First, does it work? The qualified answer is yes. It does give adequate info to the green and if the course has been mapped it MAY give you info to hazards, etc. On mapped courses with 4 stars, some do not include the hazards, sand traps, etc. Of course to get this you must pay $29.95 per year. Also if you want the SG2 to work when you start play it is a good idea to turn it on at least 1/2 hour prior to tee time. Which brings up the next problem - battery life. When my unit was new, a fully charged battery would give about 6 hours of use. After having the SG2 9 months though, I was lucky to get 4 1/2 to 5 hours out of the battery. However it usualy did last a full round. Now after 14 months, a FULLY CHARGED battery last about 1 HOUR. Contacted SkyCaddie and was informed by their customer service that "THE BATTERY LIFE IS NORMALLY 9-12 MONTHS" (their words). The fix is to buy a new battery from them for $49.95. This makes the annual cost for owning an SG2 $80. I haven't even mentioned their rediculous web site or no Macintosh support, etc. My suggestion - don't waste your money. Buy the Bushnell.
NOTE: Since I wrote this review, decided I would buy a replacement battery (which can be only bought from SkyCaddie) for $49.95 - got to the checkout and discovered to ship this 2oz battery to CA, would be $16 via UPS Ground!!! This makes the annual cost for the SG2 $96.

I like my caddie and I'm generally pleased to have it.

However, I'm most concerned about the build quailty. I've had to return it shortly after purchase because the side button was somehow jamed not allowing the unit to cut off until the battery exausted.

When I received a new unit in a couple of weeks, the belt clip mechanism continues to unscrew and I find I've droppped the unit beside me or a couple of holes back in one case. It falls off reguarly and I fear it tumbling into a pond or off a bridge one day.

This same issue has been mentioned in a previous review. I called sky caddie and they promidded to send the "new mechanism"and some adhesive to fix the problem. Also the little rubber plug cover would never go back into the hole and has been ripped from the unit now. They say they'll replace that too.

Overall an nice tool but the build quality is suspect.

Does the unit work??,...Well yes to a degree. It takes 6 holes to lock on to the satellites and then does a fair job of giving distances. The display is poor and though they say "up to 40 objects per hole" there is normally 2-4 objects per hole. All this depends upon the Skycaddie course recorder. The user (you) can not modify the course or add any objects that the course recorder didn't think was important.
Now the bad part. The unit attaches via button and belt clip (like a cell phone). My button (part that attaches to main unit) has died twice in the first 30 days. When it breaks again,...which it will often,..the unit will probably hit the dirt. This isn't good. But fear not. It will be packed away weeks trying to get in touch with Skygolf. And another week to get a replacement button (which has been modified even weaker than the original one). Now my replacement broke on the first time I clipped it to the belt. Now back to Skycaddie to get another. After being on hold for another hour, they need to transfer you to another tech that handles parts. This will take another hour. You then get a message to leave a message. Normally within a week someone will call you back. By 'normally', I mean about 35% of the time you leave messages they return them. Would I buy another,... duh,.... NO!

New info.
About a month after buying the caddie it started loosing the satellite connection. It was a very random thing. Turn it off and back on again would sometimes restore the connection. After about 4 months of owning the caddie, my score was going up about 5 strokes a game when it didn't work correctly because of frustration with the unit. The people I would be playing with would say " turn the thing off and play. Stop messing around and wasting time with that thing!" Well finally I sent it back to be repaired. It came back not syncing at all! It went back again to Skycaddie. It came back with the case broken. Now, five months after I bought it, it went back to Skycaddie and they replaced it with a different one. Finally it worked correctly! It would get partial sync in about 1 hole and total sync by 3 holes. The new one had two sided tape under the button so it wouldn't let the button fall off if it broke. So far it hasn't broken the button, but, I almost never use the clip. I just hold it when diving the cart and place it in the cup-holder when shooting. The new one has lasted a year and the battery goes dead after about 5 hours. It now starts losing the satellite connection when the battery has 2 bars (1/3 power left).

Conclusion: It is fairly helpful IF it is working correctly. Different units read different distances when placed in the same spot ( 1 at a time so that they are not next to each other). The differences very by about 1-5 yards. Mine always reads the same distance to the same spot. (remember it reads most accurate after it has achieved all the satellites). Mine takes about 10 minutes to achieve full satellite connection. So its time to get a new battery, buy a new one year subscription (about $100 bucks for both).

