Golf GPS Reviews

Hi, and thanks for stopping by this site, Golf GPS Reviews.

To help you get the most out of this website, I want to point out a few things.

You see, I’m a golfer! I built this site to help people find out about golf GPS’s, how they work, what they can do for you, and about how much they cost.

You see, when I was first considering buying a golf GPS, I became rapidly confused about what to buy, what a golf GPS should do for me, and even how much it was all going to cost. I mean, did I really need one of those things, or is it just a gadget?

So, I studied the market, took a look at a number of the best golf GPS devices, and then decided which one to buy. That took some time, however.

I realize you might not have the time and the money to purchase a great number of these units and test them that I had to devote to this project. So, in order to help you figure out the marketplace for the best golf GPS systems available, I built this site.

One of the first things you need to check out is my blog. Here’s where I put all of my reviews. If you’ll look up at the right-hand corner of the webpage, you’ll see a box that’s entitled “Golf GPS Systems”. You can click on those links and find out more about specific products and rate them yourself.

I’ve also got a growing Best Golf GPS Comparison pages located in the Golf GPS Systems category. Just to cut through the static, I put my favorite golf GPS’s here along with a comparison of their features.

So that you can get more information, or even buy one of these remarkable devices, I’ve got an Golf GPS Store, which links directly with the top trusted online retailers and prices.

The Golf GPS store gives you up to the minute pricing and information about what’s available.

You can also access the the individual products for whatever golf GPS you’re reading about through the links scattered in the review text.

Another thing I’ve got is a page devoted to golf educational materials in which I entitle “Golf Digest”. It has taken me quite a while to become a competent golfer, and these are some of my favorite ebooks, and other educational materials, which can help cut down on the length of your learning curve (and the number of your shots).

Please, Bookmark this page and tell your friends about it. This is a rapidly growing site. I’m adding new stuff every day.

Your comments and ratings are always appreciated. Just click the “Contact Us” page to email me.

See you at the club!

Mike

Golf GPS Reviews

Best Golf GPS

What’s the best golf GPS? That’s like suggesting what’s the best city to live in or the greatest holiday spot. Some people relish the mountains, others relish the beach. On the other hand, it’s somewhat a matter of preference.

So, if you’re shopping for a golf GPS system, how are you going to decide what’s the best golf GPS for you, your financial situation, and your means? Well, the first of all you need to do is to think over how much you want to spend. Hence you need to have some grasp as to why you want this thing in the first place. Once you get those guidelines figured out, you can more easily decide on the best golf GPS for 2010 for you.

As far as the price, golf GPS units cost anywhere from $100 to $400. The primary difference between the low to mid-range systems and the four hundred dollars units is in the quality of manufacturing and extent of the graphics.

All golf GPS systems operate as range finders. That is they can tell you how far it is from wherever your ball is to the green. They do this by accessing the Global Positioning System satellites that now orbit the earth. (Same as your car GPS) So, if this is the only element that you want, then a $150 model do the job for you. Something like the iGolf Neo would be perfect. (It’s not the only choice in this price range ( Roughly $98), by the way. There are many other fine choices.)

In contrast, if it’s the graphics you are after, then you are going to be paying more. The Callaway, uPro Golf GPS, for instance can give you multiple views of both the fairway and the green of the particular hole you’re playing. As you approach the tee, it will give you an aerial bird’s eye view. As you progress toward the green, it will show you yardages from where you are to the green. Also, it shows you an aerial view of the green. The Garmin Approach and the Golf Buddy Tour do the same thing. Although the Golf Buddy Tour’s graphics are not quite as spectacular.

In order to make sure that you’re getting the best golf GPS, you need to ask yourself why you’re buying it in the first place. If you’re a gadget aficionado, and you just want to know what’s the best golf GPS currently that you can show off to your friends with, then something like the Callaway uPro or the Garmin Approach would be perfect. It would also be perfect if you play a lot of courses that are new or “newish” to you and you want that extra information that really detailed pictures of the fairway and the green will give you.

If, however, you’re more interested in things like instant calculation of your shot distance, help with angles of approach to the green, and keeping a historical record of scores and shots on the same course over time, then you probably don’t need all the graphics. So, what’s the best golf GPS for 2010? It all depends on why you are buying it.

Want to know what the absolute best golf GPS 2010 is so far? Well, you can skip down to the bottom of this article and see, but you’ll get more for your money if you read the whole thing.

