What are the differences between myCaddie and the new myCaddie Pro?

Following are the key new features in myCaddie Pro:

• Visual shot selection allows you to get yardages to any pin location, trap, hazard or layup using aerial hole images. This allows you to see yardage to any spot on the hole whether or not it was mapped. In addition, you can plot multiple shots at a time, for example, a layup followed by an approach shot. This all works very quickly, utilizing prefetched and cached images so you don't wait. Three different zoom levels are provided per hole, the hole orientation is intuitive and the entire screen is used to display the hole.
• Score entry, statistics entry and yardage are provided from one screen, to minimize the time to perform any one task - tasks are optimized for speed.
• Easily customized course maps allow you to optionally lay out your own version of the course, with landmarks you create such as ideal layups and preferred tee shot locations. You can now select your own version of the course rather than using someone else’s.
• Reports revealing trends in your game, spotlighting areas for improvement and enabling better course management. Find out which courses are toughest, where you frequently miss the fairway or green, how often you get the ball up and down, and lots more.
• Round history, and the ability to resume a round (if incomplete statistics or scores were entered).
• A scorecard with gross, net, and statistical views.
• Much faster course searches and course list downloads.

Can you create a course map for me?

We rely on our users to create the course maps. We have attempted to make that process as simple as possible - typically, a course map takes 10-20 minutes for someone to develop using our web site. This is easier than it sounds and many users enjoy the process (as indicated in some of the reviews). Thousands of courses have been created this way by users like you, and hundreds of courses are added every week.

The additional advantage to doing this is that you can specify your own yardage landmarks on the course (for example, a specific layup or tee shot location). We hope that you will give the course mapping a try. Around 1000 new courses have been added each month.

See detailed instructions or watch a brief demo.

How do I register and activate myCaddie? I'm getting invalid email or password, but I know these are correct.

For myCaddie Pro users, registration is done from within the Settings screen the first time you use it - simply enter your email, a password and your zip/postal code.

Is iPod touch supported? iPhone "classic"?

Neither iPod touch nor the original iPhone (before 3G) are supported. GPS is required, and currently only exists in the iPhone 3G. Hopefully iPods will include GPS at some point.

How do I preserve the battery life of my iPhone?

GPS requires a significant amount of battery power, enough to exhaust the iPhone after a four or five hour round if left on the entire time. We expect that improvements will be made in the iPhone itself over time, but in the meantime, there are practical ways to deal with this.

What I do is shut the phone off when I don't think I'll need yardage for awhile, then turn it on again 20 or 30 seconds before I think I'll need it. For example, after you hit your approach shot into the green you probably don't need another yardage until the next tee.

How accurate is the GPS on the iPhone?

The feedback we get consistently is that myCaddie offers equivalent accuracy to expensive alternatives. I personally have compared myCaddie a number of times with $300+ range finders with nearly identical results. And I also compare with the markers on the course. Usually I'm within a couple of yards, which I consider good enough at least for me. Sometimes I get that yardage right away when I get to the ball, but sometimes I need to wait 5 or even 10 seconds while the GPS refines its calculations. That is my general sense, you will have to develop a feel for what works. We do occasionally hear that cloud cover slows down the GPS or causes inaccuracies but haven't observed that ourselves.

I just mapped a course, how long before it appears on my iPhone?

The list of courses is not updated on your iPhone until you tap refresh on the Courses screen. After that, your course should appear.

How do you deal with multiple course map versions created by different users?

When you create a course map, that version will always be preserved in the imakepars.com database.

In myCaddie Pro, you can select versions produced by any myCaddie user. By default, if you created a map, that version will be selected when you select a course. If you haven't created a map, the most recently modified map will be selected by default. But if there is a different map you'd prefer, simply select that one from the Courses screen (tap the blue arrow, which takes you to the Versions screen).

In the original myCaddie, the most recently modified map by anyone is automatically selected.

How do I edit a course which already exists?

This is straightforward:

• go to www.imakepars.com
• click Map Course, and after logging in with your email and password, get the course from the available list of courses (typing in the first letter of the course name, the city and the state/country is recommended)
• click OK to select the course
• click Map Course to go into the course mapping screen
• click Next Hole/Prev Hole to move around the existing course map and see existing landmarks
• click New Marker to create a new landmark for the hole you have selected; and select the Marker Type for that marker
• click Submit Course once you have completed your changes

How do I add a new tee box, or specify a different tee?

Right now, we only allow one tee per hole. The tee box is the least important marker in a course map because you are never aiming your next shot at the tee (all other landmarks are relevant). Having said that, we are planning to enable you to select your own personal course maps in the future (even if someone subsequently submits a newer version)...at that point, you can move the tee anywhere you want.

When mapping my course, the images are unclear or are out-of-date. Can I use MS Virtual Earth or Yahoo Maps?

We use Google Maps to display golf course images. At times, the other mapping services have more current satellite images, which may be relevant if your course is new or has been recently remodelled. We don't offer the option to use MS or Yahoo at this time but likely will in the future. Sorry for now.