Best Golf Watches 2025

It wasn’t too long ago that golfers would take to the course with a scorecard and a pencil, aided only by the yardage markers and a swing thought gleaned from a lesson with a local pro. But the advent of technology has led to a rapidly changing landscape, with today’s golfers able to call on a range of devices to help them improve their swing and guide their game. While the best launch monitors enable golfers to dial in their yardages and better understand the flaws in their swing, it’s perhaps GPS devices that have had the biggest impact when it comes to the on course experience.

Taking the guesswork out of distances, the best golf watches provide accurate yardages at a glance. Whether you need to know how far it is to the front, middle or back of the green, the information is there on your wrist. For any level of golfer it helps make clubbing easier than ever before.

But the data doesn’t stop there. In recent years golf watches have been imbued with a myriad of features, all designed to help with your course management. Depending on the model, you might have access to wind speed and direction as well as detailed analysis of the greens, ideal if putting isn’t currently the strongest part of your game. However, some watches prefer to keep it simple, meaning there’s likely a watch to match any golfer’s need.

Because all golfer’s aren’t the same, and the array of watches can be overwhelming, we’ve broken this guide down into categories, highlighting what they excel at. We’ve tested them all extensively and these are the best of the bunch, but each one has its own merits and will suit some, while not others.

Another advantage of a golf watch is that they can function as an everyday smartwatch too. This makes them value for money if you're after a watch that can track your daily fitness objectives or whether you enjoy other sports too, such as cycling, where the GPS function is similarly a game changer. However, if golf is your only game, you might also want to check out our guide to the best rangefinders, which allows you to hone in on an exact target for the most precise numbers.

Joel Tadman

Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 15 years and as the Deputy Editor oversees all equipment testing. One of his areas of expertise is distance measuring devices and specifically GPS watches. As such, he knows what makes the perfect golf watch - performance, features, versatility, battery life, looks and value for money. Joel has personally used most of the watches in this guide.

The Quick List

Best Golf Watches 2025

Top pick

What you need to know: Garmin is known for its dominance of the smartwatch market and here you get the level of quality we’ve all come to expect from this leading brand. As a successor to the S62, the S70 has upped its game, giving you more features than before, as well as improvements to the screen quality, the graphics and the battery life. Combined it adds up to our top pick in this guide.

Design: The AMOLED touchscreen display is among the brightest we tested and as such is a real highlight of the S70. So too is the ceramic bezel and its overall sleek profile, making it ideally suited to those who’re looking for a watch that will perform - and look good - both on and off the course.

Features: Typically the number of features correlates to the price of a golf watch. It’s certainly the case here, with the S70 loaded with tech but also carrying a high price tag as a result. However, if you’re after plenty of details and a breadth of features then you won't be disappointed. Like all Garmin Approach offerings, it comes with more that 43,000 preloaded courses. Once on the course, the watch cleverly moves between holes, giving you accurate distances to not just the hole, but also bunkers and water hazards. Impressively it also accounts for both elevation and the wind when providing these numbers, so long as you pair it with the smartphone app. It resulted in us feeling like we had a tour caddie on our wrist, allowing us to club with greater accuracy. The ‘virtual caddie’ doesn't stop there, either, You also get club recommendations based on the data you provide.

Away from the course, the S70 is every bit the modern smartwatch, with health and fitness data options as well as allowing you to check messages and email on the go.

Performance: Having a wide range of features doesn’t necessarily mean that a golf watch functions well. Fortunately, the S70 is highly intuitive with clear graphics, meaning that whichever feature you choose, it’s easy to use and effective in its delivery. Given the sheer breadth of features it’s unlikely that you’ll use them all during a single round, but the user-friendly nature means this watch is a good match for both the tech-savvy and those who are just dipping their toes in the golf watch game.

