Customer Reviews

Igolf Gps Caddie Requires 2 Aa Batteries

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I'm just not very good at extrapolating distances from yard markers or marked sprinkler heads (if you can find them). Both my score and frustration was on the rise because I was misjudging the distances and choosing the wrong club. So I decided to buy a GPS Caddie.

I chose a GPS range finder over a laser device. The latter requires a clear line of sight to the pin, which isn't always possible. On the other hand, A GPS unit simply measures the distance from wherever you're standing to the points you wish to map. Also, you can map hazards as well as other landmarks. All you need is a clear shot at the sky.

Here's why I recommend the GPS Caddie.

It's one of the cheapest on the market, and you can map up to eight custom points in addition to the front, center and back of the green. It's comforting to know the precise distance to the middle of a bend on a dogleg, or the end of the fairway, or a blind hazard, and so on. I haven't found a need yet to map more than four or five points--but it's nice to know you can.

Once you get the knack of it, you can map a course in about 90 minutes, faster if you don't map a lot of custom points. All you have to do is stand at a point you want to map, push a button, wait a few seconds, and--voila--it's done. Then you save it and move on. The process is pretty simple, and the instructions are easy to follow.

iGolf, the manufacturer, also provides a web site, which enables you to download previously mapped courses from their files, and they will even map a course for you at a nominal fee. But, unlike many other GPS units, the GPS Caddie is completely self-contained. You don't need a computer, although it is recommended you back up the courses you have mapped. (Once you've mapped five or six courses, you will have invested considerable time and effort.)

The GPS Caddie also offers another neat feature--a way to measure the distance of your shots. All you have to do is punch a button from, say, the tee box, and punch it again at your ball, and it will tell you the distance of your drive. And you can walk over to your partner's ball, and measure that distance, too. In fact, you can measure any distance from Point A to Point B.

The GPS Caddie is a no-frills GPS range finder that offers no graphics, just large, clear numbers, which are accurate to ten feet or less (mostly less). The screen provides the hole number, par, yardage, and handicap. And, of course, the distance to the front, center and back of the green, and other points if you've mapped them. Some more expensive units provide colors and flashy graphics, but I don't feel a bit deprived.

The unit seems durable, and fits one's palm very nicely. The non-slip edging adds a sturdy feel, and after taking it through a heavy downpour with out any problems, I have to say the unit is at least "water resistant."

Using a GPS range finder adds a pleasant new dimension to playing golf. It speeds up the game, removes the distance-guessing angst in selecting the appropriate club. Instead, you can focus on executing rather than navigating. You save the time you'd spend having to extrapolate distances from yard markers, sprinkler heads, trees, etc. This is especially helpful for shots within 100 yards, where most courses provide few--if any--distance markers.

Frankly, I was a bit reluctant to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a range finder. But now, after using it for several weeks, I'd hate to give it up. It has made golfing more fun, boosted my confidence, and eliminated some extraneous swing thoughts. And the GPS Caddie has saved me three or four strokes.

Moreover--considering my high-handicap game--it's nice to have my partner ask me a question for a change, even if it's only the distance to the green.

Some quick thoughts on the iGolf GPS Caddie.

Battery life: 2 standard energizer AA batteries lasted me 2 full rounds of golf, total of about 8 hours.

Course Availability: I have yet to find a course I've played in the past 5 years that wasn't already mapped.

Accuracy: at the course yard markers it was always within a yard or two.

Complaints: It's not as "sexy" as some of the other gps units out there, with it's gray lcd display, and lack of features like shot tracking and elevation. The website that you download the courses from [...]. isn't very flashy, and you have to buy a membership to download premapped courses (50 courses per year for an annual membership fee of around 20 USD).

Overall: It does what it claims. You get accurate distances to front, middle, and back of the green. You can measure shot distance with 2 clicks of the center button. Transfering courses from your PC to the unit is quick and easy with the included software, and USB cable. The courses you download are your's forever. I bought this because it was the least expensive unit out there, and I wanted to try one out, and I can honestly say that I'd do it again.

