Laser vs GPS pros and cons

[Pinglauncher]

I have always struggled with my distance vision and as time marches on it is getting worse.

Some courses have markers and some don't and it is a pain at times trying to find them. I even have my doubts as to how reliable and accurate they are.

I have been considering getting something for a while now but just not sure of the advantages between the 2 types and what may be more suitable.

Any opionions :-k

[Boonie]

Laser advantages:

* Can measure to any visible point on the course. Bunkers, trees, mounds. So these points don't need to be pre-plotted.
* Works exactly the same everywhere. No downloads required, no courses unavailable
* Measures to the pin, unlike GPS which show distances to front, centre and back of green
* Good for practice rounds on new courses. You can measure points according to your own game and strategy

Laser disadvantages:

* You have to physically pick it up, aim, point and press every time. Can be annoying in bad weather.
* No good for blind hazards or targets, and no good getting a distance from the wrong fairway/through trees

GPS advantages:

* Just clip on your bag and look at it for your distance. No picking it up and doing anything
* Measures blind hazards/targets the same as visible ones

GPS disadvantages:

* Courses need to be downloaded, which can inlvolve membership charges for access depending on what you get
* Some courses unavailable (but not many). Again depending on which unit you get.
* Doesn't give measurements to the pin.
* Only gives distances to major hazards that are preset (you can add others yourself).


My advice would generally be:

If you predominantly play the same golf course (or the same 4 or 5) then GPS is definitely easier. It will take a little bit of effort downloading and entering your own points, but once that is done you are set and you can just take one look and play.

If you play at a lot of different courses, and/or play in events where you play practice rounds, then the laser will be a better choice.

[Matt 3 Jab]

I've had both and Boonie has nailed it.

I liked GPS better, and you can also measure your distances in the bag with the gps by plotting a starting and finishing point.

[adlo]

Pretty good summary from Boonie there.

I am a laser user, happy with my choice. Don't use it as much as I used to on the home course, but it is so helpful when playing different courses or when you find yourself in an awkward spot on the course.

I have played with gps users, and I have to say I think they are a bit slow (using the gps, not the golfers)

[haysey]

Agree with everything Boonie said both good and bad.


My own personal preference is for the GPS. Especially if your playing the same couple of courses all the time....

[goonie]

I am looking at getting a GPS, just have to decide which one to get, a basic model like the igolf neo, one of the more expensive models which show maps of the course and game stats or get an iphone and try some of the GPS apps.

[Pinglauncher]

There is probably only a handful of courses played regularly so it sounds as if the GPS is the way to go.

Deciding which one will be the next step I guess.

[Matt 3 Jab]

My one ping ;)

Has Carnarvon on it already ;)

[Courty]

Haysey should know... he has one of each. :roll:

Bloody Ho. :p

[haysey]

I keep the laser for when I forget to recharge the GPS:roll:

[Courty]

I keep the laser for when I forget to recharge the GPS:roll:

:lol:

[Ned]

So if buying a Laser, which is best value and performance ?

[Courty]

FWIW, a GPS is next on my shopping list.

[haysey]

So if buying a Laser, which is best value and performance ?


Ask Tomo which one his is. Then buy the next model down;)



FWIW, a GPS is next on my shopping list.


Get one that doesn't need to be charged all the time:lol:

[LarryLong]

Haysey should know... he has one of each. :roll:

Bloody Ho. :p

Only one? I'm somehow disappointed. :)

I don't hit it straight enough for a laser, so my vote is for the GPS.

[Ned]

Ask Tomo which one his is. Then buy the next model down;)


Ive got a Bushnell with Slope but thats no good for comp so am looking at one without the slope function.

Well I would ask Tomo if he would either answer his fone or return calls!:roll:

[Scottt]

Guys,

I've been offered a crazy cheap Nikon 800S rangefinder.

Are they any good? Anyone used them?

[Ned]

What about one of these (http://reviews.cnet.com/optics/leica-geovid-laser-rangefinder/4505-6504_7-32590596.html?tag=mncol;lst) ?

