Golf watches make the game a lot easier. While smartphones have changed the way we live our day-to-day lives, golf watches have had the same effect on our games.

In the past, you would have to rely on golf cart GPS (if they had them) to create a strategy off the tee and your approach shot. But a lot of carts don’t have them, and/or it’s not an option if you’re walking the golf course.

Luckily, the invention of the golf watch revolutionized the sport and made it easier than ever to navigate the course. It's like having a professional caddy with you at all times.

Some help with club recommendations and performance statistics thanks to shot tracking and digital scorecards. While others have golf GPS devices with swing analysis features, course maps with 2D graphics, heart rate monitoring, and other health features.

I've tested a lot of watches and golf GPS devices since becoming a golf writer, and I'll share my favorites today.

Best Golf Watches

You might wonder why you should use a golf watch instead of a traditional laser rangefinder. Here are a few reasons:

• Very easy to calculate distances to hazards, fairway bunkers, and doglegs.
• Provides distances to front, middle, and back of green, not just the pin for 30,000+ preloaded courses.
• Easy to learn more about the weather conditions and how they'll factor into the shot (like wind speed, elevation, temperature, and more).
• You can track your performance during the round to make it easy to analyze your game.

Not to mention, a lot of these watches have other features to help off the course, like contactless payments, heart rate monitoring, and other impressive capabilities.

Most lists for the best golf GPS watch are all about Garmin. Don't get me wrong, they have amazing watches like the Garmin Approach S12, S42 and S70. But there are some other excellent choices that can also do wonders for your golf game.

Now, let’s get into some options to help your game from tee to green.

Bushnell Ion Elite Golf GPS Watch

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, Bushnell makes some of the best rangefinders (like the Tour V5 Shift) in the world. They’re the top choice on the PGA Tour and a staple with elite golfers who want the most accurate distances during the round. Not to mention, they make a great Bluetooth speaker to keep the vibes high during the round.

But Bushnell also makes golf watches too. The Bushnell Ion Elite Golf GPS watch is one of my favorites in the golf space, as it has the same type of accuracy you’d expect from a high-end rangefinder. Plus, a ton of other benefits that you just don’t get with a typical rangefinder.

Some of the highlights include:

• Preloaded with 38,000+ golf courses.
• Provides distances to the front, center, and back of green.
• Color touchscreen design that is ready to go right out of the box.
• Green view with moveable pin placement to provide more accurate distances.
• Slope-compensated distances to calculate yardages based on if the hole is uphill or downhill (not allowed in tournaments).

It’s also priced extremely well for all the incredible features. It’s more function than fashion, but no doubt will have a big impact on your ability to game plan each hole on nearly any course.

MGI Axis GPS Golf Watch

MGI also makes a durable watch in their Axis GPS model. It features a sleek design with brushed metal buttons, so you can wear it every day for other activities, too.

This watch also has other fact options as well as multiple color display options. It lasts about 12 hours in golf mode (roughly 3 rounds of 18 holes) or up to one month with time mode. And it’s easy to charge in your golf cart with the USB cable as well.

Here are some other reasons why it’s such a solid choice:

• Water-resistant.
• More than 38,000 golf courses worldwide.
• Easy to calculate distances to the front, middle, and back of green.
• Distances to the front, middle, and back of green with the intuitive shape of the actual green design.
• Built-in scorecard to help keep track of scores, including the option to play Stableford. This is a fun type of format where each score (birdie, par, bogey, etc. represents a number of points). It’s not easy to track on a traditional scorecard, so this makes it easy to have more fun during the round.

Like a few other watches on this list, it also pairs with an app for more additional features to improve your game.

Samsung Galaxy 5 Pro Golf Edition Watch

Samsung might not be the most prominent name in golf, but this watch is an incredible option. This titanium watch has a golf-themed design and can withstand the harshest conditions.

Like other watches on this list, there are tons of features you won't get with a rangefinder, including:

• Rugged design makes it perfect for all outdoor activities.
• Virtual caddie feature and voice features to walk you through the hole.
• Easy to track your shots, see your score, change pin location, and provide overviews of the hole on the color display.

I love the white band as you can wear it on the course and in casual settings outside the course, too.

Voice Caddie T9 Golf GPS Watch

Voice Caddie is another impressive brand in the golf world, making all sorts of accessories to make the game a little easier. They’ve produced 30 rangefinders since 2011 and started making watches in 2014 - now on their ninth model. I also love the Voice Caddie SC300 - this launch monitor has been in my bag since 2021 and helped improve my practice sessions tremendously. The new Voice Caddie T9 golf GPS watch has some solid upgrades from the T7 and T8 which also were top picks for golfers.

