Golfstead is reader-supported. When you buy through links on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.
Every golfer knows that the key to lowering your scores lies in course management.
This involves knowing the distance to the front, back and center of the green as well as the yardages for other key locations on the course.
At the same time, improving your golf game can be a very lengthy and difficult task. Fortunately, the evolution of technology has done a great deal to streamline this process.
Having access to golf GPS trackers is something that golfers may sometimes take for granted, but these instruments can really be invaluable for your rounds.
Many golfers prefer to wear golf GPS watches instead of using a handheld unit because they’re much more convenient. But choosing the ideal GPS watch can seem like a daunting task because of all the different options.
If you’re looking to buy a GPS watch for golf, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll review and compare our picks for the best golf GPS watches across a range of different budgets.
Note: Golfstead has tested and/or conducted in-depth research into all of the products featured in this guide. Our editorial process for these rankings takes into account a mix of many factors which may include performance, reliability, usability, value for money, cost, and the general consensus from other users of the product. The list that follows may be reassessed or updated over time.
Our Top Picks For Golf GPS Watches
Based on our own testing, research, and experience, the following are our top selections:
- Garmin Approach S12 GPS Watch
- Garmin Approach S70 GPS Watch
- Garmin Approach S44 GPS Watch
- SkyCaddie LX5 Golf GPS Watch
- TecTecTec ULT-G Golf GPS Watch
- Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) GPS Watch
- Bushnell iON Elite Golf GPS Watch
- Garmin Approach S50 GPS Watch
- Shot Scope X5 GPS Watch
- GOLFBUDDY Voice 2S+ GPS With Wristband
Note: Prices for the items listed on this page are subject to change. To see the current price, please click on the relevant links below.
1. Garmin Approach S12 GPS Watch
Garmin’s Approach S12 watch is the successor to the popular S10 model. It can be considered an upgrade that gives you a premium round-watch design, a higher-resolution display that is sunlight-readable, and a significantly longer battery life of up to 30 hours.
Despite all this, the S12 still manages to stay very affordable! And at the time of writing, it’s the hottest-selling Garmin golf GPS watch on the market. People are snatching this up like crazy.
Features
The Approach S12 is a no-frills GPS watch which doesn’t pack a ton of superfluous features that you’ll probably never use. You can:
- retrieve green shape and distances to the front, middle and back of the green
- get distances to hazards, doglegs and layups
- keep score and upload your scorecards to the Garmin Golf app
- participate in weekly leaderboards
The S12 is preloaded with more than 42,000 golf courses from around the world, and you can download course updates wirelessly through the app.
Beyond the capabilities of the watch itself, you can upload your scorecards for every round onto Garmin Express (PC or Mac) and participate in tournaments through the Garmin Golf app.
The internal battery of the S12 is rechargeable and operates for up to 30 hours in GPS mode, which is tremendous. The S12 is also compatible with the Garmin Approach CT10 sensors for advanced club tracking.
Golfers love the speed at which this golf GPS watch finds courses, its simplicity with four buttons, light weight, affordability, and unbeatable battery life.
2. Garmin Approach S70 GPS Watch
Garmin’s Approach S70 model is expensive for a golf GPS watch, but it also enjoys stellar ratings from critics and consumers. Why? Because it’s packed with useful features and because quality matters.
The S70 is the successor to the S62 which was one of the top-selling golf GPS watches to ever hit the market.
This powerhouse makes a number of improvements over the S62 including a gorgeous AMOLED display, a lighter, more stylish design, the addition of a barometric sensor, and enhanced PlaysLike and Virtual Caddie features.
Features
The Approach S70 golf GPS watch comes in two case sizes: 42mm and 47mm. Each sports a superbright AMOLED touchscreen display with a size of 1.2″ for the 42mm variant and 1.4″ for the 47mm variant.
This AMOLED display is easy to read and a significant step up from the regular displays of past GPS watch models. It’s paired with a black ceramic bezel and interchangeable QuickFit silicone bands.
Then there’s the PlaysLike feature. With the S70, this not only provides adjusted yardages based on slopes (uphill or downhill), but thanks to the new built-in barometer, it also takes into account air pressure, temperature and wind to give you an even more accurate sense of how far your shot is really playing.
The Virtual Caddie feature has also been improved. It recommends a club for your next shot based on your average distances, wind speed and direction, elevation, and the layout of the hole.
