charger. Swap freshly charged AA's into your GPS before every round... keep a spare set of alkalines in your bag just in case.

Rechargeables will lose their charge over time (even if not used) so consider a more sophisticated charger with a maintenance charge mode that will allow you to keep them topped up without cooking them.

These things will quickly pay for themselves (especially if you use AA and AAA batteries in other devices as well).

As for using both... maybe I am lazy but since getting the GolfLogix... the Nikon rarely comes out of the bag. Granted if I were to have one, I'd go with the Laser.

BTW... I find if I do use the Nikon, putting it on my belt on my back right hip is unnoticeable. I put a small lanyard on the little eye and that makes it very simple to pull it from the case with my right hand without having to have it in view.