I recently purchased a Golflogix GPS and prior to doing it I searched the internet and found very few comments and reviews on it. So for those of you that are planning to buy one or compare it with SkyCaddie or other models, I wanted to share my experience with both the product and the Golflogix company. I am a die hard Garmin fan and have a Garmin GPS for my boat as well as my car

First of all, the response I got from their customer service with respect to my questions was prompt and courteous. My emails were answered within a day and sometimes less than a day. I actually ended up talking with several different people at Golflogix depending on my questions - -

If you do your homework, you will discover that Golflogix and about 9 other companies have been recently named in a class action suit for patent infringement. The patent is basically one that covers measurement to the pin. Golflogix and most other similar devices measure to the center of the green. According to Golflogix management, the suit is frivolous and other than some lawyers making some money over it for the next few years nothing much should become of it.

The second thing I discovered after I got my unit is that it has an option to enable WAAS. I was curious why it didn’t default to WAAS and was told by Golflogix that sometimes the readings became a bit erratic in areas where there was poor WAAS reception and as a result their ‘normal’ setting was without WAAS enabled.

This worried me a bit with respect to accuracy because the official data published for GPS accuracy in general operating without WAAS is about 15 yards. That wasn’t close enough to keep me happy. With WAAS enabled, GPS receivers are capable of being within 3 yards.

Golflogix told me that even without WAAS enabled, their product performed as advertised – which is within 3 yards accuracy. Quite frankly I didn’t believe it so I ran some of my own tests.

As I expected, it was better with WAAS enabled – it typically read within +/-1 yard of the true distance. (I established the ‘true’ distance by averaging all the readings I took). I was thrilled with this type of accuracy. In one case it wandered off by 3 yards.

What blew me away was that without WAAS enabled, it typically read within +/- 2 yards of the true value. There was one isolated case where it wandered off by 4 yards.

I don’t totally understand how it is so accurate but a test is worth a thousand expert opinions and it passed with flying colors. I do understand that if the green is say 300 yards in front of you and the GPS ‘thinks’ you are 3 or 4 yards to the right or left of where you are standing, its effect on the distance to the green is insignificant. As a matter of fact, the worst case error would only occur if the GPS thought you were a few yards directly in front or directly behind where you actually were.

I would also strongly suggest getting a GPS that uses simple AA batteries; not nicad or lithium ion. AA batteries are cheap and you don’t have the hassle of keeping track of a charger and having to take your GPS in and out of your bag. And, if you did what I did – accidentally left it on overnight – all you have to do is pop new batteries in on the way to the golf course.

One major oversight of the Golflogix is that they do not have a distance of last shot read-out. They have gotten enough feedback on that and are responding by promising to have it as a free software upgrade by the end of the year. (Off the record, they told me by the end of October).

The unit reads from 999 yards to the Green to 30 yards. Under 30 yards it displays <30. Let’s face it, when you are that close you are playing by feel not by distance.

I have courses that I play at in New Hampshire, Maryland, and Florida – and every single one of them was mapped and available. For $30 a year for unlimited course access worldwide – you can’t beat it. If your course is somehow not in their database, they will map it for you with a week or so and send you an email to download it.

Another feature is Garmin ruggedness. It is waterproof and shock resistant. Some of the competitive GPS are like cell phones – better not get them to wet!

The Golflogix comes with a year warranty and 30 days money back to try it. They offer free 2 day shipping and are obviously anxious for your business.

As you can tell, I have had a very pleasant experience with the product and company so far -