Over the past month, I traded my apple watch and Hole 19 Golf GPS and scoring app for a brand-new Bushnell Ion Elite GPS watch.
After a month on the golf course, I spent multiple rounds digging into the user interface to discover what this watch was all about.
First question, why use a GPS watch?
Well, for the past several years, I’ve been using my apple watch with several golf GPS apps on my iPhone. I love that I can glance down at my watch and instantly get an idea of what club I need to hit. Knowing the distance to the green’s front, back, and the middle is always good. I got more into the distance to the center of the green as I learned the Decade system, more on that some other time.
Second question, will the watch eliminate the need for a rangefinder?
No doubt. I’m a gadget guy and have every gadget you can think of, so I still have a rangefinder in the cart but rarely use it. I’m not good enough for it to make much difference, and most of the time, I’m just looking for the distance to the middle of the pin, which the rangefinder doesn’t give me.
Third question, is it better than the Apple Watch + 19 Hole golf GPS app?
100%! When using the watch and app, after the round, it takes a toll on both batteries. If you’re playing in the morning like I often do, don’t count on making it thru the day without charging the watch and phone.
The fourth question, this all sounds too good to be true. What aren’t you telling me?
The biggest issue with the Bushnell Ion Elite GPS Watch is getting into the habit of using it. With the apple watch, I wear it every day. I don’t leave the house without my watch and iPhone.
Keeping track of the Ion Elite and ensuring it’s charged and ready for golf takes discipline. The biggest complaint is charging the watch. It’s a proprietary cable with a weird pin connection that can be a hassle. Also, don’t go on a trip and forget the cable; otherwise, you’re screwed.
Besides having to get into a new habit and the hassle of not using a standard charging cable, I loved the watch. Slope-adjusted distances combined with the bonus of hole maps, which account for doglegs and blind shots, as well as hazards, make it a great caddie fill-in. I also love having the ability to track your score from the watch.
If you’re considering picking up a GPS golf watch, this is the best one on the market, bar none! For more information and to purchase your own Ion Elite check out Bushnell Golf!