Golf GPS watch doesn’t only make golfers look sharp on the course, but it also helps lower their handicap. Best Golf GPS watches serve as virtual caddies that can give you more advantage on the greens. You can track your swing speed, distance, and other important data through this watch to improve your game.
In addition to practicing your short games in the backyard or a driving range, it’s also important to consider trying new tools to upgrade your game. A golf GPS watch tracks your activities, and they are affordable as well. In this article, you will find the best options that can level up your performance on the course.
Whether you’re an amateur golfer or a seasoned professional, these activity-tracking devices are handy when it comes to determining areas that you need to improve. For instance, there’s a golf watch designed to help you tee up for the first time. If you need to correct your minor faults, read until the end to learn how you can optimize your golf game.
Best Golf GPS Watches Review
Garmin Approach S10 GPS Golf Watch
The Garmin 010-02028-00 Approach S10, Lightweight GPS Golf Watch is a touchscreen watch with a 1.2-inch screen size for a more sleek look. This simple and easy-to-use GPS golf watch offers a high-resolution display to easily view your activity data. You can enjoy the smooth performance of this virtual caddie device in GPS mode for up to 12 hours on the course.
One of the main features of this golf watch is the lightweight, sunlight-readable display with transflective memory-in-pixel to allow you to view your score and other information even under broad daylight. With over 40,000 pre-loaded courses internationally, you can get details about yardages or distances to the front, middle, and back of the greens including doglegs and hazards.
The watch can keep your scores as well as the summary of your rounds, total time, and total distance played. You can also upload your scorecard to its app called Garmin Express in order to stay on track with your game. The rechargeable battery will allow you to use the Garmin 010-02028-00 Approach S10, Lightweight GPS Golf Watch on GPS mode for up to 12 hours straight.
If you want a lightweight and hassle-free golf watch that you can set to GPS mode, the Approach 10 is worth buying. After trying it out on the course for my short game, I’ve noticed that it’s comfortable to use and feel light on my wrist no matter how long I played on the course. This is also waterproof so you don’t need to worry when it gets wet in the greens due to some weather issues.
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TecTecTec ULT-G Golf GPS Watch
The TecTecTec ULT-G Stylish, Lightweight and Multi-Functional Golf GPS Watch is one of the most popular golf watches today. Many golfers are using this LCD-type watch that can be connected via Bluetooth. It offers sophisticated features that you can benefit from wherever course you play across the globe. This is designed to make activity tracking easier no matter your abilities and skill level.
There are plenty of helpful features to level up your game and enjoy your shots on the greens. For instance, Bluetooth connectivity allows you to connect your smartphone to your golf watch to get course updates for free. When it comes to operation, you only need to use four buttons to view specific data on the screen. This watch automatically connects to a satellite after the initial setup and touch of a button.
The device can measure yardages to the front, middle, and back of the greens. While playing on the course, you can check the automatic hole progression on your watch. At the same time, you can view the time on your TecTecTec ULT-G Multi-Functional Golf GPS Watch. The durable design is both dust-proof and water-resistant to withstand harsh weather conditions. In addition, the battery life can last you up to 2.5 rounds in the greens.
To see if it really delivers, I tried the TecTecTec ULT-G Stylish, Lightweight and Multi-Functional Golf GPS Watch and there were a few things I’ve noticed. It’s so simple to use and you can easily connect to the pre-loaded courses worldwide. I was also able to check the distances from all angles which are helpful in figuring out the yardage of my shots. I would say that this is worth the price, especially for amateur golfers.
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Golf Buddy Aim Golf GPS Watch
Golf Buddy is one of the trusted brands in the golf industry as they are known to produce quality golf equipment and devices such as GPS golf watches. The Golf Buddy Aim Golf GPS Watch has a 1.3-inch touchscreen LCD display where you can view 40,000 pre-loaded courses in more than 170 countries. There are many interesting features that this golf watch offers, making it a good choice for golfers of any abilities.