Battery life is as you might expect from Garmin, and we managed to use the S70 for several rounds before it needed a charge, which it does using a USB-C cable. Claimed numbers are 16 days in smartwatch mode and about 20 hours when using the GPS, and we don't have reason to dispute this. Given that golf, for some at least, is often played in inclement weather it’s good to know that the S70 is also water resistant.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S70 Golf Watch Review

Best accompanying app

What you need to know: This is one for the die-hard golfers, rather than those who want a smartwatch that can handle double-duties away from the course. That means plenty of golf-specific features but far less aimed at lifestyle and general fitness. Combined with the impressive accompanying app it makes for a solid performer tee to green, with bags of functionality and clean and crisp visuals that are easy to use. If you’re familiar with the brand’s ION Edge watch, mark the ION Elite down as a serious upgrade.

Design: Part of that improvement comes courtesy of the display; the ION Elite is better quality and far brighter, and combines nicely with the premium metallic bezel. White watch straps, like white golf belts, are divisive but we found it to be comfortable and easy to match with a variety of golf outfits. The impressively high IP67 rating provides peace of mind to those golfers who aren't put off by inclement weather.

Features: This golf-centric watch is full of useful features. During our testing it delivered accurate numbers to the front, back and middle of the green, as well as offering additional data with the simple press of one of the onscreen icons; here you get green views, maps of the hole, lay up distances and scoring. We particularly liked the maps, providing us with a detailed overview of each hole, allowing us to employ a strategic approach from tee to green. Similarly the slope functionality was greatly appreciated, giving us real yardages that allowed us to club with confidence, even when playing hilly courses. Finally, the scoring screen is a great addition, tracking the numbers of fairways and greens you hit, which results in data that can be used to pinpoint areas of your game that need working on.

Performance: When it comes to performance, the ION Elite impresses, with reliable distances delivered in a timely fashion. The Bushnell Golf app is full of features that work well, making this a highly functional watch that will keep even the most number-hungry golfers happy. We especially liked the in-depth performance analysis that lays out your stats and scores in an easy-navigate display. As for battery life, it’s good for about two rounds before it needs a charge again.

• Read our full Bushnell Ion Elite Golf GPS Watch Review

Best budget

What you need to know: The Shot Scope G5 is a great example of a watch that takes the simple approach, and for many golfers, it’s all the better for it. If you don’t want to get weighed down with features, it delivers a straightforward yet intuitive experience that’s hard to beat at this price point.

Design: The G5 has a generous screen size that’s clear and easy to read. Despite its size, the watch is lightweight and pretty sleek. However, we do like the inclusion of a raised outer display ring that helps to reduce the chance of a scratched screen.

Features: The watch’s GPS quickly located the course on our arrival and displayed front, middle and back distances to the green promptly. It also provides additional information, such as the hole number and its par, along with keeping track of your score and the time. If you need specific information such as the reach and carry to a certain hazard, then this is just a click away, as is shot distance measurement and other usual distances you might need, such as lay up spots on par-5s.

Performance: Given its affordability, the G5’s performance is to be commended. While it’s not an ‘all singing, all dancing’ watch when it comes to features, we found that out on the course it provided us with all the key numbers and a few extra too. We also appreciated its lightweight and sporty design that makes it barely noticeable on the wrist. Combined, it adds up to our choice for best budget golf watch.

• Read our full Shot Scope G5 GPS Watch Review

Best features

What you need to know: While the S62 might have been superseded by Garmin’s flagship S70 model, it still impresses with the sheer number of features it offers. Combined they help with not just your clubbing but your hole-by-hole strategy in general, allowing you to make informed decisions; after a few rounds the watch has enough data for the Virtual Caddie feature to kick in, providing club recommendations based on your real-life numbers. And with all Garmin Approach watches, it comes with more than 42,000 preloaded courses.

Design: Despite now being five years old, the S62 still looks perfectly modern and, in our eyes, remains one of the best looking golf watches out there. It’s comfortable and relatively lightweight, with a classy notched ceramic bezel and large color touchscreen that’s simple to use; it also has action buttons on each side of the watch that add to its impressive functionality.

