I purchased an SG 3 and like it very much. It has a relatively large viewing window that can be backlit when desired. I purchased the Skycaddie because of the number of professionally mapped courses on their website. I would like to be able to program course features like bunkers, etc. but that information only seems available on their professionally mapped courses. At least one of their competitors alows you to input that data on any course. Like one of the others who reviewed this product, I could not get the unit to sync with the website through my computer. I wasted an hour and a half trying and came very close to returning the unit. Customer service is not available in the evening and I did not receive a reply to my email to their website. However, I did figure out how to get around the problem that I encountered. When in the registration box, input aaaaa, bbbbb or other meaningless information. It will then bring up a form to edit your informtion. Make the changes at that time and you should be on your way. You will have to enter a valid email address and possibly one other bit of information; the reply will inform you. I would also like to see a less expensive cart mount. Seventy dollars is expensive. A carry case for the handheld and the mount would be nice. One person who rated the product did not like the fact that skygolf charges an annual fee. They do make it known up front that they charge an annual fee. At least one competitor does not charge for this service. Skycaddie had all of the courses that I play in their system. I think that a flat rate of $25 per year would be a fair price to cover all of their courses world wide. Instead, owners must choose from a few different pricing options. I would think that the inceasing competition in this market will eventually force them to reduce the cost of their annual fee options. I also did not appreciate having to purchase an extended warranty in order to have the unit covered the first full year. The company should be willing to stand behind their product. If you are considering purchasing a GPS for golf, I suggest visiting the company websites to see if your courses are in their system and to understand their pricing policies.

I was so happy to get my Sky Caddie for Mother's Day this year. Due to travel plans and family plans, I only recently got a chance to use it on our course. I loved using it for the f1rst nine holes...just about at the 11th hole, it reads 'low battery'. I change the batteries at 14 and finish to 18. Two days later, I think there is some power in the new batteries but by the 5th hole, it poops out on me again. It is truly a total waste when you have to stop every 9 or so holes and replace the batteries. A totally worthless product. Now I don't know what todo. It is an expensive tool and very costly to use, not to mention inconvenient.

I purchased the SkyCaddie SG3 for a Christmas gift December 2006. In order to use this product it has to be registered and you have to use the proprietary 'SkyCaddie Desktop'. It was a nightmare from the beginning. The website had just been updated and was not operating correctly (what fool updates a mandatory interface just before the biggest selling season of the year?)There were no phone numbers on the website requiring that all support questions be submitted via email.
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br /We finally did find a phone number and spent hours on hold and talking to the support person trying to get the thing to work. Well, we managed that and things went well until we needed to add a golf course. A slightly better experience but still not a simple transaction as is claimed by the company.
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br /Well, now it is time to renew the membership and once again there are recently updated drivers created for this device. We spent over 49 minutes on the phone with tech support trying to find out why the gadget is not being recognized by the computer. He couldn't solve it so said that he would transfer me to 'Advanced tech support". He hung up.
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br /I called back and spent another 20 minutes waiting to talk to someone who said that the unit must be bad. Now we have to pay for service on the thing. We are ready to throw this thing away. Unfortunately, I paid over $300 for it so we cannot afford to do that.
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br /The maker of this system seems paranoid about protecting their product. It isn't enough to get $329 for the unit. They charge an annual fee on top of a myriad of other charges for what I feel should be included at this price. I have read reviews on other devices that do not require the frequent unit programming (such as the annual subscription fee and costs for courses outside of your area, and extra courses if you travel a lot etc).
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br /Save yourself the hassle and money - look elsewhere.
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I have had the SG3 for 5 months now and generally are very pleased with it. I have not had a single interface issue and have used it on 3 different PC's. I've downloaded about 25 different courses in 5 states and all have worked well.
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br /I have noticed that the accuracy is not alawys very good. I played yesterday and it was 10 yards different from my partner's skycaddie 2 on one tee box. I walked to a yardage marker and paced it off - mine had changed 8 yards and now was about accurate.
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br /Overall, it has been helpful and is accurate abot 90% of the time. As long as you validate the info (even grossly by seeing where you are in relation to 150 and 100 yard markers) you'll be ok.
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br /The recharable batteries work great, I swap two pairs and I get 36 holes per pair before I need a recharge. When it says low battery, i hit the ok button and keep going.
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br /I also think Skhawke has far and away the most courses.