For the main features, the full-color LCD comes with a responsive touchscreen display to easily navigate the screen. In golf mode, you can use this watch for up to 10 hours on the greens. That would give you up to two rounds of the uninterrupted game before you need to recharge your golf watch. The Green Undulation feature shows data on the slopes and directions of the greens.
Golf Buddy has 51% of American golf course green undulations. By simply connecting the watch to a smartphone app via Bluetooth, you can enjoy course updates for free. The main purpose of this device is to provide you with accurate yardage measurements through the touchscreen display. Also, this watch will help you detect hazards in the greens while you set up for your target.
Given the modern features of the Golf Buddy Aim Golf GPS Watch, I would recommend buying this device for both professional golfers and amateurs. It automatically recognizes the hole you’re playing while you can view your digital scorecards and manual in placements. In addition, there are two black wristbands included when you purchase this golf GPS watch.
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Garmin Approach S62 Golf GPS Watch
When it comes to powerful performance, the Garmin Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch offers great design and functionality. It’s compatible with smartphones and can easily be connected to an app. The astounding advantage of this device is that it can last up to 20 hours of continued use. If you’re looking for a golf GPS watch that can deliver your expectations, this is a great option.
The main features of this device include a large 1.3-inch color touchscreen display with a durable ceramic bezel. The interchangeable QuickFit bands make it look even more stylish and appealing. There are over 41,000 CourseView maps available from different countries across the globe. The Virtual Caddie recognizes and suggests golf clubs based on certain distances you want to hit. Some factors considered include wind direction and speed so that you can make an accurate aim on the map.
Whether you’re a professional golfer or a beginner, the Garmin Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch can help improve your performance in the greens. It will show you hazards on the map while allowing you to manage blind shots particularly on the downhill and uphill shots. In addition, the PinPointer feature will give you directions to the pin in case of a blind spot. The Green View allows you to manually position pins and easily reference yardages to the front, back, and middle of the greens.
With so many great features and advantages offered by the Garmin Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch, I would say that it is worth buying. The best thing I liked the most about this device is that it can last up to 20 hours of battery life. If you only use it in smartwatch mode, it can last you for 14 days.
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SkyCaddie LX5 GPS Golf Watch
The SkyCaddie LX5 is a sleek 1.39-inch touchscreen LCD golf watch that can last up to 10 hours on GPS mode. It includes free membership for three years to more than 35,000 course maps worldwide. This is one of the largest color touchscreen full-HD display golf watches that offer stunning holes and bright green images. You can zoom in and move around the cursor for extra details and precision targeting. It helps identify hazards and layups so you can make more accurate shots.
For the main features, the IntelliGreen Technology provides the exact distances to the front, middle, and back when rotating the green. When you connect this device to a Wi-Fi connection, you can view data including your scorecards, step counter, heart rate, target list, and how many rounds can the battery last. This information is important when you’re on the course because it guides you while setting up before you swing your club.
The Dynamic RangeVue allows you to quickly decide on the club you will use for each shot based on the greens and landing areas of multiple distance arcs overlay fairways. In other words, you can play faster and smarter from tee to greens while saving strokes with this GPS golf watch. Also, the Dynamic HoleVue makes it easier to spot critical yardages on any locations in the green and determine layups, carries, and hazards. You can zoom in for clearer views before you take your shots.
When it comes to the features and specs of the SkyCaddie LX5, GPS Golf Watch, I can safely say that it's worth the price. I don’t have any problem viewing the numbers because they expand when you click on them. More importantly, you can see your scores and track stats for every round including your total putts, mishits, greens in regulation, and your total score. After wearing it on the range, it helped me analyze my trends, errors, and strengths to improve my game.
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Garmin Approach S60 GPS Golf Watch
Garmin is an established brand in the golf industry that offers quality equipment and devices for many years. The Garmin Approach S60, Premium GPS Golf Watch features a 1.2-inch touchscreen display that quickly determines your location and shows accurate distances to greens, doglegs, and hazards. This sleek golf watch is compatible with QuickFit 22mm watch band.