Features: The S62 is the quintessential feature-packed sports watch. If you crave information then you won’t be disappointed, either during or after the round. You get satellite views of each hole you play, with the touch screen allowing you to move a pin around as you plan your approach. For courses that have lots of bunkers and water hazards it allows you to quickly assess what’s in range and just how far you have to fly the ball to avoid trouble. We found this especially useful when playing less familiar courses. You also get a Virtual Caddie feature which uses data compiled from previous rounds to offer you club recommendations.

Other features we love are the automatic shot tracking, which really comes in handy for those days when you’re not finding the middle of the fairway too often, and the ‘play like’ option. This provides you with real-time information, such as wind speed and direction and slope, allowing you to club with greater confidence. We’re also impressed with the Pin Pointer compass that proved useful on blind approaches.

Away from the course, the S62 can be used for other sports such as running and cycling and as general fitness and health tracker. You also get access to emails and texts as well as the option to use Garmin Pay for contactless payments.

Performance: The S62 provides fast and accurate information, delivered in a package that’s intuitive and easy to use. Given the multitude of features it’s ideally suited to those looking for not just a golf watch but for a smartwatch for day-to-day activities. With the release of the S70, it also now has the added benefit of being one of the best value golf watches on the market, thanks to pretty significant price drops from a host of retailers.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S62 GPS Watch Review

Best for green reading

What you need to know: The T11 Pro GPS is packed with so many features it could leave you a little distracted on the course. While you get the necessities such as yardages and wind direction, there’s a myriad of extras from automatic slope calculation to putt tracking to green undulation data (hence why it gets our nod as the best for green reading). It contains all this data in a premium looking watch, complete with bright touchscreen display. Unsurprisingly all this comes with a pretty hefty price tag.

Design: The watch boasts a high quality casing and a fantastically clear touchscreen, that benefits from OLED technology, making it stand out when compared to some of its competitors. The clarity makes the graphics easy to use, while the touchscreen element proved to be perfectly responsive. The T11 Pro works well as an everyday smartwatch too, albeit a little bigger in size than some of you may prefer.

Features: As mentioned, the watch has so many features it’s impossible to cover them all in a review such as this. Of the standouts we loved the full hole mapping. An invaluable tool, it comes in handy when playing new courses and is delivered with razor sharp graphics that detail the hole, the hazards and the green. We particularly like how you’re able to touch specific points on the hole to get a yardage. Additionally you also have both wind direction and speed, driver distance arc, so you can set your average driver distance to see how it plays out on any given hole, and pin arc, which gives you 50 and 100 yards circles from the pin. What’s more, much of this data is provided automatically, so the process doesn’t slow down your play.

Reach the green and you get yet more features. The Smart Approach View, left us impressed, displaying not only the shape of the green but also a color gradient to visually demonstrate the slope. Neatly, it also rotates to your exact position. Smart Putt View provides added information of slope and break that results in a prompt from the watch to assist your read. It proved accurate but might only be of use to those lacking confidence on the greens.

Ultimately, this is a feature-heavy watch that will appeal best to those who crave data and lots of it.

Performance: The amount of data that’s delivered automatically helps to make this feature-packed watch more user friendly than it might at first appear. We found the numbers to be accurate and the key features, such as the full-hole mapping, are delivered with aplomb, again aided greatly by the watch’s ability to serve it up automatically. Whether you need this amount of data is a personal choice, but while it could prove distracting for some, it’s a pretty hands-off experience all considered. For those in need of a little help on the greens it could prove a very usual tool indeed.

• Read our full Voice Caddie T11 Pro Golf GPS Watch Review

Best accuracy

What you need to know: If you’re familiar with SkyCaddie’s SX400 and SX550 handheld GPS devices, then think of the LX5 as a wearable version of either of these. As with the handhelds, you get an impressively clear HD color touchscreen, 35,000 preloaded courses, and a huge range of features for both on and off the course.

Design: While the touchscreen is undoubtedly on the larger side, the watch as a whole is surprisingly lightweight and we found that it was comfortable to wear both during a round and on a daily basis. And what a touchscreen it is - clear, bright and user friendly.

