Best GPS without a subscription?

[MaxPower328]

Hey All,

 

Did a quick forum search but couldn't find this topic. Is there a consensus best GPS unit without a subscription fee? I like my Sky Caddy, but my dad wants one for Xmas without having to pay the yearly fee.

 

Thanks!

[BlackDiamondPar5]

[quote name='MaxPower328' timestamp='1317556147' post='3614579']
Hey All,

Did a quick forum search but couldn't find this topic. Is there a consensus best GPS unit without a subscription fee? I like my Sky Caddy, but my dad wants one for Xmas without having to pay the yearly fee.

Thanks!
[/quote]

For a simple compact gps go for the bushnell neo plus. For something fancier the garmin line. Sometimes simple is best.

[taskerc]

Garmin G5 approach ....

[lologolf]

[quote name='taskerc' timestamp='1317577549' post='3615433']
Garmin G5 approach ....
[/quote]


got this one to replace the golflogix unit, especially like the tracking scores and stats with it.

[MaxPower328]

Thanks for the feedback !

[slash77]

I agree.....Garmin Approach G5.

[TM_HOYER]

[quote name='taskerc' timestamp='1317577549' post='3615433']
Garmin G5 approach ....
[/quote]

I did not like the Garmin G5 and returned it. The screen washes out in bright light and the use of touch screen is poorly done. The Skycaddie SGX blows the G5 out of the water in quality / ease of getting the yardages and overall ease of use.

[Smpear]

Callaway uPro original version (stay away from the newer MX for now). I found a new one on ebay for $150. Small, light, accurate and easy to use. Bushnell Neo+ would also be good but does not give hazard distances like the upro.

[taskerc]

[quote name='TM_HOYER' timestamp='1317609346' post='3617311']
[quote name='taskerc' timestamp='1317577549' post='3615433']
Garmin G5 approach ....
[/quote]

I did not like the Garmin G5 and returned it. The screen washes out in bright light and the use of touch screen is poorly done. The Skycaddie SGX blows the G5 out of the water in quality / ease of getting the yardages and overall ease of use.
[/quote]

OP wanted a no sub model :-) I found no such issues with my G5 - I have no problem recommending the device.

[chas521]

[quote name='MaxPower328' timestamp='1317556147' post='3614579']
Hey All,

Did a quick forum search but couldn't find this topic. Is there a consensus best GPS unit without a subscription fee? I like my Sky Caddy, but my dad wants one for Xmas without having to pay the yearly fee.

Thanks!
[/quote]

The OP requests a GPS without a yearly fee so why is anyone posting how good the Sky Caddy is that requires a yearly fee?

[hckymeyer]

[quote name='Smpear' timestamp='1317610624' post='3617371']
Callaway uPro original version (stay away from the newer MX for now). I found a new one on ebay for $150. Small, light, accurate and easy to use. Bushnell Neo+ would also be good but does not give hazard distances like the upro.
[/quote]

+1 for the original Callaway uPro model. I've had it for 2 seasons now and I've been very happy. Not quite as flashy as the current models, but there are a ton of courses, the screen is bright and easy to see, and the hole flyover's are great. Plus I really like being able to just move the cursor around and get yardages to any distance on the hole instead of only pre-loaded hazards and the green.

[MaxPower328]

Thanks for the feedback! The Callaway does look pretty slick. My Dad won't need anything crazy either, which is why the Sky Caddie is a little overkill too. He just wants basic distances to the center of the green and distance to hazards. I'll have to look at some in person. I also want to get something that is large enough for him to read without getting his glasses out every time.

[TM_HOYER]

[quote name='taskerc' timestamp='1317646821' post='3618267']
[quote name='TM_HOYER' timestamp='1317609346' post='3617311']
[quote name='taskerc' timestamp='1317577549' post='3615433']
Garmin G5 approach ....
[/quote]

I did not like the Garmin G5 and returned it. The screen washes out in bright light and the use of touch screen is poorly done. The Skycaddie SGX blows the G5 out of the water in quality / ease of getting the yardages and overall ease of use.
[/quote]

OP wanted a no sub model :-) I found no such issues with my G5 - I have no problem recommending the device.
[/quote]


I know the OP wanted a GPS without a subscription for his dad. I just wanted the OP to know the G5 was not that good when compared to the Skycaddie, which the OP owns and uses.

[MileHighClub]

I know the OP mentions GPS, but I made the switch from GPS to Laser and have never looked back. No subscription, most accurate, and amazing battery life. Just offering a suggestion that might improve your golf enjoyment.

[Shavanni]

I'm using the callaway upro GO.
Gives front, centre and back yardages plus yardages to hazards.
30000+ preloaded courses. You can pay an extra $50 one off payment and get a green view on the screen and yardages to any point on the green.

you can find these pretty cheap these days

[OSKARJONES]

Callaway uPro all the way. Small, accurate distances and pro mode downloads are now free. Only downside is battery life, I barely get two rounds out of mine.

