New GPS Device - Golf Buddy Voice - Advice please

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as nearly everyone I know has a gps or range finder, I've thought about getting one.

Made the decision to invest in one as a birthday present to myself, I've come across something new out called The Golf Buddy Voice. Seems easy to use doesn't have to many yardages other than what's really needed. Also doesn't need updating and subscription fees. Didn't know if anyone had used one, has one or has any advice on what's good.

In all honesty I'm not looking for something with the ability to measure to within a gnats pube length. I want something simple that can measure front, centre and back of greens. Is easy to use and ideally doesn't require updating.

Any advice gladly taken, looking to buy in around 3 weeks time. So plenty of time to listen, look and find what's right.

Hend

"distance measures are allowed in the rules of golf....."

That is not strictly true, clubs may make a local rule allowing their use, if they so wish and competition organising committees may allow them, if they wish, but strictly speaking the rules do not allow them. It's a bit like stone in bunkers, if it's not in the local rules you can't move them!

hend085 wrote:

George1507 wrote:

hend085 wrote:

McLaren wrote:hend

Do you not think combating nature is part of the game?

One part of this is judging distances no matter what the features between you and the intended target.

do you think playing with a caddy is not really the game of golf?
its effectively the same thing

There's a big difference. Caddies are allowed in the Rules of Golf, whereas distance measuring devices are not.

distance measures are allowed in the rules of golf. its the rule of the european and pga tours that prohibit them

No, they are specifically prohibited in the rules of golf, under rule 14.3. They are only allowed if the course has passed a local rule allowing their use.

The pro game would benefit from allowing lasers - just think how much pacing out time would be saved - could be the answer to achieving the 4 hour round.

ban_bam wrote:The pro game would benefit from allowing lasers - just think how much pacing out time would be saved - could be the answer to achieving the 4 hour round.

I agree...courses all have stroker savers, distance markers or yardages written on sprinkler heads. In the pro game, they're given pin sheets with the exact distances from the pin to the front of the green etc. So, the "authorities" are encouraging the pros to calculate an accurate distance... so either:

1. let them use laser or GPS devices to more quickly get an accurate yardage and speed up play

OR

2. remove all makers and yardage information and make them play it all by "eye".

The current situation is a bit of pointless middle ground.

The tournaments could be sponsored by a GPS provider and the pin positions for each hole for the day be programmed in - simples! There would still be deliberations though because pros don't shoot at pins they shoot at the area which will do least damage if they miss.

Most courses that have been set up for a tour comp, are set up with the distances markers, ie 50,100,150 and 200 yards and on the par 5s 250 yards to the front of the green sprayed on the middle of the fairway.
They are then given a pin sheet, to tell them, how far the flag is on, and on what part of the green, my point is with all this information they still take an age to decide on what club to use, give them gps or a lasers and we could be looking at 7 hour rounds!!!

There was quite an interesting article in Golf Monthly showing the level of detail that the pros are given. Lytham was freshly charted by Strokesaver specially for The Open. The greens are individually mapped on a separate sheet with all slopes indicated. These are produced on waterproof paper (which takes something like 2 days to dry) and books produced in both yards and metres. So when they get to their ball, they have to read a book before they can hit it. Is it surprising it takes 5 hours to get round?