Note that you’ll need to be connected to the Garmin Golf app through your smartphone in order to get wind information.
Beyond this, the S70 has all the features you would expect from a quality golf GPS watch:
- displays par, hole, distances to back/front/center of green, and a colour CourseView map
- ability to scroll through each hazard on the map and view the associated distances
- ability to view the true green shape and drag the pin to any location
The S70 also has some more unique features that you won’t find in lesser models, including:
- PinPointer: indicates the direction of the pin for blind shots
- advanced club tracking when paired with the Garmin Approach CT10 sensors
- a completely customizable watch face
- green contour data with an active Garmin Golf app membership
- ability to download music onto the watch
The S70 contains over 43,000 preloaded courses that can be updated. A battery charge can last up to 15 hours in GPS mode and 10 days in smartwatch mode. The watch has a 5 ATM water resistance.
It’s important to note that the Approach S70 isn’t just a fantastic GPS watch for golf. It can also be worn as an everyday smartwatch, and is even more powerful than the S62 in this respect. For a full list of features, go here.
3. Garmin Approach S44 GPS Watch
The Approach S44 is a new golf GPS watch by Garmin, designed to be a more affordable alternative to the S70 while still enjoying a 1.2-inch AMOLED display and other modern features.
This slim, lightweight smartwatch enjoys high user ratings. People just love it.
Features
The Approach S44 boasts a bright, vibrant 1.2-inch AMOLED display that is crisp and clear, even in direct sunlight. It’s paired with a silver aluminum bezel and either a black or twilight silicone band.
Of course, the Approach S44 gives you distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, as well as distances to layups and to the front and back of bunkers and water hazards.
PlaysLike Distance can be accessed with a Garmin Golf membership. The membership also gives you enhanced CourseView maps of every hole, the ability to get distances to any point, and green contour data.
Other features include:
- advanced club tracking when paired with Garmin Approach CT10 sensors
- easy scorekeeping, with the option of uploading your scores to the Garmin Golf app for advanced stat tracking and handicap calculations
- the ability to pair the watch with your smartphone (iOS or Android) and receive notifications such as for emails and texts
- clock features such as an alarm, timer and stopwatch
- smart features and activity profiles
- activity features
This GPS watch contains over 43,000 preloaded courses which can be updated via connection to the Garmin Golf app. The battery lasts up to 15 hours in GPS mode and 10 days in smartwatch mode on a single charge. The watch is water-resistant and weighs 42g.
While it’s not ideal that you need to pay for a Garmin Golf membership in order to get slope adjustment and better course maps, the Approach S44 is a very high-quality, beautiful golf GPS watch that is easy to use when playing rounds. It’s also great for everyday wear.
4. SkyCaddie LX5 Golf GPS Watch
Labelled “golf’s smartest, brightest and fastest watch” and featuring next-generation technology, the LX5 has one of the largest colour touch screens in the industry at 1.39″.
Not only do we think the LX5 has one of the nicest displays you’ll find, but it’s also very accurate, has advanced features, is easy to use, and has excellent app compatibility for post-round analysis.
The LX5 got top marks in our tests, and it also has very high consumer ratings.
Features
Right off the bat, one of the things we really like about the SkyCaddie LX5 is the fact that you can get distances to any location you want (not just the front and back of the green) simply by sliding the cursor.
Beyond that, the LX5 features yardage arcs that overlay fairway landing areas, and dynamic distances to the front, center and back of the green. Hole handicaps are also indicated.
The LX5 comes preloaded with over 35,000 courses that are ground-verified and error-corrected. This eliminates the reliability issues that other golf GPS manufacturers have, since SkyCaddie actually walks each course.
The LX5 provides accurate high-definition overhead views of each hole, and you can pan and zoom to any location as desired. The AMOLED display is easy to see even in direct sunlight.
The SkyCaddie LX5 is packed with features that we can’t all cover here. Some key ones include:
- a fast mulit-core processor
- exact shapes of greens that automatically rotate to match your angle of approach
- extensive scoring and stats tracking
- the ability to select an analog or digital watch face
- fitness features including heart rate, step count & goal, stopwatch and timer
A purchase of the LX5 includes a 3-year prepaid worldwide membership to SkyGolf 360, which enables real-time updates to all verified courses and performance analytics.
The battery lasts up to two rounds on a single charge. We recommend fully charging after each round if possible.
