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The Best Golf GPS Watch in 2023
When you are wanting to upgrade your golf game, you may want to consider upgrading the amount of information you have on each shot before buying a new driver or wedge.
Upgrading your golfing game isn’t just spending hours at the range or on the course. Consider this, if you were able increase the quality of information you have on each course, hole, and shot – you are going to see a gradual decrease in your scores.
Think about it, the best golfers are not looking at the sprinkler head and guessing they are about an 8 iron from the green. They walk everything off, consider the elevation changes and know the exact yardage and how to this the correct shot.
Golf watches and movement-tracking devices are now, more than ever, an affordable option for everyone to improve their information and their game.
Most watches come loaded with thousands of courses and are ready to go, right out of the box. We have put together a list of our favorite golf GPS watches from this year.
My Top Pick
Garmin Approach S40, Stylish GPS Golf Smartwatch, Lightweight with Touchscreen Display, Black
- Stylish lightweight GPS golf watch with a sunlight-readable 1 2" color touchscreen display with metal bezel and quick release bands for easy change of style or color
- Preloaded with more than 41 000 courses from around the world.Strap material:Silicone
- Measures and auto-records detected shot distances putts are not tracked and some other shots such as chips around the green may not be tracked pair with optional Approach CT10
- Green View feature allows manual pin positioning quickly reference distances to the front middle and back of the green as well as hazards and doglegs
- Tracks everyday activities such as steps sleep and includes built-in multisport profiles.Battery life up to 15 hours in GPS mode up to 10 days in smartwatch mode.Included Components: Approach S40; Charging or Data Cable; Documentation
When I talk about golf GPS devices, luckily on the market there can be found all sorts of watches that will satisfy everyone’s needs.
That’s how in my opinion the Garmin Approach S40 is one of the best Golf GPS watches on the market you can find. This lightweight (43 grams) watch is perfect for the golfer that wants to look good on and off the course.
The S40 features a 1.2 inch (240×240 pixels) color touchscreen display made of chemically strengthened glass.
With a 15 hour charge in GPS mode, you will be able to enjoy multiple rounds before needing to charge this watch again.
This watch is also compatible with Garmin’s Approach CT10 automatic club tracking system.
Features
- Budget Friendly
- Great everyday watch
- AutoShot Swing Tracking Technology
- Pre-loaded with over 41,000 courses
Best Golf GPS Watch On The Market
GolfBuddy Aim W10
The Aim W10 is GolfBuddy’s most advanced smart golf GPS watch with features that include a full-color touch screen display, green undulation and slope-adjusted distance readings to give the golfer better real-life views and more control around the course.
Along with a 10-hour battery life in Golf Mode, convenient digital scorecard, and its new zoom in/out functions around the green, the aim W10 is hard to beat.
GOLFBUDDY Aim W10 GPS Watch, Advanced Smart Golf Watch, Full-Color Touch Screen, 40,000 Preloaded Courses, Red/White/Blue & Black Wristband
- Advanced Smart Golf GPS Watch with 1 Extra Black Wristband
- 1. 3” Full colour LCD display with responsive touch screen
- The 10-hour battery life in Golf mode lasts for up to 2 rounds of golf- rechargeable via USB
- Green Undulation data to show the slopes of the green. GOLFBUDDY has 51 percent of US golf course green undulations
- Preloaded with 40, 000 courses in over 170 countries with free wireless course updates via Bluetooth with the smartphone app
The Golfbuddy aim W10 is one of the best budget golf GPS watches on the market. Featuring a full-color touch screen display, green undulation and slope-adjusted distances – to give you the most accurate yardage information on the course.
With a 10-hour battery life in GOLF MODE, you should have no problem using this on a long 18 hole round.
This watch also features a digital scorecard, zoom in/out function around the green and a built-in pedometer, this watch is hard to beat.
Pros
- Budget friendly
- Best user interface
- Great everyday watch design
Cons
- The watch face is tall
- Some have experienced issues with connecting
Garmin Approach S60 – Best Overall
Look good on and off the course. The Approach S60 golf watch gives you the critical information you need for your round -displayed on a large, 1.2-inch sunlight readable color touchscreen -so you can master your game.
And with convenient Quick Fit bands, you can change your style without tools to match your activity, so you’re always in fashion.
Sale
Garmin Approach S60, Premium GPS Golf Watch with Touchscreen Display and Full Color CourseView Mapping, Black w/ Silicone Band
- Sleek GPS golf watch that reflects your passion on and off the course. Quick Fit 22 mm watch band compatible
- Large, 1.2 inches Sunlight-readable color touchscreen display. Available outdoor recreation profiles : Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing
- Quickly gets your location using GPS to Show precise yardages to greens, Hazards and doglegs, on full-color course maps. Bezel Material : polymer or ceramic
- Convenient Quick Fit bands for fast style changes without tools. Battery life- up to 10 hours in golf mode; up to 10 days in watch mode
- More than 40, 000 preloaded courses from around the world. QuickFit watch band compatible:0.866 inches
The Garmin Approach S60 is one of the best golf watches available in 2022.
