When you do a bit of research there are some fun formats to try out, such as Bingo Bango Bongo. This is a points-based game that’s great in groups, whereby a point is attributed to the first player on the green (regardless of how many shots it took them to get there). A point is given to the player who is closest to the pin once everyone is on the green, and another point goes to the first person to sink their putt. The player with the most points over 18 holes wins! It’s a simple format, but it can completely change the way you think your way around the course. If there’s a point on offer for being first onto the green, do you take on the water and go for it, or play it safe and hope your playing partners make the mistake? That’s one of the things that makes golf so interesting. The same shot from the same position can require a completely different decision depending on what’s at stake. But which do you prefer, risking it and going for the green, or keeping this safe? The risk vs the reward Within stroke play, your aim is always to shoot the lowest score possible. In match play your objective is to outplay your opponent. You have a lot more freedom to be creative with a game mode like Bingo, Bango, Bongo. Let’s say you’re playing a par 4 hole with a dogleg to the right. You’ve hit a nice tee shot and the green is about 210 yards away, it’s definitely reachable if you crack a good fairway wood, but to the immediate right of the green is an out-of-bounds stretch that the ground slopes towards, the perfect trap for a running golf ball. Do you go for the green while your opponent is in the thick rough nearby, or lay-up instead? Now consider the age old question of how you navigate water. You’re on a tricky par 5 hole, the green is a solid 150 yards away that you can reach with your 7 iron, the only problem is the pond immediate in front of you. In stroke play, when you land a ball in the water it’s hard not to start tallying up a large number in your head, but in match play, if the game’s getting tight and you’re running out of holes, you may as well go for it right? And this is why we love golf; no two shots or scenarios are exactly the same. Whether you’re taking on a risky shot or finding the perfect distance to lay up, the latest GPS devices from Bushnell will help you approach each shot with the correct club in hand. How Bushnell devices can help your game Each Bushnell device offers something different for all kinds of budgets and skill levels, and every player will get on with the Phantom 3 GPS handheld device. This gadget gives you instant, satellite-accurate distance readings to the green as well as nearby hazards. The Phantom 3 features an easy-to-use touchscreen that gives you distance readings to all the bunkers, water hazards, and greens ahead of you. Each number and illustration is easy to read on the large display. This device is really handy for illustrating the shot ahead on a screen, giving you distance readings to the front, middle, and back of the green. The iON Elite GPS watch goes even further, packed with loads of features and illustrating each hole on a glossy touchscreen. This is really handy for getting a birds-eye-view of the hole you’re playing, giving you a whole new appreciation for and feel of what you’re up against. With a bright colour touchscreen display, the iON Elite GPS golf watch looks fantastic and sits comfortably on your wrist. This GPS watch from Bushnell comes packed with features like a digital scorecard that makes keeping track of your score very convenient. All the information you need is immediately accessible to you on your wrist. Saving you from reaching down to pull gear from your bag on every shot. If you’re looking for the cutting edge in distance-reading golf tech, you’ll get on well with the Bushnell Tour Hybrid. This device has a powerful lens that lets you zoom in and see a green’s slopes up close. This delicate yet powerful laser rangefinder has crystal clear lenses that can zoom in up to 6X the standard setting. This gadget can see hundreds of yards into the distance, ensuring you’ll be fully clued up on which club to reach for on any given approach shot. Laser rangefinders are particularly effective when it comes to getting the exact distance to a specific point ahead of you. However you’re playing your next game of golf, you can always find us here in the pro shop ready to support you. If you’re seeking a demonstration of how any of these devices work, we’d be happy to help you further in person.