Over two years ago, the U.S. Golf Association and the R&A amended the Rules of Golf to allow for the use of GPS distance-measuring devices and laser rangefinders during a round of play.
The rules change said that if local golf associations or clubs would allow the devices in their events or at their courses, then scores used from such rounds would count in related tournament play and for handicap scoring purposes.
Previous to that time, several such devices were in use, but just for "recreational" or "practice" rounds.
Since then, the use of distance-measuring devices has grown rapidly. The units are in play just about everywhere, and for many good reasons: they are easy to use, they increase enjoyment of the game and they speed up play.
Only the major professional tours and other top level tournaments don’t allow distance-measuring devices to be used during competition. However, the pro tours do allow the devices in practice rounds, and they are quite popular among the pros in helping them to assess and play any course they encounter.
In recent, independent test sessions among a cross-section of pros and amateurs, the uPro GPS device was rated the best handheld distance-measuring device on the market today.
Holding and using the device just wows you with all its features.
It is slim, sleek and lightweight. It is easy to maneuver: on each hole, from shot to shot, or hole to hole, and from course to course. But the most impressive features, and the ones that really knock out any rival device, are the high resolution aerial photography and satellite imagery of each hole as you play a round of golf.
"From the first hole we played, I could see everything and preview every shot," said Danny B., one of our recent testers. "From the tee, I could see the exact positioning of the pond on the right of the fairway, and the distance to the water. From the fairway, I was given an exact, real-life picture of the green, its shape, the traps around it, and the distances to the front and to clear all the traps, and the distances to various parts of the green."
Still, if our testers wanted, they could also tap a button and immediately receive a distance read-out to any point on any hole, in addition to the “target” distances.
Plus, it’s all in color.
And, it’s all contained in a unit that’s just 4 inches long by 2 inches wide and just 0.65 of an inch thick. Its weight is only 3.1 ounces.
"It was our goal to develop a distance-measuring device that would allow golfers to see the course from a whole new perspective," said Joseph Balardeta, president of uPlay, which developed the uPro GPS Technology. "Our graphics, accuracy and features outperform any product in the industry."
uPlay is an integrated products design company co-founded by Balardeta and VP of engineering Scott Denton, two partners with more than 25 years of semiconductor and systems design experience. Based in Carlsbad, Calif., the uPro device made its debut earlier this year at the PGA Golf Show.
Having canvassed thousands of courses, the uPro unit has a spectacular feature called ProMode which offers proprietary SmartView technology to assist golfers’ views and decisions at the touch of a button. ProMode gives a golfer all the distances needed on one screen, provides a view of the course based on which hole and where the golfer is, and updates views and measurements as the golfer moves about.
"I loved the fact that, as we approached the green, I could zoom in and see all the features, in color, all as they really are at each and every green," said Joe R., another one of our test golfers.
With the uPro, there is no such thing as a blind hole. Whereas other devices may give you an artistic rendering of a green, or simple read-out numbers on the course without any pictures, the uPro shows you exactly what’s over any hill, around any dogleg, and the best way to play your next shot.
"You really have to try the uPro to see how great it is," said Danny B.
Among its superior features is a mode called Hazard View. Again, at the touch of a button, the uPro splits into four screens, provided a real-life view of any upcoming hazards -- such as sand traps, water, trees -- and the distances to both reach and carry such hazards.
Other info includes the time, calibrated to your time zone, plus hole number and par.
Powered by a rechargeable battery, each uPro device is good for a minimum of 10-12 hours use before needing to be recharged. Each uPro has the capacity to hold up to 50 courses at one time, and courses are changeable via computer hookup to the uPro web site. A USB cord and AC/DC travel plug are included with each unit.
Expandable features of the uPro include scorekeeping capability, games and statistics tracking, and club recommendation.
One other noted difference with uPro is the lack of an annual fee. The list price for the distance-measuring unit is a comparable $399.99. Golfers can then purchase and download courses based on a set-fee scale, with discounts for various amounts of golf courses.
"The uPro is so sleek and easy to use, we’re certain that it will improve anyone’s game and, at the same time, make playing golf more fun," said Balardeta.
Our testers unanimously agreed.