With a stylish build and a 1.2-inch 240 x 240 color screen, this watch is loaded of features. This watch comes loaded with over 40,000 courses, complete with information like precise yardages to greens, hazards and doglegs.
The Approach S60 will also track the location and distance of each shot. Other features of the watch like it’s PlaysLike feature allows the S60 to track elevation changes between the player and target and factor it in when calculating the distance.
There’s also SwingTempo and TempoTraining features that can help you improve your swing. The Approach S60 works with the Garmin Connect and Garmin Golf apps, syncing your data and letting you compete with friends and family.
Along with these features, this watch also works as a general activity tracker – tracking steps, calories burned, distance and sleep. It can alert you when you haven’t moved enough.
The watch is water-proof up to 5 meters and it’s battery will last up to 10 hours in GPS mode.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Best screen from the watches we tested
- Best features
Cons
- Not the longest battery life
Garmin Approach S20
The Approach S20 is the golfing partner that doesn’t walk on your line. Stylish, sleek and lightweight, this versatile GPS watch features more than 40,000 courses plus automatic map updates, daily activity tracking and smart notifications to connect with your healthy lifestyle.
On the course, you’ll see precise distances to the front, back and middle of the green, as well as hazards.
Garmin AutoShot round analyzer measures your shot distances and auto-records them for review on your Garmin Connect account.
Garmin 010-03723-01 Approach S20, GPS Golf Watch with Step Tracking, Preloaded Courses, Black
- Autoshot round analyzer measures shot distances with auto recording for post round analysis on your Garmin Connect account
- Stylish comfort: Fully hinged, sleek watchband design with comfortable fit. Display resolution: 128 x 128 pixels. Smartphone compatibility - iPhone, Android
- Truswing compatible: When paired, Garmin TruSwing golf swing sensor provides metrics to improve your swing consistency. Display size: 0.9 x 0.9 (inches)
- Activity tracking: Reminds you to stay active on or off the course with move bar alerts. Displays steps, calories burned, distance and time of day, plus it monitors hours of sleep
- Stat tracking: Enhanced stats keeps track of fairways hit, greens in regulation and putts per round. Strap material: Silicone
The Garmin Approach S20 watch offers a larger display than some of Garmins’s other offerings. Featuring a great battery life (15 hours in GPS mode), this watch comes with great software support, frequently-updated course database, GPS shot tracking (hazard information), green details, AutoShot tracking for Tee and fairway shots, activity tracking, a digital scorecard and can sync with your smartphone for notifications.
What this model is lacking are a few of those “extra” features that some golfers are after. An example of this is a heart-rate sensor. In addition to that, it’s not exactly something you’ll want to wear as a fashion statement off the course.
Pros
- Stat tracking software
- Great value
- Sunlight readable screen
Cons
- Not exactly the most “fashionable” watch.
- Black and white display
Garmin Approach S40
The Garmin Approach S40 is one of the best Golf GPS watches on the market. This lightweight (43 grams) watch is perfect for the golfer that wants to look good on and off the course.
The S40 features a 1.2 inch (240×240 pixels) color touchscreen display made of chemically strengthened glass.
With a 15 hour charge in GPS mode, you will be able to enjoy multiple rounds before needing to charge this watch again.
This watch is also compatible with Garmin’s Approach CT10 automatic club tracking system.
Garmin Approach S40, Stylish GPS Golf Smartwatch, Lightweight with Touchscreen Display, Black
- Stylish lightweight GPS golf watch with a sunlight-readable 1 2" color touchscreen display with metal bezel and quick release bands for easy change of style or color
- Preloaded with more than 41 000 courses from around the world.Strap material:Silicone
- Measures and auto-records detected shot distances putts are not tracked and some other shots such as chips around the green may not be tracked pair with optional Approach CT10
- Green View feature allows manual pin positioning quickly reference distances to the front middle and back of the green as well as hazards and doglegs
- Tracks everyday activities such as steps sleep and includes built-in multisport profiles.Battery life up to 15 hours in GPS mode up to 10 days in smartwatch mode.Included Components: Approach S40; Charging or Data Cable; Documentation
This watch comes pre-loaded with 41,000 courses from around the world. Your local course is more than likely in the software already!
The Garmin Approach S40 comes jam packed with features such as:
- AutoShot Detection: The Approach S40 can sense/feel when you make contact with a golf ball and start tracking where you were. When you get to your ball the watch will diplay your distances to the green – along with how far you hit your tee shot.
- Green View: When you are hitting an approach shot or a shot on a par 3, the Garmin Approach S40 will show you the distances to the front, center, and back of the green. You can zoom into the green and move the pin around on the watch to get an accurate yardage to the pin.
- Distances to Hazards: When you are on a hole that has hazards in play, simply press the down arrow on the watch to get distances to all hazards on the course.
- Live Scoring: The Garmin Approach S40 features a live scorecard that will keep track of how far over or under par you are.
- Pedometer: When you connect to Garmin’s Fitness app – you get more features such as a pedometer, heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and more!
