I was bored so I decided to open up Google Earth after reading a suggestion around here to measure your drives using the ruler feature. Most of my drives were around what I expected, but measuring some of the places I play and ranges I go to some of the yardages seem completely off. One range measured only 210 yards when it has posted signs that go beyond 250 to the people hitting back at you from the other side.

I was just wondering if people who had Sky Caddie or a Bushnell ever checked against it and what the accuracy was. It is a fun way to measure some of your best drives, but I'm just wondering about the relative precision.

I don't own a rangefinder but having played with some guys who do and checking it against Google Earth results, it seems pretty legit. I hope it's right because I've measured off a couple of monsters.

I never thought of doing that/ so I Googled the golf course I have been playing most of this year and I have to say I think it is pretty darn accurate. the yardages pretty much match what the sprinkler heads say on the course, and I have played the course with people who have Sky Caddie and it seemed to jive. It's very interesting to see what carries you actually have to, or over bunkers etc. Very cool!

Just been doing some very useful research at work and I think it is accurate, and certainly as good as some course planners. I now have to get my SkyCaddie working to see if it backs this up.

How do you do it i looked and i cant find anything to measure.

There is a ruler function on the one of the sidebars up top. Click on that, and make sure the line tab is selected. Change the length to yards and find your golf course and measure away.

How do you get to Google Earth? Just google it?

http://earth.google.com/

I tried it last night. I think it works great and I also think I have been fooling myself.

Yeah, I tried it too! I measured a monster at 385.43!!!! WOW! Given, the tee is 20 foot elevated..but still! I love Google Earth! Seems accurate enough, I just measured my property line, and all my courses! Looks like some of my courses need to fix their yardages..they actually undermeasured one. They say it's 380..but the hols is acually 415 from the front tees!

i like to use google earth to help plot my way around a course prior to playing. some courses don't have gps/yardage books so if you can get on google earth you can figure out what you can/can't do on some of the shots.

I use intelli golf with a bluetooth gps reciever. It take me about 30 minutes before a round and i can input the cordinated of important things (ie center of green, water hazards) Seem pretty accurate to me.

Good idea. I know how I'll be killing time this evening.

I love using google earth to check out courses before I play them. I mainly use it to figure out the carry distance for hazards and bunkers. Also, like to measure big drives after the round.

Yep, me too. I plan out each hole with what I should use off the Tee, and where I want to be for approaches (left, right). I also write down the danger areas, and bail out areas of every green. "Okay, on number three here, what ever I do, DON'T go long right!" and things like that.

I use google earth to measure walking distances for the courses I play too... most are 5 miles, but one I play often is 6 miles (with some serious elevation changes). You can also check elevations to determine elevation changes from tee to fairway to green. As mentioned above, very useful for determining carry over bunkers, lakes, etc. Very accurate too.

The Google Earth scoop is a must for me, when playing unfamiliar courses.
I also do my stats using GE for measuring distances afterwards. I previously kept written notes during the round from my yardage guide, but switched to doing it after the round from memory...trains my memory, too.

I just checked some of the yardages on my local course with Google earth and they seem really accurate. I can see this coming in very handy.

The secret is out! I've been using GE for almost a year to review my course management, measure shots, and just enjoy the golf course again from my living room.

I really like seeing the line you should take from the aerial view--it literally gives you a whole new perspective on the hole. I've studied my home course on GE, and I feel like I play the course better because of it.

Well I guess you learn something new everyday. I've got Google Earth but never knew there was a ruler. I just went over my home course , hole by hole. Thanks for the info!

www.chicopeewoodsgolfcourse.com (check it out)