20 replies to this topic

[ronbo]

Stopped at Golf galaxy last night to check out a Garmin watch and and the Pro who was helping me said Skygolf was coming out with a watch, he talked to the Rep. who stopped in to update the staff on what was coming out this spring..... Anybody else here any news on this? I still have an SG5 that I love but wanted something something smaller and a couple of my friends have the Garmin watch and love it. He couldn't give me any info on it but said the Rep. would stop back in after the PGA Show in a couple weeks. Have to hold off until I get more info. Please share if anybody know about this?

[TM_HOYER]

Based on the latest TGW catalog, they are coming out with a watch, basic model with large fonts, and small basic GPS. Another site showed they are coming out with a voice model also. I guess Skygolf has learned their lesson and officially announces when they are ready to ship, but it looks like spring.

[sheppy335]

Yeah they are out and look very nice!

Funny they are not on the site as of yet.

Edited by sheppy335, 29 January 2013 - 10:53 AM.

[TM_HOYER]

It would seem the same thing happened as with the SGXw. Retailers were advertising the SGXw before it was officially announced. I know they have to get advertising materials to retailers before the release. I guess TGW jumped the gun.

It will be interesting to see how they handle the membership since they are not as full featured as the current models. They have to come out with a lower cost membership for these devices. Unless the new devices have all of the yardages built into them. Then the membership should only be the ClubSG cost.

[gr8blueheronbird]

Not going to sell may of these if they continue the yearly fee they charge.. I hope they are reading our posts. Thats why I just left them for a superior product that has no yearly fee(a Leupold GX-1). I get free yardages now, more accurate yardages, and no down loads. I can go anywhere and play any course and not have to worry about downloading a course or making sure the unit is charged. Best of all, I no longer pay a fee to Sky Golf. Freedom.............

[sheppy335]

Superior product is in the eye of the beholder. The fee is nothing compared to what most spend in a year on stupid golf purchases. It is down under 100 dollars for 3 years which is lost cost for what they give you.

But you are allowed your opinion.

[Andy L]

sheppy335, on 30 January 2013 - 11:20 AM, said:

Superior product is in the eye of the beholder. The fee is nothing compared to what most spend in a year on stupid golf purchases. It is down under 100 dollars for 3 years which is lost cost for what they give you.

But you are allowed your opinion.

I think the important questions are, what features will this have over Garmin watches, and what will be the annual fees? It will need to be compelling to convince anyone other than the hardcore sky golf fans to pay an annual fee for a watch GPS unless the features far exceed those of the no fee Garmin.

And I agree the fee free laser argument doesn't hold water because many have no interest in the laser experience.

Edited by Andy L, 30 January 2013 - 11:35 AM.

[sheppy335]

Andy L, on 30 January 2013 - 11:32 AM, said:

sheppy335, on 30 January 2013 - 11:20 AM, said:

Superior product is in the eye of the beholder. The fee is nothing compared to what most spend in a year on stupid golf purchases. It is down under 100 dollars for 3 years which is lost cost for what they give you.

But you are allowed your opinion.

I think the important questions are, what features will this have over Garmin watches, and what will be the annual fees? It will need to be compelling to convince anyone other than the hardcore sky golf fans to pay an annual fee for a watch GPS unless the features far exceed those of the no fee Garmin.

And I agree the fee free laser argument doesn't hold water because many have no interest in the laser experience.

Andy you have a valid point if they don't offer a ton for a fee or at a lower cost compared to the SGX it will be a hard sell even for hard core users.  The watch to me needs to be fee free or have way more bells and whistles then the Garmin to fly.  seeing the basics look the same it is already behind the eight ball in the market.

[Hakko]

Limited screen real estate makes it difficult to add too many useful bells and whistles. I moved to a Garmin S3 from an SG5, and don't regret the choice. It lacks club tracking and green contours, but everything is a trade off. There's no doubt that SkyGolf makes a quality product, but the fees always irked me and I much prefer the smaller form factor and instant availability of a watch.

[no1uno]

Watch and other new devices are now on the Sky Golf site. - www.newskycaddie.com The watch appears to be similar to the Garmin S1/2. Also appears to require membership after 30 days

[Andy L]

So their watch is basically like the Garmin S1, but Skygolf requires a membership fee while Garmin does not.  I don't see anything compelling to buy this over S1.  Am I missing something?  I wonder how this will go over with potential customers?

[Wayneo]

I believe their method of actually walking the course does end up with a finer more accurate product. But, don't be fooled into thinking they are out and about actually doing it in your area. I've been waiting years for even 1 of 5 courses to be mapped that I requested.

