2014 Golf’s Most Wanted: Watch and Voice GPS Devices

I am a due diligence type and am in that process b/4 shelling out dollars for golf gps. I was high on the Golf Buddy WT4 watch but not finding any positive reviews and you also did not recommend it? Also, you either did not test it or are not recommeding the Tom Tom watch? One more question: any thoughts on the Golf Buddy VS4 vs the Skycaddie Aire II?

I want to sincerely thank you for all of your objective efforts to compare these products. You are doing an excellent job and I really appreciate getting this info. Hard to get decent information anywhere that is objective. Looks like the ESN WR72 may be for me (after I hear back from you)??

Was this review for wrist mounted GPS only? I use SkyCaddie and it is stellar. One of favorite features is ability to move the pin to location of actual pin on green…major feature at times. Of course other features but surprised it didn’t even place on the list.

I own a ‘shotmiser’ unit which I bought 12 months ago and now find the manufacture’s and their saes outlet’s no longer exist, this does no give me (or anyone who has also experienced this) much confidence in GPS, I see it as a very easy way to make quick money and very little thought given to the people who play golf

To NJB…I had similar problems with the NEO and contacted Bushnell. (I also had the 1500 rangefinder and had some problem with it.) HOWEVER…on both occasions after contacting Bushnell. they had me send units in (separate occasions). After trying to rectify the matter, they ended up giving me new units…. Both of which have worked very well, with no further problem. My question to you….Have you called them, and given them a chance to make things right? I have found Bushnell to be fantastic with their customer service, one of the most decent to deal with . You really should call them before anything else.
Doc

I have a Bushnell Neo watch range finder. It has recharging problems, the time goes bad if I use it for a range finder, and worst of all the distances are anywhere from 5 to 15 yards off. I would throw it away except it cost so much. Do not buy this product. Bushnell makes a great laser range finder. Their watches are horrible. I would love to get my money back. But I know that won’t happen.

I should add that I agree with ParHunter that having N/C/F is a basic requirement for a good golf GPS and I have always assumed my Garmin had it (based solely on my experience with it) but I am not positive I am correct since I play a course with relatively small greens and the S1 does not have lay-up numbers!

I’ve had the S1 for over a year and it is a great basic golf GPS. You can get them refurbished on E-Bay for a bid of perhaps as little as $65. No lay-up distances. But it is loaded with courses, update free on line, easy to use and inexpensive. I have found the front, back, and middle distances a great help for a middle handicap golfer like myself. The other stuff seems like nice to have but not indispensable. Lay-up distances would be the only extra it would be very helpful to have for me.

I need a watch with VERY large numerals due to my far-sightedness. Anyone have any recommendations for a watch that has BIG numbers, and easy to read. I hate to bring along cheater eyeglasses to read the watch.

I’ve been an avid supporter of skycaddie technology (My wife and I both had SGXs). Unfortunately your reviews miss out another VERY important piece of the puzzle – Customer Service. Skycaddie doesn’t have any. After 4 years, and six separate units, my wife has bought a Bushnell Neo XS, and I will do likewise when my service plan runs out (unless it breaks down again and they ask for yet another £90 to replace it).

I am currently shopping for a GPS watch and remembered this article. I am a bit surprised to see that no where is it mentioned whether a watch is giving Front/Centre/Back (FCB) distances for fixed positions or whether they give Near/Centre/Far (NCF) position depending on where the golfer is. Can make a big difference for dog legs or when you approach the green from a different fairway. Let’s say you managed to be pin high but some 50 yards left of the centre of the green. A gps would give you something like 51/50/51 (as the fixed front and back positions are now roughly the same distance away then the centre). Basically the front/back becomes meaningless. A NCF GPS would give something like 40/50/60 yards.

From what I read elsewhere the Garmin watches have NCF while watches that use data from iGolf like the Bushnell Neo XS only have FCB.

I was glad to see GPS comparison but I do not know how you can do a comparison without testing/comparing Skycaddies’ Linx and Watch! I own a Garmin S3 and it is a very good product, but by not comparing the Skycaddie GPS watches in this article, you have done a very incomplete and unfair job, in my opinion. I have zero experience with the Linx or the Watch and would like to see a review on it though.

