Garmin Presentation

[Smpear]

How does the graphics compare?

I was comparing GPS units on the web...particularly Sky Caddie and Garmin. This is subjective but to me, the Garmin course graphics (rendering of fairway, sand, green etc) looks cheap and cartoonish. I think the Sky Golf graphics (while still a rendering) look comparatively professional. Looking at the forums, most Garmin owners seem to love their GPS and I have not come across complaints about the hole presentation. Not having seen the actual units, i am wondering if anyone shares my opinion? Maybe looks are just not that important :-)

It is interesting that SG and Garmin (Golf Buddy and others) go with renderings while Callaway went with actual aerial imagery. To me, Callaway should use an enhanced aerial imagery...i.e. post process the images so that the greens are more vibrant. I notice in pro-Mode that the darker greens get washed out in sunlight. It does come across as professional looking though.

Just wanted to see other comments about graphics presentation, particularly about the Garmin...no offense, it otherwise seems like a very capable unit.

[TM_HOYER]

I own the Skycaddie SGX and purchased a Garmin G5 because I could get it cheap. I ended up returning the Garmin. But the reasons are not related to the graphics, it is related to how it worked.

Before you start the round, Skycaddie asks if you would like to score the round, on the Garmin you have to go in the setup scoring. The Garmin can keep four scores vs. only your round on the Skycaddie (not an issue for me).

At the tee, the hole view graphics are comparable. You move the cursor to get yardages with your finger on the Garmin, with a thumbstick with the Skycaddie. The Skycaddie also gives you a list view of the reach / carry yardages for hazards, landmarks, and targets. I actually like the list view because it gives me yardages for multiple hazards quickly and easily.

As you approach the green, you have to touch the green to get front, back, and middle yardages on the Garmin. On the Skycaddie, the green view yardages automatically displays (default is 150 yards away).

After you finish the hole, you have to click on the screen to get the scorecard display to enter scores and click on the screen to get to next hole. On the Skycaddie, the scorecard automatically displays as you drive away from the hole. You can enter score, putts, fairway hit / missed / missed left / missed right, a summary screen displays, and goes to the next hole.

After the round, you download your scorecard from the Skycaddie to Club SG. Club SG provides you all kinds of historical statistics from the scores you download. With Garmin, they supply you nothing to do that.

Bottom line is the flow of the Skycaddie screens works as a golfer would want them to work during a round. With Garmin, you have to tell is what you want and learn where to touch the screen to get what you want. It became a distraction during the round to me trying to figure out were to touch to get what I wanted.

[chas521]

The Garmin Approach G5 is not as difficult to use as all that. The "touch" things become second-nature and it really is easy to use. The graphics [although cartoonish] are what the hole looks like. The more you use the device, the easier and better it becomes. If I have one complaint, it's that the screen is somewhat hard to see in certain lighting. I hope that Garmin comes out with a fix. Oh, did I say there are NO additional costs like the Skycaddie has!

[TM_HOYER]

The previous post brought up one comparison I forgot and one I left out unless someone else brought it up. The Skycaddie screen has a very good backlight with a sensor to determine when it needed and is readable in all light conditions. The Garmin washes out in bright light and can be difficult to view, especially when wearing sunglasses. As far as the yearly membership vs. no membership, there is an old saying you get what you pay for. When it comes to Skycaddie vs. Garmin, that old saying is true. The features and benefits you get with the Skycaddie vs. not get with the Garmin provides value to the membership fee.