Tour 1 – Golfing with a “Buddy”
Although "Golf is always better with a Buddy", it doesn't become apparent until you have played the game with the proper information. Having pertinent course information in the palm of your hand, can help improve your game, reduce playing time, and add to the over-all fun and enjoyment.
The following sections will help you understanding the many advantages of golfing with a Golf Buddy® Plus GPS range finder.
Auto Recognition
Your golf game begins before you even hit that first drive. You start by knowing which golf course you are going to be playing at. Well the same holds true for the Golf Buddy® Plus.
Auto Recognition Of The Current Course
Using the GPS technology it was created with, it can determine which course you are at without you having to select from a long list of available courses. This Auto Recognition of the course can also elliminate confusion when playing at a location which features multiple courses. (i.e. A course with two 18 hole rounds: Champion's Courses, and Legacy Course)
Auto Recognition Of The Current Hole
The Golf Buddy® Plus tracks your position no matter where you are on the course, including which hole you are currently positioned to play. This feature also comes in handy in tournament play as you may have to start from a "Shotgun" location somewhere out on the course. (i.e. From the 11-th Tee, or other tournaments and events with a structured theme, whereby you play only the par 3's.)
The Auto Recognition feature makes sure you know exactly where you are at all times!
Remaining Distance Information
At any / all times, the Golf Buddy® Plus is aware of exactly how far you are from the green. The amount of distance remaining to the hole, is the key to choosing the proper club and choosing the right approach to the green.
The buddy offers the "Distance Remaining" information from your location, no matter where that may be on the course. The distance is always in a straight line from your current position to the front, center, and back of the green. (B / C / F on the image shown)
The displayed information on Golf Buddy® Plus is always in the horizontal plane. In other words, elevations are never calculated. The Golf Buddy® Plus is designed to confirm to USGA / RNA rulings regarding distance measuring devices, in which the devices may only display information that can be readily found on the course by other means.
Note: The distance remaining is to the centre of the green. to find the distance to the pin, you can use the joystick / jog button to reposition the "Green Center" to the approximate pin location.
Big Number / Target List
The Golf Buddy® Plus is designed to offer you a variety of information screens so that you are constantly aware of every distance.
Big Number View
This view displays only the "Distance Remaining" numbers to the green. As you proceed along the fairway the distance values are updated, but the view screen does not change.
Target List View
This view displays all of the distance values for each hazard you will encounter as you proceed along the fairway. The list continues right up to the point where the Golf Buddy® Plus indicates that you are "At the Green". The distances for each hazard are listed in pairs with the first number being the distance to the hazard, and the second distance being the carry distance.
These two views can be switched to at any time using the Joystick / Jog Button and toggling between the views as required.
Hazard Avoidance
The various natural and man made hazards on the course make up the character of the course and give the golfer varying levels of difficulty.
Knowing where these hazards are, and how to avoid them can elliminate strokes from your game. The Golf Buddy® Plus displays distance values for each of the "in play" hazards, as well as aspects of the terrain which affect shot selection and course management.
Typical hazards listed on the Golf Buddy® Plus:
- Bunkers
- Water
- Cart Paths
- Terrain changes such as gullies, etc
- End of Fairway
- Trees
- Rock Out Croppings
Avoidance of Hidden Hazards
Avoiding a rock or tree you can see is one thing, but how about that binker hidden behind the green? Golf Buddy® Plus lists all items which can affect your play, even if you cannot see them from your present location.
Layups and Carries
Knowing the location of a hazard is only one part of the equation. To effectively avoid the hazard you need to know the Lay-up (approach) distance, as well as the distance to pass the item (carry distance). The Golf Buddy® Plus gives you each of these values when required.
i.e.
Bnkr Lft - 186
Bnkr Lft Carry- 210
Dynamic Green View
Approaching the green from the center of the fairway is the goal of every golfer. However, we do not always have that luxury. Golf Buddy® Plus adjusts the viewing angle of the green such that it reflects the approach you are currently positioned to take.
This dynamic green view rotates to any angle, to allow you to judge your best shot to arrive safely on the green. As well, the yardages dynamically update so that you know the exact distances, and can make a better club choice or approach shot.
Continuous Distance Updates
The Golf Buddy® Plus starts measuring distance values from the moment it is turned on. It displays these numbers to you at any / all times. There is no need to "re-fresh" or update the screens, it does that continually for you. All you have to do is look at the screen when you need it.
Shot Distance
How many times have you heard a similar conversation on the golf course.
Golfer 1: "Wow, you really drove that one! . . . .How far do you think that went"
Golfer 2: "I don't know"
Measuring Your Last Shot
The Golf Buddy® Plus allows you to calculate your "Shot Distance" with the touch of a button.
Set your current position (the place you shot from), using the Mark Button (located on the side of the unit as shown in the image left).
Proceed to your ball location.
As you travel towards your ball, the distance value updates until you arrive at your ball location.
Calculate How Far You Hit Each Club
Using the Golf Buddy® Plus as a training aid can help improve your game as well. Most golfers do not know how far they typically hit shots using each of the clubs in their bag.
To figure the "Shot Distance" for each club, stand in one location and hit a few balls using the same club. Now using the technique as above, mark your current location then proceed to the cluster of balls you just shot until you are standing in the approximate center of the cluster. This will give you a distance which represents the approximate "shot Distance" for that club.
Repeat the process for each club in your bag until you know your hitting distance for each club.
Using Shot Distance in Practice
Having trouble with your "in between" distances? Often you are faced with a shot which requires you to take a modified swing to make the shot.
(i.e. choking up on the club, taking a softer swing, lower your back-swing point etc)
The Golf Buddy® Plus can assist with these as well. Using the Mark Button, start from the center of the green or some other target location, measure off the distance until you are postiioned at one of these "in between" shots.
Now practice hitting from this location using your modified swings.
