240 replies to this topic

[oliversax]

Perfect.  Thx, Jarrett.  Sounds like you really like this product.  Can't wait to get mine.

jjarrett79, on 20 February 2011 - 01:14 PM, said:

Backlight is super bright but it isn't always on. You just press the button when needed.

[keb]

Just waiting for the snow to melt, floods to subside, and my wife to realize using a GPS is not cheating.

[parbud]

Just received my Garmin S1 via FedEx today ($224 w/tax shipping).  Took right around 2 hrs for a full charge.  I live on a golf course with another course less than a mile from my house.  After charging it I went out on my back porch and turned it on and selected start round.  It acquired the satellites in less than 60 seconds (I was standing next to our large house and wondered if I was out in the open if it would acquire them faster), it found both courses.  I selected my course and immediately it showed the distance to the first green, I used the up arrow to select the 6th hole (behind my house) and it showed the correct distance to the middle of the green and the front and back (the front distance was the distance to the back of the green since I live behind the 6th green).  I confirmed the distances with my Bushnell Pinseeker.

I have had a SkyCaddie SG4 and the SG 2.5 but hated having to download courses and pay the yearly fee for nationwide coverage.  I currently use a Luepold GX-1 and also have a Bushnell Pinseeker.  This watch seems awesome and I can't wait for the snow to melt so I can go try it at a couple of courses around town.  I went online and found almost every course in Washington and the ones I play in AZ in the database.  The only courses that I didn't see on the list were the Kapalua courses on Maui that I just played this winter.  I will update my progress after I can get out on the course!  So far it seems pretty cool!!

[keb]

Where did you find it at that price?

[oliversax]

I just tried out my S1 on the course today.  When paired w/ my Bushnell laser rangefinder, I've got just about all the data I need.  

Pros:
- watch  turns on and tells exact time via satellite right out of the box.
- Courses load up in 60sec or less.
- yardage updates quickly, seems faster than my buddies' GPS.
- very comfy watch to wear day to day, although a bit bulky.
- Customer service very responsive.  Gave me wrong instructions at 1st but corrected it a day later.  I updated to new software in less than 10 min, after hooking up watch to my Mac.
- backlit button is very bright.
- very intuitive functions/buttons, I didn't even have to read the instructions.

Cons:
- no data on fairway trouble, like bunkers, water hazards, etc
- I didn't use the data from the watch on every hole, maybe 12 out of 18.  I prefer my laser range finder on par 3, which give distance to the pin rather than front/middle/back.

All in all, a good product.  I've never owned a GPS before, but when my fancy watch got stolen (I'm not a big 'fancy watch guy anyway), I decided to buy this one for my everyday watch.  Been wearing it all week till I got a chance to use it today.

[Buzzkill]

Radio Shack has the watch right now for $212 along with a $15 coupon (expires 3/31).  So it's $197 with free shipping but you have to figure out if tax applies for you or not.  California tax was $18 so I'm still holding out for a better deal.

http://www.radioshac...ductId=11290303

March 8, 2011 update - item sold out!

Edited by Buzzkill, 08 March 2011 - 10:35 PM.

[Sean25rp]

I'm gonna be picking up this watch in a few weeks and can't wait after hearing all the good things on here. I was pretty much definitely getting one anyway but it's always good to get the thumbs up from other golfers.

[stockers72]

Buzzkill, on 06 March 2011 - 02:02 AM, said:

Radio Shack has the watch right now for $212 along with a $15 coupon (expires 3/31).  So it's $197 with free shipping but you have to figure out if tax applies for you or not.  California tax was $18 so I'm still holding out for a better deal.

http://www.radioshac...ductId=11290303

March 8, 2011 update - item sold out!

Back as of 3/12. Can't seem to get the $15 cupon to work so like stated above, going for $212 (+ tax depending on where you live) but free shipping.

[srw2249]

Is there a code for the coupon? Thanks

[Buzzkill]

stockers72, on 12 March 2011 - 09:38 AM, said:

Buzzkill, on 06 March 2011 - 02:02 AM, said:

Radio Shack has the watch right now for $212 along with a $15 coupon (expires 3/31).  So it's $197 with free shipping but you have to figure out if tax applies for you or not.  California tax was $18 so I'm still holding out for a better deal.

http://www.radioshac...ductId=11290303

March 8, 2011 update - item sold out!

