Garmin GolfLogix GPS Unit

[IMAGOLFER]

What are your guys thoughts on this unit? Prefer Skycaddie?

 

http://www.golflogix.com/default.asp

[8thehardway]

I'm waiting for Garmin's next release before picking it up but I like the idea of continuous yardage display without pushing a button.

[8thehardway]

I'm waiting for Garmin's next release before picking it up but I like the idea of continuous yardage display without pushing a button.

[stevestrike]

There were a couple of things that steered me away from the GolfLogix unit.

1. I could never confirm that their unit provided a shot measurement feature. Someone who owns one might be able to.

2. Their "future" stuff looks really cool, but unit there is no telling when/if they will ever do that. Without it, it's just another GPS, and there are better/cheaper options.

[Solutions Etcetera]

I went with this unit for several reasons, but the main one was I liked the hardware. Most of the other brands felt really cheap to me and I have owned Garmin before and they have always been bullet proof

I really like the fact that you don't have to touch a thing during your round. It even has a timer in it when you get to the green so it advances to the next hole automatically.

The downside is that it is not as feature laden as other units. No adding waypoints, no ball marking, no scorecard. Note that they make a lot of noise on their website about what features might be coming in the future, and while their customer service is quite good, they are less than forthcoming with ANY kind of ETA for any of them. In fact... after several inquiries about when the ball marking feature (one that was specifically addressed in their FAQ) would be addressed, I see that the FAQ has been updated to remove that info.

So... if your not happy with what it does now, look elsewhere as I am not sure you will see "the future" that is displayed on their site. I do like mine and not sure I would trade it for any other unit at this point.

HTH

[sabram]

I got one as a gift last month so have only used it four four rounds on trips South (Virginia and Florida) as it is not golf season in the North. It has been great. Set up, selecting courses to download and the actual download are a snap. It picked up the satellites quickly and continuosly throughout the rounds. I have read posts on several boards complaining about not getting a good satellite connection with Skycaddie and other brands. I used good quality batteries that lasted all 4 rounds. I have also read posters complain about battery life with other brands. I think 2 -4 rounds is probably what you should expect from any brand based on what I have read, altogh some Sky-caddie users change them every round. It is a good idea to keep an extra set of batteries in youer golf bag, whichever brand you get. I am considering rechargable batteries.

The most important aspect IMO is how accurate the readings are. There are two ingredients here. The first is how accurate the measurements in the data base are and the second is how well the gadget reads that info. Golflogix inputs all the info themselves. Sky-caddie to some extenet relies on users to upload the cousre data that other users rely on. I think there is a greater liklihood of bad data from the Sky-caddie data base since some courses are in effect being up-loaded by novices. Golf Logix has approx 15,000 courses in its database and if there is a course they don't have, I was told they will add it in a week or less. Based on my small 4 round sample size, the readings from my golflogix GPS have been accurate. I can't say for sure if it has been accuarate to 1 yard or two yards etc, but certainly at least as good as the old way (pacing it off from the 150 marker) which I did a few times to compare. At a course that had GPS built into the golf carts (it was paths only) the readings were always within 1-3 yards of each other while on the path. The benefit of the hand held was that I could take it to my ball. It definitely saved some time on the new courses I played and let me know distances to dog-legs and hazards on blind shots. It is certainly not a necessity and not cheap, but it is a fun toy that can save you a few minutes on your round and perhaps a shot or two.

[sabram]

[quote name='Solutions Etcetera' post='873214' date='Jan 20 2008, 10:17 AM']The downside is that it is not as feature laden as other units. No adding waypoints, no ball marking, no scorecard.

So... if your not happy with what it does now, look elsewhere as I am not sure you will see "the future" that is displayed on their site. I do like mine and not sure I would trade it for any other unit at this point.

HTH[/quote]

To me no scorecard was a non-issue. a ball marking feature that lets you know how far your shot went is a nice feature, but not really why I wanted a GPS. Adding waypoints or hazards to a hole could be a signifcant consideration if there are an important ones missing from their data for a particular hole. However, based on my brief experience, I did not notice any way points that I would have wanted to add. I was told that Garmin will add aditonal points to a hole if requested, but their is a limit to how many their program can hold for any particular hole.

I agree that "if you are not happy with what it does now, look elsewhere" and that "I would not trade it in for any other unit at this point".

[stevestrike]

[quote name='sabram' post='873242' date='Jan 20 2008, 11:35 AM']I have read posts on several boards complaining about not getting a good satellite connection with Skycaddie and other brands....

Sky-caddie to some extenet relies on users to upload the cousre data that other users rely on. I think there is a greater liklihood of bad data from the Sky-caddie data base since some courses are in effect being up-loaded by novices.[/quote]
I'm sorry, but I think you've got some bad information. The updated SG2.5 & SG5 do no have the same satellite problems as the older units.

