SkyGolf SkyCaddie SG5 Sports GPS Receiver

I was a 8 handicap and this device helped me get down to a steady 4. I know how far I hit my clubs, so having accurate distances really helps. I find the SG5 easy to use, I can easily play 36 holes and it still has lots of battery life. I especially like the target display for new courses as it helps me to avoid trouble an select the correct club. I have used the SG5 in Ontario Canada, Michigan and Florida. I have not found a course that I could not download. I'm not crazy about the new skycaddie link, I liked the old method better as I found it easier to search and load new courses. I recently paid for a software upgrade that increases the course capacity from 10 to 20, added a scorecard, as well as some other improvements. Nice upgrade.

Now for the bad stuff. SkyCaddie has without a doubt the worst customer service on earth. Don't get me wrong, I love my SkyCaddie just not the service.

Here's why. My home course has went through some hole changes over the last two years. SkyCaddie was there last August, yet the changes are not yet loaded into the system. Thus I play my home course 100+ rounds with a skycaddie that only contains 80% of the holes. When I write to skycaddie they just dance around the issue saying they sent the info to another department.
The next reason is after I PAID and downloaded the software upgrade, one of the new features is AUTO distance display. This is supposed to be some improvement to the mark your ball, walk then mark again to see how far you hit your shot. I cannot figure out how to acitivate this AUTO feature, and when I write to skycaddie, they just don't bother to answer, EXTREMELY frustrating, they just don't answer!!!! What's with that?
So, I love my skycaddie and will not play without it, but I don't like the customer service or lack of.
New's flash, I tried three times this year to get info on when they would update my home course. Guess what, they emailed to tell me they sent it to another department. Oh my word, will it ever end?

News flash - August 2009, course finally updated, all is well in SkyCaddie land.
Update 2010 - For some reason our course info is out of date again. Two par 3's showing up as a par 4, and a par 5? Emailed skycaddie in April, it's now June, still out of date? some things never change, extremely poor service with regard to course updates.
Also switched to the new SGX, it did take THREE machines before I got one that worked, but it seems to be very fast and accurate. Buy from a dealer close by just in case you require a replacement. Skycaddie is very fast at shipping these, I got mine overnight.
Update 2011 - SGX bugs seem to be all fixed. Machine works very well no issues for some time. Course still out of date, TERRIBLE customer service in this area. Not impressed with yearly fees as more companies seem to be coming out with machines that do everything for FREE. Once you buy it's FREE, hear that SkyCaddie!

First of all. I have to say that I strugled with giving this item a less than excellent review and I will give this disclaimer; I have only used it twice.

The positive side is that this unit is very easy to use and has aboslutely made my game easier to manage. I am no longer estimating distsnces, I have very accurate yardages that eliminate that indecisive, non commited swing, I can more effectively zero in on my target. While the Sky Caddie will not keep you from having those occasional "meltdowns", it can help you manage your game better and keep meltdowns to a minimum.

Also, by using the "mark" feature, you can get a realistic distance that you hit each club. When you combine that with having the correct yardage, you will absolutely save strokes while learning YOUR game. By the way, it may be somewhat humbling to see how far you really hit that monster drive!

I was somewhat disapointed that there is no overall graphic of the hole. I also realized that it really isn't a big deal but I did expect to see one based on the graphic on the box, and as a result was somewhat dissapointed. Also, I would like to be able to add more locations manually but as far as I can see, you cannot. In addition, I would like to see more targets per hole as it states that it can show up to 40 locations on each hole and so far I have rarely seen more than 10 or so. Once again, see my disclainmer.

Overall, this product rocks and I can't wait to use it again. My purchase went flawlessly as did my regisration and setup of the unit itself. If you are looking to buy a golf GPS, give this one the hairy eyeball. So far, I really do love it.

I purchased the SkyCaddie SG5 about 2 months ago. Because I like to play a variety of courses, this device is great for taking the uncertainty about distances and green shapes out of the equation. The features I like best are: shows shape of fairway; gives distance to hazzards and distance to clear hazzard; gives distance to green to include the front, middle and back; and, shows shape of green. Device is easy to use and allows you to concentrate on your swing and more on strategy of shot placement. It takes a couple of rounds to really integrate SkyCaddie into game so that you are thinking more about your shots than how fun it is to have reliable information provided. Glad I bought it.

I'm an on-course "grinder" and anything that makes the game a little easier is very welcome. The SkyCaddie SG5 is terrfic--very user-friendly, highly accurate and fun. It's interesting to note that my playing partners enjoy getting a quick read for their next shot. They kid about the device's inability to factor in the wind. (Maybe that's next!) No more searching for yardage markers in the fairway or rough. My only wish is that the unit displayed an overall hole graphic (as suggested by the illustration on the box). The color screen is clear and easy to read, whatever the light conditions. I consider the SG5 to be as valuable as any club in my bag--and clearly more reliable than a lot of them. A four-star purchase.

I have played in a foursome where a friend of mine had a SkyCaddie - an earlier model, and he loved his. I thought it helped me when I played with him - seemed to make play faster - didn't have to step off yardage, etc. So, I decided to treat myself to an early Christmas present and bought the SG 5 about 4 weeks ago. The courses I play on were all available and were easy to download - no problems what so ever - very simple to work through the steps. The very first time I used it was in a scramble, so I don't know how many strokes it shaved off my game, but I sure was making some great shots. Just knowing the yardage was one less thing I had to be worried about - I know I shaved at least 5 or more strokes off my normal game. The best thing about it is when you are not in the fairway - no more guessing and a few yards more than you think can make a big difference. I checked my stride and what I thought was 20 yards was really 17 yards - I guess that is better than the other way around. I have checked yardage markings on golf courses and have found the unit very accurate no more than a couple yards at an occassional 150 marker, others dead on. I place the unit in the cart cup holder and it seems to read just fine - easy to read in full sunlight too. I don't really have too much negative for the unit - it does exactly what I was hoping it would do. One of the courses I play, but not very often, did not have a reading for a water hazard - I thought that was kind of strange because the course is an old course. Some readings are a little funny, it gives a reading to clear a sandtrap eventhough you may be parallel to it, with the hazard really not in play. All in all, I think it is a great addition to my golf game - kind of like a new driver!!