How a Golf GPS Unit Can Help You On The Course

A golfer's most challenging aspect of the game is judging the distances of various parts of the golf course. In addition to the importance of knowing how far you are from the hole, it is also important to know the distances of different parts of a fairway are as well as managing your game effectively. A golf GPS unit can give you an advantage in in this regard.

For instance, if you are standing in the middle of a fairway, you may see a marker that tells you you are 150 yards to the middle of the green. However, if there is a water hazard in front of the green, it will help to know how far you have to hit the ball to at least clear the lake or how far it is to the front of the lake to keep your ball from getting wet. With a gold GPS unit that contains that particular course information you are able to better determine which club to use under which circumstance.

Naturally, a golf GPS unit will only be of use if a golfer is any good at the game. Knowing you are standing 136.2 yards from the center of the green will not help you hit the ball straight or keep it from flying into the water or sand trap on either side of the green. However, a golf GPS unit can help you find out how far into the woods your ball penetrated.

Practically Any Golf Course You Can Imagine Is at Your Fingertips

The majority of the time, you can hook your golf GPS unit into your computer and by signing up with a service you can download just about every golf course in the country, making available to you as many golf course maps as your golf GPS system will hold at any one time. So when you are on the course playing one of your games, you can take out your golf GPS unit and have all the information about the course you are on available to you in an instant.

Maybe you are on the green that has a hard dogleg, and your hoping not to over drive the corner and make it more difficult to hit next shot towards the green. By using your golf GPS unit, you will be able to closely estimate which club to use off the tee to get your ball to the middle of the fairway or to either side, which will give you the best possible vantage point for your next stroke.

Instead of having a professional golfers walk the course before a professional match begins, making calculations and notes on numerous distances for them to use during a match, many professional golfers have begun to take advantage of the information provided from their golf GPS unit to stay on top of their position.

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How To Decide Which Type Of GPS System You Need

I think by now just about everyone knows about GPS devices. Lots of people are using the technology today that once relegated to pocket protector geeks with black frame glasses. I know those of us who fish offshore would never leave home without it now, I don't know how we ever did without it. If you are still lacking a little in the knowledge of GPS and how the system works here are a few hints to get you started.

If you haven't ever used a GPS, a simple explanation is that it is like a live animation map that moves as you move. If you are looking for a specific location the GPS can take you there, if you don't know where you are the GPS can tell you. It is a super cool tool to have.

The GPS tracking technology has come a long way with GPS devices available today that actually speak to you. These gadgets will now tell you when to turn, how far ahead your destination is, and even how far to the nearest gas station.

So how do you decide which specific device you need out of all the GPS systems on the market? First, you can break all of the devices into four main categories which are: automobile navigation, marine navigation, outdoors, and the newer PDA-GPS hybrids like those available from Palm now.

The automotive systems are primarily used by people who travel for a living or use their vehicles in outside sales. There are many manufacturers now offering the option of having the units built into the vehicle and it has become a very popular option. These devices like their aftermarket counterparts are normally mounted to the dashboard in easy view for the driver. Some of the more desirable features to have are the detailed built in maps, voice guided directions and the points of interest database which will call attention to things like restaurants and service stations.

The handheld portable units are a great choice if you want flexibility and the option of using the unit outside of the car. For people who like hiking or hunting these are great. You should look for one that is waterproof with a color screen and a batter that will last for a long duration. Also look for programmable mapping features. You will want to be able to upload maps of rural areas you may be going to, or if using it near shore, you will want marine maps.

As I alluded to earlier, I am an avid offshore fisherman and wouldn't even consider fishing offshore now without a GPS. If you are fishing in tournaments you can't even begin to compete without one. These systems are very durable and since they are designed for marine conditions, they are waterproof. They will offer such features as chart plotting in full color, sonar, programmable maps, and even fishing hot spots.

The newer hybrid system now available offers a blend of the GPS technology with a PDA. These are relatively new and only a handful of companies are offering them. The one that I am most familiar with is the Palm Treo.

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GPS Maps - How Important Are They?

Many people have heard about a GPS map but not many people realize what they are or how they work. Most of the time, only people who have traveled extensively such as pilots, navigators, sailors and similar people would be most acquainted with GPS maps because this kind of new technology is very essential in regards to charter courses when you travel.

However, the military, researchers and various other people who would have the need or desire to be aware of their exact locations at any given time are also utilizing this kind of technology. On the other hand, for the majority of ordinary people who would not want or need to know about any systems or maps that could let them know exactly where they are at any given point in time, GPS maps are not as well known.

Exactly what is a GPS Map?

GPS is an acronym that stands for Global Positioning System, this system is a global radio navigation system that is comprised from the interaction of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth, along with their corresponding ground stations. In the distant past, navigators and sailors would depend on the stars to point them on their way to their destinations. Fast forward to the present, through the use of modern technology of a GPS map, travelers such as sailors, pilots and those who travel by land no longer have to use the stars to guide them.

A GPS positioning system utilizes the orbiting satellites as reference points in determining the distance from one point to another and to find certain objects on the planet. With the use of satellite data, it would be fairly easy to calculate the distance of a certain place to another place.

The technology has become so advanced and precise that it can calculate your position exactly down to the centimeter. For instance, if you are using a GPS device to find a certain area anywhere on the globe, it can pinpoint precisely where that area is and what the distances is from where you are standing. The exact nature of the technology within GPS systems is such that when we refer to a GPS map, we can rest assured that the information we can find within these GPS maps are easy to follow and accurate.

Everyday uses for GPS Maps

The GPS map has too many uses in our current society. For one, the police department can help fight crime by using a GPS map; by installing a GPS vehicle navigation system in police cars, the police officer can easily respond to alerts in the city. GPS maps give police and other government services the ability to find a way around the city just as if they know every corner and every street by memory alone.

Because the technology has progressed to the point where it can find a location down to just a few feet it has been utilized extensively by the military as well. When you see the documentaries on TV showing a "smart bomb" strike a target with pinpoint accuracy what you are seeing is GPS technology in action. What they do is incorporate an on board GPS navigation system into the missile to guide it to its target.

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