Whether you are an experienced golfer or just starting with your first swings, you want to keep on perfecting your game. Like every area of our life, we are either growing and improving or regressing; there is no other way. It is smart to use all available accessories and gadgets to help us improve our game; enter the best golf GPS watch.
You all know that men and women have been getting very close to perfecting their golf skills long before GPS watches even existed. We are not claiming that having the best golf GPS watch is essential to get good at golf. However, having the best golf GPS watch is extremely practical and provides you with information that can noticeably improve your game.
That said, golf GPS watches may not be for everyone. If you are a person who is irritated by the new-age technology and is determined not to get used to a golf GPS watch, you better stay away from that useful gadget. Moreover, if you are one of those, this article is absolutely not for you.
However, if you are looking to learn all there is to know about golf GPS watches and take a closer look at the 10 best golf GPS watches, then you came to the right place.
We will start with the basic information about the best golf GPS watch models to ensure that we are all on the same page. Then we will take a closer look at the 10 best golf GPS watch models, which will enable you to determine if any of those is the right choice for you. In addition, we will provide you with a detailed Best Golf GPS Watch Buyer’s Guide, which will help you make the right purchase, even if you decide to stray away from the 10 best golf GPS watch models presented herein, for both online or in-person purchase.
Are you ready to dig in and discover which is the best golf GPS watch? Let’s do this, shall we?
Speciality of a Golf GPS Watch
If you are new to smartwatches and GPS watches, you need to learn the basics before moving forwards. First, GPS watches entered the market many years ago. They’ve been primarily intended for runners, cyclers, trackers, and other outdoor professional athletes and sports enthusiast that wanted to track their performance and range covered.
Technology came a long way since the first GPS watches came out. And in the last couple of years, a huge development has been made in smartwatches, which are normally GPS watches as well.
A GPS watch is nothing but a regular watch with a built-in GPS signal receiver and can track your location. Of course, these days, GPS watches pack many advanced and extreme features. More importantly, many also offer touch screens, which can make the use even more practical.
A Golf GPS Watch is a GPS watch primarily designed for golfers and packs convenient features to help golfers track and later analyze their game. All those advanced features can be convenient, and we will take more about them later on; however, the most amazing features that the best golf GPS watch provides you with is the exact map of a golf course. It is like having a detailed Google map for your golf terrain.
If you are an experienced golfer, you must have heard of a hand-held golf GPS device. Well, the best golf GPS watch completely replaces a hand-held golf device and lets you strap it on your wrist for maximum convenience and a stylish look. Moreover, the best golf GPS watch will also track your other fitness parameters and help you perform at your best.
10 Best Golf GPS Watch Models in 2024
This is the section that most of you’ve been waiting for. Herein you will learn which are the 10 best golf watches and if any of these is the right pick for you.
1. Garmin Approach S20 GPS Golf Watch – Overall Best Choice
The Garmin Approach S20 GPS Golf Watch provides you with all information you need for your next shot from an easy-to-understand graphical user interface. This golf GPS watch includes AutoShot game tracker, which measures and auto-records shot distances and shot location. It also provides you with better guidance during your approach with distances to hazards, doglegs, and layups. Its CourseView feature automatically updates frequently played courses for free. The Garmin Approach S20 GPS Golf Watch combines sporty design with activity tracking and smart notifications, making it useful for other activities.
Main Features:
- High-resolution display
- Comfortable and breathable fitting strap
- Huge display size (appropriate for seniors)
- High level of multimedia compatibility
- AutoShot Game Tracker
- 40,000 Preloaded Golf Courses
- CourseView
- Green View Display
- Digital Scorecard
- Smart Notifications
- Activity tracker
- Garmin Connect – Your Golf Community
2. Garmin Approach X40 GPS Golf Watch and Activity Tracker
The Garmin Approach X40 GPS Golf Watch and Activity Tracker offers exact distance at a glance to the front, middle, and back of the greens, plus hazards and doglegs, which are all extremely useful. It offers a stylish design and maximum simplicity, which comes at the cost of a monochrome display. It is preloaded with 40,000+ International golf courses, plus free lifetime course updates available. The watch packs with AutoShot game tracker that automatically tracks shots along with the fairway and measures distances. It also tracks heart rate at the wrist day or night to provide more accurate calories burned information.
