Master the Course With Golf GPS

New for Spring 2009 is Garmin's Approach G5 golf GPS. This $499 handheld is rugged, waterproof, and features a large, bright, color touchscreen. All of the G5's features are driven by easy-to-follow menus on the touchscreen. In a move that will shake up the golf GPS market, Garmin preloads a database of 7,000+ courses for free, and promises to add courses and updates for free via its Web site. I was able to find most, but not all of my local courses, so check Garmin's site for the course database. I really like the G5's ability to show distances to and from anywhere on the course just by touching and dragging. Touch your target for a distance, or touch and move the flag for precision distance. The G5 also has a good score-keeping utility.

SkyHawke Technology’s top-of-the-line SkyCaddie SG5 features a large color display and a passel of useful features. Distance to the hole is displayed in large numerals, but the SkyCaddie SG5 can hold up to 40 separate targets (bunkers, carries, creeks, blind hazards) per hole. You can easily toggle through targets with the target button. SkyCaddie’s “Intelligreen” technology gives you distances to the front and back of the green and points in between. SkyCaddie measures courses from the ground (rather than by satellite images) for best accuracy. There are more than 23,000 courses in the SkyCaddie database. Membership plans (for course database access) range in price from $29.95 per year (for a single state) to $59.95 per year (global).

A bright color 3D display is the Sonocaddie V300's key feature. Track your actual position on the course in real time. See your targets on the display, including distance to front, back, and center of the green, water hazards, bunkers, lay-up areas, and more. You'll also get shot distance measurement and tracking, digital scorecard, game analysis, and personalized course mapping. Track every shot for review later. The Sonocaddie V300 holds up to 20 courses at a time in memory. Two course download memberships are available: a "birdie" membership (lifetime $29.95, first five courses free, $5 for each additional download, and an "eagle" membership ($49.95 and unlimited downloads). Includes a belt clip, USB cable, and carrying case.

The Golf Buddy Pro features a dynamic green view that changes the displayed image of the green depending on your angle of approach. Target information is pre-loaded into the Golf Buddy Pro and you may add up to 11 of your own personal targets per hole. Unlike other GPS units in this review, the Golf Buddy Pro comes preloaded with all available North American courses, and international courses may be added. The Golf Buddy Pro automatically loads the correct course and hole depending on your location. The Golf Buddy pro has a hi-res black-and-white screen, score-tracking module, driving distance mode, and multilingual capability. A lithium-ion rechargeable battery and backup AAA batteries power the unit.

The uPro Golf GPS stands apart from other golf GPS units in this review for its technology, shape, and touchscreen. As you approach each hole, it plays a video flyover of the hole including highlighted yardage lines. Its "SmartView" feature shows you targets and distances from an aerial view perspective. AnyPoint technology lets you measure to any point on the course. The uPro combines GPS and aerial and satellite photography to present full-color details on thousands of courses. Download and install one course at a time. Basic course information downloads are free, and "Pro Mode" downloads including video flyovers sell for $10 per course, with discounts for larger orders (10 courses for $60, for example).

GolfLogix keeps things simple with its GPS-8 model, powered by Garmin. Just turn it on and go - you can start and complete an entire round on more than 22,000 courses worldwide without pushing a button. The unit automatically detects the course you are on, and automatically advances the display to targets and holes. The GolfLogix displays distance to the front, center, and back of each green, plus up to six hazards and lay-up distances per hole. You can also measure the distance of your last shot, and keep track of distances you hit by club. The GolfLogix GPS-8 is rated as waterproof and is made for tough outdoor use. The GolfLogix runs on two AA batteries, with a 17-hour battery life.

Like the iGolf Neo, the iGolf GPS Caddie II features a no-frills display that presents distances but not course or green maps. See distance to the front, center, and back of each green, as well as up to eight custom points per hole. The iGolf GPS Caddie II holds up to 40 courses in memory. The companion The iGolf website includes downloadable files for more than 33,500 courses world-wide. An annual $34.99 membership entitles users to unlimited course GPS downloads and additional course information. The GPS Caddie II comes with a USB cable to sync with a PC, software CD, and a belt clip.

Unlike its pricier cousin, the V300, the Sonocaddie XV2 has a black-and-white LCD screen. It shows all critical targets for a hole plus total distance to the green (front and back) on one screen view. Another screen zeroes in on the green with green shape and distance to front, center, and back in large numerals. You can add personalized course targets as you play. Drive distance and digital scorecard screens round out its offerings. Download from a selection of 18,000 courses for free. The XV2 runs for up to 10 hours on three AAA batteries and measures 2.2 inches (w) x 4 inches (h) x 1 inch (depth).

For those who want to spend a bit less and don't need the color screen of the SG5, SkyCaddie offers the SG3 model with a black-and-white LCD screen. The SG3 uses AA batteries (battery life, 12 hours), which can be a handy feature for traveling golfers - no need to carry a separate charger. The SG3 displays distances to the green from anywhere on the course, plus targets and hazards. The SG3 includes "IntelliGreen" technology, showing the shape and length of the greeen from any angle of approach. A thumb-toggle lets the user select any location on the green to pinpoint distance to the flag. There are more than 17,000 courses in the SkyCaddie database.

The Bushnell Yardage Pro features three modes: a "play" mode that shows distance to the front, center, and back of the green; a "score card" screen including hole in play, par, handicap, and yardage from a pre-selected tee box; and a "drive distance" screen that also shows distance to the pin. The Bushnell Yardage Pro uses the same database and course download membership program ($34.99 per year) as the iGolf units in this review. The Yardage Pro's screen includes a backlight for play in low-light conditions. It uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and comes with charger and a bag/belt clip.

iGolf's Neo is the most compact and lowest-priced unit among this group. It weighs only 2.5 ounces and fits in a pocket. No fancy on-screen maps for the iGolf Neo, just yardage information, including distance to the front, center, and back of the green; distance to the pin, and last shot distance. The Neo holds 10 course files at a time, accepts up to four custom points per hole, and uses an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The iGolf website includes downloadable files for more than 33,500 courses world-wide. An annual $34.99 membership entitles users to unlimited course GPS downloads and additional course information.