Game Golf experience

[Lordbridle]

The Microsoft Band 2 had a great app that used the accelerometer and GPS along with Course maps to give you current yards to hole, tracked your swings and such, any news if there will be a golf app for the fitbit Ionic?

Moderator edit: edited title for clarity

[Appin]

"Do not buy a Fitbit watch for golf." I have to say I don't agree! I have an Ionic and use the Game Golf App and I find it easy to use and accurate. Do not buy a Fitbit watch JUST for golf would be reasonable because the Game Golf app is fairly basic but overall I have enjoyed having the Ionic especially now that I don't lose count of the lengths when I go swimming!

[Bikerdog]

I keep getting the reset to watch face issue, it's really annoying as you have to re-enter the passcode and start the app again. I'm trying to golf, not play with my watch. I suspect no one has reported this to Game Golf so couldnt hurt to let them know about it.

[RioRon]

Ok, today I tried the Golf GPS app instead of the Game Golf app as
promised. Well, all started out really well but by the time I got to the
ninth hole things got wonky. It would go off and I'd turn it back on and
then it would ask me to retrieve the course again. Once pressed it would
find the course and then, I would have to manually advance it to the hole
again by pressing the upper button on the right hand side. Finally, the
yardage started reporting in the thousands like 1109, etc. Crazy! I really
liked the potential in this app but something is still wrong with it in the
real golf setting. I finally just forgot it and went back to my Bushnell
watch. Frustrating, as I wanted to get my wife, who is also a golfer, the
Versa for Mother's Day but I've reconsidered. I'm not sure that these apps
will ever function correctly for a whole 18 holes.
Rio Ron

[Duggameister]

Rio Ron- thanks for posting. I will just stay w Game Golf, which I have had no problems/works great. Played 3 + rounds with it on my Ionic.

[RioRon]

Thanks! Maybe you could outline and post the specific steps you go through
as you begin the round, advance the hole etc., to keep it running on the
course. I like it and would really like get through a full round with it.
What phone are you using?
Ron

[Appin]

Hi RioRon, I use the GameGolf app without any problems. You obviously need to have the course you are going to be playing downloaded in advance through the Game Golf Fitbit App on your phone and then synched (sunk?) with your Fitbit. (I have an iPhone 5). Once you get to the course you just open the GameGolf app on the Ionic and choose the course. It sometimes takes a minute or two for the GPS to start up and then you just play. You do need to make it move from one hole to the next but by and large it is accurate and easy to read. My only issue is that I have found one course (Queens at Gleneagles) that would not download but other than that I'm very happy with the app. Hope that helps. 

[Bikerdog]

I'm using a Android Pixel 2 but you wouldn't think the phone would have anything to do with the Ionic getting reset while using Game Golf - but maybe. Think I'll try powering it off or stopping Bluetooth during my next round see if it makes a difference. 

Spoiler

[RioRon]

Ok, spent more than an hour on the phone again with Fitbit today. I could
not get the new update for the Ionic to load. Through my conversation, I
learned that Fitbit has been having difficulty with the bluetooth
communication feature between the Fitbit and other devices i.e.phones. The
new update released today was engineered to improve this feature. I asked
about the golf apps that I have been attempting to use and the advisor told
me it's definitely not the app, Fitbit or phone, but is a software issue
that they are still attempting to correct. So, the quirky things with the
apps appears now to be a software communication issue of the Fitbit. On
Monday, I will try out the apps during my round of golf again and hopefully
see significant improvement in the functionality of both the app and
Fitbit. I'll keep you posted.
Rio Ron

[gosc]

Why isn't the Game Golf App available for the Fitbit Versa?  I hope it's on the roadmap to release to Versa users as we need an alternative to the Golf GPS which isn't that reliable at this stage.  Thanks.

[EWR]

The game golf app uses the gps of the watch while versa does not have gps. The full experience is to play without your phone.