The Garmin Approach X40 GPS Golf Watch and Activity Tracker includes smart notifications (you receive texts, emails, calls, and social media alerts on your watch). This golf GPS watch’s display size is relatively small and measures only 25.4 x 10.7 mm, so you shouldn’t have problems with smaller fonts. It is compatible with iOS and Android (version 4.3 and onwards), PC, and Mac. It comes in regular and extra-large sizes.
Main Features:
- Very stylish design (available in several colors)
- Very lightweight
- May be used as a personal chronometer
- Automatic tracking system
- Measures shot accuracy and other parameters very accurately
- Water-resistant (up to 40 M)
- Compatible with Garmin TruSwing
- Activity tracking
- Smart notifications
- Free lifetime course updates
- Precise distances to the front, middle, and back of the greens, plus hazards and doglegs
- 40,000+ golf courses preloaded
3. GolfBuddy GB9 WTX Smartwatch Golf GPS
GolfBuddy GB9 WTX Smartwatch Golf GPS is a user-friendly watch that has a classic look. However, it provides advanced technology that rewards golfers on the course. It is a great option for mid-level golfers. The Golfbuddy GB9 WTX packs a slick touchscreen that is very responsive and provides the golfers with insight into everything they could need when playing around. The GB9 offers one of the more detailed screens we’ve seen in a wristwatch. It includes short distances and broad overviews of each hole.
A major downside of this golf GPS watch isGolfBuddy’s lack of a sophisticated app to integrate with the watch.
It comes preloaded with over 38,000 courses with free lifetime updates. The GolfBuddy GB9 WTX Smartwatch Golf GPS also provides a wealth of information from yardage, pin selection, hazards, shot distance, and a hole overview, all as you play the course.
Main Features:
- Simple, responsive, and fast touch screen
- Comes preloaded with 38,000+ courses
- Compliant with USGA and R&A regulations
- A bright screen makes display well visible even on a bright sunny day
- Very user-friendly
- Attributes measured with excellent yardage
- Worldwide dynamic green views
- Distance readings in relation to the instantaneous position of the golfer
- Course and hole auto-recognition
- Automatic display to the front, back, and center of the green
- Stylish standard round-watch design
4. Garmin Approach S60 Premium GPS Golf Watch – Premium Choice
The Garmin Approach S60 is a premium GPS golf watch, which means you will have to pay quite a noticeable amount for it. Despite the higher price, it makes the purchase well worth it for all advanced golfers. It is a sleek GPS golf watch that reflects your passion on and off the course. It comes with a QuickFit watch band for easy fitting and change of bands to best match your style.
The watch offers a large, 1.2″ sunlight-readable color touchscreen display, which offers a detailed display of courses and measured distances. The Garmin Approach S60 quickly gets your location using GPS and shows precise yardages to greens, hazards, and doglegs, all on full-color course maps. It includes more than 40 000 preloaded courses from around the world.
Main Features:
- Long-lasting battery with over 10 hours of power per charge
- 40,000 preloaded courses give specific measurements quickly to your wrist
- The quality of the band is exceptional and keeps the watch comfortable against your wrist
- The most elegant golf GPS watch on the market
- A stunning display that gives almost 3D like images
- It works as a health tracker as well
- Excels with smartphone integration that updates courses wirelessly
- Works seamlessly with Garmin’s Connect online system for a statistical breakdown of your round
- Full-color maps of the green, fairway and complete hole
- Stunning performance
5. TomTom Golfer 2 GPS Watch
The TomTom Golfer 2 GPS Watch is another great option. TomTom is a well-known GPS brand; as such, it is no surprise that they managed to produce an excellent golf GPS watch. The Golfer 2 GPS Watch offers smart shot detection, automatically detecting and recording your shots to show your distance potential and insights into your game. It includes ‘Ultimate round’ that creates a virtual summary of your Best holes on a course You’ve played regularly. That way, you get to see your potential as you look at the best combination of holes you could have played.
It also offers you an automatic scorecard so you can track your score with ease. That way, your shots are recorded and categorized for post-game analysis. The golf watch comes pre-loaded with full course data of over 40,000 international golf courses. It also lets you view unique green and hazard graphics, precise distances to the front and back of individual Hazards, along with distances to the front, center, and back of the green.
