Opinion & Analysis
I finally learned to embrace golf GPS technology, and so should you
Different people play golf very differently; some like to listen to music, while others keep the rulebook in their back pocket. When I started golfing, I embraced the sport as best as I could down to its roots. It was just me against the course, rejecting as much technology as I could. I thought technology was against the spirit of the game, so I would pace the course looking for red, white, and blue markers to guess my distance to the pin, bunkers and other hazards.
But is rejecting technology really upholding the nature of the sport? I’ve recently changed my stance, and here’s why.
115 or 95 to the center of the green?
So you just walked off a yardage, but already forgot whether you needed to add or subtract 10 yards from the sprinkler head. Wait, what did that sprinkler head say again? Was it to the front or the middle? Without a golf GPS, a laser rangefinder, a caddie, or yardage book, surely you’ve found yourself in this situation at least once, or maybe you’ve gotten into a habit of being lazy with picking yardages. And you’re not alone. Since most golfers are usually satisfied with the markers on the fairway, a guessing game ensues when they are planning our next shot.
“Should I hit a pitching wedge or a soft nine?”
Many golfers have at least moderate knowledge of the distances they hit each club, maybe even knowing how far a perfect shot will go and how short a poor shot will go. Unfortunately, most of us take a less-than-serious approach to picking an exact yardage of their target, not realizing that we’re leaving strokes on the course.
Enter the caddie
I was quick to say “I don’t need a digital caddy,” but I was wrong. Since the dawn of golf, using a caddie has been an encouraged practice. And if he/she does their job correctly, golfers get the yardages they need before each shot. Why then, just because golfers opt to take a cart or carry a bag, should we penalize ourselves by not getting access to that information? The game of golf is a measure of skill and mental fortitude, not depth perception.
A portable caddie
Using any type of GPS device, be it an app on your phone or a dedicated unit like SkyCaddie, will help you know the real distances to your targets, just like a caddie. A lot of golfers prefer laser rangefinders, but I like my golf GPS. It tells me the distance to the center of the green, as well as to the front and back. It shows me distance to hazards, as well as carry distances, which assists me in picking landing spots for doglegs and more. They’re super simple and straightforward, and I don’t even have to tip them.
Is there anything worse than hitting a perfect shot, just to see it fly over the green or land short in a bunker? Pulling the right club for the right distance is paramount to a clean scorecard, but as I was quick to learn, these new technologies offer more than just distance.
The bonuses
Now that we have reliable, safe distances right at our fingertips, what other benefits do these new tech caddies offer? Often we hear about someone’s short game or long game. These are areas of the game golfers can improve that carry over from course to course. Your score could go up or down, but your iron game is your iron game. And your game is what your playing partners are betting on (or against).
Related: The tragedy that your range session doesn’t count towards your score
So when I say that the new GPS app on your phone or a rangefinder can help your score, what I am really saying is that your improved score will be a byproduct of better understanding your game. Knowing distances to my targets has been key to proper course management and improving my score. Here’s a quick example: 75 percent of your strokes are made within 130 yards to the hole (this includes putting). So if we take a golfer who shoots 95, 71 of those shots are within 130 yards. If we can just reduce our strokes within this range by 5 percent, which is not substantial, we’re going to save almost 5 strokes. So now that I always have my golf GPS handy, I know my exact distance to the best landing zone, so I can actually make a proper decision and therefore save shots.
The improvement to your course management seems obvious: I know my distances therefore I can pull the right club. Now you not only know your distances, but also can make important decisions about the kind of shot you want to play because of your newfound wisdom. A common situation before might be, “I think I have 135 yards to the pin and I need to carry the shot over water.” At this distance, I would pull my pitching wedge, but there’s a problem I don’t know how far it is to carry the water, and I don’t want my ball to land pin high and release through the green. Referencing my golf GPS, I can see I only need to cover 110 yards to clear the water, so I can hit my 52-degree wedge with confidence knowing that given a solid shot, I’ll carry the water, but won’t fly the green.
The pros do it and you should, too
A golf GPS will quickly become your best friend, and you should practice using it often. You’ll lower your scores by adding the knowledge a caddy would give you.. without the added cost. Your ability to manage the course will also improve, and you’ll find yourself hitting different clubs and different shots thanks to better information. Chances are, you’ll stay out of trouble more often. So go out and get one so you can improve your game and shoot lower scores.
The only problem? You’ll have fewer excuses to tell your buddies when you hit the wrong shot.