What really makes the LX5 so great is that it’s much more similar to a handheld unit than most other GPS watches.
5. TecTecTec ULT-G Golf GPS Watch
You may recognize TecTecTec as the brand behind the extremely successful VPRO500 rangefinder. It turns out they have a GPS watch offering as well, called the ULT-G.
The ULT-G is an extremely popular, budget-friendly, affordable watch that gives you the essential distance information you demand in a GPS unit.
Features
The TecTecTec ULT-G is a fairly basic golf GPS watch that gives you:
- the distance to the back, front and center of the green
- the distance to hazards (water, bunkers, etc.)
The ULT-G has Auto Course Recognition technology built into the watch; this accesses the satellites to identify the correct golf course, of which there are more than 38,000 preloaded. Hole-to-hole transitions are also automatic.
The ULT-G has a pretty bare-bones feature set. Unlike other GPS watches reviewed on this page, it doesn’t provide any images of holes or greens and cannot retrieve the exact distance to a flagstick.
The attraction of this unit, however, is the affordability, very good accuracy, and free updates without the need for a subscription.
6. Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) GPS Watch
The MARQ Golfer by Garmin is a special breed of GPS watch. It’s considered to be a luxury tool watch and is for those who want ultimate reliability and nothing but the best of the best.
Make no mistake: the MARQ Golfer costs a big chunk of change. But it’s built from the highest-quality components and its features are absolutely endless, both when it comes to golf and everything else.
You can think of the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) as the Approach S70 on steroids.
Features
First is the design of the watch itself. It consists of:
- 18 custom-etched hole markings on a ceramic bezel
- a grade 5 titanium 46mm case
- an AMOLED display with responsive touchscreen
- a domed sapphire lens for a super-clear view
- a French jacquard-weave nylon strap (QuickFit compatible)
When it comes to golf GPS features, the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) comes equipped with the most cutting-edge technologies Garmin has ever developed. These include:
- wind speed and direction when connected to the Garmin Golf smartphone app
- a Virtual Caddie which factors in environmental conditions and suggests a club to hit based on your typical distances through the bag
- PlaysLike adjusted distances
- full colour CourseView maps
- Green View with a draggable pin
- PinPointer, Hazard View, and green contour data
- distances to the front, middle, and back of the green
That’s not even close to everything this watch has to offer, though. It’s packed with activity monitoring features and can even provide things like topographic maps, ski maps, a stock tracker, stress tracking, and animated workouts, and that just scratches the surface.
The watch comes preloaded with over 42,000 courses, and its impressive battery life (up to six days in always-on mode and sixteen days in gesture mode) makes it perfect for all-day wear, whether you’re on or off the golf course.
The MARQ Golfer is ideal for golfers that have a big budget and are looking for a “Rolex” type of wristwatch experience. There is no compromise, and if there has ever been a feature in any Garmin GPS watch, the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) has it.
7. Bushnell iON Elite Golf GPS Watch
The iON Elite is arguably Bushnell’s best golf GPS watch available right now.
This watch is loaded with great features like a colour touchscreen, manual pin placement, slope, and hole layout maps, but yet it’s quite a bit more affordable than many Garmin units.
Features
Of course, the iON Elite does the essentials of what you expect a golf GPS watch to do, namely provide distances to the front, back, and center of the green.
Preloaded with over 38,000 courses, this watch has an impressive feature set which includes:
- HoleView: provides a top-down map of the hole layout
- Shot Planning: allows you to get the distance to any point on the hole
- GreenView: provides a view of the green with its true shape
- Moveable Pin Placement: allows you to position the pin manually on the green and view distances based on that
- Dynamic Green Mapping: shows the distances to the front and back of the green based on your current line of play
- Shot Distance: calculates how far you hit your shot
- scorekeeping with statistics
- automatic course recognition based on your location
- automatic hole advancement
- slope compensation using Bushnell’s patented Slope Technology
In addition, the iON Elite can be paired with the Bushnell Golf Mobile App, giving you access to additional capabilities and features. For example, you can track and store your rounds and stats, and you can update course info and firmware for your GPS watch wirelessly.
This GPS watch provides around twelve hours of battery life which should be good for at least two rounds. Charging should take less than three hours.
The watch is IP67 water-resistant and weighs 38g. A magnetic USB charging cable and one-year warranty are included.