[RioRon]

I attempted to use both of the available Golf apps yesterday during my
round on the Ionic. The communication pairing necessary for the apps with
the Ionic were worse than before after the recent fitbit update. The Ionic
dropped apps off before you could finish a hole. It would kick totally out
of the apps and go back to the watch face on both. Too frustrating at this
point...Not good.
Rio Ron

[Bikerdog]

I played 9 holes today with my phone powered off and the golf game app never reset, first time that happened  for numerous rounds. I play again Thursday so I'll try that again, don't really need my phone while playing.

[znasir]

Please add Glen Eagle Golf Club in Bolton to the list of golf courses.

[pjh08]

Based on early bugs, I've waited to load this app until today. Now that I have loaded it, the two courses I selected will not sync/send to my Ionic device. I've reset the device - several times, turned bluetooth on/off several times, uninstalled/installed the game golf app twice. I see why others have been so frustrated. I have an android phone synced to my fitbit ionic.

I am open to suggestions, as fitbit won't get involved due to third party application (game golf).

[Bikerdog]

You didn't mention if the game golf app on the Ionic was open before you hit sync to tracker button in the game golf app on your phone, that's important.

[tribri]

Getting this app (Game Golf) or any app to work should not be so difficult. I am done with this app (and getting close to being done with the Ionic). After countless removing and reloading and fighting the white screen on my phone just trying to sync a course, I finally had it work one time. And then, never could get another course to sync. Interestingly, no more white screens, just stuck on "Send to Tracker" with a exclamation point (!) to sync before sending. Tried countless attempts at several courses doing many different sequences including removing and re-installing. So, today I removed it, and downloaded the Golf GPS app. Worked the very first attempt. Found the course I was on with no problem. Doesnt give the hole details as with Game Golf, but the yardage was good and really all I need. All I want to do is walk up to my ball, see the yardage and select my club. Yes, distance to hazards is very useful, but atleast Golf GPS loads and works. I will take that over the frustration of Game Golf everytime!!!!

[TimmyH3131]

This app is brutal.  I bought this in November after being told by fitbit that there would be a great golf app.  Since then all I've seen is a no good distance tool that always crashes.  And even though it's gps won't recognize the hole.  And you can only load 3 courses at a time brutal when going on a golf vacation.  I'd like my money or credit for the terrible false advertising.  I'll continue using my Garmin for golf.

Tim

[RioRon]

Tim...these golf apps are very frustrating to say the least and aren’t what
myself and others thought they would be when we bought our Ionics. Like
others who have been posting it was to be the perfect solution to my
fitness tracking and golf play. Now, I have to give up on one or the other
when I play. Can’t wear both a fitness watch and gps watch at the same
time. Looks ridiculous and is too distracting to say the least. We should
all request a refund of our investment these Ionics. I have been at this
for weeks and have more time in this untested but marketed Ionic than any
other technology I have ever owned. The app was advertised by Fitbit.
Obviously, it was not ready for prime time. I’ve been bouncing back and
forth with Fitbit over this app. However, Bikerdog may have stumbled on to
something though. He said that he played with his phone off and the Game
Golf app never reset. So maybe I’m thinking the gps on the phone might be
interfering with the gps of the Ionic. He was playing again today so,
maybe he will have something good to report.
--
Sent from Gmail Mobile

[TimmyH3131]

I agree with what you said.  I wear my ionic now because it looks nice.  My Garmin S20 is way better when it comes to golf and Bluetooth connectivity.  The ionic is so temperamental I always have to turn Bluetooth off then back on to link it.  I was told I'd be getting a watch with a great golf app.  Complete bs.  There is no way I'll turn the phone off to get this app to work as I'm using it to.play music...check emails ECT.  Fitbit needs to own up on this one.  They think we will go away with our frustration on this but I don't plan on letting them forget how they screwed me outta 400 bucks.

[kevinz821]

I agree I am about at my end of this like alot of you are. I might be trying to get a refund and just go with the Samsung watch.



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone