| Golf remains extremely popular as a comfortable | | | | to find a course I wanted to play that wasn't available |
| pastime with the beautiful outdoor views, fresh air and | | | | for download. Bet your favorite course is available too. |
| the company of good friends. To an outside observer I | | | | It's pretty cool scientific stuff and is a very accurate |
| understand it may not seem as pleasant as it does for | | | | way to measure the distance on the golf course. Need |
| those of us who are regular participants. Golf is far | | | | to know the distance to carry the hazard? How far is |
| better as a player than it is as an observer. | | | | to the corner of the dogleg? Your GPS can tell you. |
| Golf equipment manufacturers are constantly working | | | | Facing a carry over water? Those are scary if you |
| to provide the golfer with the better clubs, balls, apparel | | | | are guessing on the yardage. No guessing needed with |
| and on course accessories. These make the game | | | | a GPS Range Finder. |
| easier and more fun to play. Golfers are forever | | | | Without a GPS device the golfer must seek out |
| looking for a better driver or a new set of irons. | | | | yardage markers placed at 50 yard increments from |
| Putters are a hot item as well. | | | | the center of the green beginning at 100 yards. These |
| Over the past several years GPS (Global Positioning | | | | markers are usually in the center of the fairway and/or |
| System) devices have been introduced to the golf | | | | marked on the cart paths. Some courses place |
| marketplace. These devices have been well received | | | | distance labels on the sprinkler heads in addition to the |
| by the golfing public as they offer a quick and easy | | | | main markers. It can take several minutes for the |
| way to determine the distance from where the ball lies | | | | golfer to find one of these markers and then pace off |
| to the intended target. | | | | the distance back to his ball. There are no markers in |
| A GPS device works the same way that your car | | | | the rough or in the woods remember. |
| device works if you are familiar with those. The unit is | | | | Confidence is an important part of the game of golf. |
| about the size of a cell phone with a display and a | | | | Knowing the distance you need allows you to hit your |
| few buttons. The unit's antenna receives signals from | | | | shot with great confidence, take more risks and shave |
| a network of satellites that are positioned in space so | | | | strokes from your game. Less guessing means more |
| that they remain in a constant position relative to the | | | | greens in regulation. Can you make a birdie putt? |
| surface of the earth. The software in the GPS unit | | | | Do you need a GPS device for your golf game? It |
| then can use those signals to determine where it is on | | | | would help your scoring and the pace of play. You |
| the golf course. | | | | would play more confidently knowing that you need to |
| The user can download course layouts to the unit | | | | hit a soft eight iron rather than a hard 9 iron. Do you |
| from the internet. There are over 20,000 mapped | | | | need those benefits? Maybe, you decide. But I bet you |
| courses available at the time of this writing. I have yet | | | | want one, don't you? |