Customers of the iON Elite generally like the features of the watch and the impressive accuracy of the yardages. However, many find the touch screen to be a bit finnicky. We highly recommend reading through the user manual so you understand how to access all of the features offered.
8. Garmin Approach S50 GPS Watch
If Garmin’s Approach S70 model is too intimidating or expensive for you, the next best option is the S50.
This thing is powerful. It can do everything the S44 can do, but there are a few key differences that distinguish it as a superior option:
- PlaysLike (slope-adjusted) distances are built into the watch, meaning a Garmin Golf membership is not required to access them
- the watch is lighter than the S44
- it includes a whole raft of fitness (health & wellness) features such as heart rate monitoring, stress tracking, sleep monitoring, hydration, and much more
Features
Like the S44, the Approach S50 features a bright, colourful 1.2″ AMOLED display that is crisp and clear, even in direct sunlight. It comes in two aesthetic variants:
- a slate aluminum bezel with black ComfortFit nylon band
- a cream gold aluminum bezel with ivory ComfortFit nylon band
Distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, as well as distances to layups and to the front and back of bunkers and water hazards, are provided.
With a Garmin Golf membership, you get enhanced CourseView maps of every hole, touch targeting (distance to any selected point), and green contour data.
Other features related to club tracking, scorekeeping, smartphone pairing, clock tools and activities are the same as the S44. Where the S50 goes above and beyond is in its health and wellness features. These include (but are not limited to):
- wrist-based heart rate
- stress tracking
- nap detection
- pulse ox sensor
- meditation
- Garmin Coach training plans
- ability to monitor your current fitness level
You also have over 43,000 preloaded courses, a 15-hour battery life in GPS mode, and a 10-hour battery life in smartwatch mode. The watch weighs 29g.
Many golfers won’t care about the extra fitness features, but the fact that you don’t need to pay for a Garmin Golf membership to get slope-compensated yardages is a big plus. At the same time, this is an even better everyday watch than the S44.
9. Shot Scope X5 GPS Watch
The X5 is Shot Scope’s most powerful and feature-rich golf GPS watch available, replacing the previous model V3.
An excellent option for those who aren’t interested in Garmin models, the X5 offers a number of improvements over the V3 including:
- the addition of a touchscreen display
- a round watch face with ceramic bezel for a sleeker, more premium look
- improved shot tracking
- additional features such as Green View
The X5 has been rated very highly by critics, who praise Shot Scope for creating a GPS watch that rivals some of Garmin’s more advanced models. It’s stylish and can be worn as an everyday watch off the course as well.
Features
The Shot Scope X5 provides distances to the front, back, and middle of the green that change dynamically as you progress. Also provided are front and carry distances for every hazard, and these can be displayed in yards or meters on the 1.2″ full-colour touchscreen display.
The automatic shot tracking feature of the X5 is enabled through a Power-Sense strap and tracking tags (16 included) that have smart GPS chips for automatic club recognition. The second-generation tags that come with the X5 have a larger range and a more secure design compared to the previous V3 model tags.
In addition, Shot Scope provides a stat analytics platform through a web dashboard or through the Shot Scope app available for iOS and Android. There are over 100 statistics that can be viewed for your tee shots, approach shots, short game, putting, scoring, and strokes gained.
The X5 contains over 36,000 preloaded worldwide courses, mapped with Google Maps and geofencing. Just be aware that this might result in out-of-date maps if the course has been recently remodeled.
Other features include:
- ability to pause rounds to take a few practice swings
- round syncing via Bluetooth
- easy social sharing of rounds
- interchangeable straps
- PinCollect technology which provides the exact pin location
- Course Hub which enables to you see how Shot Scope users play a course
- Green View which shows the shape of the green and allows you to place the pin
- the option to manually calculate your score during the round
The rechargeable battery lasts for 10+ hours (or 2+ rounds) on a single charge.
The Shot Scope X5 GPS watch is accurate and easy to use despite it being loaded with features. However, it’s $100 more expensive than the V3, so it will require a bigger budget.
10. GOLFBUDDY Voice 2S+ GPS With Wristband
The 2S+ is GOLFBUDDY’s latest and hottest talking GPS unit. The device can be used as a handheld or clipped to your belt, but for the purposes of using it as a GPS watch, you can attach it to a silicone wristband that is compatible with Voice 2 units.
This unique GPS unit audibly reads out the distances to the front, middle and back of the green with the push of a button, eliminating the need to squint down at a screen every time you need a yardage.
