| The number of golf GPS devices and the number of | | | | the more expensive models lack. SkyCaddie, |
| apps for smartphones is growing quickly. It is very | | | | GolfLogix, and Sureshot, for instance, do not have |
| difficult to keep track as developers try to carve out | | | | touchscreens and do not have a view of the fairway |
| their niche in the market. As a golfer who is looking for | | | | at all. |
| one of these devices, you can be overwhelmed by | | | | No subscription or annual fees. With most golf GPS |
| the number of choices available to you. | | | | apps, you can usually download all the courses you |
| First, should you buy a standalone unit like a SkyCaddie | | | | need or you can use software to map your own |
| or a Callaway uPro, or should you go with a much | | | | courses for free. For some of the top brands |
| cheaper golf GPS application that you can download | | | | subscriptions and annual fees alone can cost much |
| for your smartphone? Now, surely there is no way | | | | more than a smartphone app. |
| that a $10 app for the iPhone can match all the | | | | Cons |
| features of a SkyCaddie, anymore than a Ford Fiesta | | | | Accuracy of GPS. There is debate about whether or |
| can match all the features of a BMW. But people do | | | | not the GPS chip in smartphones is accurate enough |
| drive around in inexpensive compact cars and they do | | | | for golf. The iPhone claims its GPS is accurate to |
| get everywhere they need to go (without the luxury of | | | | within 1-7 yards. But the maximum error of 7 yards is |
| course). | | | | still a long way from the 1-3 yards of SkyCaddie or the |
| So, if you want a golf GPS device that costs less than | | | | sub-meter accuracy of Sureshot. |
| a round of golf, but one that can still get you safely | | | | Accuracy and number of mapped courses. You may |
| around the course, you might consider a smartphone | | | | have to settle for fewer available course maps. |
| app rather than a much more expensive standalone | | | | Generally with phone apps you will not get |
| device. Here are some of the pros and cons of using | | | | professionally mapped courses: there are no armies of |
| a smartphone app. | | | | mappers (ala SkyCaddie) walking courses to mark all |
| Pros | | | | the key spots with pinpoint precision. More likely you will |
| The price. There is really no comparison here. If you | | | | have to settle for self-mapped courses or courses |
| already own a smartphone, then the cost of a good | | | | mapped by your fellow software users (mostly from |
| GPS app can be less than one tenth of the cost of a | | | | Google Earth). How accurate these maps are is |
| standalone unit. | | | | debatable. |
| Free trial. You can download many of these apps for | | | | Battery life. Golf GPS apps can be a huge drain on |
| free and try them out with no obligation to buy. This is | | | | cellphone batteries. You may find yourself just barely |
| a relatively hassle-free way of testing the waters to | | | | able to finish a round with a fully charged battery. The |
| see what the various apps have to offer. | | | | standalone devices, on the other hand, have batteries |
| Touchscreen. Many phones like the iPhone or the | | | | that can last for several rounds of golf. |
| BlackBerry Storm have touchscreens. Smartphone | | | | There may be no clear decision to make here: it will |
| golf apps often display an aerial view of the course | | | | probably come down to personal choice (and |
| and the golfer can pinpoint any spot on the course to | | | | economics). |
| get instant feedback. This is a feature that some of | | | | |