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
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Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
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I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
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lazio
Feb 6, 2019 at 11:11 pm
Bushnell Excel,is also be batter for.Pairs via Bluetooth to the Bushnell Golf App to allow the golfer to book tee times, pay, confirm and set tee time notifications all from their smart phone. There is also the option for 3D course flyovers to give the golfer a birds-eye view of the hole. The Excel also has improved battery life
Read more at https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/best-golf-deals/best-golf-gps-devices-2018-94809#kMBO4XSTM2XTpMlV.99
Gary
Apr 9, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Indeed, I think it’s very beneficial in the long run to get used to GPS on the course. Until recently I used to go manual, but now I’m looking to get a good GPS watch for myself. I’ve heard really good things about the Garmin Approach S20 – people are praising it left and right. I’m very close to deciding on the S20 at this point, although a few other models do interest me. This guide here (https://golfstead.com/best-golf-gps-watches) lists some interesting models. Does GolfWRX have any buying guides for golf GPS units?
Kyle @ TGG
Dec 17, 2016 at 5:44 pm
If you’re on the fence about embracing emerging technologies, you definitely should. Mike is dead on, these devices can help your game out a lot. They’re basically $150 caddies that you play with for 10 years who have walked every course you play 1000 times.
geoff
Jun 1, 2016 at 5:47 am
SimplyGolf GPS for Android, it’s free and works well and has a lot of Australian courses!!
Nick
May 6, 2016 at 4:27 pm
funnily enough, I went through almost exactly the same argument with myself not so long ago about gps/rangefinders and it being against the spirit of the game and came to exactly the same conclusion!
I was actually testing a lot of different devices for reviews and the key for me was just how much more enjoyable golf becomes when you know the distance. It really is incredibly frustrating to pure one and see it come up short because your ‘guesstimate’ was really 15 yards off (and mine usually is!)
Nick
Mike Puglielli
May 8, 2016 at 12:33 am
Nothing worse than that my friend it is a common story when you are guessing. I was doing that ALL the time.
Mat
May 4, 2016 at 9:05 pm
Here’s another endorsement for golfshot if you don’t have anything else. I use GameGolf Live now, and I’m happy enough with it. What I will not do without is a laser. GPS is fantastic for approximations, and you can certainly learn a lot – especially on a course never played before. But once you have an idea of the course, the laser is the thing that really inspires confidence.
Mike Puglielli
May 5, 2016 at 6:41 am
My current “laser” is not very accurate and can’t target pins. What you end up getting is approximations, so for me right now, the GPS is more consistent and accurate. I am looking to get a new laser that actually can hit a pin.
TR1PTIK
May 5, 2016 at 9:06 am
Bushnell Tour V3 had a small price drop recently. It’s what I used to have and it’s a really good unit. Just found that I was constantly afraid of losing it or something because of the extra investment to get it.
Mike Puglielli
May 5, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Cool, I’ll take a peak at it if the price is right. Thanks Tr1p!
Jarrod
May 6, 2016 at 6:42 am
If you are not in a rush, or are the patient budget type like myself, just search Amazon, Ebay, and Craigslist, almost daily. Last summer, I would look for golf related items all the time, and was able to pick up a Bushnell V2 with Slope, for $50 on Amazon. For those that are patient, and cheap, like myself, deals can be had, just by waiting and looking around often.
Josh
May 5, 2016 at 9:15 am
I also use GameGolf but I have started having issues with it.
It doesn’t appear very accurate, especially when you compare it side by side on a course. I have gamegolf on my iphone and my buddy uses gamegolf on his android. The GPS is almost always off. Mine will be short, and his will be long. We will tee off and he will be 10 yards short of me and his GPS says he hit the ball 20-30 yards further than my GPS tells me. Also recently they don’t have the most accurate scorecard, played a course where the score card was way off. Not to mention the yardage for holes is off to on some holes.
However; it is very handy and useful. I use it to figure out how far to front and back of the green and use that as my “which club to play” guide. For example on a Par 3 the front was 165 and back was 195, so I used a 4 iron knowing I can’t hit it past 195 and knowing that even the weakest hit is 165. Needless to say I put the ball in the center of the green. When the GPS is accurate it is really, really useful, and I wouldn’t even consider using a laser.
Mike Puglielli
May 8, 2016 at 12:36 am
Thanks for sharing your use cases—everyone keeps talking about game golf but I haven’t touched it before. I’ll have to check it out!