Being the skeptic that I am I was really surprised at how well this product worked. Once I figured it out, it was easy to download golf courses from the hundreds available online (virtually every course in my area). The unit starts up quickly, works well from inside a golf cart, and appears to be extremely accurate.

On the downside, batteries only last about two rounds (I've got to buy rechargeables), and the manual is a bit confusing.

I'm glad I purchased this product-it is quick and easy to use. It has helped me on the golf course deciding the distance to the greens. I've probably lowered my handicap 2 or 3 strokes.

Excellent. I compared and got a Skycaddie but, choose this because of ease, price and funtionality. Great options to customize and map your favorite course on top of their survey.
Great Support from them as well. Mike from sales was Great!! The assesories are also a lot less. They (another vendor) have a great carrying case for only $30.

I purchased a version of this product that was just the software to load onto a PDA. The software continually just shut down and I spent all my time messing with the unit trying to get it to work. Over the course of two months I continually tried to get some help from customer support either by email or by phone. I spoke with a live person twice when I finally got through to someone and was promised they would research the problem and get back with me, this never happened! After two months I went out and bought a GOLFLOGIX unit and could not be happier with the puchase.

Unit has a huge appetitte for batteries, better buy shares in Duracell/Energizer.Belt clip is very brittle and snaps off.Must be a defect as iGolf "sells" the clips with 5 to a package. Lettering on the toggle buttons wears off. A new user wouldn't know their functions and this makes the unit have little resale value. Periodically it'll lock up and have to be rebooted. Made in China. You get what you pay for. Buyer be ware!

The term GPS rangefinder gives you a good idea of what this does (provided you have the gps points already stored). If you map the points you want on the course, you will have a useful tool. Getting those points during play is a bit of a problem. You must go to each bunker (front and back), each hazard (before and after), etc. to get the gps coordinate and label it. With no keyboard that's a bit tricky and the foursome behind you may not be so sympathetic to your effort.

The premapped courses on the iGolf web site may not be very complete (the ones I downloaded only had the pin data). What they will map for a fee is not spelled out.

The software provided is not very robust but seemed to work for the functions of downloading and backing up course info. Neither the device nor the software does any sort of recording your actual round.

The marketing literature refers to a 'shot distance feature that shows you how far you hit each club'. This is a bit misleading. If hit a shot and remember to press a button twice before you move on, then when you get to your ball you press a button again and you get the distance. However, there is no recording of the club used or any method of summarizing how far you hit anything. If you want to find out how far you hit each club you will need a pencil and a piece of paper to record the information.

The unit itself seems ok, but the belt clip is a bit weak and the lanyard slot is thin plastic. I would not trust either one. So, unless you can take the cart next to your ball, you must carry the unit in your hand, set it on the ground for your shot(or in your pocket, if you can swing with large cell phone size lump).

The manual appears not have been well edited since there are obvious mistakes. The hookup to a computer covers multiple pages but never mentions that you should remove the batteries before you hook it up (that information only appears in a list of warnings about batteries towards the front of the book).

Speaking of batteries, I found it did seem to use them up. The unit said I had over 70% power left at the start of the round but shut down at the 9th hole.

In summary, the product does measure distances (although if you stand in one spot the reading varies 6 or so yards). It is reasonably well built. The software does transfer info to/from a PC.

I have had this for three years. I subcribed to the course download feature which also extended the warranty. Right from the start, the unit would loose loaded course information when turned off. Not all the time but most of the time. It also turned itself off on the course after only being on for 1 hour and fresh batteries. I sent a lot of e-mails to I Golf and got only one reply asking for the serial number of the unit. I sent the info to Igolf and never heard from them again. There is virtually no customer support. I am shopping for another unit now.

I had the caddie and just received the caddie II. the caddie worked good you just need to turn the stabilization button on or the yardage varies by quite abit.They are not too good on help, I'm a member and they never return my emails about questions. Some courses have custom points and some don't. Some courses not complete with custom points and they should be, alot of sand and water.I gave 4 stars for this reason, it does work good.