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Garmin is a name well associated with many GPS systems, especially in cars. Garmin makes two popular brand of Golf GPS systems- the Garmin Approach G3 and the Approach G5. Both are preferred by many consumers because they are rugged, waterproof and have a great screen display image.

The Approach G3 has a 2.6 screen and is thin enough to fit in your back pocket or, because of its slightly curved design, to rest comfortably in your hand. The color graphics are clear to read on its 160×240 pixels screen. Also handy is the transflective quality of the screen which blocks the glare from the sun, a must on the golf course. The G3 also features a touch screen interface, like a smart phone.

More than a range finder, the Approach G3 shows you the distance to the front, center and back of the green as well as hazards and tree lines for accurate distance measuring. It automatically keeps up with where you are on the golf course so you can plan your next shot. There is very little, if any, lag time between holes because of its GPS features. By previewing upcoming holes, you can estimate the numbers of shots you need to take, strategize more and improve your score by making more pars or less per hole.

The Garmin Approach G3 offers over 10,000 course throughout the USA, and is expanding into the Canadian and European courses as well. Downloads are free off their website with the purchase of the G3. No monthly fees are required. The software that must be loaded is compatible with most PC and OS systems and is user friendly.

It costs around $349 retail, but you can get a better deal on Amazon.com who sells it for around $245.00.

The Approach G5 Garmin golf GPS system, the “Cadillac golf GPS unit”, has a 3-inch touch screen. Like the G3, its excellent pixel quality, glare resistant screen display, clear color graphics that are easy to navigate makes it a favorite with golfers. It provides information such as hazard placement and distance, tree line measuring and hole positions on each green.

At only 6.8 ounces, the G5 is easy to handle and stays out of the way in your pocket when not in use. It won’t affect your swing.

The G5 has over 10,000 downloadable courses available on the website, but if your favorite course it not listed, don’t worry. With a toll free call, it will be available to you in a week’s time or less. There are no monthly fees for this service, unlike with other golf GPS systems.

The G5 is more than a distance calculator and range finder. It is also very capable of keeping detailed stats, not only of your game, but up to three other player’s games as well. Score keeping is a breeze- no pencil or paper required. Another good feature is the instantaneous satellite acquisition so there is no lag time as long as you are in a clearing away from obstructive trees or poles so the GPS can receive a clear signal. Along with its auto advance feature that automatically follows you around the course, the unit is a pleasure to use.

It sales for about $499 retail, but most of the time it can be purchased through Amazon.com for about $269-$364.

Reviewers give both the Approach G3 and G5 thumbs up and five stars for ease of use, clear display and rugged construction. Being waterproof is a definite plus. Distance measuring were spot on in accuracy and reviewers love the back and next features that can scroll you through the course’s holes so you can better plan your shots.

The Garmin golf GPS systems come with a USB cable and runs on two AA batteries which hold a charge up to 15 hours. Most golfers recommend rechargeable batteries. The rugged design can handle any bumps and jostling in a golf cart without interrupting service.

Never known as a scorer in the Ontario Hockey League, Lou Dickenson poured it on last season in Finland’s Mestis League, a level below the elite SM-Liiga. Lou was the league’s leading point-getter, playing for Vaasan Sport. His 26 goals and 35 assists for 61 points over 44 games was good enough for the league lead. The season before, with KooKoo, Lou lead the league in goals with 28 in 43 games.

Dickenson played five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. He also appeared on five different team rosters over his OHL career. He began in the OHL in 1998-99 with the Mississauga IceDogs and played his first two full seasons at the Hershey Centre. In 2000-01, he started the season with the London Knights and midway through the season ended up with the Kingston Fontenacs. 2001-02 was split between the Frontenacs and the Guelph Storm and his final season was split between the Storm and the Ottawa 67′s, a team that lost out in the Robertson Cup finals that year.

Lou was drafted in the 4th round of the 2000 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers, 113th overall. He spent one season, 2003-04, in the Canadian university system with St. Thomas in New Brunswick. He followed that by a season in the North American pro hockey scene with three different teams: San Antonio Rampage (AHL), Texas Wildcatters (ECHL) and Laredo Bucks (CHL).

2005-06 was Dickenson’s introduction to the world of European hockey. He played in the Italian Serie B and scored 43 goals and 79 points in just 41 games. The following year, he literally toured Europe playing on two Swedish teams, the Edinburgh Capitals of Great Britain’s EIHL and Ljubljana in Slovenia.

Lou returned to North America for the 2007-08 season but found his way back to Europe for the following campaign. Lou has been in Finland since.

The 2010-11 season has Lou stepping up to the SM-Liiga and playing for the Pelicans. The Pelicans play out of Lahti, Finland, a city with just over 100,000 people and the eighth largest city in Finland. Lahti is just 100km out of Helsinki.

Dany Heatley is now a member of the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks got a pretty good deal too, though, which is a statement that makes sense if you’ve been following along. San Jose managed to send back a near-equal amount of salary (they got about $0.2 million more in Heatley), and they only had to give up Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek to get him. (SJ also gave up a 2010 2nd Rounder in exchange for a 5th Rounder.) Michalek and Cheechoo bring grit and determination to Ottawa, as well as offensive potential. Cheechoo certainly isn’t the 50-goal scorer he once was (with emphasis on the once), but Michalek is a budding star. As for the Sharks, one thing is certain – they just became an even bigger threat to capture the Pacific, and maybe even the President’s Trophy again. Interestingly, the last team to win the President’s Trophy in back-to-back seasons also won the Stanley Cup the second time around. Can you name the team?

