In February we introduced you to the newest GPS rangefinder from Bushnell Golf, the NEO Ghost. Promising to be an easy-to-use, pocket-sized alternative to their popular NEO GPS watches, the NEO Ghost sounded like an instant hit for golfers at any level.

We had the chance to test the Bushnell Golf NEO Ghost on the course a few times this week. Here are our results.

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Specifications

The Bushnell Golf NEO Ghost -- which is about the size of your palm -- is ready to use immediately out of the box. It comes pre-loaded with over 33,000 golf courses so there's no need to waste time downloading course files from the net. The unit boasts a long battery life that lasts upwards of three 18-hole rounds on a single charge (about 14 hours).

The user interface is simple and informative, providing you with GPS distances to the front, middle and back of every green. The Bushnell Golf NEO Ghost also tracks up to four hazards per hole, including bunkers and water hazards. A multi-use clip is on the back of the unit, which you can use to affix to your belt or golf bag strap.

 

Performance

Our test of the Bushnell Golf NEO Ghost yielded positive results with some notion of wanting more.

The unit was very easy to use as its auto-course recognition technology found our course quickly and accurately. Distances to the green seemed on-point, while distance readings to nearby hazards were confusing. We could only assume that the hazard yardages referenced what it took to carry the trouble on a straight line from us to the hole. This can be confusing when the hazard -- such as a lake or large bunker -- has an irregular shape.

Accessing the Bushnell Golf NEO Ghost became habitual over time, especially when on our tester's belt or in the golf cart cupholder. You simply walk up to your golf ball, glance at the yardage reading and choose your club. No additional button-pushing was needed unless you wanted to check hazard yardage.

Distances on wayward shots or from neighboring fairways was also accurate. Some GPS units have a tendency to "switch over" to another hole if you walk too far off-line. The Bushnell Golf NEO Ghost did not run into this annoying problem during our test.

Overall

The Bushnell Golf NEO Ghost is a solid GPS rangefinder for anyone looking for something other than a watch design or smartphone app. At a price point of $129.99 ($90 at many major retailers), it is an affordable GPS option for golfers on a budget but in the market for such a device. While competing rangefinders may have other useful features, the Bushnell Golf NEO Ghost is certainly worth your consideration.