GPS – Syndication Server

Amazon Prime Day: What would golf equipment writer David Dusek buy?

In addition to the low prices on TVs, clothing and digital gear, Amazon Prime Day features great deals on golf equipment and accessories.

Two years ago on Amazon Prime Day, I spotted something I had wanted for months and the price was right. Click, into my virtual shopping cart. After two more clicks, my address was confirmed, and my debit card was changed. Two days later, an old-school shag bag arrived, and it has made practicing a pleasure ever since.

It’s easy to get swept up in the frenzy of Amazon Prime Day because some of the sales and price drops make things we might not buy seem like bargains. Electronic gizmos that seemed like a waste of money last week are, suddenly, look like a smart buy. As my grandfather used to say, “You could go broke buying bargains like this!”

Shag Bag — David Dusek’s beloved shag bag. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

In addition to the low prices on TVs, clothing and digital gear, Amazon Prime Day also features great deals on golf equipment and accessories, making it a savvy time to stock up on things that you will need this season, and maybe even next season too. Many golf-related items are not on sale as a part of Amazon Prime Day, but after looking over the sales Tuesday morning, here are some things that caught my eye.

Laser or GPS: Which distance-measuring device should you buy?

Discover how golf lasers and GPS devices work, and which could help you most on the course.

As with every other sport, golf is filled with debates. Who is the greatest of all time, Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus? Which would you rather play, Pebble Beach or Bandon Dunes? Which would you rather win, the Masters or the U.S. Open?

Another that many golfers struggle with is a more practical question: Which should you buy, a laser rangefinder or a golf GPS device?

Many players who started playing golf over the past three seasons have discovered how fun the game can be, and they are now deciding to start investing in equipment instead of relying on borrowed gear or the used equipment they picked up. That not only means clubs and balls but accessories that can help lower scores, such as a distance-measuring device.

Choosing between a laser rangefinder or a GPS device can be tricky, because both distance-measuring devices have benefits and drawbacks. Before you reach for your credit card, discover how each type of distance-measuring device works and think about a few frequent situations that can help make an intelligent purchase.

Laser rangefinders: How do they work, and what are the pros and cons?
Laser rangefinders all work using the same basic principles. When a player presses the button on the unit, it sends out a beam of light that hits an object and reflects back. The device can measure the time it takes the light to bounce back, and because the speed of light is constant (at least as far as the practical use of rangefinders goes), the device can calculate precisely how far the object is from the rangefinder.

What separates one laser rangefinder from another is the speed at which a unit can do the calculations (all are reasonably quick), the clarity of images seen in the viewfinder, the level of magnification in the viewfinder and extra features such as water resistance.

Often referred to as a “slope” feature, many laser rangefinders can measure whether a target is uphill or downhill, then factor in the distance and the angle to create a playing distance that can be longer or shorter than the actual straight-line distance. Using features such as this is legal for recreational golfers, but in tournament play these features are rarely allowed. Laser rangefinders with a slope feature allow golfers to disable the feature for tournament play, often by simply sliding a button.

Most laser rangefinders are accurate within a foot or two from as far away as several hundred yards, so they are almost always the go-to distance-measuring device for elite golfers and caddies. They also typically come with a protective carrying case that can snap onto a golf bag, and many have a magnet on one side that allows players to attach them safely to a golf cart’s roof supports for easy access – make sure not to forget the unit on a cart at the end of a round, an all-too-common occurrence. A few laser rangefinders even have Bluetooth technology and can tether to a smartphone to obtain weather and atmospheric conditions to make the plays-like distances even more accurate.

All of that is great, but there are two downsides to laser rangefinders to keep in mind.

First, you need a direct line of sight to your target. It sounds obvious – and on the tee box of a par 3 or in the fairway it’s rarely a problem – but if you are off the fairway and can’t see the flag or trees obstruct your view, a laser can’t help you.

Second, obtaining accurate distance readings to bunkers, hazards and other features on the course using a laser can be challenging. Yes, you can zap the lip of a bunker or a creek, but to discover how far away a hazard is and what distance you need to hit to clear it, you will need to get several numbers, and that’s not always possible.

These shortcomings are minimal for pros and accomplished players who use yardage books in tournaments and often scribble laser rangefinder notes in those yardage books. They want to-the-flag accuracy above everything else, and lasers can provide that.