Back as of 3/12. Can't seem to get the $15 cupon to work so like stated above, going for $212 (+ tax depending on where you live) but free shipping.

srw2249, on 12 March 2011 - 01:20 PM, said:

Is there a code for the coupon? Thanks

Coupons here which worked for me but I backed out because of the state tax - I'm cheap.

http://www.savings.c...o Shack Coupons

[dlygrisse]

How is the battery life?  How long does the battery last just usning as a watch, how many rounds do you get in GPS mode?

[oliversax]

My battery indicator ran down about 1/2 way after a week's worth of normal wear.  I charged it up the night before I intend to use it.  After a round of GPS use, the indicator is usually about 1/2 way again.

So despite the 3wks of normal usage b/t charges that the co. says, I would guess that it lasts about 2 wks for normal wear.  In GPS mode, I had plenty of charge for one round but haven't used it for 36 holes in a day yet, nor 36 holes in 2 days, so I can't answer you there.

dlygrisse, on 12 March 2011 - 03:45 PM, said:

How is the battery life?  How long does the battery last just usning as a watch, how many rounds do you get in GPS mode?

[Sean25rp]

Picking mine up this week. Can't wait!

[hectex]

Sean25rp, on 13 March 2011 - 03:46 PM, said:

Picking mine up this week. Can't wait!

It's a great gadget.  I see you are in the UK.  Be sure to check availability for the courses you plan to play.  Enjoy!

[Sean25rp]

hectex, on 13 March 2011 - 04:23 PM, said:

Sean25rp, on 13 March 2011 - 03:46 PM, said:

Picking mine up this week. Can't wait!

It's a great gadget.  I see you are in the UK.  Be sure to check availability for the courses you plan to play.  Enjoy!

I'm in the south west and my home course and all the others I play are loaded so I'm good to go. Will be giving it the first test run at Celtic Manor next weekend.

[oliversax]

OK, here's the definitive answer in GPS mode.  I fully charged the watch on Wed night, had a tournament next day Thursday where I used GPS mode for 5hrs or so, then used the S1 as regular watch Fri, Sat, then played a round of golf at twilight on Sunday, using the GPS mode for 3 hrs.  The watch indicated 'low battery' on the 17th hole and I was able to finish my round just fine, so I don't think you will have any problems playing 36holes/day.

Hope that helps.

oliversax, on 13 March 2011 - 01:07 PM, said:

My battery indicator ran down about 1/2 way after a week's worth of normal wear.  I charged it up the night before I intend to use it.  After a round of GPS use, the indicator is usually about 1/2 way again.

So despite the 3wks of normal usage b/t charges that the co. says, I would guess that it lasts about 2 wks for normal wear.  In GPS mode, I had plenty of charge for one round but haven't used it for 36 holes in a day yet, nor 36 holes in 2 days, so I can't answer you there.

dlygrisse, on 12 March 2011 - 03:45 PM, said:

How is the battery life?  How long does the battery last just usning as a watch, how many rounds do you get in GPS mode?

Edited by oliversax, 13 March 2011 - 07:47 PM.

[Sean25rp]

That sounds pretty good then.

[Sean25rp]

That sounds pretty good then.

[jimmies78]

I wanted to love this watch - I really did - but at three courses in my area in N.Yorkshire the reading were anything between 35yards too long or bang on. The norm was for it to be 5 yards off. Now this is ok'ish if you can see a fairway marker to be able to compensate for this, but if I was off in the rough I didn't know if I could trust the reading it was giving me.

I wish it wasn't the case but I ending up getting shop credit back (it was in perfect condition) and bought a skycaddie. I know I will miss the ability to just look at my wrist but I need to be able to trust what it is telling me.

I'm sure this isn't a fault of the watch....just the maps for the courses I play

shame really

[Solutions Etcetera]

jimmies78, on 14 March 2011 - 01:34 PM, said:

I wish it wasn't the case but I ending up getting shop credit back (it was in perfect condition) and bought a skycaddie. I know I will miss the ability to just look at my wrist but I need to be able to trust what it is telling me.

