gps who's got one ?

hi every one

               thinking of getting a gps , but which one , so i thought i would ask you lot.

 who has one , which one is it and what do you think of it ,is it the right one or have you seen something better

thanks

J P ...the argument for slowing the game down using a GPS is not valid, it actually speeds up . When I use mine it's clipped to my bag, and as soon as I put my bag down next to my ball I can read the yardage. Front ,middle and back of green. Where do you loose time?? no looking for marker posts or pacing out.

A GPS is a course guide (electronic,and  inclined to be more accurate) no more no less,far easier than trying to find the page then adding or subtracting yardages.

Ironically I've recently been playing without looking at yardages at all and my scores have come down ......go figure.

I played yesterday and the buggy I used actually had a gps system that worked. I never bother to look at it myself, but one of my playing partners asked me what a particular yardage was and I told him that he had 93 yards to the pin, so he selected his lob wedge and then proceeded to known it right over the green.

I see David L has been taking my advice and deciding to use the other faculties which he possesses, namely his eyes and a feel for the shot about to be made and I notice that his scores of late have been rather good.

Whatever happened to using intuition and trusting your own judgement and ability to read yardages? Surely thats what the game of golf is all about? Whats next, a robot arm you can strap to yourself to enable you to perform a perfect swing every time?

I played with someone who has a device like this and he reads the yardages from it and then paces it out to the nearest marker, it took 5 and a quarter hours to get round with him and we only managed to play 15 holes!

I have refused to play with him again but unfortunately I've drawn him in the winter bloody singles.

Do the pros use these devices whilst playing in a major or any other event?

I've just never seen a Pro or a caddy use one in a competition round, only a practice round.

I think thats answered my question, thanks. I understand its all about local rules but do you use one in your monthly medal round or other club competions? - Christopher Watmore.

They are about as much use as a tortoise with mudflaps. Keep well clear of them, save your money and learn the idiosyncrosies of this game the way it was intended and you will become a better player.

Thats fair enough Chris.

I've never thought of anybody playing with me who is using one to have any advantage over me though, and I've often said things like 'don't tell me'! when they've said out loud how far the front of the green is etc. I kind of think I've got an advantage over them as I've probably got a better natural idea of distance and know which club I'm going to hit before I've put my bag down in most instances. They're stuck with a number in their head. I rarely even look at yardage markers either.

On the other hand, if anything speeds up play then its got to be a good thing, this hasn't been my experience though, unfortunately.

A fourball carrying their clubs will be much faster than a fourball with trolleys, motorised or not.

Sorry to hear that, Jamie, I too am a walking disaster, but I need a buggy to get round now.

If I said you had 130 yds to the pin, what would you use, Ean and how would you play it.

You are playing a game that is totally alien to me, Ean.

Wedge for me John with back spin!!!!

Then a chip !

..........and 3 PUTTS!!

You are an animal Leyo, but a nice one.

My yardstick is 120 yds for an eight iron.

Lw 80yrs

GW 100

PW 120

9 140

8 150

7  160

6  170

5  180

4 200

3 210

7 WOOD 220

3 WOOD 230 +

DRIVER 250+

Have you lost your Sand Wedge, David.

I use my LW John its 58* and lucky for me my sand game is sound.

I don't have one.  I'm not sure the actual yardage I hit each of my clubs.  I just look at the shot I have to play and judge which club will get me to where I want to be.  If I'm approaching the green, I look at the pin and based on how far away it looks I know which club will get me there.  9 times out of 10 I'm within five yards distance-wise (accuracy is a different matter!).  For me, it's one of the skills to be learnt to improve course management and lower your scores.  I rarely look at the yardages unless there is a hazard I want to avoid and then club up or down to ensure I miss it.

A GPS won't tell you what to club use, only how far it is to the hole and is only useful if you hit each club a consistent distance every time and you know what that distance is.  If you don't, it doesn't matter what the actual yardage is.  The other factor to take into account is weather.  For example, in the summer I take one club less than in winter as the ball goes further.  Pin position can also alter the yardage by over 20 yards on a big green and if you don't know it it defeats the object. 

That's my thoughts anyway.  If my yardages (and my ball striking) were as consistent as Mr Ley's then I may benefit from one.  At the moment, it wouldn't do anything for me. 

I am grateful for the fact that I played golf for many years whern three hours for a fourball was the time expected for this kind of match, two balls were only 2 hours and fifteen minutes.

I play in fourballs now and it is painful, we get to the tee and I cannot believe the amount of time it takes for a fourball to get off, so much so that I always tee off first as I cannot stand the hanging around.

I can sympathise with you J P about not getting a tee time when you want it but that is the penalty for not joining a proper golf club, which is run for the members. My old club never had starting times, not needed , if there was a queue then all you did was place a ball in the shute once all members of your group were at the first tee.

Hardly anyone used a trolley in those days, all carried, which is far quicker. In fact I carried until I was 62, then unfortunately ill health forced me into, first of all, electric trollies and now a buggy. Hoping that when my knee is repaired I will be able to walk the course again. Surgery 10th November.

Thanks, Ean.

I don't see how GPS can help you unless you are good enough to stop a ball dead on the green or you hit a ball the exact same distance every time, surely the markers are good enough, I can't see how an average golfer can save any shots with a GPS.

If a player takes ages to work out the exact yardage to a green with markers they are also going to be slow with GPS, thats the way they are.