I have used this unit twice and have been more impressed each time.

First time was a loaner from my favorite golf shop and the second was the unit that I just purchased.

My reaction... WOW. Great tool for golfers at all skill levels. The information presented appears to be extremely accurate and is much more accurate than guessing or finding a marker and then interpolating distances. I found the IntelliGreen feature extremely useful. I was able to shoot at several greens unseen whereas before I would have laid up in a safe visible landing zone short of the green. The target lists were consistent with the features I was concerned about on most holes. If anything, I found the target list to contain too many items

I found registration and set up a bit tedious and would like to Sky Golf make it easier. Be sure to read the installation instructions in the manual very closely. Your internet browser MUST be set to allow cookies from Sky Golf. Otherwise you may spend all day and never get set up or be able to download courses.

The variety of plans for course downloads is adequate, but I wish they would include at least a 1 year subscription to the basic "PAR" Sky Player course download plan with the purchase of the unit.

Others have complained about quality and construction. I don't know what their standards are, but my unit seems well constructed and of very high quality material.

Bottom line, if you can afford it and you're looking for a great product to improve you knowledge of the golf courses you play... then this product is for you.

Bought this for my husband for Father's Day! Delivered in no time! He loved it! I let him do the registration etc. because he has more patience than I.

It works very well. Bought the vice like attachment too so it could go in every golf cart we use including our own. I LOVE IT. I have trouble judging distances and this is our co-toy now!

The battery went dead too soon. We called Sky Golf and they are sending a free one out posthaste. We even bought the $19.95 warranty for one year. It's worth it!

I am very disappointed in Sky Golf's policy on repair and warranty of my SG2. After six months the unit would not take a charge and Sky Golf would only offer a "refurbished" caddie at $169.00 or a replacement at $229.00. Since retail is around $259.00, Sky Golf is not making any real adjustment for a clearly defective unit. Buy at your own risk!

I would give it 5 stars, but it can be a tad bit slow. For instance, when you get to your ball, you may have to wait about 10 seconds for the most accurate number to appear. Simple to use too.

My SG2 has worked great for 5 years now. Used it a lot in the US, Panama and elsewhere in Latin America. All this time the only problem is that the rubber gromet that covers the battery and data plug broke.

I don't have a subscription any more since I only use my SG2 for user input courses -- no subscription needed for that. I don't know if there's any cause-effect with the SG2, but my handicap index has gone from a 6-something to under three. Damn it's tough playing with sandbaggers.

Looks like I'll finally have to get a battery soon. It runs out after about 5 hours now. Sure wish there was competion for battery sources.

Sky Golf SkyCaddie SG2 I have used this device 5 years and I have never had a minute's trouble with it. Where do these bad reviews come from? You turn it on as soon as you arrive at the course. (Don't wait till you tee off) The unit rides in the cup holder just fine. It automatically changes to the next hole for you so you never really need to touch it. If you play with a stranger, they may not even notice it at first, but they will love it before the round is over. On an especially good tee shot, you might push a single button, ride to the ball, push again, and see exactly how far you hit it. I programmed my course myself (it was before it became available for download). That is easy also. You just play a round about dusk, and push a button at the front, back, and middle of each green. Bingo.
Now I have the professionally-done version of my home course. It has the driving range also, so wherever I am on the range, I know the blue flag is 160 yards, etc. I'm a Mac guy and I hate that it doesn't support mac, but I get by using the office PC for downloads. The fee for the web subscription is a minor downer, but it has been worth it to download virtually any course in the USA. I have use the device in foreign countries as well. I have never once had the battery to run out on me. Maybe tomorrow, though since I just told that. I think the bad reviews must be when a button breaks or something. I just love mine and I would never be without it. PS: The intelli-green feature is not of any real benefit to me--the distances are the key !

I have had this unit for a few months. The first thing that you notice is that it is not a heavy peice of equipment and the controls look fairly complex. However, once you get used to the system, the controls are fairly intuitive. Despite the fact that SkyGolf had some problems over the holidays (ei: Server issue which I learned of while sitting on the phone with one of their customer service guys named Carl) they did manage to get back up and running friday night when I was able to start downloading my information again. As for the bad press so far, some people are just too impatient for their own good.

I've used my SG2 for four months, and when I can get a satellite signal, I love it.

Knowing the precise yardage to each pin, hazard and fairway target from anywhere on the course increases my confidence in club selection, and thus my concentration over the ball and the accuracy of my approach shots.

