I want a gps for distance to green, doglegs, sand and water

[Jul89]

Recommendations??

[Stuart_G]

I'm not saying one might not exist, but most of the GPS devices that have that type of info preloaded usually only have it for a single point and are not as useful as a laser rangefinder (IMO) since the actual distance can vary a lot based on the specific line you decide to take - particularly for dog legs and water hazards. Best GPS option would likely be a hand held unit with a touch screen where you can get the distance to any point on the hole you select like one of the Garmin G series units. The smaller units can be very useful for green info but can be limited with respect to the other information.

[cristphoto]

I agree with the post above. I have both the Bushnell Neo X gps watch and the Bushnell Z6 laser. Since I got the laser the watch has mostly stayed at home (despite its seeming to be more convienent). I can read to virtually any spot in the course with pinpoint accuracy. And in most cases when I have a blind shot I can go to the top of the hill and measure to the green and then measure back to where my ball is and simply add the two. Plus I'm retired and play a lot of different courses so I simply leave the laser in the bag ready for use. With the watch I'm always recharging it (a minor hassle). The laser also comes in handy at the range where the gps offers no data. I (like many others) got the gps thinking all I needed was fmb readings to the green and being on my wrist was easy. However in actual use I have seen how the laser offers much more information during a round of golf. Ironically when I play with someone with a gps they will use it for the first couple holes but then start relying on my readings when they see the (often very) different numbers that happen with odd shaped greens or being on the far edge of the fairway.

[North Butte]

In my opinion, if you want to plot your way around the course by getting distances to various obstacles or hazards and you want to use a GPS rather than a laser, the suggestion of a touch-screen full sized unit like the G6 is spot on. Watches or other GPS units that give a text list of "hazards" and "doglegs" and such do not make it clear exactly what spot on the course they are giving you the distance for. You really want to be able to position a cursor on a map view and get the distance to this edge or that corner or some wide spot in the fairway.

 

I personally prefer the laser. I keep a little Bushnell Neo Ghost GPS around to use as a quick middle-of-green distance reference when playing an unfamiliar course. But for detailed "strategy" it's hard to beat the specificity and accuracy of a laser. As a bonus the laser always tells you where the pin is, not an approximation or eyeball estimate of where on the green it is today.

[SHIVAN]

I like the original SGX, and the ability it gives me to move the cursor to any point and get a reading from the line I'm on to the edge of bunkers, front of greens, etc. I also carry a laser.

[dbdors]

Second on the Garmin G series. I have a G6 and like it.

[RSinSG]

I use a laser 99% of the time, but I also have a Bushnell NeoX watch. I put the watch on the handle of my push cart when walking, or strap it to the cart somewhere when riding. It's not very sophisticated but does give yardage to the green and hazards. I'm good enough at math to know if I have 275 to the green and I want a 100 3rd shot I need to look for a place around 175 away. Same as avoiding hazards. I use this gem from Clicgear to secure the watch.

[North Butte]

If you're not going to actually wear it on your arm the Neo Ghost is basically the same innards in a clip-on form factor with larger display and bigger battery.

[timmy8151]

Following this thread too. I have a rangefinder, but would be helpful to have a relatively inexpensive GPS to provide hazard and green info especially when I don't have LOS.

[skmcclure]

Try using your smart phone, assuming you have one. I use the GolfLogix app and it works quite well for that. I pay for the "champion" (I think it is called) membership where there are extra features so the free version might not have the ability to tap a point on the screen but there are many choices out there and most are free. Much cheaper than a $180 Garmin G6.

[Cjetblack]

I use a free app called Swing by Swing. It gives you hole overviews and you can tap the screen to get yardages to a specific point. You can pay a yearly fee and get access to more information, but what is there for free is quite a bit. I also keeps your score and stats too.