Anyone got a Garmin S3 approach?

Rodrigo

I recently got one of these and only got a chance to use it today, however I'm confused as how it works, when I get to the tee the reading on the Garmin is anything up to 30 metres out from the official course distance on the tee boxs. Surely if course and card say 450 metres then the garmin shouldn't be that far out. BTW once I get to the fairway markings the garmin appears to more in sync with the course markings. I play on a championship course so the course distances aren't spurious.

GreeBo

Rodrigo wrote: »

I recently got one of these and only got a chance to use it today, however I'm confused as how it works, when I get to the tee the reading on the Garmin is anything up to 30 metres out from the official course distance on the tee boxs. Surely if course and card say 450 metres then the garmin shouldn't be that far out. BTW once I get to the fairway markings the garmin appears to more in sync with the course markings. I play on a championship course so the course distances aren't spurious.

If its accurate from the fairway markers then its not the Garmin thats out on the tees.
Note that the Tee markers and card are to a measured "plate" on the tee. The tee markers may not be anywhere near that on a given day...

Rodrigo

I know what you mean but on the permanent fixed markers the garmin does not read the same yardage, I know the markers are moved from day to day via the stone markers and will read different obviously. On the fixed permanent blue white and green tees the garmin does not read anything like the what the course says.

GreeBo

Rodrigo wrote: »

I know what you mean but on the permanent fixed markers the garmin does not read the same yardage, I know the markers are moved from day to day via the stone markers and will read different obviously. On the fixed permanent blue white and green tees the garmin does not read anything like the what the course says.

Any chance its a yards Vs metres thing?

whizbang

Is it a case of the distance measured along the centerline of the fairways, rather than as the crow flies.
However, there are plenty of courses out there, significantly off in distance measurements

slave1

I have one, I've used it on 30+ courses and have had about a dozen or so courses added over the last year.
Only on one hole in Portumna was the device in any way off on measurement (playing partner has another brand of GPS) and that turned out to be a temporary green.
If you are saying 30yards and it's not a "plate versus marker" issue then there is something wrong with your unit.
Don't forget the Garmin measures every hole to the centre of the green, your card may not.
What course was it?

rrpc

GreeBo wrote: »

Any chance its a yards Vs metres thing?

Could be that. Roughly 100m is 108 yards, so at the tee of a 450 yard hole, it would read about 417m.

As you get closer to the hole, the difference wouldn't be as pronounced. 200 yards would be 185m.

The other possibility would be 'crow flies' vs centre line of fairway. A dog leg would read shorter at the tee but be accurate at 200 yards out.

Rodrigo

The garmin is set for metres and the course is in metres to the centre of the green so thats out. Its a championship course that stages top amateur events so its hardly the course thats wrong, but its strange that it appears correct around the 150 and 100 metres markers, even when I walk towards the centre of the green its pretty much bang on.

rrpc

Rodrigo wrote: »

The garmin is set for metres and the course is in metres to the centre of the green so thats out. Its a championship course that stages top amateur events so its hardly the course thats wrong, but its strange that it appears correct around the 150 and 100 metres markers, even when I walk towards the centre of the green its pretty much bang on.

Is the other scenario out too? i.e. the Garmin is measuring distance directly to the green and not following the fairway.

Webbs

Rodrigo wrote: »

The garmin is set for metres and the course is in metres to the centre of the green so thats out. Its a championship course that stages top amateur events so its hardly the course thats wrong, but its strange that it appears correct around the 150 and 100 metres markers, even when I walk towards the centre of the green its pretty much bang on.

One thing to try is next time your on a hole use the shot measurement to go from tee box to 150marker and see where the discrepancy lies.

Sandwlch

slave1 wrote: »

Don't forget the Garmin measures every hole to the centre of the green, your card may not.

Cards (at least of GUI/ILGU sanctioned clubs) are obliged to measure to the centre of the green.

Rodrigo

My humblest apologies to all especially Greebo, you were right, it was on yards, I was sure I had set it to metres, must have inadvertently reset it again. I checked it out off course and ran through the holes and for the most part it is between 5 to 10 metres similar to the blue tees as per the strokesaver, the final hole is 27 metres out though but we'll look at that again. I must admit I just used it on a few holes yesterday in the near dark. Hopefully it will correspond next time I get to the course, again apologies.

slave1

No need to apologise mate, good to post your query and get it sorted.

If you come across a course that is not on the Garmin then let them know via here, easy request process on the right hand side and lower down on the screen to get a new course added. They add them on a quarterly basis.

Rodrigo

Thanks slave1 and thanks for that link, very handy.

GreeBo

Rodrigo wrote: »

My humblest apologies to all especially Greebo, you were right, it was on yards, I was sure I had set it to metres, must have inadvertently reset it again. I checked it out off course and ran through the holes and for the most part it is between 5 to 10 metres similar to the blue tees as per the strokesaver, the final hole is 27 metres out though but we'll look at that again. I must admit I just used it on a few holes yesterday in the near dark. Hopefully it will correspond next time I get to the course, again apologies.

It was bound to happen sooner or later

Glad you got it sorted.

Corkey123

On the subject guys. Torn between a Garmin and a golf buddy - thoughts

Rodrigo

Had the garmin out this morning at first light, now that I know what I'm at, Don't know a lot about the golf buddy but I've no regrets about the garmin. Played about half a dozen holes and it seems to be the dogs testicles, fairly basic but unless your a tour pro what do you need only front back and middle and of course lay up yardages, all at a glance.

opinionated3

There is a substantial price difference between the s1 and the s3. Is it really worth the extra? Or should potential buyers like myself keep saving for the golf buddy platinum?

mafc

Have the Golf Buddy for about a month now and must say it is worth four shots per round, can't comment on the Garmin as I know little about it.

Corkey123

Cheers mafc

GreeBo

I'm loving my Platinum I have to say. Much more confident now when I have to carry something or be short of something, and confidently struck shots are always much better. The only thing I can think of that would improve the Platinum is if it used real maps. I miss that from when I used to use my phone, great for tiers on greens and saves you having to enter in individual missing POI (which you can do with the platinum but wouldnt need to if it used maps)

Wouldnt have paid €400 for it though.

WillyWonka

slave1 wrote: »

No need to apologise mate, good to post your query and get it sorted.

If you come across a course that is not on the Garmin then let them know via here, easy request process on the right hand side and lower down on the screen to get a new course added. They add them on a quarterly basis.

I plugged mine in today and it said courses were up to date.
Glasson didn't appear on it a few weeks ago.
Also Carton House doesn't appear on the site.

Unfortunately the link above just brings me to a product list now...

slave1

Here's the updated link mate