Golfshot App

alxmorgan

Hey guys,

Got an android phone and this app comes recommended so two questions:

1) Anyone use it and have feedback ?

2) Can it be used in competitions in clubs where GPS devices are allowed ?
I heard that having a compass on the phone disqualifies it but if I don't have one installed ? Just want to be sure


thanks

Tones69

Got it last week, great app, very accurate!! Couldnt tell you where it stands on official useage in comps etc etc

Villain

Nope can't be used in competitions as the device is capable of providing wind and temp etc etc.

Myksyk

From the gui FAQs on this issue

Q. What about multi-functional devices, such as a mobile phone, with a distance measuring application?
A. On the course, subject to any club or course regulations, a multi-functional device may be used to phone, text or email – provided the purpose is not a breach of the Rules, e.g. you are not asking for advice.*
When an application that measures distance has been downloaded to the device, the application must be restricted to providing only distance information in order to conform to the Local Rule.* If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not.*

alxmorgan

Myksyk wrote: »

From the gui FAQs on this issue

Q. What about multi-functional devices, such as a mobile phone, with a distance measuring application?
A. On the course, subject to any club or course regulations, a multi-functional device may be used to phone, text or email – provided the purpose is not a breach of the Rules, e.g. you are not asking for advice.*
When an application that measures distance has been downloaded to the device, the application must be restricted to providing only distance information in order to conform to the Local Rule.* If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not.*

thanks for the reply.
So does Golfshot measure temperature, wind speed or have a compass ?
If not then I assume its ok to use - providing the device itself does not have any of these features installed ?

Villain

alxmorgan wrote: »

thanks for the reply.
So does Golfshot measure temperature, wind speed or have a compass ?
If not then I assume its ok to use - providing the device itself does not have any of these features installed ?

Nope if the device is capable of providing such info it can't be used, just because the device doesn't have such apps installed doesn't mean its not capable of providing such information.

alxmorgan

Myksyk wrote: »

From the gui FAQs on this issue

Q. What about multi-functional devices, such as a mobile phone, with a distance measuring application?
A. On the course, subject to any club or course regulations, a multi-functional device may be used to phone, text or email – provided the purpose is not a breach of the Rules, e.g. you are not asking for advice.*
When an application that measures distance has been downloaded to the device, the application must be restricted to providing only distance information in order to conform to the Local Rule.* If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not.*

Villain - text suggests that the feature has to be ON the phone not that it is capable of it.
You can argue if its not installed then its not capable of it

Are you answering based on experience here?

curly from cork

Caddied in the Barton recently. We were told if the phone/ device is capable of offering the advice, whether or not you have it enabled , makes it prohibited. We were also told I phones on silent were not acceptable. They must be turned off.

alxmorgan

curly from cork wrote: »

Caddied in the Barton recently. We were told if the phone/ device is capable of offering the advice, whether or not you have it enabled , makes it prohibited. We were also told I phones on silent were not acceptable. They must be turned off.

Again the wording here is interesting. If the apps are not installed it is not capable of it. It is not a case of enabling it. No one can get it to give that info without explicitly searching for, finding, installing and then starting the app to give that info.

There's a big difference between that and the meaning of the word enable

I would argue that if the app is not installed it is not capable of it

Is there a way to be 100% sure about this ?

Villain

The device is capable it just takes two minutes to install an app you could install it and uninstall it again during round, it's pretty clear IMO

alxmorgan

Fair enough but seems ridiculous to me.
I guarantee that you could get a Skycaddie or most other GPS systems to measure wind speed so therefore they are capable of it

And I wonder why that is in the first place - I mean just because its on there doesn't seem like a good enough reason to me. If the rules say don't use a compass and you do you are cheating.

Just like finding a ball in the woods and kicking it 5 yards along to give you a shot out.
I'm "capable" of kicking the ball 5 yards but know its cheating.
Seems ridiculous to stop me using a legal app because the device can have illegal stuff on it - just my 2 cents

phkk

Just got i phone during week too,are there any other apps worth getting,just downloaded the US Open app for free,can't wait for it now!!

Jacket111001

There would be a breach of the Rules even if all of the above features can be switched off or disengaged, and in fact are switched off or disengaged.