Features: There are just too many features to cover here, but it's the level of accuracy with which they are delivered that really impressed us. They are provided alongside beautifully clear hole graphics that ooze detail and helped us with our on-course strategy. You also get recommendations such as the optimum driving position on any given hole; this data is compiled from mappers who have walked the holes, and is akin to having a local caddie on your wrist.

The clarity of the screen also aids the basic numbers, so you get front, middle and back yardages in a large and easy to read format. A quick swipe however takes you away from the main screen and into a world of detailed data, from scores to maps and much more. The level of detail really impressed us, with the watch supplying us with multiple yardage arcs overlaid on fairway landing areas and greens. It really did make clubbing easier.

Performance: Despite the amount of features on offers, we found the LX5 straightforward to navigate. This ease-of-use really makes it a solid choice for a range of golfers; the main ‘big numbers’ screen will appeal to those who just want simple, easy-to-read distances, while the data-driven golfer can swipe away and really dig into more detailed data and analysis. The large screen size makes this pretty simple to do, and after a round or two we’d become comfortable with moving the crosshair. Whichever approach you take with the LX5, you’ll find it to be highly accurate.

As for battery life, we found that we were able to complete two rounds before it needed charging again.

• Read our full Sky Caddie LX5 GPS Watch Review

Best mid-price

What you need to know: The beauty of Garmin’s extensive range is that there’s a model for most golfers. The S42 sits somewhere in the middle of the brand’s offerings and is priced accordingly. In essence it’s a solid option for the golfer who wants some of the features that you get on the premium-priced S62 and S70 watches but doesn’t want to spend quite as much money. And you still get the 42,000 preloaded courses to enjoy.

Design: The S42 is suitably sleek, with a design that makes it as easy to wear away from the course as on it; during our testing we barely noticed we were wearing it. Despite its lower price tag, you still get an impressively clear 1.2” color screen that enhances the watch’s many golf and non-golf features.

Features: Along with the basic yardages to the front, middle and back of each green you can also pair the S42 with the Garmin golf app and enjoy a host of additional features. One of our favourites is the AutoShot round analyzer. As the name suggests it enables you to review your scoring and performance stats post-round, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of your game.

If you’re after automatic shot tracking you’ll need to step up to the S62 or S70. Alternatively you can invest in some Approach CT10 club sensors that can then be paired with the S42 watch.

Performance: Like most Garmin watches we’ve tested, the S42 scores highly for its usability and functionality. Out on the course we found it straightforward to operate, with a high level of accuracy. While it doesn’t have all the features of more premium-priced GPS golf watches, it does the basics, and a little more, well. It adds up to our pick of the mid-range options.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S42 GPS Watch Review

Best color choice

What you need to know: The Approach S12 is aimed at golfers who want to enjoy the benefits of a GPS watch but with the faff of having too many features. This makes it well suited to both newer players, those who take a simpler approach to their course management, and the less tech-savvy amongst us. But despite its entry-level tag, you still get plenty of value for money. It’s highly accurate with its yardages and distance information and if this is all you require then it won’t let you down.

Design: Understandably, the design is basic and focuses solely on its job as a golf watch. The screen is black and white rather than color, and somewhat smaller than Garmin’s more expensive offerings. That said, it’s not delivering the wide range of features that these watches do, so the screen design and size is more than sufficient.

While it’s not a watch that you’re likely to wear away from the course, while on it we found it to be perfectly comfortable, aided by the sleek and lightweight strap that comes in six color options.

Features: While many users will only want the S12 for its ability to deliver accurate yardages to the front, middle and back of each green, it does come with a few more features. If required, you can also get distances to hazards and layup areas as well having the option of manually moving the pin to get a more precise number; this is done via a button and is pretty straightforward to operate. We liked the ‘big numbers’ option too as this seems a good fit for the golfers who are likely to gravitate towards the S12.

Performance: The role of this watch is to provide the basics without overwhelming the golfer with too much detail. And it does this with aplomb. The S12 locates the course quickly and delivers the yardages in a timely fashion; indeed we found it to be more efficient at this than some of the more pricer watches featured here.