Golf GPS devices: How do they work, and what are the pros and cons?
Golf GPS devices come as a wearable, such as a watch, or handheld units that resemble smartphones. They work by linking with satellites that circle the earth, and after connecting with several satellites at once, GPS devices use internal software to determine what course you are playing and where you are located on that course. Map software can determine how far you are from other areas on the course such as bunkers, water features and different portions of the green.

The most basic GPS devices display the yardage to the front, middle and back of a green from where you are standing, but colorful touch screens and sophisticated software designed into some units allow them to do much more. They can display the distance to a bunker and the yardage required to clear it. They allow you to touch the screen to determine the yardage to a layup spot on par 4s and par 5s, and some let you adjust the hole location on the screen for better accuracy.

For inexperienced golfers, information such as this can be very reassuring and help simplify club selection. Plus, if you are a player who struggles to break 90 or 100, knowing the distance to the front, middle and back of the green is more valuable than knowing the precise distance to the flag, which frequently shouldn’t be your target.

However, that’s the shortcoming of GPS devices. They can’t tell you exactly where the hole is located. For many better players, that’s a deal breaker.

So which should you play?
Understanding the strengths and shortcomings of laser rangefinders and golf GPS devices, and how they relate to your game, can simplify figuring out the ideal device.

If you are an accomplished golfer and typically play the same courses, a laser rangefinder will probably be a good choice because you will value precise numbers on approach shots. And even if you hit a tee shot into the woods, if you are familiar with the course you’re playing, you should be able to judge recovery shots and layup areas when necessary. The most important thing for you is knowing exactly how far the flag is from your position on par 3s and from the fairway, and a laser does that well.

If you play a wide variety of courses, want to know how far away bunkers and hazards are from the tee and don’t want to do a lot of math to figure out the ideal layup shot, then a watch-style or handheld GPS can deliver what you are looking for.

Here are several models you might want to consider:

Best golf GPS watches and wearable devices for 2022

It’s almost like wearing a caddie on your wrist … almost.

Whether you choose a GPS or a rangefinder, you’re making the correct choice. Playing without one leads to inconsistent play throughout your round.

Without knowing your number, you’re pretty much lost on the course.

Having a GPS in your pocket or on your wrist is almost like having Stevie Williams, Ted Scott, and Bones MacKay with you every time you tee it up … almost.

While you won’t get the expert analysis that a top-tier looper brings, you will get a bigger picture of the information that you need to hit the best shot possible.

Throughout the month of August, Golfweek is compiling some of the best training aids, putting aids, health and fitness, and other devices to help you get better at the game you love.

We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Golfweek operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage

Golfweek’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide: Gear to help you on the golf course

From GPS devices and shot-tracking systems to motorized carts, check out these great holiday gift ideas for the golfer in your life.

In October, “The Today Show” aired a segment on scores of massive container vessels waiting off the coast of Long Beach in California. The ships, which crossed the Pacific Ocean from Asia, were loaded with everything from consumer electronics to kitchen goods, clothing to sports equipment. Unfortunately, as you are undoubtedly aware, there are long waits at the port and too few trucks to haul everything to where it needs to go.

According to experts, the problem will not be solved any time soon, so this is not the year to wait or put off your holiday shopping until the last minute. But don’t worry, Golfweek has you covered. This is the earliest we have ever released our Holiday Gift Guide, and while it is divided into three parts, we have put together a list of things that every golfer will love.

First up is gear that can help your performance on the course, make your round more pleasant and maybe even lower your scores.

Just don’t wait until the last minute!

The $2,550 Tag Hauer GPS watch, worn by Tommy Fleetwood

Designed with a titanium body, sapphire crystal display, full-color touchscreen and built-in GPS, this luxury golf watch has it all.

One of the traditional symbols of success is a shiny, gold watch, and companies that make luxury timepieces have been associated with golf for decades. They sponsor tournaments, sign endorsement deals with players and pay to have large clocks strategically places around elite golf courses and resorts. Tommy Fleetwood recently inked a deal with Tag Hauer, a Swiss timepiece maker, and has been wearing one of the company’s watches on the course this season.

