Bushnell Ion 2 Review

The Bushnell Ion 2 has been retired. Check out our current recommendations for today's best golf rangefinders..

'Bushnell Ion 2'

Bushnell Ion 2
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Here’s a quick summary of our Bushnell Neo Ion 2 review.

We love it!

The reason… This watch is almost identical to its predecessor, the Bushnell Neo Ion and we loved it. There is one big improvement to the Ion 2 and that’s the Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone for automatic course updates. Simply put, Bushnell took a good product and made it much easier to use and that’s what we’re looking for in a golf GPS watch.

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Notable Features of the Bushnell iON 2:
  • Pre-loaded with 36,000+ courses from 30 countries
  • Long Battery Life will last three full rounds
  • Auto course recognition and auto hole advance
  • [Read more…]

Garmin Approach S10 Review

'Garmin Approach S10'

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Our full Garmin Approach S10 Review will be available soon, but for now, check it out!

We are thrilled that Garmin finally has a new basic golf watch. We think this will be the best-selling golf watch on the market for awhile to come.

Garmin Approach S10 User Rating: 4.56 Stars 4.56 out of 5 (965 reviews)

Score compiled from multiple sources.

Why? Because it does everything most golfers want in a golf watch and it’s lightweight and compact. On the main screen, you will see distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, plus the hole number and par. The shape of the green is also right there on the same screen. If you need hazard information, it’s one screen away. Many golfers won’t ever touch the watch after starting a round. A simple glance will tell them what they need to know. [Read more…]

GolfBuddy LD2 Ladies Golf Watch

The GolfBuddy Ladies LD2 has been retired. Check out our current recommendations for today's best golf rangefinders..

'GolfBuddy Ladies LD2'

GolfBuddy Ladies LD2
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In our GolfBuddy LD2 Ladies Golf Watch Review, we explore the comments of dozens of users and look for common complaints as well as common points of praise.

GolfBuddy Ladies LD2 User Rating: 3.44 Stars 3.44 out of 5 (77 reviews)

Score compiled from multiple sources.

Although many ladies wear golf watches, the GolfBuddy LD2 is the only one that is specifically designed for those looking for a more elegant style. If you are in that group, this may be the watch for you, but keep reading to find out why you may or may not want to choose the GolfBuddy LD2.

First, let’s take a look at the features of the GolfBuddy LD2 Ladies Golf Watch:
  • Distances to front/center/back of the green.
  • Distances to hazards
  • Dual shot distance measurement
  • Automatic course/hold recognition
  • GPS Odometer
  • USGA/R&A compliant – legal for handicap and tournament play
  • GolfBuddy LD2 Ladies Golf Watch Review imageSmall, lightweight, stylish, & comfortable with Swarovski® crystals in light sapphire.
  • Genuine leather strap with alligator grain
  • Premium mineral crystal lens
  • Stainless steel crown button and bezel
  • Water Resistant Watch mode (time)
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides 6 hours in GPS modes or 9-weeks in standard watch mode
  • No membership or download fees

What we discovered from analyzing the feedback of dozens of users, is that most users were in one of two categories…

  • They loved the watch and its performance.
  • They experienced problems with the functioning of the watch and frequently were also unhappy with GolfBuddy customer support.

Normally, we would not even consider recommending a watch with ratings as low as those on the GolfBuddy LD2. However, since this is the only true ladies golf watch and the reviews indicate that it’s possible that you will receive a watch that works well, we have to consider that this may well be the right golf watch for some people. That said, we would only recommend this GolfBuddy ladies golf watch for the individual who doesn’t want a watch that looks like a sports watch and who also is prepared to take a chance on getting a watch that needs to be serviced or replaced.

If you still need help deciding if the GolfBuddy LD2 Ladies Golf Watch is for you, take a look at the common themes we noted in user feedback.

