OnPar's touchscreen GPS rangefinder could almost be a phone

If uPlay's uPro was the "iPhone of golf GPS technology," what then would you call this? Savant GPS has just come clean with what's likely to be the most sophisticated GPS rangefinder to date. The simply-titled OnPar measures in at 4.17- x 2.8- x 0.63-inches and features full touchscreen (3.5-inch) operation. It's also claiming to be the planet's first "GPS rangefinder with a dynamic hole layout display and GPS positioning that provides instant distances to anywhere and remaining distance to the green, personalized club averages, and simple score and shot tracking." The unit is designed to hold up to 300 golf courses with no membership fees or course map fees, and it'll be available for the taking (er, purchasing, we should say) early next month for an undisclosed price.

[Thanks, Scoopster]

[NoAndThen @ Jan 29th 2009 9:41AM]

See, I knew the iPhone nano would have turn by turn directions!

Oh wait.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 29th 2009 10:58AM]

Apple has succeeded in implanting the thought into people's minds that any rectangular, chrome bordered device with a black background and colorful square icons is automaticaly an iPhone.

[webmaster @ Jan 29th 2009 9:42AM]

Do they have iphone apps that do this??
They should.

[Mark @ Jan 29th 2009 9:53AM]

The question is, does it actually work. I've had two golf gps devices (a GolfLogix and a SkyCaddie) and both would freeze up halfway through a round and quit working, even after a reset.

[wagon @ Jan 29th 2009 10:04AM]

the question is, mark, how bad are you at golf that you actually need one of these things, and lament the fact that it breaks down mid-round...

try using your eyes.

[Mark @ Jan 29th 2009 1:05PM]

Actually I'm so bad at golf that these things don't even help, I'm just a gadget junkie. I do expect products to work though.

[Mark @ Jan 29th 2009 3:56PM]

The question is, wagon, why are you commenting on something you obviously know nothing about? All the pros use detailed yardage books so they always know the exact yardage they have to hit. This device is just an electronic yardage book.

Try using your manners.

[Agent .25i @ Jan 29th 2009 10:19AM]

I wonder if Tiger uses one of these... doubt it. Too much tech in the links, to me, takes away the essence of the game.

[GeneMack @ Jan 29th 2009 10:37AM]

No, Tiger doesn't use one of these - but you can bet your paycheck Steve Williams does!

For all those that think "tech is ruining golf" and this is ruining the game, what is the difference between using a GPS to get your yardages, or paying a good caddy to walk off those distances for you?

[hansendan @ Jan 29th 2009 5:50PM]

Tiger doesn't use one because rangefinders aren't legal on the PGA tour. If they were legal I'd wager he and all other pros would use them. For amateur USGA tournaments where people generally don't have caddies, rangefinders (laser or GPS) are usually legal and encouraged for faster play.

I tend to agree about "too much tech in golf" but you can't really stop it. Back in the day they had no yardage markers at all on golf courses, and you did have to "use your eyes" as wagon so eloquently suggested. Nowadays courses have various forms of markers to indicate distance to the center of the green, so rangefinders aren't really that much of an advantage anyway.

[Dude @ Jan 29th 2009 10:24AM]

You know. Apple wasn't the first company to make a black phone with a silver ring around it.

Just say'n

[themovielife @ Mar 23rd 2009 9:28AM]

Apple also wasn't the first to come up with fingertip sized icons on a touchscreen.

[Nick @ Jan 29th 2009 10:30AM]

Probably could've saved themselves a lot of money by just making this an iPhone app...

[Steve @ Jan 29th 2009 11:55AM]

But you need a more accurate GPS than the iPhone has. Most portable GPS devices have better GPS chips than the phone.

[tinyj316 @ Jan 29th 2009 12:36PM]

"Hello, OnPar, this is Apple's legal department calling... We've decided that your product infringes on a number of patents, so we're seeking an injunction to keep this device from market."

[indigo_theatre @ Jan 29th 2009 1:57PM]

"Oh hello Apple. I just got off the phone with Palm's legal department. I guess this is it, huh?"