Going analog on the course — anyone else?

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By PinPath G

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  • 26 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 data anyway. Whenever I play a course for the second or third time, I never look back at which club I hit on a hole last time (it is not easy to go through the app and look it up during the round), nor do I dig into the stats afterwards (because I don’t really get any actual value and I don't enjoy having to look it up 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. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    I have a handle on what to use (assuming I hit the way I expect). GPS watches and some smartphone apps too often don’t include updates after course revisions. I’ll use the GPS watch if I know the course hasn’t had an update. That’s just for relative distances. Looking for sprinkler heads for distances is too distracting. Inside of 150 yards I’ll rely on a rangefinder.
    I will usually notate a scorecard fairways hit and # of putts. I don’t track them afterwards. Just a reminder of how that day went.
    I have tried tracking apps. Too much time adjusting. One club may be suggested because the app doesn’t see tree limbs in front of me. I agree I don’t need to spend tracking stats if it occupies too much of my attention.
  3. Guy W

    Guy W
    Statesville, NC

    I pretty much agree with everything you just said there Don. Mostly range finder and GPS if I'm not familiar with the course. Just keep FW hit, GIR, chips/bunker and putts so I know where I went sideways.
  4. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Thanks Guy!

    Do you also keep track of those stats (FIR, GIR, putts, etc) by taking notes on the scorecard? If so, doesn't it get too crowded?

    When I play in a group, I normally use one scorecard just for myself to take all these notes. I also enjoy looking at them afterwards. It's like reading a book. It doesn't feel the same to read it in physical format, than to use an ebook.
  5. Guy W

    Guy W
    Statesville, NC

    No notes usually. I replay the round in my head and think about what I did right and where I should have tried something different. I may make a note of where my ball was on certain shots so I can better remember exactly why I did what I did.
  6. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Don O said:

    I have a handle on what to use (assuming I hit the way I expect). GPS watches and some smartphone apps too often don’t include updates after course revisions. I’ll use the GPS watch if I know the course hasn’t had an update. That’s just for relative distances. Looking for sprinkler heads for distances is too distracting. Inside of 150 yards I’ll rely on a rangefinder.
    I will usually notate a scorecard fairways hit and # of putts. I don’t track them afterwards. Just a reminder of how that day went.
    I have tried tracking apps. Too much time adjusting. One club may be suggested because the app doesn’t see tree limbs in front of me. I agree I don’t need to spend tracking stats if it occupies too much of my attention.

    I completely understand your experience with the adjusting issues and out of date courses. As I said, my main issue with it is mainly that my level of enjoyment during the round is way lower if I keep on checking my phone or watch and adjusting everything on them. I much rather just use a rangefinder when needed.

    I also take notes on the scorecard of some relevant stats (FIR, GIR, number of putts, penalties, ...) exactly for the same reason as you do, just to understand the round after I finish. Most of the times my scorecards end up looking like a crazy person's notebook, hahahaha.
  7. DK

    DK
    Northeastern, PA

    Personally I use a Garmin GPS watch for all my data and distances. I would never go back to anything else. I always felt that rangefinders take too long and slow down play, and phones are even worse. Having the watch right there gives me the distance I need. We're not that good that we need to be within 10 feet...give me within 5 yards and I'm thrilled! That data is there for you to use. It really helps with fairways hit, greens in regulation, and number of putts per round. Take it for what you want as this is just one opinion.
  8. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Thanks DK!

    I totally get what you mean.

    It's just that I recently started wanting to do some "screen detox", and what a better moment to do it than while playing golf.

    And after trying it, I felt more joy playing.

    Just my personal experience that I wanted to share and get other opinions about it.
  9. WKilloran

    WKilloran

    I use my range finder for total distance, and Bushnell GPS just to confirm front, middle or back.
  10. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    I’d put this question in the category of personal choice, no right or wrong answers. I would fall into that category of “old school” golfers who would be happy just seeing sprinkler head measurements to the center of the greens and just play the round. I mostly use a GPS device as we do not have sprinkler markers on our courses. I like the skill of just knowing yardage to the center of the greens and then calculating slope, wind, risk, into each shot as a quick mental calculation. I find it to be just as important a skill as the actual swing in determining results. Most importantly, I do it quickly. I also do not need a log for post round analysis. At least not yet, until the “old man” dementia sets in. I can sit down and run each hole through my mind and know where my weakness were on that particular round.
  11. Barry M

    Barry M
    Reno, NV

    I don't like seeing phones on the course. They are intrusive and slow down the pace of play. There's always that one clown who has some excuse for keeping his phone neaby with the most obnoxious ring tone tuned up to max volume.
    As for golf apps, they also slow down the game. Wouldn't be bad if they just gave you the yardage, but now they all have "added features" that should be marked "added time" and it drives me nuts playing with someone who has to check tha app for distance and club advice.
    Nothing wrong with carrying a portable GPS unit, as most courses no longer mark the sprinkler heads or use fairway yardage markers. They will usually speed up the pace of play. Same with a basic range finder. Push a button, get the yardage, and make the shot. Use your head and figure out if you need to adjust for slope or front to back distance. Most of us will be lucky to get within 10 yards of the target anyways.
  12. Erich F