You see, I’ve got a little problem with taking one particular golf GPS and saying this is the absolute best golf GPS 2010! For several reasons. One, there are just too many really nice golf GPS units out there. And two, I don’t really know what you want your golf GPS to do. Yeah, yeah, I know! You want to lower your score. But there are a few things you need to think about on the way to lowering your score.

One important issue is where do you play golf. By that I mean, do you usually play on the same course week in week out, or do you play on courses you’re less familiar with. Are you going on a golf vacation, for instance?

If you’re just playing the same course all the time, then (I guessing here) you’re probably into things like improving various aspects of your game on that particular course. If that’s the case, the Sonocaddie V300 might be the best golf GPS 2010 for you. Heres’ why.

The Sonocaddie V300 not only measures distances, but it keeps score, and it keeps track of all your shots over the whole course. It’s not a very nice screen, but for someone who plays the same course or courses over and over again, I think the analysis features might be of more interest. With the Sonocaddie V300, you can take a look at your game shot by shot! If you want more info on the Sonocaddie V300, just click on the link.

Of course, right now the Sonocaddie V300 will set you back a cool $350. If you don’t want to spend that much on your golf GPS, then there are some less expensive models that I would recommend. You can’t go much below $150 and get a golf GPS that’s very good. You surely can’t get one that I would put in this article about the best golf GPS 2009 systems. But at about $130 you might want to spring for the iGolf Neo Pocketsize Golf GPS.

The iGolf Neo Pocketsize Golf GPS is inexpensive, but it’s really a great unit. Yes, it’s small, but the design of the device and especially the design of the screen is so good that you don’t really think of it being small. Frankly, I like the size of it. It doesn’t bother me while I’m golfing. (I leave my wallet in the car when I golf. Yes, I know you’re not supposed to, but I can’t stand things in my pocket while golfing. So, you can see why I would like a truly pocket-sized golf GPS.) The Neo can’t do the fancy analysis that the Sonocaddie V300 can, but it still keeps track of distances, and another feature I really like is you can input your own way points into it. This is very helpful for someone who’s playing a course they’re familiar with. To find out more about the iGolf Neo Pocketsize Golf GPS, click this link.

Now, what if you’re not playing on courses you’re very familiar with. What if you golf with business associates a lot, or you’re planning a golf trip somewhere. What would be the best golf GPS 2010 for you?

There are a number of different options, but right now, two stand out, the Garmin Approach G5 and the Callaway uPro.

To my mind, what you want on an unfamiliar course is more graphics, and the Garmin and Callaway have both. As far as the Garmin Approach G5, what I most like about it is the big touch screen. It’s kind of like the iPod of golf GPS’s. You do everything through the touch screen. Also, I liked Garmin’s auto GPS systems, and I guess that biases me toward Garmin some. Their Approach G5 is every bit as good as their car GPS’s, except it’s much, much more accurate.

Right now, though, I guess the true best golf GPS 2010 would have to be the Callaway uPro! The Callaway uPro shows you a fly-over view of the course, then as you get closer to the green you get closer views. If you want to figure out where to land your ball to set up your next shot around a dog leg, then the Callaway uPro is certainly for you. Take this baby on your next golf trip, or to your next golf outing with your business associates and you’ll be the center of attention. You’ll also lower your score on courses you’ve never played before!

My vote? The Callaway uPro Golf GPS have to be the Best Golf GPS 2010!

Interested in knowing what the best rated golf GPS systems are? I’ve looked at a number of magazines and consumer rating services, and although there’s no complete consensus, I’ve identified the golf GPS’s that everyone (or virtually everyone) agrees are the best. This doesn’t mean that you have to buy one of these. But they do serves as a sort of benchmark. So, to find out the best rated golf GPS, keep reading!

Garmin Approach G5

Perhaps my personal favorite of the best rated golf GPS devices. The best thing about the Approach is it’s huge touch screen. When you look at the device, you’ll notice that most of the “real estate” of the device is taken up by the screen. That’s because you do everything through the touch screen. Also, just like their auto GPS’s, the Approach G5 comes with all the golf courses already downloaded. No annual fees! And, of course, it can measure distances (to within about a yard), and keep score.

