For all you techies

[Nachosgrande]

GPS devices

Just a quick question for all the tech heads out there. Is it too difficult to put a GPS tracking device on all the flagsticks at a course so that we could have the perfect SkyCaddy type device that will give the exact distance to the front, back, and actual pin distance? I gotta be honest, knowing the distance to the middle of the green doesn't help me any more than a plate in the middle of the fairway. Once they do that I'll drop my Bushnell.

[Nachosgrande]

Anybody?

[chilichef]

GPS uses the clock signal sent by a number of satellites to calculate your position, there is no upstream from your device. If you would put a GPS receiver on the flagstick the stick itself will know where it is but there is no way it can send this info to you. Someone would need to retrieve this info and put it into your device - which basically is what people do when mapping a course by holding the GPS device near the usual pin positions and then uploading this info to a website.

 

Another thing to keep in mind is the accuracy of GPS. The yardages will vary by ~5 yards. If you want exact figures keep your laser range finder.

 

Regards

Lars

[Nachosgrande]

Good info, much appreciated. I guess if it was easy, they'd already be doing it.

[BrendanH]

Ah yes. The Holy Grail of rangefinders :) Not very feasible though I'm afraid. For that reason I use an SG5 and a 1500TE. FYI : the latest GPS units are accurate to 1 yard.

[chilichef]

Ah yes. The Holy Grail of rangefinders :man_in_love: Not very feasible though I'm afraid. For that reason I use an SG5 and a 1500TE. FYI : the latest GPS units are accurate to 1 yard.

 

The accuracy of a GPS device is directly related to the number of satellite signals it can receive. With three signals you can get your latitude/longitude, with four you can also get the altitude and each additional signal adds more accuracy. With an average of 6 signals you should be around 5 yards of accuracy, with ~10 signals you will be around 1 yard. If you are lucky and live in a state with great weather conditions you will most likely get better accuracy than when you play half of your rounds in the rain or fog.

 

Regards

Lars

 

...who uses neither a range finder nor a GPS device and will not start a new discussion about the pros and cons of each solution

[silliwilli]

I highly doubt the 5 yard accuracy, I would say it is much better than that

 

I check my range finder from known yardage's nearly every-time I play and it is consistently spot on!