John Krug
May 4, 2016 at 8:44 pm
I recently purchased the Bushnell Tour V4 Slope Edition with Jolt. Incidentally, this is now legal as slope can be turned off if you are playing in a tournament. I have played with people who have watches and found that they are quite inaccurate compared to the V4. As well, if you hit a shot that lands on another fairway the watch does not recognize where you are. The V4 is also a third smaller than the previous version. The jolt is an added bonus for those with shaky hands.
Mike Puglielli
May 5, 2016 at 6:39 am
Good point about the other fairway…I end up there sometimes 🙂 I heard the Bushnell V4 is amazing. Thanks for sharing how you use this new tech. The fact that they can calculate slope nowadays is amazing.
Egor
May 4, 2016 at 6:39 pm
I carry a laser and use Arccos.
The laser range finder is used most often to get distance to the pin on deep greens or from non-fairway locations. Arccos which has a GPS overlay of the course is used when I want distance to carry or to a layup spot before a water hazard.
Mike Puglielli
May 5, 2016 at 6:37 am
Very cool, I’ll check out the Arccos. Its good to have both, you can then really dial in.
TR1PTIK
May 5, 2016 at 9:02 am
I use Game Golf, but I hate having to keep the phone nearby and sometimes the GPS won’t refresh right away or I have to go to a different screen and come back. I like being able to see distances to hazards, but I don’t really need that for the courses I play regularly. I like having the watch because I simply have to glance at my wrist. What’s your experience like using GPS on Arccos? Do you have any of the same issues with the app?
TCJ
May 4, 2016 at 5:49 pm
If you’re worried about a PW running through the green, perhaps more attention should be paid to properly striking the ball properly, and less attention paid to your doohickey.
TCJ
May 4, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Or in my case, english!
Miguel
May 4, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Golf Shot, cannot play without Golf Shot. I also use the free Game Golf app to track what I do on the course. 😀
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 5:15 pm
Two great apps Miguel and they go hand in hand. Do you have the game golf club “sensors”?
Scooter McGavin
May 4, 2016 at 2:54 pm
“Many golfers have at least moderate knowledge of the distances they hit each club”…. I think this is the main problem, in addition to golfers being lazy. If you polled a group of golfers and asked how far they hit their 5,7,9,SW, and then actually put them on a Trackman to check, I’d be surprised if even half of them were within 5 (maybe even 10) yards.
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 5:18 pm
I would say, generally, average golfers are within 10 yards…even 15 is acceptable to get something out of a gps or laser device. These devices can also help golfers discover their real distances of they don’t know them already. Now…whether or not you find an honest golfer during a poll is a different story—the ego is tough!
Double Mocha Man
May 4, 2016 at 8:17 pm
I think, as a golfer uses a rangefinder and consistently finds he/she is short by 5-10 yards with a particular club they will make the adjustment. Ego takes you only so far. Or less far.
Jon
May 4, 2016 at 1:06 pm
What are some GPS apps I should look for if I have an Android phone?
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 1:18 pm
Hey Jon,
My favorite is Golfshot: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shotzoom.golfshot2 and they also have other great features for the app.You can try Golf GPS & Scorecard: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hole19golf.hole19.beta
GPS golf watches are also pretty affordable, check em out!
TR1PTIK
May 4, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Recently purchased a Garmin Approach S2 from TGW for $120. I used it for the first time yesterday and loved it. I’ve owned and used just about everything. Lasers are great for getting exact distances, but I do find that they are more time consuming than my watch and while it is nice to know where the pin is that isn’t necessarily what amateurs should be aiming for on every hole.
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Exactly! Most players shouldn’t be going straight for the pin!
Blake
May 4, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Was this paid for by skycaddie or something? Interesting to hear use GPS when civilian GPS is +/- 5 yards. And also no pro is using GPS during a practice round. Its not accurate enough. They use lasers which are quicker and more accurate.
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Hey Blake,
This was not a sponsored piece. I talk about other devices, not just GPS, you can use on the course. Lasers are great and ideal for finding pin position, but isn’t a perfect solution when you have blind spots. Its good to have both and use either when the correct situation arises.