It is somewhat let down by the lack of a touchscreen, which adds a bit of faff to a model that’s otherwise free of such issues. However, at this price point it’s to be expected and if it’s being used by the less-tech savvy then they might not miss the intuitive nature of touchscreen. All told, it’s a solid offering that’s mastered the basics and comes with an appealingly low price tag.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S12 Review

Best simplicity

What you need to know: The Aim W12 from GolfBuddy is another golf watch that strives to keep things simple, delivering a decent range of basic features that won't break the bank. Alongside the golf functions you get fitness tracking features too, making this something of an allrounder. That said, the focus is on the course and that’s mirrored in the design.

Design: From our time with the Aim W12 we’d suggest it’s a pretty decent upgrade from the Aim W11 from 2021. In general it looks and feels better on the wrist, with a more low-profile design than before, and the color screen is well-sized and clear. We also liked that it comes with two straps. There’s the leather option as well as a silicon one, with both receiving an IPX7 waterproof rating.

Features: While the design of the watch focuses on delivering the basic numbers in a clear fashion, the W12 does boast some impressive features for the money. The clarity of the touchscreen is good, and enhances features such as the 2D hole flyover and the green undulation map.

We especially enjoyed the slope functionality during our testing. It provides an accurate distance after taking into account the changes in elevation and proved invaluable when playing hilly courses.

Performance: While the W12 did take a little longer than some other watches to locate the course, overall it performed without issue. It proved to be both quick and easy to access various features, aided by a responsive touch screen. The battery life in golf mode has dropped from 13 hours on the Aim W11 to 10 hours on the W12. During our testing this meant that we got two rounds in before it needed a charge. That said, it's an impressive watch with a modest price tag.

• Read our full GolfBuddy Aim W12 GPS Watch Review

Best for style

What you need to know: Voice Caddie excels in the GPS and rangefinder space, so it didn't surprise us the A2 watch performed as well as it did. It’s a stylish offering that looks the part both on and off the course, and comes packed with useful features.

Design: The A2 impressed with its modern and practical design. It’s light, waterproof and comfortable to wear, largely thanks to the highly flexible strap that results in a secure fit.

The color touchscreen is well-sized and clear. It’s backed up by four function buttons positioned on the corners of the watch, and we appreciated having the option of both. For example, the right hand buttons double as up and down functions on certain menus, but if you prefer you can also swipe the screen up or down to achieve the same thing.

Features: Like many of the watches featured in this guide, the list of features is long and we can’t cover them all here. A highlight however is the A2’s slope-adjusted distances, which can be disabled by entering Tournament mode. Equally as impressive are the full-color maps that are just a swipe away. And of course, you get the basics too, with front, middle and back yardages, as well as time, hole and par, yards or metres, battery life and current score.

All the features are enhanced by the quality of the screen itself; it’s responsive, with the brightness adjusting automatically as you tip the watch to look at it. It translates to easy-to-read information, delivered in a similarly digestible format

Performance: We’d say the A2’s performance was solid rather than spectacular. Course detection was, at times, problematic. During our testing it took between 10 seconds and over a minute for the watch to locate the course we were about to play. And the A2 doesn’t allow you to upload the course ahead of time, instead requiring you to be near the first tee. In general though it delivered the numbers accurately and we found it straightforward enough to use out on the course.

• Read our full Voice Caddie A2 Golf Watch Review

Best shot-tracking

What you need to know: As the brand name suggests, Shot Scope’s products focus on blending GPS tech with shot tracking capabilities. The V5 does offers both and more, delivered in a package that we feel is a notable upgrade from the older, high performing Shot Scope V3,

Design: The V5 takes the V3 and adds in a little of the X5 to create a good looking watch, complete with a clear touchscreen and additional buttons that enhance its functionality. The strap only comes in a single color but it is comfortable on the wrist.

Features: If you’re buying the V5 in part for its shot tracking feature you won’t be disappointed. It’s even better than the V3, thanks to second-generation tracking tags that screw easily into the tops of your club. It’s worth noting that for this feature to work, you’ll need to wear the watch on your lead arm and be within 10cm of the tags. For us this did result in a few misses, but not enough for it to be an issue. The use of sensors also means you can access a myriad of performance stats at the end of each round, including Strokes Gained.