[Ned]

Or check this site (http://www.opticsplanet.net/golf-range-finders.html) out ?

[adlo]

Guys,

I've been offered a crazy cheap Nikon 800S rangefinder.

Are they any good? Anyone used them?
Does it have pinseeker? If not, forget it.

Otherwise, Nikons get good reviews.

[Scottt]

I think it does have pinseeker - or at least "closest target" and "furthest target" settings that, I am told, work like pinseeker.

[adlo]

I'd do some research on that.

Pretty sure GolfWRX is a good place to do some laser research.

[Scottt]

They have dick-all on Nikon. It's a Bushnell conga line over there.

Tempted to get it, try it and if it blows, flog it off to some other sucker...

[adlo]

It would be the ho's way

[idgolfguy]

I bought a Bushnell 400 about 18 months ago off Ebay for $185 delivered.

I've had GPS for about 4 years and prefer the Laser.

[goonie]

These are the models I am thinking about getting
Sonocaddie v300 or v100
iGolf/Bushnell Neo or Yardage Pro XGC

Should be able to get the v300 and XGC for under $500 and the Neo and v100 under $300. the igolf seem to have more maps, but the sonocaddie seem to have a good number in brissy.

Garmin make some to but no maps in OZ.

Or maybe I should also look at laser rangefinders.

[goonie]

ordered a Bushnell Neo (formerly igolf) on the weekend, $208 delivered from RBG was to good to pass up ($10us off shipping with fathers day discount code, which I think ends today 16th). Also decided I don't need all the fancy extras. And you can share courses with the igolf devices too.

[Pinglauncher]

ordered a Bushnell Neo (formerly igolf) on the weekend, $208 delivered from RBG was to good to pass up ($10us off shipping with fathers day discount code, which I think ends today 16th). Also decided I don't need all the fancy extras. And you can share courses with the igolf devices too.

Goonie, where is RBG :-k

That is an awesome price as they are mid to high 200's on ebay. This is the one I have been looking at based on price and simplicity without all the bells and whistles.

[senecio]

ordered a Bushnell Neo (formerly igolf) on the weekend, $208 delivered from RBG was to good to pass up ($10us off shipping with fathers day discount code, which I think ends today 16th). Also decided I don't need all the fancy extras. And you can share courses with the igolf devices too.

I'll send you my version of Carbrook. I have re-mapped quite a few of the holes as the downloaded course I received was not very accurate.

I also have quite a few other south side courses as per Vegas' GPS thread.

[adlo]

goonie, where is rbg :-k

that is an awesome price as they are mid to high 200's on ebay. This is the one i have been looking at based on price and simplicity without all the bells and whistles.
rockbottomgolf

[goonie]

Goonie, where is RBG :-k

That is an awesome price as they are mid to high 200's on ebay. This is the one I have been looking at based on price and simplicity without all the bells and whistles.

Sorry, Rockbottomgolf. I think the discount on shipping ends today 16th (US time) Just click on the free shipping link on the front page and then click on international shipping to get the code.

[goonie]

I'll send you my version of Carbrook. I have re-mapped quite a few of the holes as the downloaded course I received was not very accurate.

I also have quite a few other south side courses as per Vegas' GPS thread.

Thanks that would be great, I'll grab what ever you got Thanks. Do you have Nudgee North? I might need it on Sunday if it gets here this week.

[senecio]

Thanks that would be great, I'll grab what ever you got Thanks. Do you have Nudgee North? I might need it on Sunday if it gets here this week.

I was provided with Nudgee when I bought the unit, but I can't confirm if it is north or south as I haven't been there yet. I'll send it to you anyway.

If you want to borrow mine for the weekend you're welcome to it. I have a golf free weekend coming up.

[goonie]

I was provided with Nudgee when I bought the unit, but I can't confirm if it is north or south as I haven't been there yet. I'll send it to you anyway.