Can the ESN represntative confirm the situation with the WR72 Alpha? It seems that distibuters are suggesting that the launch has been delayed, again! Some of the distributers have said that they now wont be supplying the WR72 following these constant delays.

Any idea how the Garmin S6 compares to the S4?

I am holding off until the Garmin Approach S6 watch. It not only will give you all the distance info you ever would need but it also has built in features that will help your swing tempo and speed. I can’t wait to see it live.

Great comparision. I’m certainly a fan of the ESN WR72 based on your review and the spec features. I’m attracted by the style of the watch, golf GPS element and the Odometer (for running), it would probably replace my “everyday” watch.
Although I haven’t heard from any user who has had the pleasure of owning one yet!
When are they due to be sold in the UK? I have asked ESN directly, but not had a response as yet.

This is Garmin’s reply to course updates: “Garmin releases free, quarterly golf course mapping updates. When a mapping error report is made, Garmin cannot provide a definitive time frame as to if or when a particular golf course will be updated in our mapping.”

This is iGolf’s reply to how they update courses: “Our mapping team uses several different resources to update the information in our database. If you would like a course updated please send us the Name and Location of the course so that our mapping team can attempt to update it.”

I am a representative of ESN. iGolf is our course mapping provider, and in most cases, course remap requests are completed in 7-14 days.

BobG

Most of the companies source their mapping through other companies, ie: ESN doesn’t create that data, they basically subscribe to a database provider who is larger and does it for multiple companies.

But agreed, it’s great to have courses updated as quickly as possible and some are quicker than others. Unfortunately, that’s a tough thing to track for every course from our end

OK, one thing you may have overlooked is how quickly can a brand react to a course change or update. For example, I play at least two courses that have undergone major renovations in the last two years. The latest being Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach CA. Golf Buddy has those course remapped within a month. How quickly can a company like Garmin or ESN react, especially if they are not a pure golf gps company? Nothing would be worse than shelling out a bit of coin and then having incorrect info.

Thanks for the review! I’m very interested in one of those watches, but the cost may be a problem for now, and I need to play with a regular watch for a bit to see how it feels before committing. Some folks I know don’t wear it as a watch, but hook it to their bag or something. I suppose that could work, though it takes a little of the convenience factor out of the equation and that’s a big reason to use these.

One other thing. I know a lot of people hate the idea of people checking their email or texts, etc. on the golf course. I don’t want people doing that either. But the truth is, for me at least, if I am away from the family for four or five hours or more, I want them to be able to contact me quickly and easily in case of an emergency. Moreover, I don’t want to have to keep checking the phone in my bag. I don’t care about emails or random texts and calls, but knowing right away if my wife or kids are calling or texting is something I would be interested in. I need to go find out more about the type of notification used (vibration, sound, etc.) and whether I can turn off the email notification via the watch or by just turning off email notifications on my phone (which are off already).

Anyways, thanks again! Great site.

guess i will stay with my golf buddy platinum for another year. reading comments on other sites and this site, watch gps is at least another year before being the way to go

I’m surprised the VC300 has a battery life rating as some what good. I have one and I think it’s battery life is pathetic. It only lasts maybe 30 holes which is very disappointing to me. It would really be great if it lasted at least 54 holes.

If you are enjoying with other golfers you must always keep in mind that you are actively playing towards the golf program and not in opposition to your enjoying companions, unless of course it is match engage in. To be in game you just not only need a good game skill but the technology, which keep you ahead with your competitors. GPS apps or score checker app are only of those, by which you can be ahead.

Really surprised that MGS hasn’t included the SureShot range of GPS devices in this comparison. Far & away the market leader in Australia & a global pioneer with this technology.

Thank you for your prompt answer.

Unless I’m not using it correctly, how does the Garmin S4 show 4 hazards? I can only get it to tell me layups & dogleg distances whereas the Bushnell will tell me bunkers, water, etc…???

What about any of the SkyCaddie watches?

I’m sure you guys have touched all the bases with your normal good and complete review, but I find it hard to believe the Busnell wasn’t in the top 3. Guess Busnell’s spoiled me, as their service department alone puts them waaaay up to the top for me. I’ve had their 1500 rangefinder, which one time when I returned it due to what I felt was a somewhat minor problem, they sent me a brand new 1600 unit in return !! …Later I received the ns watch as a Christmas present, and upon having some problems with it, they replaced it with a new edition. The watch has many features, some I utilize every round, some I do not, but it works very well. Could not be happier with it and customer service is unbeatable.