SkyCaddie SG5

Another one of my top picks from the best rated golf GPS systems that I surveyed is the SkyCaddie SG5. Again, one of my favorite aspects of the SkyCaddie is the huge numbers in the read out. It’s very easy to read in bright sunlight. It gives you distances from where you’re standing to the front, center, and back of the green. With SkyCaddie, you have to pay for an annual membership, but once you do, you have access to over 23,000 golf courses about half of which are in the United States. The membership fee is very reasonable.

Sonocaddie V300

The main feature of the Sonocaddie V300 is its bright, big 3D display. It not only measures distances, but it tracks shot length, keeps score, and even analyses your games for you. It will keep track of all your shots, and you can use it to review your game after you’re done. Definitely the Sonocaddie V300 belongs in any list of the best rated golf GPS systems.

Golf Buddy Pro and Tour GPS

The Golf Buddies have to be on my best rated golf GPS list. Unique to the Pro is that it changes the picture of the green to match your angle of approach. It’s pre-loaded with all the North American courses, like the Garmin Approach. It automatically locks onto not only the course you’re playing but the actual hole you’re on. And, both have very easy to read screens.

Golflogix Golf GPS-8

I really like Garmin. You know they took over the American auto GPS market through superior engineering (not to mention marketing). It makes complete sense to me that Garmin would have two entries on my list of best rated golf GPS’s. Like the Golf Buddies, the Garmin Golflogix GPS-8 automatically detects the course you’re on. Also it displays the front, center, and backs of the green. It measures the distance your last shot went, and keeps track of the distance by club choice.

iGolf Neo

Although the iGolf Neo is the least expensive of my list of best rated golf GPS systems, it might easily be one of the top ones. If you’re looking at the inexpensive end of the market, you really should consider the iGolf Neo. Although small, the screen doesn’t seem small. It’s very well designed, and it very successfully uses it’s “real estate”. You can input custom way points. And, you have to pay a subscription fee to download courses, but that’s very reasonably prices.

Callaway uPro Golf GPS

Nothing like leaving the best of the best rated golf GPS systems for last. I’m not trying to slight the others, but Callaway uPro’s graphics are amazing. Callaway requires an annual membership fee, which is reasonable, but the device itself is fairly expensive. Although not the most expensive.

Looking for the best golf GPS systems to buy? Wondering which one will help you lower your score without breaking the bank? Buying a golf GPS is not easy. There are a number of competing makes and models out there, and the market is a little difficult to understand. Hopefully, if this describes you, this article will help you decide which are the best golf GPS systems for you to consider.

The first thing you need to do in order to find what the best golf GPS systems are is decide on what you want the device to do. Do you really need fancy graphics? Or do you merely need to know how far it is from where your ball is to the green? To my mind, this has a lot to do with what course you’re playing.

If you’re playing the course you normally play, then you already know what the fairway looks like. You know where the hazards are. And you’ve probably got a very, very good idea of the shape of the green. In this case, a golf GPS that just gives you distances and maybe keeps track of your shot length and score might be all you need. Right now, this will set you back anywhere from $150 to $200 for any of the best golf GPS systems that are in this category.

Don’t get me wrong. This doesn’t mean you have to buy the less expensive golf GPS without all the fancy graphics if you play the same course weekend in and weekend out. I’m just suggesting that one of the more expensive models might not help your game improve any more than one of the less expensive ones do. If you’re like me, then just having a cool looking golf gadget is reason enough to spend the extra $200 to get something like a Garmin Approach or a Callaway uPro.

Speaking of the Garmin Approach and the Callaway uPro, any list of the best golf GPS systems would have to contain these two. There are other excellent systems with great graphics, like the Golf Guru, the Golf Buddy Tour or the Sonocaddie V300. Any of the ones I’ve mentioned are excellent and deserve to be included in your best golf GPS systems list.

If you really want the state of the art, then the Callaway uPro might be the one for you. Callaway’s graphics are really cool. I’m not saying that the other’s graphics aren’t as good, just maybe not as spectacular. As far as technology, the Sonocaddie V300 can’t be beat. Although all of these best golf GPS systems are much more accurate than the GPS in your car, the Sonocaddie has proven to be one of the most accurate, within a yard or two.

So, how are you going to solve this problem of finding the best golf GPS systems so you can buy what you want and need? As I said, number one is determining your needs. The main thing that distinguishes the $150 models from the $400 models is graphics. Number two is deciding how much do you really want to put into this thing. After that, finding the best golf GPS systems is easy.