If the courses where you play are mapped, good for you. If they're not, don't buy any product from them as you could also be waiting years. As it sits, if I play one of those 5 unmapped courses, the unit is a brick.

[Mathwiz]

I'll not be purchasing anything that requires me to pay a annual fee................period. Charge what you feel you need to charge upfront, or I am out.

I purchased one of the original Golflogix GPS units when they initially came out and payed the annual fee the following year. Then I bought the updated unit (black case) and payed for another annual fee the following year. After the 2nd year I sold the Golflogix.

I have been annual fee free for several years and haven't missed a single accurate yardage read.

Edited by Mathwiz, 09 March 2013 - 10:29 AM.

[sheppy335]

I have a hard time with fee on a watch that is no different then the Garmin watch. Not like you are getting so much more with the SkyGolf watch.

I am a SGX owner so this isnt a noraml bash.

[golfstorer]

If you look at the additional features you get with the SkyGolf watch it might appeal more to someone that not only golfs but has an active lifestyle as well:

Additional features:

• Athletic styling, lightweight, flexible, and comfortable everyday sport watch with superior performance on the golf course
  
• Big, easy-to-read front, center, and back of green distances
  
• 30,000 updatable, preloaded, ready-to-play, high precision, ground-corrected course maps
  
• Track distance, time, and speed of any run, walk, or bike ride
  
• Water resistant to 30 meters
  
• Odometer, lap counter, and calorie counter features
  
• Extras: clock, timer, alarm, pace-of-play clock, and backlight

This watch has more similarities with the Garmin S2 that's coming out (the S2 has an odometer but not sure about the backlight display like the SG watch). The S2 could be better on the course since it has layup and dogleg distances but the SG has all the other "non golf" functions if you need that to track your running, biking, training, etc. Yeah, the yearly fees blow but the SG watch is $50 less then the S2 and you get piece of mind the distances are walked off. Cant go wrong with either though - I'm in the market for one and torn between the SG or S2. Just saw the Golfsmith exclusive black/green colored S2 and it looks really good!!!

Edited by golfstorer, 15 March 2013 - 09:55 AM.

[Truman]

I agree that the fairer comparison is to the S2, which should be out approx. the same time.

[hef63303]

The membership fee on the watches(and other lower priced items coming out) is $20 per year or 3 years for $50. The SC watch has more features than the Garmin. The membership fee allows you to update as courses are altered. It comes preloaded with 30000 golf courses and you can use it for 30 days before signing up for the membership.

[Andy L]

hef63303, on 20 March 2013 - 09:07 PM, said:

The membership fee on the watches(and other lower priced items coming out) is $20 per year or 3 years for $50. The SC watch has more features than the Garmin. The membership fee alolows you to update as courses are altered. It comes preloaded with 30000 golf courses and you can use it for 30 days before signing up for the membership.

I see absolutely nothing compelling that would justify a membership fee over the garmin.

[Directvtechguy]

Everyone talking about the Garmin products against the SkyCaddie watch... Owned the S1... Sold... Battery life was atrocious... The Bushnell Geo+ is better IMO... I use it everyday as a watch... Has a year according to literature in watch mode.. Garmin didn't even compare... Play a round...charge overnight... No probs... Just as accurate, better battery, cheaper, no membership... Check it out before ya buy

[Hakko]

Directvtechguy, on 20 March 2013 - 09:46 PM, said:

...Owned the S1... Sold... Battery life was atrocious... The Bushnell Geo+ is better IMO...Garmin didn't even compare... Play a round...charge overnight... No probs... Just as accurate, better battery, cheaper, no membership...

I can't comment on the S1, but my S3 gets 36 holes of golf out of a charge (at least on my home course where 4 hour rounds are the norm). Plus I can designate my own targets, which is very handy.

[hef63303]

Andy L, on 20 March 2013 - 09:39 PM, said:

hef63303, on 20 March 2013 - 09:07 PM, said:

The membership fee on the watches(and other lower priced items coming out) is $20 per year or 3 years for $50. The SC watch has more features than the Garmin. The membership fee alolows you to update as courses are altered. It comes preloaded with 30000 golf courses and you can use it for 30 days before signing up for the membership.

I see absolutely nothing compelling that would justify a membership fee over the garmin.

I hear this often and understand the comment. What happens if the golf course you play moves a green or a tee? With the SC, it can be updated. With all of the other ones, it will not. Your GPS will be inaccurate from then forward. What if it quits working 4or 5 years after the warranty runs out? Members get a low cost option for replacement.