Tee Time for Techies

ome government executives might say that golf is the oil in the gears of the federal machine. And the secret of success on the links (aptly summed up in the movie "Caddyshack") is to "be the ball."

As a mantra, that's easier said than done. But now, space-age technology has stepped up to the tee to let golfers truly become the ball . . . and the bunker, the green and the fairway.

The SkyGolf GPS Personal Digital Caddie is an attachment for the Palm V and Handspring Visor handhelds that uses global positioning satellites to measure the distance between key targets on the course, such as the number of yards between a player and the hole.

"I was able to record the distance of my drive on the 10th hole and then use that information on the next hole to choose the right club for avoiding hazards," says one player who took the device out for a spin recently at the Government Executive invitational golf tournament. "I put myself in a solid position to hit the green in regulation and card a par on a difficult hole."

SkyGolf GPS retails for $399 at the SkyGolf GPS Web site, www.skygolfgps.com. Eager techies and golfers also can buy the device at the PalmGear site, www.palmgear.com, and at participating pro shops and golf accessory retailers.