NHL Recent Rundown:

The Vancouver Canucks found several replacements for Mattias Ohlund – they traded with San Jose for Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich, as well as signing UFA Mathieu Schneider. For the Sharks, who got back a couple minor leaguers, the deal was seen as little more than a salary dump. For the Canucks, however, the move makes their defence corps able to stand up to the re-tooled blueline of their biggest division rivals, the Calgary Flames. Vancouver also locked up star netminder Roberto Luongo, signing him to a 12-year deal worth $64 million.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed Alex Tanguay to a one-year deal. With Tanguay on the left side of Vincent Lecavalier, and St. Louis on the right, the Lightning have an awesome first line – and they’re all from Quebec.

Peter Forsberg was included on Team Sweden’s 2010 Olympic roster invitation list. He plans to play this season for Modo of the Swedish Elite League, but a strong Olympic performance (and the ability to stay healthy) could mean an NHL comeback.

As the Pittsburgh Penguins await the construction of the new arena they’ll be using in 2010-11, The Consol Energy Center, a couple of other teams are making pushes for new building as well. The New York Islanders are trying to get their Lighthouse project passed, and the ownership of the Edmonton Oilers have also announced plans to purchase land and build.

The Oilers also signed unrestricted free agent Mike Comrie to a one-year deal. Comrie, an underachiever last season for the New York Islanders, was traded at the deadline to the Ottawa Senators where he managed only seven points in 22 games. He’s a touchy player – tons of scoring upside, but a genuine knack for inconsistency.

Eastern Conference rankings will be up by Tuesday, with the Western Conference following shortly thereafter.

Don’t forget to follow on Twitter for quick NHL updates! LindHockeyFile on Twitter.

With Ernie Els winning the 2008 Honda Classic with a one-stroke victory, and the tournament celebrating over 25 years of patronage from main sponsor American Honda – which has backed the event since 1982- the event had managed to raise over $600,000 in charitable contributions and is continuing it’s remarkable support for children’s charities.

2007 heralded the dawning of a new era for the management of the Honda Classic, with the Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc. taking over the running of the tournament. Barbara Nicklaus, wife of the great Jack Nicklaus, was unveiled as the chairperson of the new tournament directors, while Ken Kennerly is now entering his second year as The Honda Classic’s Executive Director.

The 2007 installment of The Honda Classic saw this previously nomadic tournament adopt the PGA National Resort & Spa’s Championship Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, as its new home until 2012, as it looks to establish itself more firmly on the section of the PGA TOUR known as “The Florida Swing”.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem expressed his delight at unveiling the format of The Honda Classic, saying: “Through the support of Honda and the direction of Children’s Healthcare Charity and the support of Barbara and Jack Nicklaus, this championship will continue to grow in this thriving market and increase its charitable impact. We look forward to a bright future.”

A significant step towards increasing the tournament’s charitable impact was certainly taken in 2007, with The Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation becoming the primary beneficiary of The Honda Classic. The Foundation provides charitable support for activities that can help to enhance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders. It supports not-for-profit programs and projects aimed at pediatric health care and health-related services – with the Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Centre as a major focal point.

Barbara Nicklaus has been thrilled with the new partnership and in particular the special emphasis on children in need. In fact, she had pointed out that The Honda Classic actually persuaded the family to start the Foundation in the first place! The PGA Tour puts great stock in the Nicklaus name as the boost it needs to help grow this Tour event, which has in recent history failed to attract some of golf’s biggest names despite its impressive $5.5 million purse.

But for the Foundation itself, the primary goal is to give back to the children of its community. The Honda Classic is without a doubt helping in this regard, as the Foundation’s website explains: “While we strive to provide Palm Beach County with a premier professional sporting event, our ultimate goal is to positively impact youth in need. With many thanks to all those who were a part of making the 2008 Honda Classic a success, the event was responsible for over $600,000 in charitable contributions bringing our total to over $16 million since the event’s inception.”

The signing of an extension of American Honda’s sponsorship of The Honda Classic until 2012 is an added display of support for the charitable intentions of the Foundation. According to Dick Colliver, Executive Vice-President: Auto Sales Division of American Honda, the extension of the company’s sponsorship agreement “not only demonstrates our commitment to the event and the new venue, but also to the involvement of the Nicklaus family and the opportunity to help support the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.”

As the event persists in its tradition of charitable enterprise, The Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation will benefit from the continued support. All involved will be hoping that the involvement of the Nicklaus family will promote this tournament to a similar degree.The next Honda Classic Golf Tournament is scheduled for March 2 – 8 2009.

Other Charities supported by The Honda Classic:

o Boy Scouts of America
o Christina’s Smile
o Jr. Golf Foundation of America
o Palm Beach Gardens High School
o Pathfinders of Palm Beach/Martin County
o Scripps Health Foundation
o South Florida PGA Section
o Urban Youth Impact’s ‘Back to School Blast’

The 2009 Honda Classic Guide offers in-depth information and betting tips for this star studded event.