Course coverage is 99% in our course coverage test, where we select a random cross-section of courses across the country and evaluate whether those courses are available within a manufacturer’s database. Critical Golf Test: The Bushnell NEO XS watch leverages the course database from Bushnell’s partner, iGolf.The NEO XS comes with a small plastic soft-bristled brush for cleaning the charging contacts on the watch, which is a first among the products we’ve tested.Once you’ve gone through the setup process, just charge up the battery and you’re good to go.Had we known what we were supposed to do, the process probably would’ve only taken about 15 minutes, but as it was we were wandering through the desert for what felt like 40 years (and was actually about 45 minutes). This was neither intuitive nor well described in the instructions. Then and only then does the page refresh and indicate that the device is connected and that you have the ability to download the latest GPS course file. Ah – the trick is that you actually have to select a course (literally any course). When that was done we trudged back to the Bushnell/iGolf web site to the “Courses” page, connected the NEO XS…and then couldn’t figure out what to do next.
Next we were asked to restart the computer. Again, our Mac didn’t want to open the file, but our newfound familiarity with circumventing the security protocol let us open and install it. We then headed back to the Bushnell/iGolf web site to download the device driver. We had issues opening the installer because it wasn’t recognized as “safe” software – but after following the instructions given by the Mac on how to circumvent the security protocol we were eventually able to get iGolf Sync installed. We followed the instructions for obtaining course updates, first registering with iGolf, Bushnell’s golf course database provider and then downloading the iGolf Sync browser plug-in to a desktop computer (in this case, a Mac).(This is not unique to the NEO XS – it seems to be the case with almost every watch we test.) No wall charger is provided, so the only way to charge the Bushnell NEO XS is by plugging the USB cable into your computer.It still takes a little bit of wiggling around, but when everything is where it should be it’s pretty secure. The charging clip is basically the same as the one for the previous generation Bushnell NEO-X watch – there are two little plastic “guide pins” that fit into corresponding holes on the watch that lock the clip into place.