The colored touchscreen display can easily be read even under direct sunlight. Besides golfing, there are also other outdoor activity profiles you can create such as rowing, stand-up paddleboarding, skiing, and snowboarding. This GPS watch can quickly find your location and show accurate distances through full-HD colored course maps. The bezel is made of ceramic or polymer material.
You can easily change the style using compatible QuickFit bands without any tools. In golf mode, the device can last you for up to 10 hours. If you’re only using it in watch mode, the battery life can last up to 10 days. There are over 40,000 re-loaded courses you can choose from across the globe. You can sync this device to your smartphone for real-time notifications including emails, texts, calls, and alerts.
When I tried the Garmin Approach S60, Premium GPS Golf Watch, it was so easy to connect the device to the Garmin Golf App. It allowed me to participate on leaderboards in any of the pre-loaded courses with my friends. You can also download widgets, apps, and custom faces on Connect IQ Store. It’s worth buying because I enjoy customizing my watch face using photos from my smartphone using the Face It app.
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CANMORE TW353 Golf GPS Watch
With a 7-inch LCD display, the CANMORE TW353 Golf GPS Watch is one of the sizable golf watches that are in style and convenient to use. It offers more than 40,000 pre-loaded worldwide courses with no subscription fee. You can also download new information from CANMORE’s site and instantly upload it through USB on Linux, Windows, and Mac. The device is only your guide so that you can manage your games in a better way.
With simple functions, it’s easy to navigate the course finder so you can switch holes automatically while enjoying instant access to yardages in the green. In addition, you can also view your scorecard, shot distance, hazard distance, and digital clock to check your time on the course. The flexible rubber wristband is soft and comfortable on the skin, it feels light when you wear it during your game.
The high-contrast white-on-black monochrome display can easily be read even in broad daylight. This sleek gadget can make your games more interesting as you have all the useful data you need to hit the fairways. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an amateur in golf, the CANMORE TW353 Golf GPS Watch will help improve your playability and overall performance in the greens.
Given the great features of this GPS golf watch, I would say that it is worth buying. However, if you want a touchscreen device, this might not be what you’re looking for. The human interface input of this device is a button instead of a touchscreen LCD. But when it comes to shot measurement, this is a reliable partner in the green. When you walk toward the ball, your CANMORE TW353 Golf GPS Watch will show the distance covered.
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Garmin Approach S42 GPS Golf Smartwatch
The Garmin Approach S42, GPS Golf Smartwatch has a stylish gunmetal ceramic bezel with a black silicon wristband that will make you look sharp on the course. The 1.2-inch screen size of this golf smartwatch has a touchscreen interface input for quick navigation. You can use this in GPS mode for up to 15 hours in the green. With interchangeable quick-release wristbands, you can change your style for every game.
Some of the main features of this gadget include the Green View Technology which allows you to position pin manually, over 42,000 CourseView maps accessible from anywhere in the world and the AutoShot round analyzer to auto-record and measure shot distances. Ball contact and lie may affect tracking shots while pairing with Approach CT10, which is sold separately, improves auto-game tracking.
When you pair the device with the smartphone app, you can enjoy real-time notifications as well as activity tracking features including sleep, steps, and sports profiles. You can also pair the Garmin Approach S42, GPS Golf Smartwatch to the Garmin Golf app to get live scoring, stats, and automatic scorecard upload in one place. If you only use this in smartwatch mode, it can last up to 10 days.
When it comes to battery life, I would say that this is a good golf smartwatch to buy. The available courses worldwide also make it easier to choose where you can play. I like how this smartwatch allows me to position the pin manually and check the distance so I can go further. More importantly, I can receive smart notifications no matter where I am and track my steps. I can play more rounds with the 15-hour battery life.
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Bushnell Neo Ion 2 Golf GPS Watch
Sleek design and comfortable feel, are the words that ultimately describe an ideal golf watch. Bushnell makes golfing in style simply achievable for modern golfers around the world. With longer-lasting battery life, the Neo Ion 2 Golf GPS Watch is one of the most reliable golf watches for all types of golfers. It can last up to 12 hours of teeing, measuring, and striking, and include batteries in the package.