Leon
May 4, 2016 at 10:58 am
Talk this to a dude who slices, fats and thins 90% of his shots, and lost 2 dozens of ball every round while find half dozen from the pounds to keep up the inventory. I am sure he will pop up a few nice words for the GPS
Philip
May 4, 2016 at 10:51 am
I think your preaching to the wrong crowd – I expect most on GolfWRX rely on some management system already – whether GPS, laser, course book, notes, Google maps, etc. Personally I dislike GPS apps on phones – interrupts my routine and often difficult to see the screens in the sun. For the majority of golfers a GPS app is only going to make the game slower for all – they have other more important things to figure out – like how to check their ego (you don’t HAVE to use driver on the tee) and make a decent swing for starters.
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Haha Good points Phil! Have you checked out the GPS watches? They’re pretty great and don’t require you to use your phone. I’m with you though, I prefer to not use my phone while on the course.
Don’t you think having some kind of tech for high handicaps would improve pace of play? If they can reduce strokes because they have proper distances, shouldn’t that speed things up? 10 seconds to look at a GPS watch or something and maybe they save a stroke.
Philip
May 4, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Yes, I’m keeping my eye on the watches, almost got the new Microsoft one – waiting for v3. Thing is, I know my yardages and can hit them within 5-10 yards, unless I mishit. When I was a higher handicapper I was only accurate with my yardages to 20-30 yards. There was just too much variance due to my over swinging and setup issues to get any real use out of the GPS apps. I tried a few, but knowing you can hit a club within 30 yards of your target doesn’t help much with choosing a club. I just measured to the front of the green and went for it.
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Yeah, you’re right. I guess it depends on how badly the player is hitting their clubs…at the end of the day, you still got to have a decent swing. I know players with a similar miss pattern, about 20yards, they can still benefit from the additional course knowledge that these devices provide: take a green that’s 30×30, and all of a sudden if this type of player were to aim in the middle, they could end up somewhere on the shed of the green, front or back. Still helpful I think! How’s the MSFT watch? Haven’t tried it.
Philip
May 4, 2016 at 7:30 pm
I still use the middle of the green quite often. If I can get on the green in regulation I have a shot at par, with the occasional birdie opportunity. There were a few things about the watch that I think shouldn’t be missing, and since we already know that next years watch is being prepared, I’ll just wait for those few things to get added eventually. In the meantime I may go for Game Golf, or more likely, just start going onto the course after work again with my laser and hit shots to the fairway/green.
Double Mocha Man
May 4, 2016 at 10:22 am
If you use a GPS device you still have to rely on your depth perception. How far forward is that pin from center??? Laser rangefinder is the way to go… until it comes to an uphill blind shot where you can’t see the pin.
Double Mocha Man
May 4, 2016 at 10:23 am
So to cover for both instances someone needs to come up with the Laser/GPS rangefinder, where you can switch between the two technologies in the same unit.
jim
May 4, 2016 at 10:46 am
http://www.callawaygolf.com/accessories/gps-rangefinders/gps-c70110-hybrid-laser-gps-rangefinder.html?gclid=CPWy6bzUwMwCFdgQgQodhpMPhA
Double Mocha Man
May 4, 2016 at 11:23 am
Dang! A guy just can’t keep up with the technology these days. Thanks Jim.
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 12:35 pm
That’s sweet, never seen that before!
Scott
May 4, 2016 at 3:40 pm
I use a watch and range finder. The gps is nice for courses that you have not played before. If I have played the course before, I find myself using the laser most of the time. The hybrid range finder and gps is a really nice product but it does not have all the bells and whistles that the top range finders have or the top gps units have. I just just basically created my own by attaching my watch to the laser case.
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Haha that’s a cool idea, with the DIY setup. I like the GPS most times, like you, even if I know the course. A big issue of mine is not knowing the size of a green and how much room I have to play woth (my depth perception isn’t good there).
BD57
May 4, 2016 at 11:43 pm
Vast majority of us would benefit from playing to the middle of the green 75-80% of the time – at least, with any club longer than a wedge / 9 iron.
Also, most GPS will give you yardage to front, middle & back, so you can get a reasonable approximation of where a “front” or “back” pin will be by dividing depth by “3” and then putting the pin in the center of the appropriate third.
P.S. Have a laser & use Golfshot both. so I’m not boosting one over the other. Just saying that, for those who can’t afford / choose not to bite the bullet for a laser, there are things they can do w/ GPS alone that are useful.
Mike Puglielli
May 5, 2016 at 6:36 am
All totally true.
ooffa
May 4, 2016 at 8:45 am
Welcome to the the party. Your 10 years late.
Mike Puglielli
May 4, 2016 at 8:59 am
Do we have jackets?