3. Multi-functional devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, etc (i.e. devices that are primarily communication devices, but which may have other potential uses) may be used as follows:

•The device may be used for any non-golfing purpose (e.g. as a communication tool to phone, text or email), subject to any club / course regulations and the Rules on accessing advice-related matters – see Decision 14-3/16.
•When the Local Rule is in effect, a distance-measuring application may be used, provided the specific application is restricted to “distance only” and the device does not have any other “non-conforming” features. This is the case even if these other features are not being used. As above, the Rules on advice-related communications (including the use of the internet) still apply.
Conclusion

The R&A and USGA have no intention to permit the use of electronic devices to go beyond the current Rules and interpretations. This means that distance-measuring devices and applications will be limited to distance information only. If a device that is being used for distance-measuring purposes has any additional features, all such features must conform to the Rules of Golf.


The above is from the GUI site.

Q. What about multi-functional devices, such as a mobile phone, with a distance measuring application?

A. On the course, subject to any club or course regulations, a multi-functional device may be used to phone, text or email – provided the purpose is not a breach of the Rules, e.g. you are not asking for advice.

When an application that measures distance has been downloaded to the device, the application must be restricted to providing only distance information in order to conform to the Local Rule. If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not.

Tones69

phkk wrote: »

Just got i phone during week too,are there any other apps worth getting,just downloaded the US Open app for free,can't wait for it now!!

Cool just got that app myself The golfshot app is very good, if ur not bothered spending money then the "golf scorecard" is a handy app to have too

Mizuno Man

I have the Golfshot app too. Personally I found it to be pretty rubbish as a rangefinder. Quite often it would show me still in the car park rather than the first tee! I think a lot of people forget that GPS isn't as accurate as you would like to think. More often than not it will be accurate to within a few yards but on the odd ocassion it can easily be 10 yards or more out.

I really like statistics tracker on it though!

Don't forget your iPhones have a compass app installed which can not be removed and therefore they will always be ineligible for use as a rangefinder no matter what golf app you may be using.

NoelAPM

heard last year that due to increased solar activity GPS signals would be interupted this year. might explain you being in the car park and not the first tee on occasion!

Mizuno Man

I think the problem is more to do with the mapping itself. Portmarnock Links is one place where when you stand on the first tee (old 1st that is) golfshot shows you in the car park. It's almost always the same.

Since they using the maps from google or bing or whatever, they suffer from inaccuracies as a result. The courses aren't "mapped" in the traditional sense.

alxmorgan

Jacket111001 wrote: »

There would be a breach of the Rules even if all of the above features can be switched off or disengaged, and in fact are switched off or disengaged.

.....If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not.

Again to me this is unclear.

A breach if "even if all of the above features can be switched off or disengaged, and in fact are switched off or disengaged."

As I say if the feature is not on the phone that is not the same as being switched off or disengaged. It doesn't exist on the phone.

On the GUI comment "If there are any other features or applications on the phone"....again not installed = not ON the phone

I've pretty much given up on idea of being able to use it but to me the rule makes no sense and I can see no effect of it other than forcing people to spend a whole lot more money on dedicated devices

Mizuno Man

My understanding is that if your phone does not have a compass or anemometer or inclinometer installed then it is acceptable. Simple as that.

The reason in my mind why you can't use a phone with a compass installed for example even if you don't use the compass is simply because when you are using your phone it is impossible to tell if you are looking at your GPS golf app or your in-phone compass app. It's not the same as having an actual compass but not using it, because if you did try to use the actual compass, your playing partners would see you take a compass out of your pocket and use it! It's an obvious breach!

But with phones or other stuff that actually has non-conforming functions, it is impossible to spot a breach of the rules without physically looking over your shoulder while you are using it.

alxmorgan

Mizuno Man wrote: »

My understanding is that if your phone does not have a compass or anemometer or inclinometer installed then it is acceptable. Simple as that.

Brand new phone and does not currently have these installed
However what you are saying seems to contradict what others on here have said

whizbang

cant imagine how useful a compass would be.
if you have the gps app it already shows you which direction to aim, or should i be allowing for earths curvature or do magnetic fields affect your golf swing ?

Mizuno Man

With a compass you can tell which direction you are facing, so if you know the wind is westerly say, but you are on a sheltered tee box and can't feel it, then a compass would confirm where the wind should be coming from. A GPS rangefinder doesn't tell you that.

Unlikely scenario I know, but possible all the same!!!