I'm sure this isn't a fault of the watch....just the maps for the courses I play

shame really

Garmin has been making GPS maps for a long long time. While it is possible a map may have bad data, it is very unlikely that all three of the courses you played had bad map data. It is fairly common for a GPS to be off 5 yards, especially if conditions weren't great. It is the nature of the beast.

While I love the Skycaddie marketing, I am not convinced they walk every course. The GM at my local course is a good friend, and has been there for a long time. He has never seen a rep from SkyGolf set foot on the course… yet it is mapped.  

[jjarrett79]

My watch has been +/- 3 yards for every course I've used it on so far.

[Sean25rp]

jjarrett79, on 14 March 2011 - 05:31 PM, said:

My watch has been +/- 3 yards for every course I've used it on so far.

More than good enough for me seeing as I don't strike the ball consistently enough to worry about those differences!

[Vardon Grip]

Got it and used it over the weekend. Yardages matched up well with other gps units and was perfect for what I need. Works right out of the box (you ought to charge it). Awesome tool.

[jimmies78]

I agree with all the good points you guys make, but once I lost trust in it  - I never looked at it. If I was only looking a  -+3 yard errors, I would be fine with that....but the norm was the 5-9 range, on a couple of holes at my home course it is bang on. Once you get into the 7+ range you are looking a the difference betwwen on club or another

[Spumoni]

I have not seen any major differences with mine compared to Sky Caddie. I really like the fact that it is always with me, no annual fee and simple to use.  Having the lay up & target info on the sky caddie was nice but since I mostly play 3 - 5 of the same courses in and around town I never used that function much anyway.

[Solutions Etcetera]

jimmies78, on 15 March 2011 - 09:06 AM, said:

I agree with all the good points you guys make, but once I lost trust in it  - I never looked at it. If I was only looking a  -+3 yard errors, I would be fine with that....but the norm was the 5-9 range, on a couple of holes at my home course it is bang on. Once you get into the 7+ range you are looking a the difference betwwen on club or another

I think what folks are getting out is that, given the same conditions, you'e gonna lose your trust in a skycaddie as well, and you should probably think about a laser.

[jimmies78]

You may be right, but the two courses I've used it on so far have been bang on in terms of accuracy. A longer test using it at more courses will be needed to form a true opinion of the device

enjoy your S1's

[shawnee]

total fail, "No courses near".... I will give it one more shot....
I did not know how to hard-reset it out on my course today, maybe that will do the trick, dunno, my course was listed as updated on their site.
I figured it would be easy....this could be heading back to the retailer lol

[hectex]

shawnee, on 18 March 2011 - 09:08 PM, said:

total fail, "No courses near".... I will give it one more shot....
I did not know how to hard-reset it out on my course today, maybe that will do the trick, dunno, my course was listed as updated on their site.
I figured it would be easy....this could be heading back to the retailer lol

This has happened to me once (maybe twice) in the 4 months (2 rounds per week) since i have owned the S1.  It was resolved by powering off then back on.  However yours might have a different problem.  Mine has been accurate and trouble-free the entire time, except for that glitch.  Obviously its your call whether or not to give up already.  Please report back to let us know how this work out for you.  It might help others with their decision.  Also, Garmin Support might offer a simple solution.  Good luck.  Pars and birdies to you..

Edited by hectex, 19 March 2011 - 09:33 AM.

[shawnee]

hectex, on 19 March 2011 - 09:17 AM, said:

shawnee, on 18 March 2011 - 09:08 PM, said:

total fail, "No courses near".... I will give it one more shot....
I did not know how to hard-reset it out on my course today, maybe that will do the trick, dunno, my course was listed as updated on their site.
I figured it would be easy....this could be heading back to the retailer lol

This has happened to me once (maybe twice) in the 4 months (2 rounds per week) since i have owned the S1.  It was resolved by powering off then back on.  However yours might have a different problem.  Mine has been accurate and trouble-free the entire time, except for that glitch.  Obviously its your call whether or not to give up already.  Please report back to let us know how this work out for you.  It might help others with their decision.  Also, Garmin Support might offer a simple solution.  Good luck.  Pars and birdies to you..

thanks for the response, I turned it off and on 5-6 times during the round, as well as kept it on for lunch, and then we went out for the 3rd nine, still no luck.
Did not have the user guide with me, so I did not know how to reset it.
I am playing tomorrow and will give it a second try.