Going analog on the course — anyone else?

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By PinPath G

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  • 18 Replies
  1. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Lately I've noticed I don't want a phone or smartwatch tracking my rounds anymore. Golf has become one of the few times I can get away from screens, and I'd rather spend those four hours actually enjoying the game than checking a device between shots. These days I go fully analog, or at most bring a rangefinder.

    To be honest, I rarely used the tracked data anyway. When I play a course I have already played before, I never look back at which club I hit on a specific hole in the past I played (it is not easy to go through the app and look it up during the round), nor do I dig into the stats afterwards (as I don't enjoy being on my phone), so the tracking was mostly adding distraction without giving me anything useful or any joy.

    I'm curious what everyone else does. Do you use a GPS watch, an app, a rangefinder, or nothing at all? And how do you feel about it? Do you find the data helps your game (if so, how?), or do you also enjoy leaving the tech behind? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

    Thank you in advance!

  2. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military
    SkyCaddie, great for courses never played and Bushnell rangefinder.. It'd be hard for me to play without a rangefinder, knowledge is power.
  3. John B

    John B
    North Carolina

    I use a range finder and a GPS watch. I like the way the watch records my yardages and in the evening after a round I will look over individual holes to see such factoids as my driver distances, how far I hit particular clubs, how I played there hole, etc. This is especially useful when I’m trying different clubs and balls and provides real time information I can’t get by hitting balls at the range. Especially when I play by myself and hit different clubs from particular locations on a hole. In general, I think it adds more comprehensive enjoyment to my game. I also think it makes me a better, or at least more informed golfer. I played golf for 40+ years looking for 150 markers and sprinkler heads to guess distances. A range finder has made this endeavor pleasantly unnecessary To each his own though.
  4. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Thanks for your view, John. What you say makes total sense. We all have different experiences with our game.

    It was just recently that using my phone for tracking purposes and getting distances during the round started feeling off. I started feeling like I don't enjoy the round as much. I want to be outside, enjoying nature and not having a digital screen out every two minutes.

    I know it is not that bad, but it is what I started feeling recently.

    Just wanted to know if there were more people like me, that have gone back to playing the "old school" way.
  5. John B

    John B
    North Carolina

    Never felt like I left the “old way” of playing. Just utilizing simpler ways to get yardages than pacing off distances from a sprinkler head. The watch stores my data. Never look at the phone until after I’ve gotten home where I peruse distances from specific clubs where I remember the shots.
  6. Chuck Zirkle

    Chuck Zirkle
    Mt Pleasant, SC via Rocky Top Tennessee

    Military
    I trust my Bushnell rangefinder, then add twenty to thirty yards. That's how much I have lost since my surgery. Then hit the club I did before the surgery. Has been working rather well. Taken a while to adjust to this change, but am shooting some decent scores. Since turning 80 on the tenth of September, have moved up to the red tees. Hakuna matata. Time, age, and health have justified the move.
  7. Charles W

    Charles W

    Military
    The only thing with a battery that I use is a range finder. Phone on silent and stuffed in bag while golf shoes are on.
  8. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    This is the direction I want to move towards now. Exactly this.

    Do you take any notes for post-round review and so on?

    I have such a bad memory that I need to do so. I feel if I don't do this, I struggle to learn from my rounds (good and bad decisions, strategy, etc)...
  9. LBCgolfplayer

    LBCgolfplayer
    The LBC

    I use my garmin watch for yardage only, phone has grateful dead playing softly. But for the most part, I am aligned with you. Give me four hours away from the phone and emails and teams.
  10. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Exactly, time away from the phone is also crucial for me.

    Do you use any tracking functions so that you can take a look at the round stats afterwards? Or do you also take notes on the scorecard or something like that?
  11. Brad M

    Brad M

    Have to disagree. I have the Garmin S70 watch and I love it. The screen is amazing. Shows me the contours on the green, tracks my distance when I want it to, and recommends my club(although I usually disagree.) If you don't know how far you hit your 7 iron, then it doesn't matter if if you are 150 yards out, or 120. Don't blame the equipment. But you do you.
    A good analogy would be around my house we have Mennonite farmers who use horse drawn equipment when there are tractors available. Personal preference, but for me I want to be the best I can be, and my watch helps.
  12. SDawson

    SDawson

    Have agree with PinPath I put the phone away. Anytime without that thing is heaven. If it’s a new course I’m playing I will use my Bushnell Rangefinder.
  13. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Thanks for your reply! Glad to see I am not the only one looking for some "digital break" and screen-free time while playing golf.
    Do you keep track of any stats or info on your scorecard for post-round analysis? If so, what do you include in there?
    I normally track FIR, GIR, putts, penalties and sometimes even take notes of the club I used on some shots so I can remember it afterwards (I have the worst memory you can imagine...).
  14. Chuck Zirkle

    Chuck Zirkle
    Mt Pleasant, SC via Rocky Top Tennessee

    Military
    Most newer courses have GPS on their carts and are really great. Flag position and you can find distances to anywhere on the course with your finger. We have them at our local muni.
  15. EUlrich

    EUlrich

    Anytime I play I will use a yardage book! If I'm playing in an event, I will get one from Strakaline, if it's just casual, I print them off using my Shot Pattern account! Using books make the rounds much more enjoyable for me at least.
  16. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    That is great!
    Do you mark down your shots on the yardage book? Do you track any other stats for post-round analysis on your scorecard or yardage book?
  17. DStover

    DStover
    Smithfield, NC

    Awesome going analog!
    I use the Bushnell phantom 3 for the yardage and a range finder to look at a specific spot or hazard. Remember those days looking for markers,
  18. John B

    John B
    North Carolina

    My Garmin watch keeps track of my yardage pretty well since I don’t enter the specific clubs or write it down I have to remember what club I hit on which holes. Always enjoy a little post round review and reflection, at a very rudimentary level.
  19. Tyler G

    Tyler G

    I am totally with you when it comes to using the golf course as a way to disconnect. I picked up a Vortex Anarch rangefinder earlier this year and love it! I have historically been a Golfshot GPS app user on my phone and will use it periodically if I am working on something on the course. Otherwise, I am all for just keeping it simple and using the rangefinder especially if it means I am not looking for my phone if it happens to fall out of the cart.

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