How We Test: Cost/Value
Golf GPS devices range in cost from $99 to nearly $500, and a number of manufacturers charge additional fees on top of the initial device cost to add courses to the device. There is a smorgasbord of different pricing models, ranging from a one-time membership fee to annual fees to a “per course” fee for each golf course added to the device. Our testers looked at both the retail price for the device as well as the total cost of ownership over a three-year period.
Three Year Total Cost of Ownership
To provide a real-world example of the overall costs of owning a golf GPS device, we looked at the total costs over a three-year period.
Our Three-Year Cost of Ownership assumed an average player who:
- plays eight different courses in the first year of owning the device,
- plays four new courses in the second year,
- plays four more new courses in the third year,
- plays within two different states only, and
- does not venture outside of the United States to play.
Finally, if the GPS device has different annual membership packages or per course fees, we assume that the three-year cost is based upon either the player selecting the least expensive package in the first year and continuing to renew at that same level, or on bulk course purchases if there a discounted rate.
Table 1. Golf GPS Device Costs of Ownership
| Golf GPS Device | Retail Cost | Year 1 Fees | Year 2 Fees | Year 3 Fees | Three-year Total Cost of Ownership |
Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IZZO SWAMI | $99.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $129.96 | 90 days |
| Bushnell Neo | $149.99 | $34.99 | $34.99 | $34.99 | $254.96 | 1 year |
| Callaway uPro Go | $229.00 | $49.99 | $0 | $0 | $278.99 | 6 months |
| GolfBuddy Tour | $289.99 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $289.99 | 90 days |
| Callaway uPro | $279.00 | $60.00 | $0 | $10.00 | $349.00 | 6 months |
| Garmin Approach G3 | $349.99 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $349.99 | 1 year |
| Sonocaddie V300 | $349.00 | $29.95 | $0 | $0 | $378.95 | 90 days |
| GolfLogix GPS-8 | $299.95 | $29.95 | $29.95 | $29.95 | $389.80 | 1 year |
| GolfBuddy World Platinum | $399.99 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $399.99 | 90 days |
| OnPar Touchscreen | $399.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $399.00 | 180 days |
| Golf Guru Color Guru | $399.95 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $399.95 | 1 year |
| SkyCaddie SG5 | $299.95 | $39.95 | $39.95 | $39.95 | $419.80 | 90 days |
| Sonocaddie V500 | $399.00 | $29.95 | $0 | $0 | $428.95 | 1 year |
| Garmin Approach G5 | $449.99 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $449.99 | 1 year |
| Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC | $349.99 | $34.99 | $34.99 | $34.99 | $454.96 | 1 year |
| Golf Guru 4 | $399.95 | $70 | $40 | $0 | $509.95 | 1 year |
| SkyCaddie SGX | $399.95 | $39.95 | $39.95 | $39.95 | $519.80 | 90 days |
Readers should verify warranty coverage with the manufacturer or reseller of the product before purchase.
Bushnell Neo and Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC. $34.99/year annual fee (via iGolf) for unlimited access to the course database.
Callaway uPro. Assumes one-time purchase of Scoring Plus module ($20) in Year 1. Users pay a per course fee for each Pro Mode course downloaded. The base price per Pro Mode course is $10, but Callaway provides bulk discounts ranging from $8/course if the user buys a pack of 5 courses down to $1.20/course if the user buys a pack of 150 courses. Basic Mode course downloads are actually available for free, and provide course detail on par with most of the non-premium devices.
Callaway uPro Go. Assumes one-time purchase of GoMode in Year 1. No additional annual or per course fees.
Garmin Approach G3 and Garmin Approach G5. No annual or per course fees.
Golf Guru 4. No annual fees. 2 AerVu credits included with purchase ( 2 AerVu credits = 1 course). Additional courses available at rates of 10- AerVu credits for $40.00, or 20 AerVu credits for $70.00.
Golf Guru Color Guru. No annual or per course fees.
GolfBuddy Tour and GolfBuddy World Platinum. No annual or per course fees.
GolfLogix GPS-8. $29.95/year annual fee for unlimited access to the course database (one free course download is provided with the purchase of the device).
IZZO SWAMI. $9.99/year annual fee for unlimited access to the course database.
OnPar Touchscreen GPS. No annual or per course fees.
SkyCaddie SG5. Users choose one of three SG5 membership plans to access the SkyCaddie course database, which are priced at $29.95/year for full functionality for unlimited courses in one state/province (each additional state/province costing $10/year), $49.95/year for full functionality for unlimited courses nationwide, and $59.95/year for full functionality for unlimited courses worldwide. Discounts are available for the purchase of 36 month plans.
SkyCaddie SGX. Users choose one of four SGX membership plans to access the SkyCaddie course database, which are priced $19.95/year for basic distances (front, center and back of green) for unlimited courses nationwide, $29.95/year for unlimited courses in one state/province (each additional state/province costing $10/year), $49.95/year for unlimited courses in the United States, and $59.95/year for unlimited courses worldwide. Discounts are available for the purchase of 36 month plans.
Sonocaddie V300. Users select from either: $5 per course with no lifetime fee (first 5 courses free), a $29.95 one-time fee for unlimited courses within the United States and $5 per course outside the United States, or a $49.95 one-time fee for unlimited courses worldwide.
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