GOLFBUDDY has come out with many versions of the Voice 2, with the latest 2S+ adding things like hazard information, slope adjustment, and additional languages.
Features
The Voice 2S+ GPS has five primary modes:
- Green Distances: displays the distances to the front, center and back of the green, with optional voice readout.
- Dynamic Green View: displays the shape of the green, angle of approach, hole & par numbers, etc.
- Hazard Information: displays the location of (left or right side of fairway) and distance to each hazard.
- Shot Distance Measurement: measures how far you hit your shot.
- Time Mode: displays course info alongside the current time in digital format.
You can generate audio for the center green yardage by pressing the large front button, and the front/back yardages by pressing and holding the button. Buttons on the left and right sides of the unit are used for volume adjustment and mode switching.
If your local course supports slope information, the 2S+ will also provide slope-adjusted distances and indicate whether the target is higher or lower than your current location.
The Voice 2S+ is preloaded with more than 40,000 courses as well as ten additional languages. You can choose from a variety of male or female voices based on your preference.
The battery lasts up to 18 hours on a single charge in Golf mode, which is good for a minimum of 2-3 rounds.
This GPS unit is water-resistant, and if there are ever times when you don’t want to wear it as a watch, it has a built-in clip that can be used for mounting to hats, bags, and belts.
The golfers who tend to love the Voice 2 GPS the most are those that just want simple yardage readouts to the green, although the 2S+ model gives you more than that for good measure. The unit is effective, finds courses quickly, and does its job reliably.
You can find wristbands for the Voice 2 here.
Buying Guide
There are many golf GPS watches on the market, and knowing which one to choose isn’t necessarily easy, especially if you’re not sure what to look for. This guide will provide you with the GPS watch education you need in that regard.
The most essential purpose of a golf GPS watch is being able to conveniently pull up distances to the front, back and center of the green. Other functionality such as mapping and hazard information can be considered a bonus.
If you want to find the right golf GPS watch, here are the most important factors to consider:
1. Added Features
This is probably the main factor that will determine which model you choose. You should ask yourself what you want to get out of a golf GPS watch:
- Do you just want to get yardages to the front, middle and back of the green?
- Do you want to get distances to various hazards?
- Do you want to see an overhead map of every hole you play?
- Do you want to use the watch to keep score and organize your data?
- Do you want to get distances to different pin locations or even to any location on the course?
- Do you want to know your shot distances and performance statistics?
Practically every golf GPS watch gives you distances to the front, middle and back of the green, and almost all of those give you distances to hazards as well. Basic watches like the Garmin Approach S12 and TecTecTec ULT-G are great for this.
Some golf GPS units like the GOLFBUDDY Voice 2 actually talk to the player and read out distances so that looking at the display isn’t necessary. Others, like the Shot Scope X5, track shot distances and detailed statistics so you can understand your game on a better level.
If you want more advanced features like a colour touchscreen, overhead maps, zoom, custom pin placement, and even wind direction, you’ll need to cough up extra money for something like the Garmin Approach S70.
At the end of the day, consider models that have the features you want and that fall within your budget.
2. Feel & Weight
It’s very important to consider how the watch feels when it’s on your wrist. In fact, this is essential, because if it’s too bulky or heavy, it can interfere with your swing, and that’s the last thing you want.
The ideal golf GPS watch should be lightweight, comfortable, and feel like there’s barely anything there.
Heavier watches can be okay, but you should ensure that they don’t affect your swing. If you do find that a GPS watch is negatively influencing your swing, get a different one.
If you aren’t satisfied with the wristband of your GPS watch for whatever reason, you also have the option of getting an aftermarket replacement.
3. Battery Life
Practically all modern golf GPS watches use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
When it comes to battery life, it’s critical that a single charge can last for at least one full round of golf (18 holes). Being able to get out a couple more rounds beyond that before needing to recharge it is a nice bonus.
A good golf GPS watch should have a battery life of 9-17 hours in GPS mode, and considerably longer than this (at least a week) if it has a smartwatch mode. We do not recommend getting a model with a battery life that is lower than this range.
4. Display
There are two main types of GPS watch displays: touchscreen, and non-touchscreen with side buttons.
As you might suspect, touchscreen golf GPS watches are usually more expensive, and they also tend to have more features such as coloured hole maps and true green views. Conversely, non-touchscreen displays tend to be in black and white with a minimal amount of graphics.