If you want to borrow mine for the weekend you're welcome to it. I have a golf free weekend coming up.

Thanks, I might take you up on that offer, I am playing Nudgee in the matchplay on his home course which I have never played before either, where do you live again?

P.S Hows the 909H going?

[u8ergolfer]

Got three.. Cally/nikon 1200 series/ I golf Neo, and Bushnell 1500 with slope,

the first two are what I use when I play. the bushy to cross check yardage books..

I forget to charge my Igolf soo often its ridiculous, and I forget to turn it off as well. but when charged it does the job around my home dungheap well.

I'm not really in love with any particular laser FWIW, I had a fondness for my old bushnell yardage pro 1000s' but they were stolen at Coolum last year, I wouldn't have bothered with either of the two lasers above if I still had my originals..

[Bruce]

Is anyone using their GPS for stat gathering?

And if so, how have they found it?

[kev]

The Sureshot is not too good at stats. Basically just gives you fairway hit, number of putts and if you are in a bunker (not number of shots in a bunker!) - oh and total shots on the hole. It's quicker to write it on a separate score card/piece of paper.

[goonie]

Is anyone using their GPS for stat gathering?

And if so, how have they found it?

you want to look at one like the sonocaddie v300 or bushnell Yardage Pro XGC if you want scores and stats etc.

[Courty]

I bought Tee2Green (http://www.bluewattle.com/web/home.html) for my iPhone for $18. 8)

Chopper71 has already mapped Cairns GC and uploaded it to their site. I used it last weekend and found it to be quite useable. The only trick to be mindful is to allow it time to locate itself when you switch the screen back on (the screen switches off automatically to save power). All I did was switch it on when I was about 10m from the ball. By doing that and then switching the screen off again straight after checking distances, I found that the impact on battery life was negligible.

[Grunt]

Is anyone using their GPS for stat gathering?

And if so, how have they found it?

I use intelligolf more for stat gathering than actual course mapping, might be that I have not been playing that well to need to.

[Flusher]

GPS units are much faster and accurate

[Daves]

Is anyone using their GPS for stat gathering?

And if so, how have they found it?

I have mScorecard on a Nokia N95. It gives me GPS (front, middle & back) plus course scorecard and stats, You can upload to a web server which gives you full statistical analysis and history. Costs $20 US and no annual subs.

[Scottt]

See that's what I wonder: if you're going to shell out for a GPS, why not get a phone/media player with GPS for a bit more money and have a much more useful device?

[goonie]

See that's what I wonder: if you're going to shell out for a GPS, why not get a phone/media player with GPS for a bit more money and have a much more useful device?

$200ish for a neo gps vs $800+ for an iphone or N95, unless you are already getting a phone on a plan its not worth it, plus there is the question on how accurate the phone GPS is. The Neo can connect to up to 20 Sats.

[Daves]

Agree it only makes sense to go the phone application if you already have a GPS phone or need to upgrade anyway.

As too accuracy, to about 3 metres it seems, plenty accurate for me.

[kev]

$200ish for a neo gps vs $800+ for an iphone or N95, unless you are already getting a phone on a plan its not worth it, plus there is the question on how accurate the phone GPS is. The Neo can connect to up to 20 Sats.

Marketing hype - there are never 20 in view at any one time. Realistically all you need for a good fix is 5 to 6.

[LarryLong]

I've been researching this a bit too. What kev says is true. The other thing to note is that the gps chips in many of the devices will be the same, so there might not be any difference between the accuracy of the N95 and that of a flash-o Sonocaddie or something like that. It's more about the chipset than the number of satellites.

Lots of devices use the Sirf Star III chipset, which I think is meant to be the most accurate for walking pace. From all accounts, some other chipsets are set up to work better when the object is moving because they can extrapolate a little bit if the signal is off. Walking pace can defeat this.

[Grunt]

My Asus PDA picks up on average 8-10 sats on clear days and 6-8 on the overcast days. I did not think the satellite systems were affected by cloud.