Most Mentioned Pros (in order of of mentions high to low):
  • Attractive
  • Accuracy
  • Easy to Read
  • Easy to Use
  • Comfortable
  • Lightweight
  • Size
  • Responsive
Most Mentioned Cons (in order of of mentions high to low):
  • Poor Customer Service
  • User manual not helpful or missing
  • Defective or stopped working
  • Download problems
  • Poor battery life
GolfBuddy LD2 Ladies Golf Watch Specifications
GolfBuddy Ladies LD2
Course Download Fees No
Pre-loaded with Courses Yes
Full Hole Views Yes
Slope / Elevation No
Battery Life 6 hrs
Battery Lithium-ion recharge
Size (Width x Height x Depth) 2.29 in. x 1.18 in. x .49 in.
Measure Shot Distance Yes
Screen Size 1.18"
Resolution 52x32 px
Display Type LCD
Weight 1 oz.
Rainproof Yes
Touch Screen No
Touch Targeting No
Manual Pin Positioning No
Stat Tracker No
Digital Scorecard No
Computer Analysis Tools No
Ground Verified Yes
Alternate Targets Yes
Green Rotates to your shot angle Yes
USGA Compliant (local rule) Yes
Notes Dual shot distance measurement instead of just measuring shot distance for one shot.
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User Manual for GolfBuddy Ladies LD2

Budget-Friendly Golf Watches

Below are our picks for the best budget-friendly golf watches. They may not pack as many features as the more expensive watches, but they sure do perform the basics as well or better!


Best Budget-Friendly Golf GPS Watches
Garmin Approach S10 - Read Full Review

The Garmin Approach S10 is the one we've been waiting for! It's small, lightweight, and simple to use. It doesn't try to be a multi-sport watch or a smartwatch. It puts the focus squarely on golf. On the main screen, you will see distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, plus the hole number and par. The shape of the green is also right there on the same screen. Many golfers will never even need to touch the watch after starting a round. If you need hazard information, it's one screen away. You can also keep score on this watch and upload your scores to Garmin Express so your playing history is always available. Although this golf watch has all the features most golfers want, for those looking for stats or hole views, Garmin has other golf watches you will want to check out.

Rating: 4.56  
Weight: 1.2 oz.   Legal: Yes
Garmin Approach S10
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Bushnell Phantom 2 - Read Full Review

This is the perfect golf GPS for 95% of the golfers we serve. The large font and transreflective display make it easy to see in all conditions. The BITE magnet holds firmly to your cart or if you're walking, the included belt clip or carabiner make it easy to find distances when you need them. The new GreenView feature allows for more precise distance by selecting a pin position. This unit charges in under 3 hours and gets up to 18 hours of play. It's super simple to use right out of the box. And, we love that it's fully waterproof so you can leave it up on those rainy days!

Rating: 4.55  
Weight: 2.75 oz.   Legal: Yes
Bushnell Phantom 2
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Garmin Approach G12 - Read Full Review

As expected, Garmin impressed us with this feature-pack golf GPS device. The most exciting thing about the Garmin G12 is the 30-hour battery life! That doubles the battery life of the Garmin G10 and it's 10 hours more than the Bushnell Phantom 2. At this price point, this will be the deciding factor for many golfers. Others will choose this model to use with the Garmin Approach CT10 Club Tracking System. The Garmin Approach G12 matches or exceeds the features of other golf GPS units in the same category. The price is a little bit higher, but if it's in your budget, the battery life, stat tracking, and analysis tools, make this worthy of your shortlist!

Rating: 4.48
Weight: .9 oz.   Legal: Yes
Izzo Swami 6000 - Read Full Review

The Izzo Swami 6000 has a colorful screen with LARGE easy-to-read distances to the front, middle, and back of every green. That alone makes this the ideal pick for anyone who might struggle to see the numbers on other golf GPS devices. Honestly, it's just nicer to look at than others in this price range. We're also impressed by the rave reviews on battery life. Izzo claims 16 hours and users seem to agree. Although the Swami 6000 has a built-in scorecard, users struggled to use it. If you don't record your score before heading to the next tee, it forwards to the next hole and you can't go back until you're 60 yards down the next fairway. That's not exactly the perfect time to enter your score, so we don't recommend this model if scorekeeping is on your desired feature list. The price point on this model is perfect for what it offers. It's easy to see and easy to use. It also provides distances to hazards and doglegs and a strong magnet for mounting to your cart or the included belt clip.