We find that touchscreen displays aren’t necessarily easier to work with; it’s just a matter of getting used to the design. How big your hands are will also affect how well you use a touchscreen.
Recently there has been a trend of manufacturers moving towards AMOLED displays which are very clear and have amazing colours with rich contrast ratios. These displays are obviously more expensive but help to enhance your experience in a significant way.
Neither touchscreen nor non-touchscreen display types are strictly “better” than the other because they are both functional and get the job done. It’s up to you to determine how important the display type is relative to other factors.
5. Accuracy
This is really the name of the game when it comes to golf GPS watches. If the watch is off by 10+ yards consistently, you’re honestly better off not having one at all.
At the same time, one important thing to realize with golf GPS watches is that even the best models will tend to be off by a couple of yards. This is normal, and it is why it’s a good idea to also have a rangefinder on hand in case you need a precise distance down to the yard.
In general, accuracy can be considered acceptable if it’s within seven yards of the correct reading. You’ll find that most GPS watch models have similar accuracy, since they use the same satellites to calculate distance.
Do make sure to keep your maps up-to-date, as this will give you the best chance of getting the most accurate readings possible on your watch. At the end of the day, high accuracy will remove guesswork from your game and improve your club selection.
6. Price
Your budget ties in with everything else and, of course, is very important when shopping for a golf GPS watch. For example, some people don’t want to spend more than $150 on a GPS watch. That’s okay — they have several great options.
High-end GPS watches can cost upwards of $500, or even more if purchased with powerful tracking systems like the Garmin Approach CT10.
Cheaper golf GPS watches may be less accurate, have slower operation, have a more primitive display, or lack useful features such as manual pin placement.
In this guide, we’ve tried to include quality golf GPS watches over a range of budgets that golfers might have.
But even for something like a GPS unit, you may be able to access financing for your purchase. Various online golf shops that sell GPS watches also offer financing here, here and here.
Final Thoughts
Merely estimating the distance to the green, hazards and other locations on the golf course will only get you so far.
If you’re serious about lowering your scores, at some point you need to be able to obtain accurate information about each hole you play, including a top-down visual and distances. This is what a golf GPS unit is able to do.
A golf GPS watch can be a big asset for your golfing toolkit. And all it really takes to choose a good one is a little bit of research.
With features such as distance measurements, visual aids, and post-game analytics, these devices are revolutionizing the world of golf, making it easier for golfers to hone and refine their game.
Each of the GPS watch models listed above deliver exceptional performance. We’ve given you the information you need; now it’s up to you to go the rest of the way.
It’s also very beneficial to read customer reviews to acquire some useful insights as to how GPS watches actually perform. This will help you a great deal in the decision-making process.
Thanks for reading this guide. Which golf GPS watches are you interested in? Do you have any questions? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
Hey, great guide on the best golf GPS watches. I had an older model watch that stopped working last summer, and now I’m looking for another one. I like watches as opposed to other types of GPS because I can keep it on my wrist throughout the round. A friend of mine recommended the Garmin Approach S2, but I see you don’t mention it here. Have any thoughts on it? Thanks, Brett
Thanks for the comment Brett. Indeed, the Approach S2 is a good one. It’s preloaded with 40000+ courses, it has yardage to the front, back and middle of the green, it has dogleg and layup distances, and it has a scorecard. Impressive reviews too. Let me know what you go with!
I recently picked up the Garmin Approach S20 – I live down south so I was able to play a round last week at a course that was built in to the preload. It was terrific. It did exactly what I needed it to do and it was easy to use. Distance accuracy is excellent, there’s plenty of info to help you including hazards and layups, and I didn’t have any problems using the Garmin app. In terms of value per dollar, the S20 is absolutely the way to go… and just looks at the reviews it has. Your picks are great, although I would add the S2 to the list even though the S20 is essentially an upgrade to it.
Thanks for sharing. This is exactly why I have the S20 at the top – it’s arguably the best watch for the price. Very popular. As for the S2, I’ll look into adding it to the page. Thanks for the suggestion!
