Review: Bushnell ION Elite GPS Rangefinder Watch

With the weather finally improving and clubs not having to protect their courses so much, Kim has been able to properly try out her Christmas present - here's her Bushnell ION Elite GPS Rangefinder Watch review.

Comfort

Unlike other watch rangefinders I’ve tried, Bushnell Golf’s relatively thin ION Elite has a really comfortable, soft and easily adjustable strap, even on my small wrist.

Ease of use

The on/off switch on the side doubles up as a back-up button and all the other features are accessed by the coloured touch screen, with bright, clear images, which even a technophobe like me found easy to navigate and read.

Battery life

The watch comes preloaded with more than 38,000 courses worldwide and is quick to charge, although the connection is a little flimsy and can easily disconnect if not lying flat or is accidentally knocked.  The battery is said to last at least 12 hours which is great if you’re playing two rounds in a day – can’t wait for the clocks to change so I can test this out!

Play Golf feature

Once the Play Golf feature is selected, courses closest to your location will show on the home screen and you select the one you’re about to play. The watch automatically displays the hole you are on with front, middle and back distances based on your line of play plus the hole number and par – note: be sure to check the par figure is correct if you’re playing from the red tees. There’s also a handy Shot Distance Calculator where you can keep check on how far you’ve hit a particular shot.

Performance

In each of the four corners of the screen, there are a further four icons to select that will:

• display a scorecard – where you can not only record your score for each hole but also how many putts you take and whether you hit the fairway.  The home screen will also display your current score to par so that you can keep track of your score as you play with a final summary at the end of your round

• hole maps – providing a bird’s eye view of the hole where you can zoom in, move the pointer and add driving or approach shot selections according to your game

• green view – where you’re able to reposition the flag to ensure accuracy

• hazards & lay-up distances – this function will list the distance to hazards as well as the distance required to reach a certain lay-up point – which I found especially handy on long Par 5 holes

Slope Function

The watch also features the newly patented Slope function which, once enabled, will provide slope-compensated distances by means of a blue, orange or white coloured ring around the edge of the watch. A great idea for the gadget-loving golfer!

The watch also features the newly patented Slope function which, once enabled, will provide slope-compensated distances by means of a blue, orange or white coloured ring around the edge of the watch. A great idea for the gadget-loving golfer!

Read more in the press release by clicking here.