Main Features:
- Sleek design
- 40,000+ worldwide courses
- Automatic scorecard
- Shot detection system
- Syncs with MySports app
- Activity tracker included
- Battery that can last for 11 hours when using GPS
- Interchangeable bands with a tri-fold closure system for better hold on your wrist
- Water resistance up to 40 meters
- Green View function
6. Bushnell Neo Ion 2 Golf Watch – Best for Simplicity and Basic View
If you are looking for the best golf GPS watch that offers maximum simplicity, then the Bushnell Neo Ion 2 Golf Watch is the right choice for you. It is equipped with Bluetooth that allows for wireless course updates. It offers easy-to-read front/center/back distances in large fonts. Due to its simple display offers a very long battery life, which can last you 3 rounds before charging. The Bushnell Neo Ion 2 Golf Watch provides up to 4 hazard distances per hole. It also offers auto course recognition and auto hole recognition. The watch also packs a shot distance calculator and round odometer.
Its integrated fitness step counter makes it useful for everyday use. It also includes USB charging, which is also used as a sync cable. It comes preloaded with 36, 000+ courses in more than 30 countries.
Main Features:
- Up to 4 hazard distances per hole
- Auto course and hole recognition
- Shot distance calculator & round odometer
- Preloaded with 36, 000+ courses in more than 30 countries
- Long battery life – capacity for three rounds before charging
- Bluetooth for wireless course updates
- Large display font
- Reversible bands
- Front/center/back distances
- Clear readout presents accurate yardages from a variety of locations on the course
- Relatively affordable price
7. GolfBuddy WTX – Best Value
Purchasing a golf watch can quickly turn into an expensive endeavor, which is not something occasional golfers may be willing to go for. Enters the GolfBuddy WTX Smart Golf Watch. This is an affordable golf watch that features all of the high-end features of the top of the market golf watches. It packs a full color, touchscreen, and GPS to show you your exact location and distance to the green’s front, center, and back. Furthermore, it can also display a map of each hole, which can be very helpful.
The GolfBuddy WTX watch includes a pedometer, smartphone notifications, automatic course detection, and hole recognition, as well as more than 38,000 pre-loaded courses, which is all pretty spectacular. The updating process is not too complicated and is performed via Bluetooth with the GolfBuddy app. This black golf GPS watch includes six face display options, including a simple clock for everyday use with any clothing.
Main Features:
- 38,000+ worldwide golf courses
- Distance, hazards, and pinpointing features
- Full smartphone compatibility
- Touchscreen
- The best-rated entry-level golf GPS watch
- Very attractive display
- Green view
- Step counter
- Corresponding apps allows for decent post-game analysis
8. Bushnell Golf 2017 Excel Golf GPS Watch
The Bushnell Golf 2017 Excel Golf GPS Watch is Bushnell’s step up from the above-listed Neo Ion 2. It offers a beautiful display and overall style. It also prides itself on a very long battery life, which can go for 3 full rounds on a single charge. The Bushnell Golf 2017 Excel Golf GPS Watch comes preloaded with 35,000+ courses, more than most players will ever need. It also integrates a fitness step counter for your daily step count goal-reaching. It offers easy-to-read front/center/back distances and up to 4 hazard distances per hole. The watch is water-resistant and includes a USB charging cord.
The Bushnell Golf 2017 Excel Golf GPS Watch offers Bluetooth integration with smartphones for course updates without sync with a computer. Its full-front optical mounted color display with auto brightness adjustment makes it look very nice on any wrist. It also helps to see the display well, even on a bright sunny day.
Main Features:
- 35,000+ courses
- Long battery life, which can go for 3 full rounds on a single charge
- Shot distance calculator
- Water resistance
- Bluetooth integration
- Easy-to-read front/centre/back distances
- Up to 4 hazard distances per hole
- Integrated fitness step counter
- Color display
- Auto brightness adjustment
- Call, message & calendar notifications
9. Callaway GPSy Sport Watch
The Callaway GPSy Sport Watch is a great option for golfers. It offers a substantial amount of practical features at a reasonable price. The watch is load with 30,000 courses, which are auto-recognized, are tracked as you play, meaning access to green lay-up and carry distances, as well as hazards and doglegs.
The Callaway GPSy Sport Watch will also auto-score and track your steps as well. The battery should last between 10 and 12 hours in GPS mode, placing it near the top of the longevity pile.