Fleetwood’s watch, however, is unique because it is a Tag Hauer Connected Golf Edition. It’s a smartwatch, and after being paired via Bluetooth to your mobile phone, it can tell you the time and provide you with a host of other modern features. For example, it can provide you with notifications for incoming text messages, emails and sports scores. A built-in heart rate monitor, accelerometer, internal gyroscope and tilt-detection sensors help it count your steps, monitor your heart rate, help you pay for things using Google Pay and even control music on your smartphone.

Tommy Fleetwood at the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports)

The Tag Hauer Connected Golf Edition comes in a large box that contains two bands. One is golf-themed in white with green trim, while the other is all black. On your wrist, it feels more substantive than ordinary golf GPS watches. It is thick, but the bands have a suppleness and the watch itself has a gentle heft on your wrist. The body is made from titanium, the sapphire screen is scratch-resistant, it is water-resistant to 50 meters and the adjustable clasp opens and closes quickly.

Wearers can choose from a variety of watch face styles and quickly change them anytime. Some look like multi-faced chronographs, while others look like classic Tag Hauer watch faces. There are also modular and customizable faces that let you see elements like appointments, weather and daily step count.

Tag Hauer Connected Golfer Edition watch. (Tag Hauer)

The Tag Hauer Connected Golf Edition also acts as a golf GPS watch. It has its own GPS system, so even without your phone, it can display color renderings of holes and green complexes, as well as the distance to greens and hazards on over 39,000 courses worldwide. Its touchscreen makes it easy to see the hole features in greater detail, and the hole diagrams are among the most detailed and easiest to read in the industry.

They should be: The Tag Hauer Connected Golf Edition costs $2,550.

According to Tag Hauer, the Connected Golf Edition’s battery can last up to 25 hours after it is fully charged, but using the GPS feature while you play golf will drain the battery faster. The company claims that a four-and-a-half-hour round of golf will drain about 60 percent of the battery if you use the watch’s GPS, so it will not last for an entire 36-hole day. However, you can link the Connected Golf Edition with your phone and have it use your smartphone’s GPS to save some battery life.

The obvious and fair question to ask is simple: With so many other golf GPS watches out there for about one-tenth the price, who is buying this?

The answer is a golfer who loves timepieces, obviously, but Tag Hauer is marketing the Connected Golf Edition squarely at young, successful people who want the features and conveniences of a modern smartwatch with the cachet of a luxury brand. You can see someone wearing an Apple Watch or Fitbit everywhere, and on the course you see units from Garmin and SkyCaddie. Tag Hauer’s Connected Golf Edition is for people who want a modern timepiece that will look great in a suit, be at home in the gym and still provide help on the golf course.

The Tag Hauer Connected Golf Edition is not for everyone. By definition, luxury items never are. But as more and more people who are tech-savvy gravitate towards golf, the Tag Hauer Connected Golf Edition watch may be one of the first of many golf-themed smartwatches we see come from luxury timepiece makers.

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Cool golf accessories for Spring 2021

From golf bags with built-in stereo speakers to flasks with built-in cups, check out the latest cool stuff golfers will love this spring.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting everyone in the United States and around the world, we knew it would be a long, tough winter. Was it ever! Snow blanketed much of the Northeast and the Midwest, and storms ravaged Texas and parts of the South. But finally, spring is officially here, warmer temperatures are being enjoyed and the Masters is just days away. Hallelujah and pass the pimento cheese!

Last season saw people come back to golf in droves, both new players looking for an outlet during the pandemic and folks who had forgotten how great the game could be. Golf proved to be a safe way to get outside, enjoy friends and have fun.

While golfers in the Southwest, Florida and California have had a chance to keep playing all winter, it’s time to get back into the swing for the rest of us. If you are looking to rekindle your love for golf, here are nine cool things that help.

Pros can use laser rangefinders, GPS at PGA Championship, other PGA of America majors

Starting in 2021, players can user laser rangefinders and GPS devices at PGA of America majors, including the PGA Championship.

The PGA of America announced Tuesday that it will allow the use of distance-measuring devices in its three professional major championships – PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship – starting this year.

The devices will first make an appearance at the PGA Championship, May 20-23 at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course in South Carolina.