- Text, Call & Email Updates: The Approach S40 can connect to your phone and display any texts, phone call notifications, or email updates that come to your phone. That way you can leave your phone in the cart or in your bag while you are playing!
Pros
- AutoShot Swing Tracking Technology
- Pre-loaded with over 41,000 courses
- Touch Sensitive User Interface
Cons
- Expensive
- Bulkier than other models
Bushnell Neo Ion 2
The Bushnell Neo Ion 2 is a Bluetooth-capable GPS golf watch. With Bluetooth connectivity it is beneficial for any golfer.
With the Bushnell App on your smartphone, you will be able to track every shot and know every distance with ease. Through the app, you can choose from more than 36,000 pre-loaded golf courses located from only 30 countries!
Bushnell 368850 Neo Ion 2 Golf GPS Watch, Large, Black/Blue
- material_type: Plastic
The Bushnell iON2 GPS Watch features a sleek design for on and off the course. With features such as golf tracking right on your wrist, the new Bushnell iON2 is a comfortable GPS watch that takes the guess work out of golf.
You need to have all of the information available to help you play your best. With this watches easy-to-read display – you will know your distances to the front, center, and back of the greens as well as four hazard distances per hole so you can plan every shot.
This GPS watch is pre-loaded with 36,000 courses and comes equipped with Bluetooth technology for wireless course updates.
There are no fees and no subscriptions with the Bushnell Neo Ion 2.
Pros
- Great battery life
- 2 year limited warranty
- Great GPS accuracy
Cons
- Smaller course selection than other watches we tested.
Garmin Approach S10
Garmin s10 is designed for people of all ages. Any golfer can use this device. The Approach S10 app is one of the best golf distance tracking apps on the market.
The app is designed to help increase your enjoyment of the game by giving you more information about your distances – to help you play smarter.
Sale
Garmin 010-02028-00 Approach S10, Lightweight GPS Golf Watch, Black
- Simple, easy-to-use golf watch.Control Method:Application.Special Feature:Bluetooth.
- Sleek, lightweight and comfortable with a high-resolution, Sunlight-readable display
- Provides yardages to the front, back and middle of the Green -as well as Hazards and doglegs - on more than 41,000 preloaded courses worldwide
- Keep Score on the watch for a summary of your round, total distance played and total time
- Upload your scorecards to Garmin Express to keep track of rounds
The Approach S10 golf watch offers every course you may be playing. Preloaded with 41,000 courses – worldwide AND lifetime updates – this watch does it all. Stop guessing how far you are from the sprinkler head and missing the green because of bad yardages.
This watch provides accurate yardage to the front, back and middle of the green. It can also tell you your distance to hazards and doglegs.
When you finish a hole it transitions to next hole as you walk from one green to the next tee box.
Pros
- 41,000 Preloaded courses
- Sleek and lightweight design
- 12 Hour battery life
Cons
- No Bluetooth capabilities
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf GPS Watches
Can you use GPS in golf competitions?
Yes you can use rangefinder devices for competition play. Devices like laser rangefinders, golf GPS watches, golf GPS devices, even smartphone apps. But there’s a catch. Not all features are 100% legal for tournament play.
Most of the illegal products are products that incorporate slope into their yardage projections. Be sure to look into each product to be sure it has an option to turn the slope off.
Which is the best golf GPS watch in 2022?
The Garmin Approach S40 is one of the best Golf GPS watches on the market. This lightweight (43 grams) watch is perfect for the golfer that wants to look good on and off the course.
The Approach S40 from Garmin provides excellent performance for the cost. It can swap straps and the sharpness of the 1.2-inch color touchscreen. On the course, the yardage readings are extremely accurate when compared to the readings from a top-tier golf rangefinder.
The comfort factor was also high, which is something that often gets overlooked. It may take some time for golfers unfamiliar with GPS watches to adjust to wearing something on their wrists, but the S40 makes this transition much simpler.
Which GPS golf watch has the longest battery life?
Looking for the best golf GPS watch to buy, but not sure which decide has the longest battery? The Garmin Approach S20 has the longest battery life from the watches we tested at 15 hours while in Golf GPS mode. This watch is perfect for everyday wear as well as on the course.
Can You Use These Watches for Other Purposes?
Of course, you can, as most golf watches also serve as useful timepieces for exercising and keeping track of your schedule at the office. Golf watches are versatile devices that can be used off the course as well, such as for checking email, making phone calls, monitoring exercise metrics like steps and heart rate, and so on.
Get the Most Accurate Golf GPS Watch on the Market
If this is your first golf GPS purchase or you are looking to upgrade, be sure to consider a number of variables before purchasing. But, not all golf GPS watch reviews will give you a real picture of some of the best devices out there. That’s why I wrote this thorough review in the first place.
A golf GPS is one of the best golf accessories a golfer can own. Price does not need to be the sole variable you focus on when choosing a GPS watch.
All of these watches will tell you the distance to the green and to hazards, doglegs, etc – it’s the features that you should consider.
Hopefully this buying guide will help you figure out what features you want in your next purchase.
Read more golf blogs such as, how to make your own golf yardage book.
Last update on 2024-11-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API