I have the Garmin Approach G8 Golf Course GPS because all of the golf watches seem too large and bulky for female wrists. I do like the screen on this anyway and its preload seem to have everywhere I’ve golfed in Florida. Do you know of any less bulky watches that are good in case I decide to make the switch? As for the Garmin Approach your review is spot on, except that you said it has “smaller screen” well this smaller screen is larger than those on the watches. I like that I don’t have to put on my glasses to see it.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many options out there in terms of GPS watches that are tailored to women. The one that I know of, the Golf Buddy Ladies LD2, has received a lot of complaints about defective units and other functional issues, so I would be hesitant to recommend it. If you want to switch to a watch, I suggest you get one of the high rated models and adjust the strap for your wrist. Otherwise, a good handheld unit like the G8 would work great. Good luck.
Nice guide. I’m in the market for a watch after having a hand held older model of a GPS that finally quit working. It was very not user friendly. We had one or two nice golf days up in upstate New York then it snowed again. I’m looking to get an easier to handle model and was looking for a watch this time to make it easier and I found your page.
The problem I have with the Garmin s20 is that it has so many technical things it wants to track. I’m not sure I want to jump into that much after being used to scoring manually and doing my own thing. From what I heard, there are a lot of procedures and button pushing on this device that you have to do. Can you shed any light on that?
I wouldn’t worry about that Dan. It’s true that you need to press a lot of buttons to navigate the S20, but I think that once you get through the learning curve and get used to using it, it’s fine. Overall, it’s a fantastic GPS watch. As for the technical data, I guess it’s a decision you’d have to make. Would it be worth it for you? You can always ignore the data you don’t really care for. I hope this helps.
I travel internationally. I see that they have about 30,000 courses. Before I pick up one of these watches or GPS, I was wondering if they cover courses that are in Europe and at what percentage rate? If I’m playing in the UK, I’d like to know I’m getting my money’s worth.
Hi Charles. These watches most certainly have courses from Europe preloaded (pretty much all of them have a global preload). As for whether or not the watch has any of your local courses in your particular country loaded, it’s hard to say. I would recommend contacting the manufacturer and asking them about this.
I had the Bushnell watch and I got one of the bum ones that wouldn’t charge properly no matter what I did. That’s mostly what the negative reviews on the watch are for. A certain segment of them seem to just not clip in and another segment of them will clip but not make the connection to charge. Until they fix this they should test the ones going out the door, and not send anymore out. It should fall down on the rankings just for the frustration of having it not be usable. I loved the design and the price, but if I can’t get it to charge to reuse it, what’s the point? I think I’ll be trying another brand.
Sorry to hear that you’re having problems. Unfortunately, defects show up from time to time, and in that case you should just contact the manufacturer’s customer support (or the retailer where you bought it) and they’ll get you sorted out, either with a refund or an exchange.
This is a very good GPS watch guide for newbies. Concise and very helpful information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!
Thanks Abe!
I’ve never used technology on a golf course before so I’m new to this and it seems that everyone else is doing it, so I figure I should check it out.
I think I would like a golf watch that will also function as a everyday watch. Which of those you have reviewed here would meet that requirement?
Cheers
Hi Ron. The Garmin Approach S62 and Shot Scope V3 come to mind as great for everyday wear, but the S62 is the more premium option.
Voice caddie T9 with full undulation feature missing from the list tells me your guide is definitely missing some nice watches.
We actually feature the Voice Caddie T9 in our list of the best golf GPS watches with slope. But it doesn’t make the list here at the moment as there are a lot of negative reviews and many people have problems with it.
My Golf Buddy aim W10 has been working for years with great results. But recently it has stopped working, doesn’t turn off, no response from the touch screen on any app, can’t get to the menu or play golf, still charges fully though. Any suggestions?
You may be able to do an emergency reboot, but I’m not sure. It would be best to get in touch with GOLFBUDDY support for this kind of thing. Good luck.
It’d be nice to know which watches require an ongoing subscription service. Also, the case size would be nice to know; I have a small wrist and, for example, a 47mm would not work for me.
Thanks for the comment. None of the watches actually require a subscription, as the core functions are on the watch itself, but most of them can be paired with companion apps which unlock additional features and may have an optional subscription plan.
Here are some case sizes for the models featured on this page (values may differ depending on the method used for measurement):
Garmin Approach S42: 43mm
Garmin Approach S70: 42mm or 47mm
Garmin Approach S12: 43mm
Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2): 46mm
Bushnell iON Elite: 46mm
Shot Scope X5: 43mm
Garmin Approach S62: 47mm
We did not measure anything with calipers when testing the watches. If you’re not sure about a particular model, it’s best to reach out to the manufacturer.