    Erich F
    NY

    I just use the GHIN app to get distances, but I do enter my scores hole by hole. This gives a good snapshot of number of putts, GIR and Up and Downs. Lately it seems music on the course has become almost ubiquitous on the public courses I play. I don't like it, but I am trying to accept it rather than letting it affect my play.
  13. David T

    David T
    Orlando, FL

    My phone stays in my bag. I use a Garmin GPS and a range finder, but mainly the GPS because I can "move" the flag around on my GPS where I believe the flag to be to help with yardages. I do not like using my phone on the course because it can be too distracting with all of the other apps that are on it. Emails and phone calls can wait a few hours.
  14. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Exactly! Does your GPS track your shots and stats?
  15. pulplvr

    pulplvr
    Spring, TX

    Military
    I have been doing personal stats for a long time, since before GPS devices or smart phones/watches. I do that on my personal scorecard, as a reminder of a) how I played that day; b) what I did well; and c) what I had issues with, i.e., need to work on. I always relied on my known yardage averages and the course markings (150/200 markers, then sprinkler heads). Now, I play more different courses, so I've gone full-time to a phone app (GolfLogix) augmented by a rangefinder. From time to time, I review the accrued stats to note what I need to work on. I do not, though, let keeping stats on my phone either delay my keeping the pace or interfere with my enjoyment of the day.
  16. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    I see.... So it seems you are the opposite. Went from analog to digital. I know it has a lot of benefits, but I am just looking for total disconnection.
    Thanks for sharing!
  17. Tom P

    Tom P
    Stanley, NC

    I use a rangefinder that fits in the palm of my hand. It gives me yardage, with or without slope, to the middle of the green plus front and back. That is all I need. 71 years old, 9.5 index. Grew up using only 150 yard bushes on each side of fairway and sometimes info on sprinkler heads.
    I do not track any stats other than double bogeys if there seems to be a trend on certain holes.
  18. Alistair M

    Alistair M
    New Zealand 🇳🇿

    PinPath G
    Great question and post. I got away from using digital stuff as well on the course. I still use the GHIN app to track my handicap index, but I just use a course book and I walk out my distances and make notes along the way. Most of the time I don’t even bring a rangefinder. It has really helped me, in my personal opinion, reconnect with the mathematical challenges of the game and has allowed me to focus more on things like nature around me and the beautiful views and the overall feel of how I’m playing. I walk with a push card and most of the time do not even have music playing. I am quite new to golf, only five years in, but I do enjoy a good walk and especially when it is somewhere scenic around my home in New Zealand.
    Cheers.
  19. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    That is great! This is exactly what I mean! Total digital disconnection!
    Do you keep track of additional stats on your scorecard for post-round analysis or something like that? If so, how do you do it?
    Thanks for sharing!
  20. Philip S

    Philip S

    Military
    I recently decided to reduce the use of my electronic devices on the course. I found myself so wrapped up in the data, tracking shots, and looking at the screen to plan my next shot I felt it took me out of the game. Finally got my first round in this last weekend with a new rangefinder and keeping score with my GHIN app keeping the minimal information. Rangefinder only came out when I felt I needed it, this was the most enjoyable round I have had in quite some time. And the new GTS4 driver hitting 11/13 fairways with only one unplayable due to me getting under it and sending the ball to live in the desert helped I am sure!
  21. PinPath G

    PinPath G

    Nice!
    I feel the same. I enjoy my rounds way more now!
  22. Chris P

    Chris P

    Great idea, really in the zone that way! Glad to hear the new driver is splitting fairways
  23. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military
    Range finder and a pencil for my scorecard.
  24. J22abe

    J22abe
    Texas

    My phone goes in the golf bag with my keys.
    I use a range finder. I don't trust GPS, watch, cart, whatever... I've been burned too many times by it.
  25. Jim A

    Jim A

    The only data I use is from my GIHN app.
    I use my rangefinder on every course, even the course I regularly play.
    I, like you, want peace on the course!

    Jim
  26. Mark C

    Mark C
    Ottawa KS

    Military
    I use a golf gps but only for getting the distance my shot went so I can have good information for how far each club goes. I do use a rangefinder
  27. Christopher T

    Christopher T

    I have Arccos and find the insights it gives me useful. However every round I play I use a pencil and a scorecard to record score, fairways, GIR and putts. That tells me pretty much everything I need to know. I do agree gauging distance used to be a skill, gauging elevation and elements used to be a skill. Now just point a laser with slope and you all set. Modern tools may have changed the game a bit but they work so I use them.

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