Do You Need GPS For Golf?

It's fair to say that the launch of devices offering GPS for golf (global positioning systems), caused a bit of controversy when they hit the market, with the old school throwing some bad press into the mix, despite a pretty unanimously good response from the media. Without doubt though, the industry was stirred up by their presence, some say for the better.

Initially, some players felt that the devices offered users an unfair advantage and called for them to be banned, this ethos was upheld for a number of matches and tournaments and even some clubs banned their use outright. Arguably though, these advances in technology drive greater enjoyment for the majority of players, not just for golf but in any sport.

Whatever a sporting discipline demands, from picking up clubs to kicking a football, surely it's only natural to embrace and support advancements that entice younger generations to take the sport up, in turn supporting the expectation of the industry itself and ensuring it's continued development, both for amateurs, professionals and leisure players.

So what use is the latest 'must have gadget' on the links? Well it depends on the unit itself. The most basic of which should be able to measure the yardages to the front of the green and display that information for you to use when taking your shot.

More advanced devices may be able to display yardages from front, to middle, to back of the green, as well as show you locations and yardages to hazards on the course. Many can also track your progress through a course or many courses, storing information about your fairway hits, drives, puts and sand saves.

At a price point that is mid range, units tend to become waterproof and impact resistant, allowing peace of mind in poorer conditions, and protection against the unit falling from your pocket whilst speeding around on a golf cart! More complex functionality becomes available allowing full logging and reviews of your performance on a computer post game, and even showing overhead course view graphics and lay up distances.

At the top end of the scale, commanding a premium price, the units will have everything cheaper units do, but compliment it with full photographic overhead shots to help read the course and plan your attack, as well as allowing the user to customize their individual experience by downloading extra content to add to the out of the box specification.

So what are the benefits of having all that functionality? Your accuracy should improve, with your eye as you get a feel for the actual distances involved, as the GPS units take the guesswork out completely. Your play should speed up somewhat too, as the need for pacing out yardages from marker posts and sprinkler heads and the like is eliminated. You can also use the systems as a practice aid, measuring out distances for each club in your kit bag.

Until you have used one, don't dismiss a GPS for golf. You may well find that with their ever increasing list of functions, unquestionable benefits and on some of the latest and greatest models, clear, colour touch screens with easy to follow menus and icons, your enjoyment of the game increased and golfing passion renewed.