“We’re always interested in methods that may help improve the flow of play during our Championships,” Jim Richerson, president of the PGA of America, said in a media release announcing the news. “The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf. Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”

The PGA of America becomes the first major body to allow the devices in all its premier professional events. There has been speculation for years that such devices might help speed play, as players and caddies won’t have to walk off yardages to sprinkler heads and other fixed positions.

The Unites States Golf Association’s Rules of Golf have allowed the use of laser rangefinders and GPS devices in casual play and tournaments since 2006, but a local rule allowed a tournament committee to ban such devices. At elite professional levels of play, the devices still have not been embraced for competition rounds, though they have been allowed in the U.S. Amateur since 2014. They are still not allowed during competition rounds at PGA Tour events or at the U.S. Open and British Opens.

In keeping with Rule 4.3a (1), the devices allowed can report only on distance and direction. Devices that calculate elevation changes or wind speeds, or that suggest a club for a player as well as other data, will not be allowed.

Jordan Spieth uses a laser rangefinder during a practice round at the 2015 PGA Championship. (Photo: Michael Madrid, USA TODAY Sports)

The devices won’t be new for the pros, many of whom already use laser rangefinders and GPS in practice rounds.

It’s likely laser rangefinders will prove more popular than GPS devices, as they more easily provide an exact distance to a flag on the green, often with accuracy to within a yard at normal approach-shot distances. GPS devices typically provide more generalized information on holes. It is possible a player could use both styles of devices, and several new products incorporate both lasers and GPS.

Many laser rangefinders provide information on elevation changes and “plays-like” distances. Most of those devices come with a switch to turn off such information, but many elite players opt for devices that do not provide elevation and other data as a precaution against forgetting to turn off those functions.

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TaylorMade teams with Arccos to make you a smarter player and save money

Golfers who purchase TaylorMade irons and subscribe to Arccos Caddie for a year can get 14 free Arccos sensors starting November 1.

TaylorMade and Arccos Golf announced that they have entered a partnership that could help you understand your game better, shoot lower scores and save some money.

Starting on November 1, golfers who buy a new set (six clubs or more) of TaylorMade P-790, P-770, P-7MC, P-7MB, SIM or other qualifying irons will be able also to purchase a one-year subscription to Arccos Caddie for $99.99. That is the typical subscription price, but buying it with your TaylorMade irons will entitle you to a free set of 14 Arccos smart sensors. The sensors screw into each of your clubs, pair with your smartphone and help to power the Arccos Caddie features. Purchased alone on Arccos’ website, that pack of 14 sensors would cost you $179.99.

The Arccos 360 system uses screw-in tags that communicate with your smartphone using Bluetooth. (Arccos)

If you bought a new set of TaylorMade irons in September or October, fear not; the offer is being extended to you too.

Arccos uses the GPS in a golfer’s smartphone to track every shot hit during a round of golf on over 40,000 courses. It not only reveals to golfers how far they hit each of their clubs, but it also shows players where they tend to miss and provides detailed statistical breakdowns of a players game. The Arccos Caddie Strokes Gained Analytics feature allows players to compare various aspects of their game to players ranging from PGA Tour level to a 20-handicapper.

The Arccos Caddie feature uses artificial intelligence to compare a player’s tendencies to a database of over 300 million shots, then considers things like elevation changes and wind direction to make club and strategy recommendations in real-time.

Shot Scope V3 smart watch

Shot Scope’s newest GPS-enable watch is thinner and lighter, but it packs a data-enhancing punch that could help lower scores.

Gear: Shot Scope V3 smart watch
Price: $219.99
Specs: GPS-enabled watch and 16 pre-labeled tags

Every week on the PGA Tour, golfers have their shots tracked by ShotLink, a network that involves scores of volunteers, laser-guided tracking systems and a lot of computer power. It’s state of the art and provides the game’s best players with a detailed look at every aspect of their games, from their average proximity to the hole from specific distances to their percentage of putts made from various ranges.

Recreational golfers do not have access to ShotLink, but a growing number are learning more about their strengths, weaknesses and tendencies thanks to shot-tracking systems. Shot Scope, which is among the most popular in Europe, just released the V3 GPS watch, and it is powerful, easy to use and among the most affordable.

