Customer Reviews

SkyCaddie SG2.5 Golf GPS (Black)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I like the SkyCaddy SG2.5 GPS rangefinder. I only play a couple of different courses and they are already mapped in the database. I like knowing the prescise yardage to the pin and this is made possible by having the ability to use the cusrsor keys to move the location of the flag placement on the iGreen display.

As much as I like the product, I absolutely abhor, hate, loathe and generally dislike the customer service of SkyGolf. I dropped my unit and broke the LCD display. My fault, ok! So let's get it repaired. Call SkyCaddy and get told by the automated attendant that the wait time is on the order of 65 minutes...whoa!! So jump on line and get their on-line customer service chat thing going, and am told that they can't give me an RMA because I need to call in and talk to a person...uh, excuse me, aren't you a person on the other end of the keyboard??

To date, I still don't have my repaired unit back in my hands.

Bottom line is: Good product, lousy customer service. If I was going to spend my money again knowing what I know now, I would go with the laser range-finder.

I already own a Pinseeker -- that decision being based on the horror stories I've read about SkyGolf's customer service, and about using their website. I ran into one of their guys who was mapping a course,and he assured me that many of those issues had been resolved, and that he was in San Diego to upgrade all the courses to 4 stars -- even the exec par-3s. So I gave it a shot. It didn't work out of the box. The unit wouldn't interface with Windows Vista. I switched to Windows XP and setup/download worked flawlessy. I've only used it for four or five rounds so far, and even dropped it once. It's well built, compact, and operation is reliable -- at least as reliable as one can expect from a GPS-based range finder. The Pinseeker is inherently more accurate, but I do find the gps front/back yardage more useful. It's also much more convenient than the Pinseeker. Whereas with the Pinseeker I'd sometimes avoid usage for speed of play, I just have to glance at the SkyCadie on my bag and always have that extra piece of info. I gave it only 4 stars due to the Windows Vista interface issues, otherwise highly recommend it.

Before you purchase this product you need to be sure you understand their licensing plan for course data. I have used an SG2 for two years and I was very pleased with its performance on the golf course. You can read other reviews that I am sure will testify that it is a wonderful tool to have on the course. I went out today to play for only the second time this year. When I turned the SkyCaddie on, it gave me a message that said my "membership" expired two weeks ago, what would I like to do? I would like to finish my round of golf. It brought up the course as it always did and worked fine for three holes. On the fourth hole it gave me the same message but when I tried to just continue my round of golf I discovered that my "membership" service had just erased all the data on my SkyCaddie!! I paid for the hardware. I paid for the ten courses it allowed me to have in the unit (I was only using four.) The satellites belong to the Government and we can use them for free. But, because I didn't instantly renew my "membership" they erased my course data!! In my mind, this would be like MicroSoft erasing my Windows XP because I didn't upgrade to Vista. I find this to not only be aggravating but also unethical. I play 90% of my rounds on the same course. However, because I do travel a bit, I purchased their $50 membership that covers the United States. Now I find that if all I ever want to do is to play my home course, I will have to pay them $30 every year to do that, even though it is my hardware and I have paid for the course data. I will not renew. I am going to buy a Golf Buddy. They don't even charge you the first time for the course data and there are no annual renewable "membership" fees.

My wife gave the SkyCaddie 2.5 to me for Father's Day. It really broke my heart to tell her I needed to return it, but she understood. Here's why...

If I'm not mistaken, SkyCaddie is the only Golf Gps device that continues to have an annual fee. My device cost $259 and the annual fee came to $49.95. I just couldn't see spending that much money every year for something that I can get cheaper. The annual fee really offends me.

This device also lacks in a couple other areas. First, it says that you can keep score. That's true, but once your round is over, the score is lost. You cannot take it home and review your score or upload it onto your computer. Customer Service told me they were looking into providing a way to keep and upload scores, but who knows when that will be.

The other area that disappointed me was the fact that there is no hole overview. At no point can you see the hole in its entirety. So, when I played an unfamiliar course, I would take the Caddie to the tee box to check on hazards, but found myself running back to the cart to check the scorecard for the hole layout - does it dogleg left? Right? How should I position my tee shot?

I found the distances to be accurate, but the annual fee, lack of practical score keeping, and no hole overveiw to be too many negatives to keep it. I will return it (I already had my annual fee refunded) and purchase another GPS unit (that's what brought me here actually - checking reviews for other units).

Have used the Sky Caddie for several weeks and find it really a helpful gadget. If you stay in the fairway, and distace markers are visble, it still helps by avoiding the pacing and estimating normally done. And if you're off the fairway, as we often are, it's invaluable. A great item!

Pros: Size, ease of use, shape of green, re-position cursor for distances, automatically changes holes, accuracy of GPS data

Cons: Difficulty picking up satellites, annual fee, rechargeable battery instead of double A's (SG3 would be better pick)

Skycaddie 2.5 worked fine first day. Next two days, would not lock on satellites and display data. No change to weather or location; perhaps unit was defective - returned for a refund. Customer service was good and refund was relatively prompt.

I just purchased the SkyCaddie 2.5. It is everything I hoped for and I especially pleased that I chose the 2.5 over the 5.0 as the color option for me really does not offer anything worth the extra money. I read many reviews and did a lot of research before finally buying and I think it paid off in the long run. The SkyCaddie 2.5 was very easy to get up and running and it was very quick and easy to get courses downloaded and ready for use. During my first round with the device it performed flawlessly and proved very useful as I am sure it will continue to do so. The distances seemed very accurate and in many cases spot on with published distances on markers. As with many courses the distances marked on sprinklers or at the tee boxes where obviously not right and this was confirmed by the SkyCaddie and allowed better club selection to make it to the hole.

I would highly recommend this unit!

SkyCaddie SG2.5 Golf GPS (Black)
I purchased this device as a replacement for my (dead; not Skycaddie's fault) Skycaddie 2.0. The 2.5 is less bulky. The screen is easy to read outside in the bright Texas skies. The controls are easy to use. Highly recommended.

I have owned and used my 2.5 Sky Caddie for over a year now. I have used it in my home state and in another when I went on vacation. All the courses I needed were available and not too expensive. $10 to add the extra state. I am not a computer whiz so the first time I downloaded I took more time than I do now. They changed the web site also so the first time I used that I was confused. I was able to call the company and got a real person who was very helpful. The unit is small and I carry it on my belt. Easy to read. Sometimes the bunkers are not shown clearly but most of the time the distances make sense. It has been a great help to me when chosing clubs. I did have occasion to play a course in SE ASIA and I did not have my Sky Caddie with me and it felt very strange to have to pace off distances! For its cost and utility, it is one of the best golf "things" I own.

Very easy to set up and use. Very acurate when compared to range markers on home course. Saves time determining range by not having to search for sprinkler head or other markers and estimating distance to center of green. Have not used on another course but anticipate it will be of even greater help on other than home course. Cannot say it has improved my score but has helped in club selection and maybe improved score will happen in the future.