I especially like the "mark ball location" feature which allows you to measure the distance of your previous shot -- now I have real data to indicate how far I hit each club.

THE PROBLEM: more often than not, my device cannot find a satellite signal. This is incredibly frustrating! I would be a five-star delighted customer if I could count on the gizmo to work when I get to the course.

I have no sense of whether connectivity is a function of geography (I live in Seattle), weather (I live in Seattle), tasking of GPS satellites to Iraq or what... but I cannot count on being able to use my SG2 when I go to play a round.

Check with other users in your area: if they have good satellite coverage, then buy with confidence.

I own this and the love it. Works great and is more accurate then the Bushnell, although costs a little more. I have not found a course that it does not have and I don't know if I could play without it now! Easy to use and worth the price.

Sky Golf SkyCaddie SG2This product is simply junk. I've had two of them. Purchased at my golf club. The side mark button stopped functioning after 2 weeks of very light use, little of which involved the mark button. Noticed the failure when showing it off to a golf bud during a round. The club replaced it with a new one. That is when all hell broke out. The customer service at Sky Golf is just plain non functional.

On the first unit I had purchased a membership and warranty. After too many phone calls and emails to recall, I finally got them to transfer the membership from the 14 day old unit to the new replacement. Or so I thought. I was reduced to screaming into the phone to a lady that was more helpful than any of the other dolts. All they had to do was replace the ID/SN from the old one to the new one on my account and they failed miserably.

A month after the purchase I left for Saudi Arabia, where I spent 7 months. Upon my return I charged the unit and went out for a much needed round..no problem. I charged the contraption that night so that I could use it again the next day. Low and behold it doesn't work!!! I took it back the pro shop. They are trying to get the thing repaired and work through my ID/SN problem. I just want my money back at this point.

Don't buy this item. Sodomy is illegal in Texas, but apparently not where SkyCaddies are made.

After spending 280.00 for the SG2, buying the extended warranty ($20), and upgrading to the eagle membership ($50), I cannot even use the stupid thing because it is not Mac compatitble and I cannot download the courses that I have chosen! I'm sure it is a great product, but I give this a one-star rating mostly because of the customer service department--no phone number on their website and no response from their technical support department when you email them. What a waste of time and money!!!!

I have used the Sky Caddie on several different courses and found it to be exactly as advertised. Its great for knowing exactly where you are on the course as well as situational awareness of fairway boundaries and obstacles. My game continues to improve as I depend my Sky Caddie... Wish I had bought it sooner!

I've been using the sky caddie for a year now. I have to say that while it works when the course is mapped professionally (only), its really a poor product for the following reasons.

A) It uses a non standard USB cable. Designed to fleece you to have to buy the cable from them if you lose it. Such behavior is really bad, its deliberately forcing the consumer to the product vendor for supplies, instead of allowing competition. Its like kidnapping.

B) it requires an annual plan to get the courses. Once again this should not be the case. Charge for a course or whatever, I don't mind. But once I have it don't make me pay for it over and over again.

I cannot recommend this product and I urge consumers to vote with your dollars and buy the non binding options now available on the market. I am going to sell mine on ebay. This applies to all sky caddies not just this model.

I got this POS for Christmas because I was excited by the ad, the concept, and Natalie Gulbis. It' a neat idea and I love gadgets. Upon removing it from the box it looks and feels cheap, like a happy meal toy cell phone. Cheap plastic and a poor LCD screen. If that were it, I could live with it, but I can not get this thing to connect to the website to down load the necessary software. I have been trying all day, from different computers, and still nothing. I call the support number, sit on hold for about fifteen minutes and then it just hangs up on you. This is a fairly expensive toy. You would think SkyGolf would spens a little less money on advertising and a little more on R& D. This thing is junk. Stick with a Bushnell 1500 PinSeeker instead. Traditional rangefinder, but it works great. Nothing to crash, no support needed, and IT WORKS!!! I am sending this expensive piece of junk back first t hing tomorrow. The sad thing is, SkyGolf is destroying its image and reputation. If they had put a little more effort into their development, and actually had someone there to answer the phones, this could have been a really nead golf tool that people wouldn't mind paying for. The annual $20 membership fee is no problem, if it works. Right now, I wouldn't pay $20 for the unit its self, let alone the membership. Don't waste your money on this... well, I was going to call it an expensive paper weight, but it wouldn't even work for that... it weighs about as much as a sheet of card stock.