I am a 10-20 handicapper. I don't need a yardage book for yardages as my GPS tools work just fine for that. What I do need (and would pay for) is detailed help with green complexes. You know, hazards and the lumps and bumps of the green.

Skycaddies can do alot of this work for a reasonable cost and give you a lot of different courses to download.  I particularily appreciate front, middle and back green distances plus to different mounds within a green...

IMHO

I do not personally hold my own yardage book, as I play a different course nearly every weekend if possible. When the courses I play provide some type of book I do absolutely love it, and when coupled with my finder I am all set to go. 

I found them to be a huge advantage at courses I'm not familiar with or courses where there are lots of blind tees shots, tight doglegs etc etc.

I carry an original Bushnell range finder that actually works for most holes but there are times where it's nice going into greens knowing how much room you have to miss long where the finder doesn't work.  I do have some of the Straka books for the nicer courses and it's unbelievable the detail of every mark on the course imaginable but the books that the golf course shops sell sometimes are really lacking and just have pretty pictures.  I've usually marked those up myself using my range finder during a round.

Hope this helps.

As a 10-15 handicapper I use the GPS on my phone and find it very helpful. Most of the courses I play do not have yardage books but I would use one if available.

Mark,

Thanks for the discussion. I personally do not use them very often. I carry a 9, and may actually benefit from using one.I have used them when I have played in the World Amateur down in Myrtle Beach. I recommend trying this at least once for any of you who think they have the game to be the best amateur in the world. I still have a bit of trouble reading them and I forget that I have it with me. I guess a little CRS. I find a pin placement sheet and green info more helpful. I have been playing since I was 13. Started as a caddie at a private club in the Detroit area. (Knollwood Country Club). Was able to play on Mondays. Started a passion I have not been able to shake. Not that I want to. I will be 60 this year so I have seen a lot of changes in the industry. All we had then was the markers on the course so I often just play by sight. Great to see other players with the passion to post questions and answers to such as these. Well season has really just started here in Colorado been in the 50's here now. Fairways and greens, Good luck to all and enjoy the season.

I play to may different courses to collect and carry books for all of them.  Plus the courses charge to much for them, and it seems someone in each four some has a range finder, so why pay the bucks to the club.

hjohns

 As a 10.5 handicap during the winter season I do not use a yardage book. I use my own Bushnell GPS. It faster than using a yardage book. I can shoot a target for a layup and be moving on to the next shoot. I carry it with my everytime I have my clubs.

I use yardage books on my home course during tournament time. Occasionally, I will forget about certain carry distances or landmarks to use as tee shot guides during casual play. But, during tournament time, this serves as a good reminder and helps me focus on course management.

I use/ make one for each course and make notes in them as soon as I notice something that may be of help later on in another round. They are fun to learn and use before tournament rounds, keeps reminding you to stay focused and look at the entire course, but then focus in on what is in front of you.

On my home course I don't use a yardage book, because I think I know the course well enough. I use my Bushnell Pro1600 on my approach shots. When I play an away course, I use a yardage book and my Bushnell. The yardage book is to see if there are unseen obstacles, where I may have to lay up. 

I fall in the 0-10 and stopped using a yardage book for my home courses since I play them by feel now to the point where club selection is almost automatic. As for new courses I just like to see the green sheets. I love my Bushnell range finder and can navigate a course pretty well with it most of the time as long as there aren't MASSIVE elevation changes where stuff can get really tricky and having a member in the group is handy.

I like to use yardage books whenever I can get my hands on one.  I think they are great for blind shots and courses I am not used to.  I also use a Leupold rangefinder to get exact distances to pins and such but still find myself more focused on the shot if I have thought about it from the yardage book and have a real target besides "the center of the fairway."  

Yardage books also made me realize that I am much better off playing tee shots and second shots on longer hold to a yardage I'm comfortable with a good swing to the green instead of needing to take a half wedge or something.

I use yardage books in tournaments. They are most helpful when you do not have much experience on the course. I use the yardage book the most when hitting into greens. I use the pinsheet to know where the pin is and the yardage book to locate the major slopes and ridges in the green. This allows me to pick a spot on the green to leave my approach so I have the easiest putt.

Most of the time I am using the course markers but whenever a course provides a yardage book I make sure to get one and I'll put a ton of notes in to it.

Mark,

I love course yardage books , I always buy one at every course I play and have books from courses all over Europe where I live.

My handicap is between 10-15 and have always found them very useful especially as I was brought up in the UK & in Europe  they use Meters instead of yards

I have never used GPS on the golf course but most of the young guns at my club use them and wouldn't be seen dead with a yardage book.

I find that when playing in a competition away from my own club coupled with the pin position sheet the yardage book can be an extremely useful tool. It can alleviate indecision & boost confidence.

Knowledge is power !