[Titus]

Gold Buddy World.

[RollieA]

I love my golf buddy Tour.

[trayden]

[quote name='Shavanni' timestamp='1317663960' post='3619305']
I'm using the callaway upro GO.
Gives front, centre and back yardages plus yardages to hazards.
30000+ preloaded courses. You can pay an extra $50 one off payment and get a green view on the screen and yardages to any point on the green.

you can find these pretty cheap these days
[/quote]


+ 1 bought mine new...I had a few problems turning on accassionally but ever since I synced up w/ new web site , no probs. Small, fits in my pocket and has a joystick to move around the green and yardage counter to mark any shot when you hit those 300 yard drives!!

[BayouBill]

I like my Golf Buddy Pro, simple to read, front, middle, back of greens. Also distance to hazards/to clear hazards
Usually get 3 rds per battery charge

[TKing]

[quote name='MaxPower328' timestamp='1317656660' post='3618879']
Thanks for the feedback! The Callaway does look pretty slick. My Dad won't need anything crazy either, which is why the Sky Caddie is a little overkill too. He just wants basic distances to the center of the green and distance to hazards. I'll have to look at some in person. I also want to get something that is large enough for him to read without getting his glasses out every time.
[/quote]

I just cared about green distances, got the Neo +, and you just turn it on when you get to the course, and plug in the charger when you get home. I also carry a laser if I want to shoot something specific. i'm pushing a cart, so the GPS has the green distances when I get to the ball, or I have the range finder easy to get to as well.

[midweston]

Enjoying my G5. everything as promised, no need to do any downloading or pay a 1 time fee!

[Bubba Stuckey]

I would definitely recommend the Garmin G5. I use mine all the time in very sunny conditions and have never had a problem with seeing the screen.

[keb]

Love my Garmin S1.

[MadSlicer]

This one doesn't have as many features, but what's awesome is that it knows what your lie, distance, club used is without you having to enter any of that stuff in... I used it last week and it saves a ton of time. Somehow it calculates it all using their maps and spits back tons of shot stats at the end of the round.

http://golfbert.com/pages/app

[ken726]

Garmin G5, no doute. It's better than any gps with annual fee. Very simple to use.
I recommend 100%.

[TM_HOYER]

[quote name='ken726' timestamp='1321555008' post='3814041']
Garmin G5, no doute. It's better than any gps with annual fee. Very simple to use.
I recommend 100%.
[/quote]


I own a Skycaddie SGX and owned a Garmin Approach G5. The SGX blows away the G5 in all aspects. Not even a contest when comparing the two. The best way to describe it is the SGX was designed by programmers that love golf and designed it to work the way golfers use it. The G5 was designed because Garmin had a piece of hardware they wanted to market to many different groups including golfers and the programmers had no clue on how golfers would use the device. I found the G5 very frustrating to use and get the information I wanted.

[dlamb83]

[quote name='MaxPower328' timestamp='1317556147' post='3614579']
Hey All,

Did a quick forum search but couldn't find this topic. Is there a consensus best GPS unit without a subscription fee? I like my Sky Caddy, but my dad wants one for Xmas without having to pay the yearly fee.

Thanks!
[/quote]

Sorry to revive an old thread,but OP, why don't you just pay the yearly fee as future xmas gifts? The skycaddie is really inexpensive if you look at the cost per month,and not yearly. If your dad only plays in the state he lives its 29.99. If he wants to golf anywhere it is only 39.99.

Plus they are the most accurate of all gps golf units. Accurate to within a yard wherever you are. Most other gps only give you yardages as if your straight of the flag. Not to side or in trees to the right or left. As for the Garmin. Stay away from it. It is useless unless the courses he is playing have the gps receiver chip on the flag stick. Most courses have not,or do not want to spend the money to put gps receivers on the flag sticks. Just my 2 cents though.

[slawz88]

Without annual fee..

Garmin G5 interface is super easy to use and has all the functions you'll need, but if you want the same functionality in a similarly-priced unit that is much less bulky get the Golf Buddy World. Runs on the Android OS - superFast. There's also a touch screen model - the World Platinum. $300 and $350 respectively, the touchscreen model being the same price as the G5.

Biggest difference is that golf buddy units are rechargeable while Garmin run on drop-in double A batteries.

HOWEVER

The Garmin S-1 Approach watch might be the right choice if he doesn't want the score-keeping, touch-to-point and other extraneous features of a hand-held GPS. You will have to sacrifice a view of the hole, but there is automatic course and hole recognition, distance tracking and a built-in odometer. The best part about a watch is that you don't have to carry a GPS or rangefinder to your ball when you're walking or at a cart-path only hole.

Hope this helps!