Why make golf such a complicated game ?If you are a reasonably good player ,you don’t need to load your mind with so Much information .You can estimate distances reasonably Well ,or pace Off to make sure .Play by feel ,not mechanically .
That being said ,the GARMIN rangefinder is a veryuseful device .

Good to hear! Are you able to get in 36 holes with it?

I love my Garmin. I have an S2. No touch screen, so no touch screen problems. I have yet to find a course it does not have loaded, including nine hole courses.

I am sad that I have to send it back to Garmin to get a new battery when the one in it runs out, but it has been over a year and almost about 200 rounds and it has shown no sign of running out yet!

How does the Skycaddie watches compare. Any real advantage of accuracy, as they claim all the courses are mapped by walking the golf courses. Instead of just going by maps generated off of google maps?????

Small question : why have not you added the SkyPro watches and more especially the new Linx in your analysis?
It looks really good compared to the S4.

I have a Golf Buddy, but after about half the season it started giving me wrong distance. I checked them with several other peoples GPS units. So I have given up on it.

I have used the std. golf buddy voice for over a year and love it. I can’t wear my bifocals while golfing as it bothers me so the voice is superb as all I have to do is touch the bill of my visor and it tells me how much to the center of the green.. If you need reading glasses but don’t wear them while golfing this is the ticket..

A $100.00 difference in price is another reason perhaps consider the NeoXS as the #1 option.

The charts would suggest that the #1 choice is the Neo XS based upon ease of use and battery life. Other reviews I have read rave about the battery life of the unit. I currently use a Garmin S1 and it has never lasted past 27 holes. I am awaiting delivery of a Neo XS. Long battery life, ease of use and 4 hazard info. Lack of a touch screen and slightly less functions are all pluses IMO. As an aside, does anyone have an opinion regarding the propensities of the units to accurately lock onto the correct 9 when golfing at courses having more than 18 holes. My Garmin is worthless when I have golfed at such facilities both in Wisconsin and Texas?

I have the Motorola Motactv which I was surprised to see was not in your test. It works very well, downloads the round over wifi, plots where you walked on a satellite image and bar graphs your score. My only issue is that the battery life is good for 1.5 rounds.

Personally, I love the Motorola MOTOACTV, it has everything the S4 had, and lots more, since more than 2 years ago. It had club distance tracking, Google map integration, a web based app, still running, BTW. track running, calorie burning, steps you took (if you are a walker or runner). Everything I see here are not very good “copies”… Did I mention iPod like music, phone integration via Bluetooth, it even comes with a beautiful headset, and other accessories, watch mount, clip mount, etc…

Then, Google bought it and killed it… now they tried to bring it back… sigh…

I have a friend that has the Garmin watch and loves it. I use a Golf Buddy Platinum and will not be changing. I have tried, but I cannot wear a watch whole playing. I also really like the full view of the hole from tee to green instead of just numbers.

The worst part about any of these is once you are used to them it is hard to play without them. I play mostly public courses and they rarely have the distances marked very well. Without the GPS I am not as confident which leads to indecision and poor mental execution.

I could name 1 or 2 people who wouldn’t TOUCH the ones with a built-in score counter .
Every weekend , every green , they walk off saying “well a 6 isn’t too bad” .
Then comes a discussion like “well I made you 4 going into the bunker , 2 to get out , then 2 putts”
After 9 holes they’ll be retiring with repetitive strain injury from pushing the shot-count button so often !

By the pics you had them all on the bag or on your hat, but you made no mention of their accuracy. Your #1 most important things to consider is: Distance to the green (Front, Center, Back), so how did they compare? Were shown distances about the same? How accurate, compared to a rangefinder? Features are nice, but reasonable accuracy is more important.

I have used a Garmin G3 for about a year now and love it. It is just so quick and easy to use. I use it where I would not bother to go into a pocket to bring out a range finder.

The negatives that others bring up are true:
* Battery Life is only about 1.5 rounds
* Touch screen can be “finicky” but really only on the initial swipe to start the GPS.

Once through the initial swipe I find it works perfectly. Main reason for me posting is to offer a hint. I use a golf tee for the touch screen. I hear people complain about big fingers but a tee works really well. It helps generally and allows for very accurate pin positioning on the “green view”.

