With the use of GPS (Global Positioning System) for use in golf now becoming more and more popular I thought a Golf Buddy Golf GPS review might be useful.
There are three different models of Golf Buddy Golf GPS and I will review them all in this article.
The three Golf Buddy models are:
Golf Buddy Plus
Golf Buddy Pro and
Golf Buddy Tour.
Golf Buddy Plus. The golf buddy plus is the original model and has proved very popular with golfers, for good reason, as we are about to find out.
The first thing to note is that it is not compatible with MAC computers so you will need Windows 2000, Windows XP or Vista.
Once you have unpacked your Buddy it is ready to go straight to work. You don't have to load anything. Simply switch it on and head for the golf course. The unit will automatically find the course and hole you are on. That's pretty neat.
In the unlikely event that your course is not already mapped you have two options:
You can map it yourself or
Ask the client support to do it for you.
Once you have mapped your own course it needs to be referred back to Golf Buddy headquarters for loading. This will take a few days and is one of the ways that the library of courses available is expanding. The current library consists of over 20,000 courses.
So you're on the first tee and Buddy is merrily humming away having locked in on any number of up to 12 satellites. You're ready to play but there is a bunker out on the right of the fairway. According to Buddy it is 192 yards from where you are to the front of the bunker and 203 yards to carry it. Select your club accordingly. How cool is that?
And so the game goes on with you being able to add as many as 11 points to any one hole in addition to the points already mapped by Golf Buddy.
You may find that the distance markers on the sprinkler heads do not correspond with what your Buddy is telling you. That's not surprising but I suggest you believe your new Buddy - you'll soon find out how accurate it really is. Sprinkler head distances could have been measured and marked by any number of methods and, in most cases, cannot be relied on for accuracy.
As you go along try the shot distance feature. Press a button, play your shot and proceed to where your ball has landed. Press the button again and you will know exactly how far you just hit the last shot. The shot distance feature is a great way to learn exactly how far you hit each club in your bag. But be warned that it can be humbling. Yours truly discovered that he doesn't hit the ball quite as far as he thought - a possible explanation as to why I often came up short on my approach shots.
I didn't have this problem with the Buddy Plus in my hand. Not only do I know how far I am hitting my clubs but I am automatically updated with the remaining distance to the green or other targets.
You'll find the grey scale screen easy to read under all lighting conditions - even on a bright day. For those overcast days and twilight finishes there is the back light facility.
One of the coolest features of the Buddy Plus is the dynamic green feature. We don't always approach the green from directly in front and for those times when you are coming at it from the wrong angle the Buddy Plus automatically changes the shape of the green to your angle of approach.
Another neat feature of the Buddy Plus is the score tracking. Simply enter your scores as you play each hole and then write them down later for submitting or reflecting on the game. No more soggy score cards on those rainy days!
The unit will store up to 1,000 past scores.
The Golf Buddy Plus can easily be operated with one hand and is a pleasure to use.
Some of the technical stuff you should know:
It is light and fits comfortably in your pocket. Weighing in at 3 ounces and measuring 3.2 inches by 2.1 by 1.0.
The power source is a built in lithium battery which will give you ten hours of use. That is enough for two full rounds of gold. To be on the safe side I keep mine fully charged.
Once you have purchased your Golf Buddy Plus there are no additional fees. There is no annual membership fee and course downloads are free.
You will never run out of courses on your unit as it stores up to one thousand.
It is multi lingual with a wide range of language options available.
Golf Buddy Tour. The big brother of the Buddy Plus has exactly the same functions but being bigger has a bigger memory and stores up to 20,000 courses.
It has a color screen which is bigger than its little brother making it even easier to read.
The big advantage of the Buddy Tour is that battery power can be backed up with 2 A A A batteries - so you should never run out of power.
Golf Buddy Pro. This model is identical to the Tour model except that it has a grey screen. The Golf Buddy Pro is proving to be very popular with golf GPS users. Its easy to see why with it great looks and sturdy construction having one of these in your hands makes you feel like owning one.
All of the Buddy models are very reliable, water resistant and sturdy.
To top it off all models are good lookers and as an owner of one you will be the envy of your mates.
If you are in the market for a golf GPS you could do a lot worse than buying one of the Golf Buddy range and I trust this Golf Buddy Golf GPS review has given you some indication of the functionality of these models. Buy one today and start having some fun on the golf course.
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