Rating: 4.42  
Weight: 3.4 oz.   Legal: Yes
Izzo Swami 6000
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GolfBuddy Voice 2 SE - Read Full Review

GolfBuddy has a winning formula with its GB Voice line. It's small, easy to use, lightweight, with an LCD screen, as well as voice distances. Plus, it's budget-friendly. The GolfBuddy GB Voice 2 SE increases the battery life over previous models to up to 20 hours. That's the most important feature of this solid performing compact golf GPS. We love it! We also love that you can see distances to the front, middle, and back of each green and also switch over to see the shape of the green when you want. It comes preloaded with 40,000 golf courses and can be updated using GolfBuddy GB Manager.

Rating: 4.41  
Weight: 1.1 oz.   Legal: Yes
GolfBuddy Voice 2 SE
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Bushnell Excel Golf Watch Review

The Bushnell Excel Golf Watch has been retired. Check out our current recommendations for today's best golf rangefinders..

'Bushnell Excel Golf Watch'

Bushnell Excel Golf Watch
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Our Bushnell Excel Golf Watch Review will be available soon!

We’re excited about Bushnell’s latest entry into the golf watch market because this is their first effort at adding a wider variety of features. However, we don’t think they will be retiring the highly-rated Bushnell Neo Ion anytime soon, because of it’s appeal to golfers who just want an easy-to-use watch which provides distances to their targets and not much more.

Bushnell Excel Golf Watch User Rating: 2.86 Stars 2.86 out of 5 (18 reviews)

Score compiled from multiple sources.

Although it’s clear Bushnell is still trying to ensure the new watch is simple to use, the Excel adds features that will appeal to golfers who want more.

Let’s start with the Bushnell Excel key features:
  • Weather Information
  • Bluetooth integration with iPhone or Android smartphone for course updates without needing to sync with a computer
  • E-mail, text, and other notifications from your iPhone or Android smartphone.
  • The Swing Pro feature allows the user to monitor swing speed and swing tempo.This will be interesting for those who spend time on the driving range.
  • Book tee times (also works through the App)
  • Easy-to-Read Front/Center/Back Distances
  • Up to 4 Hazard Distances Per Hole
  • Pre-loaded with 35,000+ courses from 30 countries
  • Shot distance calculator
  • Auto Course Recognition
  • Auto Hole Advance
  • Pedometer and Fitness Trackers
  • Full front optical mounted color display with auto brightness adjustment
  • Stopwatch/Alarm/Timer
  • Waterproof
  • No membership or download fees
Included Bushnell App features:
  • App included with purchase of Excel Watch
  • Full color aerial views of hole layouts with distances
  • 3D flyovers with distances
  • Scorekeeping
  • Book tee times (also can be done on the watch)
  • Swing analysis stats
  • Pedometer and Fitness Trackers

The main features that Bushnell left off of the watch and put solely onto the app are the scorecard, stat-tracking, and full hole views with touch targeting. The Swing Pro features and weather information can found on the watch, but Swing Pro data can be analyzed more fully within the app. The idea of having to use the app during your round would seem to make the notifications component unnecessary, however we can see some users only using the app for it’s Swing Pro metrics on the driving range and still wanting notifications during the round. It remains to be seen if users will like Bushnell’s implementation of these advanced features, but we’re optimistic.

Bushnell Excel Golf Watch Specifications
Bushnell Excel Golf Watch
Course Download Fees No
Pre-loaded with Courses Yes
Full Hole Views Yes
Slope / Elevation No
Battery Life 14 hrs
Battery Rechargeable
Size (Width x Height x Depth) 2.12 in. x 1.77 in. x .54 in.
Measure Shot Distance Yes
Screen Size .98 x .98
Resolution N/A
Display Type color
Weight 1.6 oz.
Rainproof Yes
Touch Screen No
Touch Targeting No
Manual Pin Positioning No
Stat Tracker No*
Digital Scorecard No*
Computer Analysis Tools Y*
Ground Verified N/A
Alternate Targets Yes
Green Rotates to your shot angle N/A
USGA Compliant (local rule) Yes
Notes Weather info. Bluetooth connectivity to iPhone or Android phone for notifications, course updates, and game analysis. Bushnell App is free to Excel owners and includes full hole views and distances as well as scorecard, stat-tracking & swing metric
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GolfRangefinderShop.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you buy anything after clicking through, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep the site up and running, so thank you! We work very hard to obtain the correct information about product features, but cannot make any guarantees about the accuracy. Please double check with the merchant or manufacturer before making a purchase.

User Manual for Bushnell Excel Golf Watch