OnPar Golf GPS With Touchscreen

The most unique feature of the OnPar is that it is the only rangefinder that has the ability to indicate distances to the pin from anywhere on the hole, not just from your current location. This can be helpful when you are plotting out your plan of attack as you progress on the hole.

Two other notable applications are the Golf Bag and Statistics screens. The Statistics screen can be particularly useful on courses that you play repeatedly because you have access to your past performance information, which can help you analyze and plan each time you play the course. Likewise, the Golf Bag screen recommends which club to use for any shot based on the characteristics of the hole and how you have played it in the past.

To use the OnPar, the first step is to touch the screen to bring up the iPod-type main menu. From there, you will choose from applications that include information on items like courses and yardage, as well as scorecards. If you choose the course option, for example, you can then drill down to find specific information about each of the holes on the course you are currently playing.

Since the built-in rechargeable battery can hold a charge for about 12 hours, most players should be able to make it through a round of golf without the unit losing power. The 3.5-inch screen is the same size as those on smaller GPS units that are made for the windshield of a car. The OnPar has the capability of storing up to 300 golf courses in its memory.

In 2009, the retail price of the OnPar is $479. There is no software to download, so there is no additional charge to get started or to obtain program updates. There is also no associated membership fees.