Professional golfers pay caddies thousands of dollars for their expertise and input while playing the game. However, if you can’t afford the luxury of hiring a caddie, then the SkyCaddie SG5 just might be your best bet. There are many more advanced handheld golf GPS units to choose from, including the SkyCaddie Touch, Garmin G8 and G30. The high-end golf GPS systems, including the Garmin G8 and G6, can be expensive. The distances you get from these handheld golf course GPS units are almost as accurate as the distances from the best budget golf laser rangefinders and as accurate as the distances from a golf gps watch.
This 5.5 oz unit form SkyCaddie is more than your average GPS monitor; it provides tons of valuable information such as distance to the pin, approximate distance to the flag and maximum distance to the back of the green.
These indicators can really help any novice or advanced player choose the right club and improve their accuracy on the greens. Let’s take a closer look at some of this monitor’s features:
SkyCaddie SG5 Golf GPS Features:
Large 220×176 pixels display
Can pinpoint fairway targets
Features IntelliGreen technology
Has an accuracy of under 2.5 yards
Number of courses stored in memory: 10
Compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista and requires USB port and Internet access
Weight: 5.5 oz
Dimensions: 5.4” x 2.2” x 1”
Pros
One of the biggest advantages of the SkyCaddie is its reliability and accuracy. The SkyCaddie SG5 as an accuracy of under 2.5 yards which makes it one of the most precise units on the market.
It features a large color display with an automatic backlight which makes it easily visible even in direct sunlight. The battery has a long lifespan of up to 14 hours which allows for long hours of continuous play.
When you are on the green, the patented IntelliGreen technology will give you all the proper depth, shape and distance variables from whichever angle you approach the hole from, which can really help you improve your accuracy on the green.
The IntelliGreen graphics literally gives you a bird’s eye view of the course and indicate the exact orientation of the hole depending from where you’re standing. All this information can be very crucial when deciding which type of shot you should be taking and which club you should choose.
As an add-on, you can purchase the SkyPlayer Club Membership which enables you to download thousands of exclusive SkyCourses. Three different types of membership plans are available depending on the number of golf courses you wish to access. There are different membership plans ranging from $30 to $130.
And even if the course you are playing is not available, it can be easily configured using the SkyCaddie set-up module by recording the front, center and back of the green which only takes about 10 seconds to set up.
Cons
Many customers have complained about the fact that they could only load ten courses at a time. This means that if you want to play on a course that isn’t part of your selection, you will have to wait and download the new course. Compared to other units that can store thousands and thousands of courses, this was a bit of a disappointment.
Another issue we had with this unit was its size. The SG5 is quite bulky and does not fit well into the pockets. This means that each time you take a shot, you have to put the monitor down or put it in your bag which can get annoying at times.
The SkyCaddie SG5 is limited to only 40 targets per hole, and sometimes, only a handful of targets are visible and some crucial variables may be missing. This can be an issue at times when you’re trying to make difficult shots.
Another thing about this unit is that you have to pay for an annual membership to access all of the courses. This can be an issue considering that many units offer a wide variety of courses free of charge.
Final Verdict – Should You Purchase The SkyCaddie SG5 Golf GPS?
Considering all the aspects of the SkyCaddie SG5 Golf GPS, it is still a very valuable tool for novice and advanced players.
With its nice display, advanced IntelliGreen technology and ultra precise measurements, the SkyCaddie SG5 is definitely a top runner in its category.
And with a price tag of just under 150$, it is very affordable as well. So, if you’re looking for a reliable and versatile golf GPS that can really help you improve your game, then you should definitely give this unit from SkyCaddie a closer look.