I bought Skycaddie about one and half year ago and I was very excited. The working product really is a great help for your game. The additional cost of the service did not worry me as I would expect SkyGolf to generate revenue somehow and after all the memebership costs only fraction of what a good game of golf cost you.
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br /However I am really, really pissed off with the execution of the whole thing.
br /The software reminds me something hacker would write in his garage shack. It is pain to use (download takes ages, it freezes your PC screen, it has primitive user interface).
br /The hardware itself is bulky and designed without any considerations for golfing use. It is nearly impossible to use while walking and limited use on the carts.
br /Most of all, the product is unreliable. I had mine 15 months when the unit decided that it will not capture satelites at all (to become an useless $300 pieace of s***t). I found that my friend's unit lasted even less (about 9 months). I think that SkyGolf knows it, that is why they give you only 3 months hardware warranty.
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br /Bottom line is, the product may sound attractive but I am going to spend my money elsewhere next time.
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I added my membership and after my initial course download I tried to add more courses. My account login wouldn't work and I didn't exist. Requests for a new password did nothing. I contacted the company via e-mail form on web site (no phone number available). No response.
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br /I got to play a season end 2 round TOC without it, which is why I bought the darn thing.
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br /BTW, two AAs only last 2 rounds at most.
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I have to say; this was one of my best purchases I've made in recent, but short lived internet-buying history. Sky Golf claims their ease of use and quick downloads - well, they were right! This great tool makes golf a little more fun to play, plus you have yardages at your disposal. The SkyCaddie is very easy to use, from finding how far to trouble, finding lay-up yardages and of course, yards to the green (front, middle and back yardages). The battery life seems very good. I've played three rounds so far and I still have about half of my power left. I'm planning to buy rechargeable ones to cut cost on batteries. I would give it 5-stars, but I don't know how durable it is, but only time can tell. For now, I'm glad to own one.

This item gives distances to the pin and notes all hazards on the way. It works well when walking because the GPS needs sky exposure. In the golf cart one must hold it away from the roof cover.
br / The other unexpected hazard was not your fault, but it would have been nice if you would tell your customers that after purchase there is a charge by the sky caddie co. of a minimum of $29.00 to let the unit operate on any golf course. There is also the need for computer skills to get the unit operational. A learning curve which I still have not passed the test on will take a few rounds to get skilled in. L. Steinberg

Indespensible when it works, which mine did for about 10 months. It stopped connecting up with my computer, so I tried it on two other computers. Same thing. Customer service said to try a new cable [$29.99]. I did. Still no luck. Their answer? Something must be wrong with it, and I should buy another one. Thanks a lot, SkyGolf.

I love the product, but wish it would locate your yardage a little faster. Since I already owned rechargable AA batteries, I bought the SG3 instead of the SG4. In retrospect, I wish I had ordered the SG4.
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br /The instructions for connecting the programming cable are not very clear.
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br /For the most part the initial setup of the unit was relative easy.
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br /I would buy it again.

I am really getting better at golf - and I thought the Sky Caddie would help me get even better. Took it home - and couldn't get the unit to communicate with my computer. Called technical support - and it turns out there is a known problem with this Sky Caddie communicating with certain computers - including my IBM Thinkpad. There is no fix or workaround. The SG3 model is supposed to be ideal for the golfer who travels. Of golfers who travel - how many do you suppose travel with IBM Thinkpads? It is not exactly a "Brand X" laptop. I am very disappointed - and will be returning the Sky Caddie.

This is a great product easy to use an simple to set up I wish that I had gotten one sooner. I would recommend this to any golfer, it really it takes the guess work on what club to use.

This is a great tool to help your game along. It especially is usefull for avoiding the hazards on the course. I love mine and all my friends and family love theirs too. I just chose the SG3 because I can always throw a couple spare batteries in my bag and never have to worry about charging it like with the SG4.

I have had the device for 1 year now. It works very well. BUT - in order to continue using it for years 2 thru x, you must fork over $30 each year to Skygolf. This for a device that you already paid full price for :-(.
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br /This is like having to purchase your cable TV box then paying TimeWarner another $60 each month to use it. Without the service, the device is worthless.
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br /Most of us do not need constant computer download updates of golf course information in order to be perfectly satisfied with our SkyCaddie. Too bad SkyGolf is not satisfied with the $300 we alread paid them.
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