Golf GPS Systems

GPS systems that have been designed specifically for playing golf are significantly different from the regular handheld hiking or geocaching GPS systems. For one, instead of having a default world or North American/European basemap, GPS systems for playing golf usually display only detailed maps of golf courses; although some golf GPS systems, such as the Shotmiser, have a separate car navigation function. Also the controls usually consist of just a few buttons instead of a full-blown keypad.

The advantage of these specialized golf GPS systems is that there is no need for the user to mess with actual GPS coordinates. The player is concerned mainly with knowing the distance from his/her current location to the next hole, green, bunker, water, dog leg, etc. In addition, the specific distance from any portion of a green or a hazard can also be determined.

Golf GPS systems also allow the player to record his number of strokes (and punts) per hole, course, or tournament. Most also allow the player to measure the actual distance of each stroke simply by recording where he took the shot and then walking up to where the ball landed.

Golf GPS Systems

Golf GPS Systems

While almost all GPS golf systems contain at least one pre-loaded map of a golf course, some systems require the user to obtain a yearly or lifetime paid membership in order to receive new map downloads or the latest map updates. Other companies do not require a membership and charge only for the GPS unit and for every new map download (e.g., OnPar GPS ).

Still other companies require both a membership and a paid download. But, there are also some companies (e.g., Garmin) that pre-load about 18,000 or more golf-course maps (U.S. only) onto each unit and gives away free all future map downloads and updates. Also, some golf gps systems have course maps for countries outside North America and Europe (e.g., SkyCaddie SG5 and Sonocaddy SV2).

The internal re-writeable flash memories of the various golf gps systems can store from about 10 to upwards of tens of thousands of golf-course maps depending upon the brand and model. Some brands have additional memory slots (usually for a microSD card) in addition to the standard internal memory. Some brands (e.g., Callaway uPro and CaddyAid) use actual aerial (or satellite imagery) in addition to, or instead of, the regular vector maps.

Golf gps systems do not suffer from the line-of-sight limitation that is present on all golf range finders that typically use the return reflections from laser beams to measure the distances from various locations in the golf course.

When it comes to accuracy, some golf gps systems are accurate to within <10 meters from a hole or flag (e.g., Garmin Approach G5), while others are accurate up to about 3 meters or less (SureshotGPS, iGolf GPS, etc.).

In terms of ruggedness and water resistance, some are rated IP X7 (Garmin Approach G5) which means that it can withstand being submerged in 1-meter-deep water for about an hour—the 7 rating.

To put it simply, a GPS golf receiver basically lessens the time estimating distances between shots (no need to check distance markers) and increases the accuracy of the shots by allowing the player to know, more or less, the exact distance to a target—thereby helping the player to choose the right club.

The cost of golf gps systems range from about $150 to over $500.

In addition to these dedicated golf GPS systems, PDAs and cellphones with GPS chips can be updated with the appropriate golf gps software to provide similar functionalities.