The other nice feature of the G3 and some but not all other devices is ability to measure the distance of a shot. I do not use it much but it is nice to measure that one big drive you made:)

Have the Garmin S1 think it’s time for the S 4 , don’t get me wrong , the S1 works great!!! But upgrades are always a plus …. Great review

I carry my Android phone with me every where I go so it started serving my golf distance needs when I installed FreeCaddie. All the distances, including traps and hazards, an aerial view of the hole I am playing, last shot distance measurement, 24,000+ courses available for download at no cost, 4 person score card plus online storage and analysis tools. No monthly or annual fees, just a very low one time download fee. Also available for Apple products.

BTW, the GPS distance accuracy is a function of the number of GPS satellites that are “visible” to the device being used and the status of those satellites as determined by the US military. They are essential tools for all branches of the service and can be manipulated to affect all GPS device accuracy. If your device has a “GPS” viewable function, that may reveal the “accuracy of the day” for your game!

I am not affiliated in any way with the company, just a happy user that started with a HP PDA years ago.

I have the S3, and the bummer with that is I cannot play 36 holes with it – it lasts 27 holes. I’m wondering if the battery life has improved enough to get 2 rounds out of it. The other question I have is that with the S3, you have to MARK THE HAZARDS YOURSELF, which is pointless if you are playing a new course. The description isn’t clear – does the S4 come preloaded with hazards?

I have one of ESN’s earlier models, which required a laborious online connection and activation that required the assistance of their tech support. Glad to see that the new model doesn’t require that – i’m sure you would have noticed it. My model has 4 copper holes under the watch that connect via a matching pinned usb cable to charge – but the little holes fill with gunk like sunscreen and often don’t make a connection, requiring me to bust out th reading glasses and a needle and try to scrape them out. A pain. Does the ESN you reviewed have this configuration?

Looks Great but I really think you should have included the motoActv. I know it’s discontinued but you can find them for steals online still. And it works awesome.

This is great! I wasn’t even aware some of these existed. I would love to see a shoot out between iPhone GPS apps too.

The WR72 has me thinking I might be able to get over the fact that I don’t like wearing something on my wrist during play. Thanks for providing more great info.

Glad you did a GPS comparison. Nothing beats having the GPS on your wrist for instant, accurate yardages. Rangefinders are great for distances but I prefer the immediacy of having what I need at glance. I spend enough time off the fairway where having distances immediately available on my wrist when there’s no yardage markers close that it’s a huge time saver and makes me confident in my club selection.
I recently looked at what was on the market and came away with a little different take. It depends on what’s important to you. I have no need for texts on my GPS, I have my phone (on vibrate) if I HAVE to allow distractions or need to call someone. I desired a device that would give accurate yardages and measure hazards. Most importantly, I didn’t want to constantly monitor battery strength. I also wanted the basics to be simple and intuitive.
The Bushnell Neo XS is what I ended up coming up with. The switch to a round face makes it much more wearable on and off course. It no longer looks like a cheap 80’s digital.
The tee time feature allows me to enter my next tee time on the watch and 7 minutes prior it automatically finds the course and is ready to go at the first tee with no intervention. Nice little feature.
You can complete the course without ever hitting a button at that point if you only need front back and center yardages. Hazard yardages require a button touch but it’s straightforward.
There’s other features I haven’t utilized like individual shots taken yardage. But one I have used and enjoyed is the time elapsed for the round and the odometer (since I often walk).
I’ve used it for two rounds and am pretty comfortable with the features I will be using and can access them quickly.
The other huge plus is the best battery life of the bunch. I played two rounds a week apart without charging in between and still had a full bar of battery strength left. Bushnell says three rounds between charges and I’ll say it’s easily two and could probably squeak three rounds out of it.
The charging device is simple and I plug one end into a USB port on my computer. The contact with the watch is guided by pins that assure a firm contact.
The only drawback is that when I was wearing a jacket and long sleeves I bumped the button twice during a round and had to hit the button again to retrieve the hole I was on. Only took a second (still less time than picking up a rangefinder and sighting).
If the touchscreen is for you, maybe the Garmin is better suited. But for the feature set, the ease of use and saving $100, I am very pleased with the Bushnell.