While the previous version of the Shot Scope watch was large and somewhat rigid, the V3 watch looks more like an Apple Watch. While the screen size is 2 millimeters larger (diagonally), the watch itself is 20 millimeters smaller in length and 5 millimeters smaller in width. It is also 4 millimeters thinner. The color screen is easy to read in bright sunlight, and the watch does not inhibit a golf swing. The battery will last 10 hours in the golf mode and more than 10 days when used only as a timepiece.

For golfers who want to be stylish, five band colors are available.

Shot Scope V3 Smart Watch — On the course, the Shot Scope V3 show distances to the front, middle and back of the green, as well as distances to hazards. (Shot Scope)

A player does not need to carry a smartphone or have one nearby to use the Shot Scope V3. The watch has its own GPS, and according to Shot Scope, it can accurately determine a player’s position within 30 centimeters on any of the 35,000 courses that come preloaded.

The V3 comes with 16 pre-labeled, screw-in tags that golfers can easily attach to the top of any club. The addition of two extra tags means players who swap out a fairway wood for a driving iron or add an extra wedge depending on the course won’t have to swap out the tags before they play.

There is no syncing of the tags required because each tag uses a unique radio frequency (RFID), so the watch can determine which club is used to play every shot. That information, combined with the GPS location, allows Shot Scope to track a round without a player having to do anything.

The watch provides yardages to the front, middle and back of the green on the hole being played, along with distances to hazards.

Shot Scope V3 stats — Combining GPS and club data allows Shot Scope to create in-depth stats to help golfers improve. (Shot Scope)

After a round is complete, a player can see every shot played on a computer, tablet or a free smartphone app. The system reveals average distance with each club, and thanks to the Pin Collect feature, Shot Scope can determine where the hole is on the green, so it can also reveal things like average proximity to the hole with each club and make-percentage on short, medium and long putts.

In all, there are more than 100 stats available to peruse, and the company said golfers who use the system have reduced their handicap by an average of three shots.

Garmin Approach Z82 GPS laser rangefinder

Garmin’s newest distance-measuring device blends the accuracy of a laser with game-enhancing GPS features to help you play smarter golf.

Gear: Garmin Approach Z82 GPS laser rangefinder
Price: $599.99
Available: April 23

Garmin has been one of the most popular makers of GPS devices for cars, boats and aircraft for years. Using satellites orbiting the Earth that power the Global Positioning System, the company’s devices can pinpoint your location and overlay it on maps, provide you with directions and more.

The company has also made several GPS-enabled watches and devices for golfers too, like the new Approach G62. Two years ago, Garmin ventured into the laser rangefinder category with the Z80. That unit relied on a laser to reveal how far you are from the hole, but then provided extra information based on an internal GPS system.

Today, Garmin has launched the Approach Z82, an updated model that is more accurate and offers more game-enhancing features.

Garmin Approach Z82 GPS laser rangefinder. (Garmin)

According to Garmin, the Z82’s laser and internal systems can now measure a flag’s distance to within 10 inches from up to 450 yards away. You will see your targets more clearly in the Approach Z82 because the high-resolution OLED display has been improved and colors are more vivid.

To help make hitting the flag with the laser easier, Garmin has improved the ranging function, which means when you press the button on the top of the device and slowly pan from side to side in the direction of the hole, the Approach Z82 does a better (and faster) job of distinguishing the flag from trees and other objects in the background. When you hit the flag, the unit buzzes in your hands and the distances you see in the viewfinder blink.

What really sets the Approach Z82 apart from nearly every other distance measuring device, however, is how it blends the laser and GPS data together.

The Garmin Approach Z82 shows a laser-measured distance to the hole plus GPS-gathered distances to other areas. (Garmin)

After turning it on, the Approach Z82 determines your location using GPS and lists which of its 41,000 pre-loaded courses you are near. After selecting the course and starting your round, when you look inside the viewfinder and hit the flag with the laser, you see the hole you are playing and the yardage to the flag. At the same time, using GPS, the Z82 also displays the distance to the front, center and back of the green. To the left of that information, you can also see an illustrated overhead view of the hole, complete with views of bunkers and hazards, and a yellow arc that shows the distance to the flag.

If you link the Approach Z82 with your smartphone, it can also show wind speed and direction. The unit also has a slope function that determines if your target is uphill or downhill, then provides a PlaysLike distance. In Tournament mode, slope function and PlaysLike are disabled, but the laser still works.

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