[goonie]

Marketing hype - there are never 20 in view at any one time. Realistically all you need for a good fix is 5 to 6.


I didn't say it would connect to 20 sats, I said it can.

[kev]

I didn't say it would connect to 20 sats, I said it can.

I'll concede that if 20 satellites were in view it can.

[Scottt]

So then, what is the most compact laser rangefinder with pinseeker mode?

[adlo]

Scottt, did your other project fall through?

Mate, the Bushnell TE1500 might not be the MOST compact, but it is the shiznit.

[Scottt]

I baulked and missed it, Adlo, then the guy who snapped it up, who is a mate, decided he didn't want it, but I was skint...

[just]

Leupold "laser" range finders are supposed to be as good as the Bushnell's and more compact, so I have read.

[adlo]

Go the TE1500. I did based on a heap of research and it is faultless. The waterproof factor is good too.

[Yossarian]

Go the TE1500. I did based on a heap of research and it is faultless. The waterproof factor is good too.


I did not realise it was waterproof, I did not absorb the five or so times you metioned it today.:mrgreen:

[adlo]

Twice... once to you and once to idgolfguy. Stop eavesdropping when I am talking to Danny Devito.

[Scottt]

Adlo, what does it have that the V2 doesn't?

[adlo]

Possibly only the... cough, cough..... waterproof element.

Golfsmith reviews on the V2 make it look like the poorer cousin of the TE.

[Scottt]

Yeah, but the V2 means you don't need to carry a backpack!

[Yossarian]

But it is not waterproof scottt!

[Scottt]

Adlo on the 5th at Kennedy Bay last week:

[adlo]

The TE is not that heavy, unless you are a wimp. Are you a wimp Scottt?

Mate, that is a seriously large image.

[Yossarian]

That is huge!

[Scottt]

No, I am not a wimp.

That image was big.

Adlo with his new purchase:

http://gadgetpanel.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/cimg2669.JPG

[Scottt]

That actually looks like Grunt, sleeve pythons aside.

[adlo]

Oh I've got guns.

[Yossarian]

http://i29.tinypic.com/29wu1j5.jpg

[adlo]

It should read Waterproof 4 times.

[Yossarian]

Better?

[adlo]

http://th05.deviantart.com/fs39/300W/f/2008/344/c/9/I_jizz_in_my_pants_by_HOLIMOUNT.jpg

[Scottt]

So stupid!

You might as well have bought one of these Scottt:
http://earth911.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/single-brick.jpg

Totally. Do me a favour Laser Boy. Grab me a yardage to the pin (green even)/fairway trap on these shots!

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/4936/z17thfairway2.jpg
http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/2595/70730163.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1980/p4100678.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5959/p5111126.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8991/p5121216.jpg
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/8160/p6130848.jpg
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/8512/p7221714.jpg

[Captain Nemo]

Sonocaddie GPS unit!:smt038

[adlo]

Totally. Do me a favour Laser Boy. Grab me a yardage to the pin (green even)/fairway trap on these shots!

:lol:

Awesome.

Can I have my brick back?

[Scottt]

"Ummm, you've got one-oh-four to the dune.... and ... um... four iron" :lol:

[adlo]

I forgot to mention the TE1500 has X Ray vision.

[Yossarian]

That tee shot looks cwazy.

[Scottt]

Second from the bottom?

[Yossarian]

Yeah, is that you? A waterproof pinseeker is of no use there.

[Scottt]

No that's a mate. 95m par three to a punchbowl green. Of the four of us, all playing off 8-10, only one of us parred it, and he made 3 from off the green. I was NTP at 6m and three-jagged!

That's at Painswick, and yeah, Adlo'd be f**ked on that one!

[MegaWatty]

Adlo,

This a good price for the 1500?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BUSHNELL-PINSEEKER-1500-TOURNAMENT-LASER-RANGEFINDER_W0QQitemZ350242862669QQcmdZViewItemQQp tZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518c19f64d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BUSHNELL-PINSEEKER-1500-TOURNAMENT-LASER-RANGEFINDER_W0QQitemZ350230737635QQcmdZViewItemQQp tZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518b60f2e3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

When they say big, how big are they really?