As for the other features, the home screen shows the front, middle and back yardages as default, alongside the hold number and your current score. However, a press of a button or a scroll of the touchscreen and you get a host of additional information. We particularly liked the maps of the greens and the option to find numbers for carries or hazards, aided further by the ability to move the pin to a specific point on the hole for greater accuracy. You also get info for dogleg holes as well as lay up distances.

Performance: The V5 proved to be nicely efficient. On average we found that it took 20 seconds to locate the course on arrival. We also loved the ability to navigate via the buttons, which we found to be far less faff than the touch screen - although this is likely to be a personal preference. All-in-all the V5 is a solid performer that should help your game, and it has the added bonus of being keenly priced.

• Read our full Shot Scope V5 Golf GPS Watch Review

Specifications table

How we test golf watches

Our testing procedure is as comprehensive for golf watches as it is for any product we cover. That means we use the watches over several rounds and in varying conditions, rather than making an assessment after just a quick 18. By doing this we get a feel for how it performs in different weather conditions as well as how accurate it is in general. We also look to use watches off the golf course too if they have been designed as such, because this gives us an idea on versatility and the kind of non-golf functionality on offer. From this detailed analysis we’re able to offer you impartial advice designed to help you make informed buying decisions.

It's important to add that no manufacturer or brand can buy a good review. Our testing team reviews golf equipment and makes its own opinion on just how well the product performs.

How To Choose The Right Golf GPS Watch

Features

Not all GPS golf watches are created equal. Some will do the basics, providing you with yardages to the front, middle and back of the green, while others will offer far more data. Consider what you really need, as the difference in price between a budget and premium model can be considerable. If you’re after additional course details, you’ll need to pay for it.

Similarly, some watches will offer lifestyle and fitness tracking features too, so think about whether you want the watch just for the golf course, or to serve as more of an allrounder.

Your routine

While we encourage all golfers to play quickly, it’s a fact that some are slower than others, largely due to their routine. So which are you? Do you like to crunch the numbers before each shot, taking a deliberate approach to shot and club selection. Or are you more of a free swinger, who prefers to get a number and then pull the trigger? Whichever you are, you’ll find that some watches suit your routine better than others, so bear this in mind when you're narrowing down your choices.

Versatility

Many brands make models that can be used on and off the golf course because of the range of features, and overall styling. If that is important to you, then several models above will cater to this need. Health and wellness features are increasingly popular, as are smartwatches for checking messages, emails etc. Rather than buy a watch specifically for that as well as one for golf, perhaps you want to combine the best of both worlds with one of the higher end golf watches.

Golf course

Matching the golf watch to the type of golf courses you typically play makes a lot of sense. GPS watches really come into their own on courses that feature lots of doglegs, blind tee shots and approaches as well as changes in elevation. Similarly if you play at other clubs often enough, then you may want the extra information a GPS offers over a laser that’s best suited to a golf course where the trouble is ‘out in front of you’. It’s also worth looking at just how many preloaded courses you get with any given watch.

Battery power

Unlike laser rangefinders that use batteries, GPS watches need to be charged at regular intervals usually via a USB cable. If you play a lot of golf you’ll want to consider the battery life of the watch, and remember you’ll need to differentiate between smartwatch and GPS modes, as they deliver vastly different running times.

Budget

Last but not least is budget. If you want all the bells and whistles, then unless you;re shopping on Black Friday, you’re going to have to pay for it. But there are plenty of more affordable options too, and if you just want the basics then you likely find a watch that’s surprisingly budget-friendly.

FAQs

We hope you enjoyed this guide on the best golf watches and for more gear content, like the best golf simulator or best golf GPS apps, check out the Golf Monthly website. We also recommend checking out our guides on the best golf GPS devices, best golf launch monitors, and the best golf watches for ladies should you be looking to expand your arsenal of golf gadgets.

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