This is a squared golf watch, which offers a modern look and many advanced features on a bright and large-enough display. It offers a full history of your previous plays, score history, score stats, and more.
Main Features:
- 30,000 courses
- Good battery life
- Tracks as you play
- No subscription or download fees
- Auto-hole advance
- Shot Distance Measurement
- Accurate distances to front, center, and back of green
- Accurate carry distances to hazards and doglegs
10. SkyCaddieLinx GT Golf GPS Watch
The SkyCaddieLinx GT’s specialty is that it’s not just wearable but part of a package. It is combined with an app and a club sensor, which turn the Linx GT into an advanced golf tracking system. It does a lot more than measure shots using GPS. This GPS Watch can analyze each swing with high accuracy to offer improvement tips to its user.
The manufacturers claim that the watch’s GPS increases accuracy over apps by up to 300% while saving your phone’s battery too, which is very impressive and worth using. The readout on display shows yardage on the watch, or you can get out your phone for a more detailed course map and shot analysis.
A great thing about the SkyCaddieLinx GT is that it’s not limited to golf. It also offers step, distance, and calorie tracking, enabling it to double up as a basic fitness tracker.
Main Features:
- Works as a fitness tracker
- Includes an app and club sensor
- Distance info
- Hazard info
- Course map
- Scoreboards
- 3D flyovers
- 15 smart tags
- SkyGolf 360 app
Key Features To Select A Best Golf GPS Watch
If you are serious about your golfing, you will most likely want to invest in one of the best golf GPS watch models. You may go with one of the 10 best golf GPS watch models presented above or do your own research. Whichever the case, it will help you out enormously if you know some key features to look for in the best golf GPS watch.
Distance Measurements
Distance information is an essential feature. You absolutely want your GPS watch to display accurate distance information on the screen. That way, it will assist you as your own personal caddie would, with even more accuracy. The best golf GPS watch should display distances to the green’s front, back, and center. As a bonus, it could also include yardages to hazards and doglegs.
Touch to Target
The most advanced GPS watches offer a touch to target distance information, allowing you to press a certain location on the screen to calculate a distance to that point. This feature can be beneficial if you want to manually check distances to a specific bunker or to a layup zone you’re trying to avoid, for example.
Individual Shot Tracking Distance
If available, the track shot distance feature is a separate mode on your GPS watch that will allow you to track the distance of that specific golf shot. It works with you clicking “begin” on the watch and then hit your tee shot. Then driving to your golf ball and clicking “end” once at the ball.
The golf GPS watch would then calculate the distance between the two points so you can learn how much distance you’ve covered with that shot. This feature is beneficial for learning your golf club distances.
Preloaded Golf Course Maps
Not so long ago, you’d have to connect your golf watch to your computer and manually download lists of golf courses, which was very time-consuming and not all that practical. Luckily most best golf GPS watch models today come pre-loaded with as many as 30,000 to 45,000 golf courses from around the world.
Many of these watches will also automatically update when connected to Wi-F, while some do not require a Wi-Fi connection and will auto-update independently.
Auto-course Recognition
Many golf GPS watches have a feature known as auto-course recognition’. It uses GPS to determine which golf course you are at and automatically pulls it up for you. This enables you to start your round without having to search the course on the device manually.
Green Mapping
The green mapping function enables you to see the exact shape of the green. This can be extremely helpful, especially in those situations where you are far from the green and want to see where you should be aiming.
Green mapping will help you learn how wide the green is and the depth of the green to avoid too long and too short shots. It significantly increases your chance of landing the golf ball on the green.
Manual Pin Location
The manual pin location feature allows you to set the pin’s location on the green manually. By doing so, the watch will calculate the distance to the pin. That way, you get even more accurate information in addition to the usual front, back, and center yardages.
Battery Life
The last thing you want for your watch to let you down when you most need it. Luckily, technology already came a long way and most watches easily go on for 12h or more. You are covered for the day, and you can easily charge it during the night.
We recommend avoiding watches that offer battery life below 10 hours.
Scorecard
Instead of logging your scores on the paper scorecard (risk of losing it) or on an app that is both unpractical, you may have access to a digital scorecard feature on the golf watch itself, right on your wrist.
That way, you can track and store your golf scores with ease and review them later on. It also provides you with organized data, which you may use to analyze your performance over multiple golf rounds.
