| Golf equipment manufacturers are always trying | | | | immediately knows the distance to the target and |
| to provide golfers with better equipment to | | | | club to choose. |
| enhance the overall playing experience. Every | | | | If it takes two minutes to determine the distance |
| season it seems there are a host of new golf | | | | using the old method, we just saved that two |
| gadgets and devices introduced to the golfing | | | | minutes with the GPS system. Now multiply that |
| public. The Golf Channel even has a show | | | | by all four players in a group and you can get an |
| centered around new golf inventions. | | | | idea of how much time could be saved with this |
| Some are a real help to the average golfer while | | | | new technology. |
| others fail to find widespread acceptance. | | | | 2. GPS Range Finders Save Strokes. |
| Ultimately golfers decide what they want to use | | | | We all work at keeping our scores as low as |
| while on the course. | | | | possible. Yet we are prone to make errors in |
| In recent years one device that has seen | | | | judgment while on the course. Often a golfer will |
| increasing popularity is the golf GPS (Global | | | | make an educated guess on the distance he |
| Positioning System) unit. This is a cell phone like | | | | needs for a shot only to learn that he guessed |
| device that uses the same technology that is in | | | | wrong. These errors add shots to the hole and |
| your car's GPS for the golf course. | | | | over the course of an entire round those shots |
| The unit tells the golfer at a glance how far to | | | | add up to quite a few. |
| the green, or to carry the hazard or any other | | | | If the golfer had access to the information |
| critical distance information. He uses this | | | | available from a GPS unit then he would know the |
| information to choose the proper club for the | | | | right distance, choose the correct club and if |
| shot before him. | | | | struck correctly land the ball near the target. I |
| I am a golf gadget guy anyway and love new | | | | know that for me it is very discouraging to hit a |
| technology, so I have owned one of these for | | | | good shot only to find it land either short or long |
| about three years now. At first my playing | | | | because I had misjudged the distance. With a GPS |
| partners would tease me about it, but it wasn't | | | | unit your errors are limited to execution rather |
| too many rounds until they started using it too | | | | than both execution and judgment. |
| when we road on the same cart. They could see | | | | 3. GPS Units are Affordable. |
| the value of the GPS range finder too. | | | | Initially these units were very pricey. The first |
| How about you? Do you have one? Have you | | | | company I remember offering these sold them |
| been thinking you would like one but haven't | | | | for around $300 USD plus an annual fee to |
| decided yet? | | | | download new courses. They sold many of them |
| Well, there are a few very strong reasons why | | | | (I bought one) and then they were approved for |
| you should use one of these cool new GPS units | | | | tournament play by both the USGA and the |
| when you play. I will outline them below. | | | | R&A. |
| 1. They Speed Up Play. | | | | With this level of acceptance many new brands |
| One of the most concerning things about the | | | | have entered the marketplace. They offer a |
| game of golf is the time required to play, usually a | | | | variety of features and programs to suit the |
| little more than four hours. But rounds lasting | | | | needs of nearly every golfer. The beauty of this |
| nearly five hours are not unheard of. Worse yet | | | | competition is that prices have come down and |
| the trend for the length of the average round is | | | | now I am seeing some units available for about |
| increasing. | | | | $150 USD. |
| Enter the golf GPS units. They hold the chance of | | | | So there you have it. Faster play and lower |
| reducing the time to play an average round by | | | | scores all for an affordable price. You could lower |
| thirty minutes or more. You see one of the time | | | | your handicap and have more fun doing it. Now |
| consuming parts of the game is that each player | | | | that sounds like a winner to me. |
| needs to know the distance to his target in order | | | | If you are considering improving your golf game |
| to select the proper club. | | | | by adding a GPS range finder then the three |
| In the past he would seek out yardage markers | | | | reasons listed above should be more than enough |
| on the course and then pace off the distance | | | | to convince you of their benefits. |
| from the marker to the ball. But with the GPS | | | | Just find the right one for you with the features |
| device the golfer pulls up to his ball, checks the | | | | you need in the price range to fit your budget. If |
| distance indicated by the GPS device and | | | | you are like me, you will be happy you did. |