Some of the highlights of the updated design include:

• Full color touch screen.
• More than 40,000 preloaded golf courses.
• Shot and putt tracking to analyze your game.
• Distances to the front, center, and back of green.
• Heat maps to provide details about the green, including undulation and break direction.
• Voice Caddie app provides post round statistics, helps keep your score, and doesn’t cost a dime.
• Improve your practice with “tempo mode” to dial in the timing of your swing. This is a huge benefit, as I often say that tempo is one of the most underrated pieces of a consistent swing.

I also think it’s a bit more fashionable than the other watches above as well. While it does have a higher price tag, it’ll likely pair well for more occasions, making it warrant the price. Plus, unlike other watches, you don’t have to pay any other fees to access new courses or pay an annual subscription fee.

If you aren’t sure which watch is right for you or have more questions about golf equipment, don’t hesitate to contact a Curated Golf Expert today.

Shot Scope X5 GPS Watch

The Shot Scope X5 is a slightly higher price than the first few on this list but worth the extra money. First off, it has a sleek design with a 1.2-inch full-color touchscreen display. The silicone strap fits perfectly on your wrist and is great for all types of outdoor activities.

Other perks of this golf watch include:

• In-round scorecard features.
• No annual subscription - free updates.
• 5 watch face designs to wear for any occasion off the course.
• 16X club tags that attach to your clubs to analyze your performance. These sync with the watch for a detailed overview of each shot to make it easy to analyze your game.
• Front and carry distances over hazards so you don’t waste shots from not knowing the distance to water or bunkers.
• Daily step tracker to track your fitness metrics on and off the course. I’ve tracked my steps for years now and can say it’s had a big impact on my overall health and improved my stamina when walking 18 holes.

I love that this watch has the club tags to track your stats during the round. It makes it easy to understand your driving, approach shots, and performance around the green. In fact, it has more than 100 stats post round, so you’ll have valuable data about your game. This makes it simple to learn your weaknesses and strengths to spend your practice time wisely.

GolfBuddy Aim W12 Golf GPS Watch

When I attended the 2024 PGA Show in Orlando earlier this year, I was impressed with all the products from GolfBuddy. I hadn’t seen a ton of their rangefinders until then, but I loved the sleek design and thought they were at a great price point. They only offer one wearable device in the GolfBuddy Aim W12, but it’s a solid choice.

Some of the other features include:

• Hole previewIPX7 waterproof design.
• Slope calculated distances.
• 10-hour battery life when in golf mode.
• Green undulation to easily read the greens.
• Preloaded with more than 40,000 courses and free updates.
• Touch IP technology allows you to tap any point and get the exact distance.

TAG Heuer Connected Caliber E4 Golf Edition Watch

I saved the best for last with the TAG Heuer Connected Caliber E4 golf watch. I got paired with a golfer who had this watch and instantly spotted it when doing first tee introductions. Even though I’m far from a fancy watch guy, I was impressed by the design and overall look. We talked throughout the round, and he said that he’s had a great experience with the watch on the course.

Some of the highlights include:

• 40,000+ preloaded golf courses.
• 2-D maps of every hole on the course.
• Pairs with the TAG Heuer app for 3D visuals and more excellent features.
• Tracks your performance during the round to analyze all areas of your game.
• Easy to find distances to hazards, fairway bunkers, or other spots on the course.

You can also download the TAG Heuer Golf App to make it an even better experience with extra features. The only downside is the price… but TAG Heuer is a top name in the watch space, and like all things, you get what you pay for. Luckily, it looks good on or off the course, so you can wear it frequently, and it should have a big impact on your golf game.

Connect with a Curated Golf Expert Today

A golf watch can make it easier than ever to navigate any golf course and play with a lot more confidence. While Garmin does make a ton of awesome watches, there are plenty of alternatives as well if you’re looking to save money.

If you do buy a watch, make sure to switch to smartwatch mode when not playing golf. By turning off GPS mode, you'll save hours of battery life.

Most watches should last several rounds of golf, but make sure to charge ahead of time for full rounds. Or, always have a power bank and/or charging cable that can charge in a golf cart, too.

You can also read the most recommended Garmin watches and rangefinders here. If you aren’t sure which watch is right for you or have more questions about golf equipment, don’t hesitate to contact a Curated Golf Expert today.