Sonocaddie V300 mapping new courses

Askani · August 12, 2008

Does anyone have any experience with Sonocaddie's customer service in reference to mapping a course. I have requested two courses in my area and was told 14-21 days. I'm curious if anyone else has asked for a course and how long has it taken Sonocaddie to post it.

Thanks in advance.

milfordj · August 13, 2008

I requested a course for color-mapping by email, and it was mapped in approximately 21 days. Other courses I requested require scorecard and layout and could not be mapped until I mail that info. I had the cards, but they did not reflect the layout, so I'm hopeful I can obtain a layout for them next time I play them.

Swooshdaddy · August 13, 2008

There's a new course I'm playing next week, so I emailed them on the 3rd, and it's in there as of yesterday.

Also, I sent the email at midnight, and had a response 5 hours later. Pretty darn good service.

Askani · August 13, 2008

Thanks for you quick replies. They did get back to me within hours which was nice. I'm used to Skycaddie's customer service which is not that great.

How do you like the unit so far?

milfordj · August 15, 2008

I'm not as pleased with mine as Livestrong1. 2 of the 3 courses I downloaded in my area (NC) only showed yardage to Greens, and not to hazards. Also, the accuracy on my mapped Greens has been incorrect on more than one occasion. I also have the Pinseeker 1500 which I carry with me for yardage to pin from inside 150 yds. On a par 3 hole on two different courses, after reading distance to flag with 1500, I double-checked my V300 and learned that it was inaccurate. Both times the flag was near the front of green (not nearer than 4 yds) and 1500 showed exact yardage; then V300 showed a more distant yardage as Green-Front -- which could only be accurate if the pin were located short of the green. (e.g. 1500 = 139 yds to pin, and V300 = 143 yds to Front of Green / 159 to Center / 174 to Back. Obviously pin cannot be closer than front of green.) I've been doing a lot of mapping Additions (hazards and lay-ups) for my frequently played courses, and thought only Guru had mapping issues. I DO love the visual display of hole with hazards and lay-ups after my mapping additions, as compared to the abbreviated-text display of the Guru and therefore am still happy with my selection -- just not as happy as I'd thought I would be. I guess I'll now have to remap / correct all my Green Yardages, so this thing will be more accurate. I've always gotten good satelite coverage -- generally 8 sats. Have to keep it on Max. Light and constant Back-light because my vision ain't so great, and still have trouble seeing the "selected" items when trying to map, and seeing the battery level at top of screen. It will always make it through one, very slowly played round (due to playing in a large group) before discharging, but i've had it discharge on me twice when playing subsequent round without recharging. This last time bat level showed 3/4 charge, and it didn't last that slow round. It was the 3rd of my 3 mapped courses, which I don't play very often, when I really needed it (til I found out only greens had been mapped and they were not accurately mapped). Sorry to sound so dissatisfied, and I'm really not, just wasn't prepared for all the additional mapping needed. ONE SUGGESTION: When manually indicating next hole(s), just hit the rt side of 5-way button to move forward to next hole (info not in manual, and I learned it accidentally after spending tons of time going to "select hole", highlighting next hole, and pressing "center of 5-way, just to go to the next hole). I was not interested in scoring, tracking, or even stats feature (though I may "branch out" and consider some of these features in the future), so was disappointed that i've had so much trouble with the few features I wanted. I've only had it less than a month, and still learning how to "map" quicker, so hope that I'll be as happy with it as anticipated after more experience with it. Would have selected the U-Pro but NO COURSES I play have been mapped, some reviewers indicated "difficult to see" screen, constant turning it off and on to save battery, etc. V300 will definately suffice until a future model becomes the standard, similar to 1500 for rangefinders. Best of Luck, and please share any tips you learn when using it.

