Where Am I??
by Gary Woods

One of the coolest things you can get for your PDA is a Global Positioning System or GPS. With these little devices you can tell where you are on the planet within a few feet. But, wouldn't it be cool if GPS also stood for Golf Positioning System? If you knew exactly how far you were from the pin, wouldn't it make it much easier to choose the appropriate club?

Currently there are two companies of which I'm aware who make products that will tell you just the information you're looking for on the golf course. Karrier Communications product, IntelliGolf http://www.intelligolf.com has gained worldwide popularity as a golf scorecard program. But, the latest version includes GPS positioning technology, meaning it will provide distances to fairway markers, and the front, center and back of each green. You can also add custom coordinates for sand traps and other hazards.

The data is supplied by other users and is shared free of charge to other golfers. IntelliGolf is a software-only product, priced at $39.95, meaning it's up to you to supply a GPS receiver for your PDA.

The other program is from iGolf Technologies and called iGolfgps http://www.igolftech.com. The primary difference between the two products is that iGolf offers a GPS receiver, one that's compatible with Palm and Pocket PC PDAs. The iGolf bundle, which sells for $349, includes not only the GPS receiver and iGolf software, but also Mapopolis Platinum for street-level mapping.

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910