Better value?

[Gator_Hater]

What is the best value for finding accurate yardages on the golf course. Using a standard laser range finder (Bushnell, Leupold, etc) or some a GPS device (Garmin, Sky Caddie, etc)?

[ejones1961]

I have an Igolf Caddie 2 GPS I like it because I was able to have a 1 year membership and download all of the courses that I play. after 1 year I did not have to keep enrolling because I have the courses saved on my computer. Some courses that I play were not on their website and I had to map them. In areas where I practice I was able to go and mark my targets so that I can know distances that I am shooting for.

[Sid Vicious]

The best value is a gps. If you have a smartphone, you can download any number of apps for it. Sme are free and soe charge yearly, the best of the bunch probably being golflogix. I have it on my cel, and I just play with my holster on and look at it whenever I need to. If its fully charged, the app gps usually draws down about 25% of my battery, so I don't have to worry about re-charging the minute I walk off the 18th. Sometimes it takes a few seconds for the gps to give you a reading, but once yo get used to it, it works pretty good. So, for 35 or so a year, it's a pretty good deal.

Now for accuracy, you probably want to use a laser, but there is a leaning curve with them, and it can be frustrating to lock in on a pin. Also, if its a blind shot, bad light, or a layup you want to measure yu can pretty much forget it. I think the lasers waste a lot of time, unless you are proficient with them, or the course has those reflectors on the pins and the yardage posts, which we don't see a lot of around here. Lasers can be expensive too, although someone told me that if you want to save money on them buy the hunting ones instead of the golf ones. Apparently the hunting ones have the exact same features, but they figure that golfers are willing to pay more, so they just put a golfy name on it and charge more.

Is golfy and adjective or an adverb? I forget...

[highergr0und]

As far as upfront costs go, a gps unit will win in the short term unless you go for the super fancy ones. An igolf unit is about $120, which is what I have. Like the previous poster said, $30 will get 100 credits to download courses over a year's time and they are yours to keep. The only gotcha there is if you want to take a trip or something after the year is up and you don't have the course, so it'll be another $30 for another year. The unit is about as accurate as most golfers will need. Something like a sky caddy requires yearly fees and even their "cheap" units will quickly end up costing more than a laser.

With the range finder, a pretty smart move is to get the hunters model of whatever golf one you're looking at. They're usually the exact same unit and a bit cheaper. For $250 or so you can have something that you'll never need to worry about courses, get to the pin distances, etc, plus you can use it on ranges to the flags with ease. The only downside to a laser can be finding stuff to mark to and actually hitting a moving pin 175 yards away.

[duswalk]

[quote name='Gator_Hater' date='24 February 2010 - 02:36 PM' timestamp='1267040204' post='2274504']
What is the best value for finding accurate yardages on the golf course. Using a standard laser range finder (Bushnell, Leupold, etc) or some a GPS device (Garmin, Sky Caddie, etc)?
[/quote]

As a Gator Hater there is really no help for you! :-) Go gators.

I prefer a range finder because I can also use with when I am shooting my bow but it it werent for that I would own one of those fancy GPS units!

I cant hate too much. One of my buddies is playing for the Seminoles now. Aaron Gresham. He just started playing golf as well!

[friscoloco]

[quote name='Gator_Hater' date='24 February 2010 - 11:36 AM' timestamp='1267040204' post='2274504']
What is the best value for finding accurate yardages on the golf course. Using a standard laser range finder (Bushnell, Leupold, etc) or some a GPS device (Garmin, Sky Caddie, etc)?
[/quote]

Bushnell Neo ($99) plus membership which gets you 100 courses ($35). $134 out the door for a solid product.