Color LCD Display
The majority of the best golf GPS watch models come with a color LCD, making the entire experience way better. This also helps for easier detailed viewing. However, many decent golf GPS watches offer a monochrome view.
Color Availability
This may not seem like an important feature to those who ignore your outfit. However, many golfers want to look as sharp as possible. For those of you, matching colors will be important. As such, make sure the color of the watch matches your outfit or that it is as neutral as possible. Black is still the most common color for the majority of the best golf GPS watch models.
Weather Resistance
Golf is an outdoor sport, and though most players prefer to do it on a nice sunny day, you never know when the storm is about to surprise you. As such, you want your best golf GPS watch to be water-resistant. That way, you do not have to worry about the rain, washing your hands, or accidentally spilling it with liquids.
Touch Screen
Touch screens may require some getting used to; however, once you get a sense of how it all works, it is extremely intuitive and makes navigating the menus and functions fast and easy. As such, it is an important feature to have in the best golf GPS watch.
User-Friendly Interface& Navigation
In general, all manufacturers aim to make their interfaces as intuitive and user-friendly as possible. However, some are more successful in that aspect than others. Ensure that the golf GPS watch you decide on is not too complicated and makes things as simple for you as possible.
Golf GPS watches can get quite a techie, confusing the average user trying to navigate them. This can lead to a long learning curve, which is something you’d want to avoid. Account for your personal preference whether you want a basic golf watch that’s easy for the amateur player to use or if you want the more advanced, high-tech golf GPS watch.
Note: Make sure to account for your skill level and your plan for golfing. It makes no sense to get a pro-level watch and spend way too much than needed if you plan on staying on the ‘Sunday golfer’ level.
Additional Features & Apps
GPS golf watches can be completely focused on golfing, or they can offer some other useful features, such as fitness tracking, steps counter, pulse rate and blood pressure sensor, and more. If you’d like any specific feature to be available in your golf GPS watch, make sure to check for those.
Furthermore, many of these features come included on an app. That way, you get access to even more data, tools, and helpful resources to improve your golf game.
For example, Garmin Connect is the app you get access to with most Garmin Golf GPS watches, and it allows for extra features like fitness activity data, golf swing data, scorecard analysis, and access to an online forum community where you can interact with others on the platform (similar to a social media site).
Golf Swing Sensor
This is an advanced feature, however, the one that can help you improve your form immensely. Golf Swing Sensors are separate devices that are physically mounted on a golf club and used to track your swings, which offers detailed data that is then used to see where you need to apply improvements. Some golf GPS watches are only compatible with a certain brand of golf swing sensors, while others work with universal ones if that feature is available in the first place.
FAQ – Frequently Ask Questions
Are golf GPS watches legal?
Of course, golf GPS watches are 100% legal and may be used by your free will. However, as you may know, golf hand-held GPS devices have long been only permitted for practice. Since golf GPS watches offer the same range of features, they fall in the same category. Though many official rules have been loosened, there are many golf tournaments where golf GPS watches are permitted. Thought final decision is up to local golf course authorities or tournament officials to determine the rules. However, when it comes to practice, you may use the best golf GPS watch as much as you please.
The GPS golf watches that packs slope reading, weather conditions, wind measurement, swing analysis, club suggestions, and the ability to contact a coach/trainer are typically not permitted on tournaments.
Should you buy a golf GPS watch?
This is completely up to you to decide. Use the above information to help you determine if you can benefit from a GPS watch. Our opinion is such that everyone who is used to playing with a regular watch should replace it with a GPS golf watch and reap the benefits without the fuss of getting used to having something strapped around the wrist (which can be annoying for some; at least until they get used to it).
Can I use a golf GPS watch for more than just golf?
All golf watches can display the time; as such, they may be used all the time. Many of them also offer fitness tracking features, which makes them suitable for other activities.
Are golf GPS watches waterproof?
This depends on the specific watch model. However, most watches can withstand rain, hand washing, and showering, but not all are suitable for swimming.
How accurate are golf GPS watches?
The best GPS watches should be accurate within 3 yards, which we can confirm with all the testing we have had performed.
How comfortable are golf GPS watches to wear while playing?
All golf watches are designed with players in mind. As such, they are comfortable and stay well in place. However, for those who are not used to wearing watches while playing, it will take a couple of rounds to get used to it.