Askani · August 15, 2008

Thanks for your thoughts milfordj. I used the V300 for the first time yesterday at a course I played 2 weeks ago with my SG4. I did not get any screwed up yardages that made me think about it. For the most part I liked the unit. The scorecard I liked other then not figuring out until mid round you need to tell the V300 what par is on each hole. I thought it would have that programed in. I'm not sure how it knows my GIR percentage. I need to read the manual a little more because some of the hazards on the course were not on the color layout. I know some will not be there, but on the 18th hole right in front of the green there is a small gully with rocks you need to hit over. No big deal. Overall I'm satisfied. It's definitely a step above my SG4.

square · August 16, 2008

Took 3 days for two course I requested.

Does anyone have any experience with Sonocaddie's customer service in reference to mapping a course. I have requested two courses in my area and was told 14-21 days. I'm curious if anyone else has asked for a course and how long has it taken Sonocaddie to post it.

Thanks in advance.

square · August 16, 2008

The V300 scorecard does have the par score pre marked for each hole .

Check the Sonocaddie web site for that course, and make sure the scorecard icon is listed for the course. If it's not, you need to make a request for Sonocaddie to add the score card for that course.

Thanks for your thoughts milfordj. I used the V300 for the first time yesterday at a course I played 2 weeks ago with my SG4. I did not get any screwed up yardages that made me think about it. For the most part I liked the unit. The scorecard I liked other then not figuring out until mid round you need to tell the V300 what par is on each hole. I thought it would have that programed in. I'm not sure how it knows my GIR percentage. I need to read the manual a little more because some of the hazards on the course were not on the color layout. I know some will not be there, but on the 18th hole right in front of the green there is a small gully with rocks you need to hit over. No big deal. Overall I'm satisfied. It's definitely a step above my SG4.

Pinehurst1999 · August 16, 2008

Mine had problems with front and back of greens, but the darn this is SOOO easy change and correct I still love it.

milfordj · August 17, 2008

I just read some posts in the Guru site, and learned that the best way to check on accuracy of green yardages is to stand on front (+back and "center") and see if unit indicates near 0. That will make it much easier to check each green than using my 1500 from away from green. Gonna check on each green at my home course tomorrow, and will start doing this at all courses I play. I'm sure that it'll soon be easy for me, too, to correct all green readings after I get more experience with it.

square · August 17, 2008

The stock course layout (and green view) yardages are decent.

If you want more precise points you need to use the V300's edit feature.

Stand on the front portion of the green which you want to use, and record that. Do the same thing with the back of the green spot that you like. The new center yardage is automatically done by the V300. No big deal, takes 5 seconds.

I just read some posts in the Guru site, and learned that the best way to check on accuracy of green yardages is to stand on front (+back and "center") and see if unit indicates near 0. That will make it much easier to check each green than using my 1500 from away from green. Gonna check on each green at my home course tomorrow, and will start doing this at all courses I play. I'm sure that it'll soon be easy for me, too, to correct all green readings after I get more experience with it.

milfordj · August 18, 2008

Was shocked to learn that all but 2 of my green readings (and only the back or front of those 2 were NOT way off) were considerably off. I realize that there is no finite "spot" on the green that is the exact Front or Back of green, but mercy some of mine were further off than the entire length of the green -- one was 20 yds off. No wonder I played so poorly when relying on this at the course I don't play as often. Makes you wonder. I've already downloaded 2 Jekyl Island course i'll be playing on an upcoming trip. Will DEFINATELY be taking my Pinseeker 1500 with me as well, but hate to have to rely on that so often; that was why I bought the V300. Glad yours is working well.

Askani · August 26, 2008

Just a reply to my own post...

It took 15 days to get Sonocaddie to upload 2 courses I regularly play. Terrific customer service.

mackan · August 27, 2008

OT.

is it possible to transfer courses from Xv2 to new V300?

DiamondGCoupe · January 8, 2009

I just got mine today and was disappointed to find out my Country Club was not yet mapped. SkyCaddie and Garmin have it. Guess I am looking at 2 weeks for it to be mapped? If it takes more than 3 days I'll have already purchased another SkyCaddie and sent this thing back.