Sonocaddie V500 Touch Preloaded Color Golf GPS

First I commend the shipment department for a timely shipment. I received it within three days of order. I have used the Sonnocaddie v500 for two 18 hole rounds and would be more if weather permitted. I have found no faults with this great GPS . The screen is very bright and clear. I like that I can lock the screen with a button on the side and can manually advance and back up to the desire hole with a buttons on the bottom front, automatic is great but I prefer to do it manually. I think some folks need one that plays the game for them. I found it to be accurate on the distances which in reality is its main reason for existance. I compared the distance readings to my older Sonocaddie xv2 that has always been dead or within a yard of the course markers. I experienced no problems moving through the menues. Logging in, setting up and registering was a breeze. I can't understand peoples poblems as I,m 71 years old and not a computer whiz. Down loading courses to my personal menue was also a breeze. I have only the basic course layout which is really as I have stated, very clear. I will likely upgrade to the satelite imagery later just to have it for a couple of courses I have yet to play. As for improvements I would recommend a few more marked targets with yardages, again getting a little lazy since Sonnacaddie provides the capability for the user to add or delete targets as well as mapping the course your self. The cost is also some what high. The touch screen also works great when checking lay up distances. I use a rounded off golf tee for this. I have read many complaints about this not being accurate and better on other brands, I guess those folks fingers shrink when using those. I checked the Garmins and my fingers stayed the same size. I coaxed the salesman into bringing the Garmin outside in the sun light and he wasn't to happy when he couldn,t see the items on the sreen. Garmin makes great GPS,s but they need to fix that. Time will tell but as of now I,m well satisfied. Chuck Bozeman

I play a lot of golf. I have owned two different Laser Rangefinders and I am on my third GPS as the technology has evolved. Lasers are very accurate in theory - but unreliable in actual use because I can't get the hang of aiming at the tiny flagstick from over 100 yards out, which is where I really need it. Because of this I was an early adopter of GPS- loved the ease of use but I hated the annual fees, and after my first GPS I went with a no fee Sonocaddie, but still the downloading was a little awkward.This time I looked for a pre-loaded unit, one with a big course list and no fees...this Sonocaddie comes preloaded with the actual layouts of most if not all US courses. The courses are in there already- you don't have to download and for me this is a BIG plus.I took advantage of the free satellite images but I normally wouldn't pay for them. What I need is the full layouts and accurate distances, and the Sonocaddie yardages are always within 2-3 yards compared to the course markers. In fact I do not even look for the markers any more. I love it when they move the tee box but not the yardage plaque on Par 3's, the others in my group are suddenly my best friends!This GPS is pricey, but I can't say enough good things about it, and as long as I have all my course layouts without downloading and the nice touch screen distances etc. it is worth every penny compared to the other $300-$400+ units. This Sonocaddie V500 is by far the best- my frustration level is down and so is my score.

I purchased this item through Amazon and used it on several courses. Not a single course I played had all holes mapped correctly. Some holes were incorrect by over 25 yards. The GPS was worthless to me. I contacted Sonocaddie and they asked me to return it to them to see if it was a problem with my particular unit. I included information for specific holes on courses that the yardages were wrong. When I finally got my unit back, a heart wrenching story unto itself about Sonocaddie's pathetic customer support, those same holes were still wrong.Sonocaddie told me tough luck, but if I sent them the correct yardages they might update the maps. I was under the impression that the Sonocaddie was supposed to give me the correct yardages, not the other way around.Amazon thankfully took the Sonocaddie off my hands even though it was outside the return policy window which allowed me to buy a Skycaddie SGX. The SGX is the same price as the Sonocaddie, but has yet to give me one bad yardage. I do have have to pay an annual fee for the courses, but this is an excellent example of you get what you pay for. On top of that the toggle button on the SGX is easier to use than trying to touch the exact right spot on the very small screen of the Sonocaddie. I cannot imagine anyone buying a Sonocaddie if they knew beforehand how bad their course mapping is.

THIS PRODUCT STINKS, THE FIRST ONE I GOT LASTED 9 HOLES BEFORE IT DIED. I PAID $15.00 TO SHIP IT BACK TO SONOCADDIE .THEY HAD IT FOR A WEEK BEFORE THEY LOOKED AT IT THEN SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TOLD THEM NOT TO SEND IT BACK TO ME BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY FOUND A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. I TOLD THEM I WANTED A NEW SONOCADDIE NOT A REPAIRED ONE BUT THEY REFUSED. I CALLED AMAZON AND TOLD THEM MY PROBLEM AND THEY SENT ME A NEW ONE THE NEXT DAY. GREAT SERVICE BY AMAZON. THE NEW SONOCADDIE BATTERY LASTS ABOUT 3 1/2 HRS BEFORE THE BATTERY DIES. I HAVE USED THIS NEW ONE 4 TIMES WITH A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY AND HAVE NEVER FINISHED A ROUND YET. I AM GOING TO CALL AMAZON AGAIN AND SEE IF I CAN GET ANOTHER BRAND OR RETURN IT FOR A REFUND. I SUGGEST YOU STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT.

Courses were not preloaded as I thought and my courses would cost me twice as much as the Sonocaddie.

Love this gps. I have used it for 3weeks and played several courses in the area and all were pre loaded.It could use more buttons as you must cycle through several peles to get were you need to be.

Yes, It's everything I expected and more. Only thing I worry about is that it never tells you when it's through charging!

Was disappointed the product did not work. The battery only lasted about 15 minutes on several occasions. I returned the golf GPS.