Golf GPS

The advantages of golf GPS systems

You may never lose your way or your ball again with the introduction of golf GPS systems. The more expensive golf courses now offer golf GPS units in many of their golf carts to help new visitors find their way around. If you are a golf enthusiast, you can also purchase handheld golf GPS units with golf course map packages available for all of North America. The more recent GPS units also offer a ball tracking feature that will allow you to find and recover your ball from anywhere on the course as long as it isn’t in a water trap, and even then, just give it a bit more time.

The Big Players in Golf GPS

There are currently three major players in the golf GPS market:

• Skygolf GPS. This company offers a variety of handheld units and takes great pride in the fact that their golf GPS maps are not based on satellite imagery alone. They have people who walk many of the courses in their database in order to provide the best information they can.
• Garmin golf GPS. This is a large company that makes many different GPS platforms. They only have one golf GPS model available, but it comes with many features such as a touch screen, suggested pin placement, a U.S. golf course database and an electronic scorecard.
• Buddy golf GPS. This company offers two different models: Tour and Pro. The Pro model offers more information so professional golfers can fine tune their game much more. The Buddy golf GPS Tour model is great for the hobbyist, as it can be used right out of the box without having to install software or download information.

All of these companies offer handheld models that can suit your needs, whether you’re a beginner or a pro golfer. The price tags run from a couple hundred to several hundred dollars, depending on what features you desire. Be wary, too, that some of them have monthly service fees or require you to pay for additional maps.

Handheld Golf GPS Units

While some companies offer GPS for golf carts that resemble car GPS models, the majority of units to be found are handheld. They almost all consist of a golf course database that will give you a layout of the entire course you are playing on. More expensive models offer suggested ball placement based on current course conditions, and the really cutting-edge models will actually track special GPS golf balls so that you will never lose a ball again. Almost every company offers styles suitable for both men and women, so you can always be stylish on the course, as well.