Secondly, the bit about sky caddie relying on user-mapping the courses is just plain false. In fact, I would argue that a four-star sky caddie course is more accurate than any other GPS course. They are the only company (that I am aware of) that use actual people on the ground, walking the course to map it. Every other company, including Garmin, uses aerial photography and satellite imagery to plot out their courses.

The SkyCaddie also allows you map your own courses (F/B/C green) and upload them to the website to share with other users. Perhaps this is what your are thinking of? Beyond that, the GolfLogix unit does not allow you to map any of your own courses, or add/edit any custom points. In other words, you are going to pay that subscription fee for life.

The SkyCaddie is not much better, but it does allow you to map your own courses, and keep them even without a subscription.

Things I do like about the GolfLogix:
1. Most rugged unit available, including being water proof
2. Replaceable batteries
3. GolfLogix promises to review every course annually for changes/updates
4. The features they promise for the future look very nice *if* they ever materialize

[mceb]

Golflogix has their next version (GPS-8) coming out March 1st. Looks like a big ad campaign as well. Last shot distance + a few other features will be on this model. Here's a news article on it: [url="http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/12452-GolfLogix--Inc--introduces-its-new-next-generation-GPS-8-product"]http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/1...n-GPS-8-product[/url]

[gdecon]

The new Golflogix GPS-8 ;They have taken their original approach which they said was kiss to the extreme (limited info beyond basic distance) and responded to user response by including shot distance and more hole information. I am only conerned about the way the courses are mapped. the news realeases about the new unit say nothing about user corrections.

 

I

[lologolf]

one thing I hope they do is to have a software upgrade to last years model.

[Gsco]

one thing I hope they do is to have a software upgrade to last years model.

 

Don't hope to hard, not going to happen. To get the upgrade you will have to trade in your model for the new one. They seem to be willing to work with you on a good deal.

[lologolf]

one thing I hope they do is to have a software upgrade to last years model.

 

Don't hope to hard, not going to happen. To get the upgrade you will have to trade in your model for the new one. They seem to be willing to work with you on a good deal.

 

 

according to the email I got from golflogix there will a software upgrade for the first generation unit. The one part of the software that won't be for free is the "distance of the last shot" feature.

 

 

We'll see come 3/1. The email also mentioned an incentive program to turn in the last years unit. What the incentive is it didn't say.

[Gsco]

I must have misunderstood the not free part for not going to happen.

[lologolf]

Well I hope they will come3/1, they could always change their mind and say no, you have to upgrade hardware. At least I don't have to renew the subscription till later this spring. So I'll wait to see what they offer in terms of incentives to upgrade the unit.

[testwigs]

I was sent an email by the National Sales Mgr. indicating that in fact that you will not be able to update the older units ( Green ) with the improved functions of the GPS-8. One great thing is that the cost is less but the funny thing is most Pro Shops are still asking $349 for a unit that isn't as good as the unit coming out in a month at $299. I don't want to buy an electronic item on the internet far too many things to go wrong here, I'll purchase from a store so I have at least some recourse in the event there is a problem.

[Wookieedog]

the $349 price point for this is ridiculous. I will stick with my SkyCaddie 5 for the forseeable future, though I am a Garmin fan and my boat and car both have Garmins. The SG8 may be very interesting, but it will have to do ALOT that the SkyCaddie does not before I would switch.

[yuhoo22]

any updates on the trade in incentive program Garmin is offering for trading in the old unit?

[8thehardway]

Per their email, the new GPS-8 units will start shipping on 3/15.

[muckyduck]

looked at lots of different gps systems and finally settled on the skycaddie 2.5.

more courses logged, more facilities on the unit and a good price.

 

more than happy with the performance on my own course and looking forward to

turkey in april to see how it stacks up there :)

[lologolf]

any updates on the trade in incentive program Garmin is offering for trading in the old unit?

 

 

I emailed Niki Vens at [email protected] and said I have last years model what are the trade in options for the new. She replied that there is a $150 rebate code in her reply. First code I get only show $100 rebate in the cart, I email her back she sent another code that show the credit. so total cost to me $149 + 7.00 s/h + $156.95.

 

She did not say I needed to send the old unit back. My current subscription does not end till 4/14. According to her on subsequent emails I need to register the new since I would not be able to use with the old subscription.

[In A Bunker]

I was able to purchase the older model earlier this year for $169.00. I have used it 4 times so far and it works great. Three 18 hole courses and one 9 hole, same set of AA batteries so far. This is my first GPS so I can't compare it to anything else.

[drb46]

Does Garmin's unit automatically know which hole you are starting on? I have a skycaddie and you have to tell it if you are starting on hole 1 or hole 10. What if you are starting on hole 15? I want a unit that will automatically find whichever hole that I'm playing. Thanks.

[In A Bunker]

Does Garmin's unit automatically know which hole you are starting on? I have a skycaddie and you have to tell it if you are starting on hole 1 or hole 10. What if you are starting on hole 15? I want a unit that will automatically find whichever hole that I'm playing. Thanks.

 

 

I have only started on 1 but it does automatically scroll to the next hole as you leave the green of the hole you just played.