The reversible wristband makes it easier to match your golf outfit and play in style. The device gives wireless course updates on your smartphone when connected via Bluetooth. There are more than 36,000 pre-loaded courses in over 30 countries. You can use the Neo Ion golf watch for three rounds straight on the course before you need to recharge. The shot distance calculator will show you the yardage of your preceding shots with easy-to-read front, back, and center distances.
The Bushnell Golf App provides free access to activity tracking information including hole layouts, hole flyovers, and course updates. If you’re using a rangefinder and don’t get accurate results, this golf watch can provide you with more precise shot distances, courses, and hazards in the green. It’s easy to read even under the sun when you’re playing midday.
When I tried the Bushnell Neo Ion 2 Golf GPS Watch, I noticed that it finds courses easily and quickly. In addition, the battery life and hazard function helped improve my shots throughout the game. Unlike my old golf GPS watch, the Ion 2 has interchangeable bands so I can easily replace it with the color I want. This is worth the price and a good investment if you want to level up your playability.
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Golf Buddy Aim W11 Golf GPS Watch
The Golf Buddy Aim W11 Golf GPS Watch has a 1.3-inch touchscreen LCD display where you can easily view your shot distances, scorecards, and other related information. The battery life can last you up to 10 straight hours of rounds on the course. You can simply navigate the screen to find courses and your location. The device can also be set to the on-screen mode or low light mode in a few swipes.
The main features of this new model include a more responsive touchscreen, dynamic shot distances, and an easy-to-read display. The Smart Hole View automatically zooms in and out to give you a clearer view of the green. With GLONASS and GPS satellite reception, you can enjoy a quick-start function with accurate yardage information. The high visibility LCD is waterproof so you can wear this device even on a rainy day.
The device is ultra-light, you won’t even feel it while playing golf. There are three different colors of straps included in the package to quickly change styles when you want to. The Green Undulation shows the slopes in the greens using different colors. The bright red color refers to the highest point while the dark blue color means the lowest point. This feature makes the Golf Buddy Aim W11 Golf GPS Watch a unique device you need when playing golf.
I have tried this device myself and enjoyed playing 45 holes straight in golf mode. The 600 mAh battery capacity is indeed impressive on a single charge. I can easily pair it with my smartphone to view data and store information in one place. After arriving at the course, I was able to easily adjust the height difference setting and the Golf Buddy Aim W11 Golf GPS Watch quickly recognized the course.
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Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Golf GPS Watches
Recently, wearable technology became more popular in the sports industry, particularly in golf. Golf GPS watches have evolved and there are so many models that you can now choose from. So what are the most important things that you need to consider when shopping around for a new golf watch?
Pre-Loaded Golf Courses
The following are the best features that you should look for when buying a GPS golf smartwatch to fit your needs. Remember that expensive models offer more advanced features, but you can still get premium features from cheaper golf watches if you know where to look.
Before, you need to manually download golf courses to your golf watch using a computer. Today, most golf smartwatches come with pre-loaded courses worldwide. Some devices automatically update the list when connected to the internet, while other models update on their own even without a Wi-Fi connection.
Distance Information
An ideal golf watch offers accurate distances on the screen while you’re on the green. It should serve as your personal caddie so that you can determine the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green. In addition, look for a model that provides distances to doglegs and hazards.
Touchscreen Interface
The touchscreen display in GPS watches is important for easy navigation. This feature allows you to effortlessly press the screen and find the information you need. On the other hand, you can also use the buttons found on the sides of the golf watch to view different functions if it’s not touchscreen LCD.
Battery Life
Ideally, you want your golf GPS watch to last throughout your rounds. Good battery life can keep up with an entire 18-hole game. However, you should look for a model that can last you up to several rounds without charging constantly. Golf watches today usually offer 10 to 18 hours of battery life.
Swing Analysis
The built-in tools that come with this feature help track swing speed, swing path, ball speed, launch angle, and other metrics to analyze your swing. This will guide you in learning your errors and adjusting your swing to improve your overall swing metrics.