[adlo]

Adlo,

This a good price for the 1500?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BUSHNELL-PINSEEKER-1500-TOURNAMENT-LASER-RANGEFINDER_W0QQitemZ350242862669QQcmdZViewItemQQp tZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518c19f64d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BUSHNELL-PINSEEKER-1500-TOURNAMENT-LASER-RANGEFINDER_W0QQitemZ350230737635QQcmdZViewItemQQp tZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518b60f2e3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

When they say big, how big are they really?
You could probably find something slightly cheaper, but for a new one, that is a good price. They are not much bigger than Victors Medallist (if you have seen that one).

[MegaWatty]

That Puppy's a refurb with 12 month warranty.

Yup. Seen ID's one.

[adlo]

With a warranty, all good.

AND, AND, AND.... it is waterproof 8)

[MegaWatty]

With a warranty, all good.

AND, AND, AND.... it is waterproof 8)

It's bloody what?

[adlo]

You heard it here folks.... waterproof.

http://th05.deviantart.com/fs39/300W/f/2008/344/c/9/I_jizz_in_my_pants_by_HOLIMOUNT.jpg

[Scottt]

Question, WaterBoy: other range finders/GPS units, they water resistant? As in, is the awesome feature of yours that you can drop it in a pint and it'll be alright?

[Scottt]

I will concede, Adlo, your 1500 will come into its own if you are ever:

http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/im-on-a-boat.jpg

on a motherf**ken boat!

[adlo]

Pic didn't work.... but yeah..... I take my TE1500 swimming. It rocks.

Not all rangefinders are even water resistant. People who buy non-water proof rangefinders don't play golf in the rain..... they go crying to mummy.

[Scottt]

Playing in the rain is for crazy people.

[adlo]

You miss your mummmy Scottt?

[Scottt]

Sometimes.

[adlo]

That's understable. There, there mate, let it out.

Just don't cry on your new pissweak NEO, or you'll ruin it.

Yeah!!

http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/im-on-a-boat.jpg

[Scottt]

The golf I'm playing, biatch, there ain't no tears on the golf course... aside from the tears of laughter when I think of you in the gym doing 5x5s bench pressing your rangefinder :lol:

Did it come with its own buggy?

[just]

Adlo
I found a use for your laser if you decide to go with a GPS:
http://danielfelton.com/images/sharksLaser.jpg

[PeteyD]

ROFL :D

[goonie]

The neo is rainproof Adlo so you can cry on it :-)

[LarryLong]

Totally. Do me a favour Laser Boy. Grab me a yardage to the pin (green even)/fairway trap on these shots!

:smt038

[adlo]

Man, some great posts in here, too many to reply back to.

Scottt, I struggled with the weight of the Te1500 at first, but I am coping OK these days.

http://badatsports.com/blog/i/news/2008-powerthirst.jpg

[Yossarian]

Best thread ever.

[Scottt]

Adlo,

you will be pleased to know I have found a way to make my Neo waterproof:

http://www.easybizchina.com/picture/sell/200807%5C18-52e58067-d358-45b0-bc36-d335feec239a.jpg

[kev]

Wouldn't a durex do?

[Yossarian]

Hey aldo

http://i28.tinypic.com/2ep3les.jpg

[Scottt]

Wouldn't a durex do?

:lol: Don't want to get my Neo all lubey!

[henno]

Hey aldo

http://i28.tinypic.com/2ep3les.jpg

http://imgur.com/4E1E8.jpg

[Yossarian]

http://i30.tinypic.com/jpbr7a.jpg

[adlo]

Nice

[3oneday]

Played golf with a mate who was using a Sureshot thingame last night. How good are these things !!!

I'm surprised though that the broomstick putter haters haven't included GPS devices in their hitlist ?

Bought me a Sonocaddie V300 this morning for about $400 delivered via Rockbumhole 8)

Christmas come early, just have to remember to remove it from the bag when I enter the house ;)

[Courty]

Sureshot... I think that's the one Haysey has???

They're good when you remember to recharge them before the round. :roll:

[3oneday]

That's why I bought the sonocaddie, apparently it has a longer battery life.

[Courty]

I haven't charged my Neo since I bought it and have used it for around 5 full rounds. :shock:

[haysey]

Its a great toy. But limited in battery life. I'll get no more than 27 holes out of it before it goes flat.

[Grunt]

Do they have normal batteries or built in rechargables?

[haysey]

Do they have normal batteries or built in rechargables?


Sureshot has a built in battery.

[Sydney Hacker]

I still get 36 holes out of my sureshot. It might help that when I put it on the charge it is there for a couple of days though.

[goonie]

The neo keeps going even after it says it has 0% battery left.

[Rusty]

consistently 62% or 63% left on my Sureshot after a round.

[3oneday]

Used the sonocaddie last night for 9 holes around Dunheved, very impressed !

It shows the distance to the front, mid front, middle, middle back and back of each green.

Also shows the distances to hazards, bunkers, pretty much anything a caddy would tell you. It's probably a fair outlay at around $400 + $55 membership but even after 1 round I feel like it is money well spent.

[Scottt]

The neo keeps going even after it says it has 0% battery left.

I've noticed that! Awesome, eh?!

Great little unit IMO, and for US$150 or so, such a good price.

[Johnny Canuck]

Used the sonocaddie last night for 9 holes around Dunheved, very impressed !

It shows the distance to the front, mid front, middle, middle back and back of each green.

Also shows the distances to hazards, bunkers, pretty much anything a caddy would tell you. It's probably a fair outlay at around $400 + $55 membership but even after 1 round I feel like it is money well spent.


If you find this 3, are you still loving the sonocaddie?

[adlo]

Rumour has it another Ozgolfer has made his mind up aboot which device to choose after having playing a few rounds with both devices.

Long live the mighty waterproof rangefinder.

[Johnny Canuck]

the trigger hath been pulled.

[adlo]

the trigger hath been pulled.

:smt038

I think we all own a small piece of it after you took all of our money on the weekend.

[Daves]

Just some GPS observations from the Champs weekend. I played with a number of guys who have the Neos, Hux, BrisVegas and Iain from memory. I was using my GPS phone with Mscorecard. We compared measures regularly and there was never more than a metre or two difference. The Pelican Waters sprinklers are numerous and all well marked as well. The GPS measures again were pretty much spot on to the sprinklers.

There wasn't a mapped version of PW on the mScorecard site so I did one up using the Google Earth option and was stoked with the results. Did not have a card for Pac Harbour and there was no course mapped so had to rely on Hux there.

I have been contemplating buying one of the more expensive jobbies like the Sonnocaddie V300, but honestly I can't see why I would need anything more than a Neo, they do it all, just without the pretty pictures. Very impressed with their useability. Anyone got one for sale?:mrgreen:

Edit - I have been Ho'd:mrgreen::mrgreen: Thanks Courty:lol:

[Yossarian]

Anyone use the Bushnell Yardage Pro Sport 450?

[Baudwalker]

COnsider this ... was told last weekend that I was "NOT" permitted to use any GPS device at my new club!

Asked the official later and this was confirmed .. one official even declared that if he had his way the 100 and 150 markers would be gone as well!

So I immediately submitted a request to the Match Committee to revisit the decision seeing a large number of members are using these things

I suppose that one should 'ask' the question when visiting some clubs

and as far as Google goes always check the date of the map images .. ours are 2005 vintage and I am sure the earth has moved somewhat since then!!!!!!

[TheTrueReview]

COnsider this ... was told last weekend that I was "NOT" permitted to use any GPS device at my new club!

Asked the official later and this was confirmed .. one official even declared that if he had his way the 100 and 150 markers would be gone as well!

....

If some people had they're way, they'd go back to horse & cart transport. Sounds like the 'golf dinosaur' needed carbon dating.

[davepuppies]

I recently got the golf buddy tour GPS as i was retarted at using my Bushnell tour V2.

I have a lot more confidence in my distances now, and my score reflect this.

[Daves]

I recently got the golf buddy tour GPS as i was retarted at using my Bushnell tour V2.

I have a lot more confidence in my distances now, and my score reflect this.

What was the problem with the Bushnell Dave, hard to use?

[Courty]

Now that I have had some time with both a Range Finder and a GPS, I've found that I use the Range Finder far more often aon my home course. However, when playing at an unfamiliar course the GPS is favoured for its overhead layout image and distances to hazarda etc that I wouldn't otherwise be aware of.

[davepuppies]

What was the problem with the Bushnell Dave, hard to use?

Yep, its more the user than the device.

[Daves]

Yep, its more the user than the device.

I haven't used a Bushnell rangefinder, but I find the Leupold GX3 is very easy to use. I rarely have any trouble locking onto a target even at 250m+ . The flags used can make a difference, most modern flags seem to be at least slightly reflective and this does seem to help the laser lock on. If there is no breeze at all ( a rarity) and the flag is collapsed, it is usually a bit harder to lock on.

I still use my Neo if there is a reliable map, but that is probably the case on less than 50% of courses I play. It is still very handy on my home course because I have lots of extra points mapped, so I can get distances to a hazard or carry at a glance. Also useful for wind direction changes, or when tees are way forward, or pulled right back and the course is playing a bit different to the usual tee locations.

[idgolfguy]

I have the Nikon 1200. Same as the following:
http://www.binocularsbestbuy.com/NIKON-Rangefinder-Monarch-Gold-Laser-1200-Team-Realtree-Camo-8359.html

Very fast response even in low light conditions. Full waterproof.

Larger than other models but works brilliantly.

[dave1]

I prefer GPS

have used a sonocaddie now for about 6 months, our club finally installed 3 colour flag system (front - mid back) so pretty much I know exactly how far each pin is

I dont look at it for every shot..but when I do I just want a quick glance...I dont want to be pointing something at a flag..where I play its so windy it would be challengeing locking onto the flag I would think anyways

at the end of the day you just want distance...it doesnt need to make toast ;)

[dave1]

If some people had they're way, they'd go back to horse & cart transport. Sounds like the 'golf dinosaur' needed carbon dating.

I wouldnt play there...and I would also tell him he can have his 5 and half hour ound comps......GPS and markers save time...golf is a pure simple tagret game and the longer it takes to work out the target distance the longer people take

yet I bet they have golf carts there also...I mean how hypocritical can you get......

[idgolfguy]

......GPS and markers save time...golf is a pure simple tagret game and the longer it takes to work out the target distance the longer people take

spot on!

[MegaWatty]

Rumour has it another Ozgolfer has made his mind up aboot which device to choose after having playing a few rounds with both devices.

Long live the mighty waterproof rangefinder.

I find this post rather amusing.

[MAZA68]

Don't have either myself but based on what I have seen used, I would go for a Laser Rangefinder. They are more reliable on distance and you don't have the hassles of out of date maps or course changes etc. that happen with GPS units.

If all courses have 100 and 150m markers, at the end of the day that is good enough for me.

[markTHEblake]

I suppose that one should 'ask' the question when visiting some clubs

There is no need to ask, using any Distance Measuring Device is not permitted under rules of Golf. The only exception is when the local rule is in place that permits them.

Thus you only need to look on the local rules board. If its not mentioned, its not allowed, simple as that.

[Johnny Canuck]

dave1, windy courses are easier for rangefinders as the flag is fully extended and you have a bigger target.

[kingslayer33]

COnsider this ... was told last weekend that I was "NOT" permitted to use any GPS device at my new club!

What is your new club Baudwalker?