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Google Secrets for Golfers

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Over the past two decades, Google has gone from a search engine to a technology titan who provides everything from maps with satellite photos and street views to cloud storage.  Unfortunately, most golfers have limited their Google usage to searching a course, an online tee time site, and (maybe) directions.  While that’s great, here are two Google features that golfers should consider utilizing to their advantage in 2018:

Google Earth Pro – The Free Rangefinder

Google Earth online basically takes Google Maps to the next level.

Using satellite imagery, Google Earth provides users with a 3D representation of whatever location you search.

Alone, this can be very helpful.  Whether you’re teeing up somewhere new with friends or getting ready to play some vacation golf, Google Maps will provide you with an aerial view of the course and enable you to identify where there are hazards and obstructions that you might not be able to spot until it’s too late (e.g., a blind, slightly uphill drive with a small lake just behind the crest).

Doing a little homework the night before can make a huge difference and help ease your nerves when the bar tab or your pride are on the line.

But wait, there’s more.

Download Google Earth Pro onto your computer, and you can utilize the Path Tool to estimate distances (in yards, meters, etc.) and elevation changes.  Yea, range finders and phone apps are great, but (once again) its nice to be able to play each hole having a strategy.

You probably have a relative idea of how far you hit each shot, so why not develop a game plan for each course?  Putting in that little extra time can make a huge difference.

While knowing that there are hazards out there and relatively where they are (e.g., river short of the green), being able to know how far away the hazards are or the distance you need to carry them gives you the necessary information to go on the offensive and attack the course.

For example, let’s say your’re playing a Par 5 that doglegs at the end for the green.  There’s fairway bunkers, greenside bunkers, and a lake behind the green.  Normally, you’d follow up your tee shot with an hybrid or iron and try to go the shortest route and cut the dogleg, but that means hugging some trees, flying a fairway bunker, and (hopefully) carrying that left greenside bunker, but not hitting a flyer that’ll one hop the green into that lake.

Maybe it works, but this sounds a lot like a low percentage shot.

Instead, after hoping on Google Earth and mapping out the distances and different attack angles, you realize it’s better to aim for the right side of the fairway.  While this makes the hole feel longer, you’ll entirely avoid that fairway bunker and be set up for an approach shot that takes both greenside bunkers out of play.

Furthermore, you no longer need to worry about hitting that perfect distance that’ll let you clear the bunker but also hold the green and keep the ball dry.  For what it’s worth, Arccos has tried to implement “informed-decision making” for its users via the Caddie feature, but there’s no reason that non-Arccos users should be left in the dark.

Google Maps – A Golf Course Address Book

I didn’t even know this feature existed until I recently stumbled across a food blog that highlighted how useful it could be.

If you already have a Google account (which nearly everyone does between Gmail and YouTube), Google Maps allows you to create Lists of saved locations.  While most people use these for restaurants, golfers could easily use this to create a digital index of golf courses you really enjoy playing and ones you’d like to play.

Another really nice feature when using Google Maps is that (i) you can share Lists with other Google users and (ii) the Mobile App will allow you to seamlessly transition between your List to getting directions.  The latter feature can be invaluable when you’re blessed with that unanticipated opportunity to squeeze in a round and have no idea where to go, what course is closest or, alternatively, which course can you get to fastest (nothing ruins a round like getting stuck in traffic and then drifting into a parking spot and sprinting to check-in with the starter so you don’t lose your tee time).

On another note, as an Arccos user, it’s great to know where I’ve played.  Unfortunately, Arccos doesn’t have an option for users to add a Comment onto a round (“Replay; this course was great” or “Avoid; overcrowded and rude staff”), so the best indicator I have is how many times I’ve replayed a single course.  Consequently, there’s no easy way to track the courses I’d like to play and whether courses I’ve already played are worth returning to.

Finally, if you’re a Golf Nerd, you’re probably watching a few of the rounds on television (*cough*Tiger at Albany*cough*).  While the occasional blimp flyover gives you a nice idea of what the entire course looks like (from way overhead), Google Earth will allow you to follow the pros as they make their way down the hole (or in Jordan Spieth’s case, finding their way back to the hole)


 

Ever since golf became a competitive outlet, nothing brings Eric more joy than a well struck 4 iron. And despite living in NYC, Eric makes it a priority to work on his game and fitness during the week, along with a round or two over the weekend. Fortunately, he’s got a very understanding fiancé who (for the time being) accepts him and his obsession. Follow Eric on IG @hozel_rocket.

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