Green Mapping
This feature allows golfers to check the actual form and condition of the greens. This comes in handy when you’re too distant from the green as it will give you a tip on where to aim your shot. Green mapping also helps understand the dimension of the green and its depth so you can make a smarter shot decision.
Scorecard
Digital scorecards on a golf watch allow you to store your scores for future reference instead of recording your score on a paper scorecard or an app. By investing in a golf smartwatch, you don’t have to worry about losing your scores when you need to view them.
With this accessible data, you can check your performance for each round and see where you can improve more.
FAQs
The GPS system in a golf watch allows the device to track the location using technology that is usually built-in among phones, cars, and sports devices. Originally, GPS was used in the military field but later on opened for public use. Today, more GPS satellites orbit the earth to pin locations on your golf watch using the signals sent off by each satellite. Data is recalculated to get your location accurately on a hole.
Golf GPS watches are considered rangefinder devices along with other handheld GPS tools and rangefinders. Before, rangefinder devices got banned in tournaments and were solely used in non-competitive rounds such as practice rounds. The advancements in technology, however, have changed the golf rules and eventually allows GPS watches during competitive games.
The price of each golf GPS watch depends on the features it offers. Usually, the more advanced a golf watch is, the higher the cost of acquiring them. If you’re an amateur or just starting to play golf, it’s okay to get a basic golf watch that offers limited features. Some of the most popular brands that you can compare prices with include Bushnell, Garmin, and SkyCaddie.
There are so many reasons to buy a golf GPS watch, basic distance tracking being the most important one. The purpose is to learn approximate distances to the greens as well as hazards. However, it’s also helpful in tracking your shots and touch locations to get accurate yardages. Distance information is important in making smarter choices when it comes to choosing clubs that complement your swing and yardage to the green.
Depending on the golf watch brand you’ve purchased, it may or may not come with an additional feature such as access to a golf app. If it’s designed with a compatible app, you can access more data, resources, and other helpful tools to improve your performance on the golf course. Considering this feature when buying a new golf watch to enjoy extra details including scorecard data, swing analysis, fitness tracking, and more.
Currently, PGA doesn’t allow the use of distance-measuring devices and golf rangefinders during PGA tournaments on Thursdays through Sundays. The only time you can use it is during practice games to study the green and prepare for an upcoming tournament play. For the USGA, artificial devices to gauge or measure distances are banned and come with a penalty when players violate this rule.
Our Top Picks
Today, we covered the best golf GPS watches that you may consider when buying a new golf activity tracking device. This also includes some of the main features that make golf watch better than other models, while you can learn a thing or two from the FAQs section for the most common questions that golfers ask.
Now, we have come up with our top three picks that include the following:
- Garmin Approach S10 GPS Golf Watch
- Golf Buddy Aim Golf GPS Watch
- SkyCaddie LX5 GPS Golf Watch
The Garmin Approach S10 GPS Golf Watch is on the top of our list because it stores your scores including the summary of your game, total distance played, and total time on the course. The device also allows you to quickly upload your scorecards to the Garmin Express app. With this golf watch, it’s easier to keep track of your game no matter how many holes you play. Also, the battery life can last you for up to 12 hours in GPS mode.
The main reason the Golf Buddy Aim GPS Watch is our number two on the list is that it features a full-color LCD display that responds easily when you touch it to view data. It looks so stylish and has easy-to-read numbers even under direct sunlight. It may only last up to 10 hours of battery life, but this device comes with Green Undulation so you can easily check the slopes in the green.
The SkyCaddie LX5 GPS Watch features Dynamic RangeVue which shows you the right club to use on specific shot distances. It helps you make smarter choices while playing faster in each round. This GPS golf watch is designed to reduce strokes and mishits, especially when there are hazards and doglegs on the course. Together with the Dynamic HoleVue feature, you can also see critical yardages and spot hazards, carries, and layups in the green. The display can be zoomed in to get a clearer picture of the green before you strike the target.
Buying a golf GPS watch is a personal choice for golfers. It may not be an essential tool to use during your games, but it helps improve your shot distances and swing. If you’re looking to level up your playability, choose the best golf watch from this list and let us know why you want to buy that brand.