Best Golf Watches For Ladies 2024

Wearable technology has evolved considerably over recent years and GPS golf watches now offer an impressive amount of detailed information that could previously only be found on handheld devices. Simplicity is the biggest plus point of a GPS watch, as you can quickly glance at your wrist when you reach the ball, rather than faff around with a rangefinder or GPS device.

When deciding on which GPS watch to buy there are a number of factors that need considering. Firstly, you need to consider the number of features that you are likely to use. Modern day GPS watches have the ability to tell you basic yardages to the green, distances to hazards and carry, there’s shot tracking and analysis, green mapping and much more.

Generally, ladies need to forsake looks if they want an exceptional in-built caddie on their wrist, as the majority of golf GPS watches are fairly chunky and masculine looking. However, brands have improved overall styling and comfort to make the options appealing to both male and female players. For ladies that also lead an active lifestyle away from the golf course, many leading brands have introduced watches that include fitness tracking features, as well as different colors and straps.

Given all of this, and the sheer number of watches we have tested over the years, we have collated our favorite golf watches for ladies into this handy guide. However, if a watch isn't your thing, we also recommend checking out our guides on the best golf rangefinders, best golf launch monitors, and the best smart phone for golfers should you be looking to expand your arsenal of golf gadgets.

The Quick List

Best Golf Watches For Ladies

Top pick

The Approach S62 is Garmin’s top of the range watch and earned a spot in our Editor's Choice awards. Featuring super stylish looks, it is also packed with a host of features. 

For ladies, we noticed it is slightly chunkier looking than the Approach S42, but with plenty of fitness tracking options, this is an accomplished sports watch that can be worn day-to-day and whilst on the move. What's more, you can even receive emails and texts.

In testing on the course, hole details are easy to read on the full-color screen and the large display is useful when using Green View, the feature that moves the pin position for more accurate distances.

As well as viewing front, middle and back yardages, you can check distances to hazards, with the Approach S62 offering adjusted distances to allow for elevation changes and wind speed. You can also pair the watch with the Garmin Golf app and it will smartly collect your stats. This means that the next time you play, the in-built caddie function has the ability to club you based on your shot history.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S62 GPS Watch review 

Best mid-price

Garmin is a brand that leads the way in wearable technology and, whilst there are different models to choose from, we think the smaller size and well-rounded features of the Approach S42 make it a popular choice for ladies.

A premium look without a premium price tag, it’s well made and comes pre-loaded with more than 42,000 courses worldwide, as well as a 15 hour battery life. Regarding the touchscreen, you receive front, middle and back yardages, which are displayed on the exceptionally clear 1.2-inch color screen.

There is yet more simplicity on show when we started scrolling through the menu, which is very straightforward. What's more, if you know the pin locations, it’s possible to move the flag on the touchscreen for an exact yardage and, when used in conjunction with the Garmin Golf app, AutoShot technology allows you to track and record shot distances. 

Importantly what makes it so versatile is not just the looks but we like the fact you can also track your number of steps, distance, calories and how you slept making it great for off-course activities.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S42 GPS Watch review

Best shot-tracking

Shot Scope's V5 looks to build on the impressive Shot Scope V3 and we were so enamored with the number of features on offer (as well as the looks) that we gave this product a spot in our Editor's Choice.

With a sleeker design compared to the V3, we are pleased to note that the excellent shot-tracking features have remained. The information we got was second-to-none thanks to the new lightweight tags that screwed into the top of our clubs. That being said to get the most out of this feature you need to wear the watch on your lead arm and it needs to be within 10cm of the tags in order to pick up shots and we found that it did occasionally miss some. It did not miss enough for it to be a big problem though and overall it's an impressive bit of kit. The sensors allow you to track shots and also give you free access to over 100 performance statistics which includes Strokes Gained.

Overall the performance in our testing was very impressive. A clear improvement for was the V5's button navigation which was a lot less fiddly than the Shot Scope X5's touchscreen navigation. The user experience wasn’t perfect but overall we think the can help the user improve decision-making and club selection. The price also makes it an appealing model to consider.

• Read our full Shot Scope V5 Golf GPS Watch Review

Best premium

Tag Heuer introduced itself to the golf GPS watch scene around the turn of the decade and, since then, they have continued to improve their product with multiple-time DP World Tour winner, Tommy Fleetwood, a brand ambassador. Introducing the Connected Calbre E4 golf edition watch, Tag Heuer have introduced a number of new additions, including an automated shot-tracker, redesigned golf software and a new buckle with magnetic ball marker built into the strap. 

The Tag Heuer design and feel is sporty and premium. As expected, the Tag Heuer is crammed with features, such as a 2D view of the hole on the screen. When out on the course, a red dot indicates where you are, moving with distance, suggesting a club for that yardage and, thanks to a tap of the screen, you get front and back numbers, as well as the par of the hole.

One of the standout features is the driving range feature. Essentially, it tracks drives automatically and, using the watch’s accelerometer and gyroscope, it marks the tee shot and then subsequent shots seamlessly to collect the data it needs. Over time, a heat map is created for every hole in the app which then shows where shots landed on previous rounds color-coded by your score. This allows you to see what clubs work best on each tee shot, ideal for optimizing strategy.

• Read our full TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition Watch Review

Best simplicity

This user-friendly, feature-packed golf watch will certainly catch the eye of many players of differing experience levels. The GolfBuddy Aim W12 is an example of the cutting edge features and designs going into some of the best GPS golf watches on the market right now. GolfBuddy have made several impressive updates here over the Aim W11 released in 2021. The watch looks a lot slicker and has certainly been streamlined thanks to the flatter button in the corner. The face looks to have been blended in better with the the cool looking bezel and it comes with a leather strap as standard. If leather isn't your cup of tea, it also comes with a silicon strap in the box too, which may be more appropriate if you're playing in warmer conditions. 

Looking to the touchscreen now, and the display is very bright and reassuringly responsive. The watch will only start displaying distances when you arrive at the first tee which was a little frustrating, but it did show good visuals and a 2D flyover of each hole which provided a good idea of what to expect and allowed us to plan out a strategy. The graphics and maps were very easy to use and you can also measure shot distances with the watch too.

• Read our full GolfBuddy Aim W12 GPS Watch Review

Best color choice

For an entry level watch, the Garmin Approach S12 is right up there with the best as it has fantastic usability from the get go when loading up one of the 40,000 courses.

The display screen is clear and provides the usual yardages to front, middle and back of the green but, in addition, it provides information on distances to bunkers, water hazards, lay-up yardages, and the option to move the flag around for even greater accuracy.

Ladies with failing eyesight will appreciate the Big Numbers mode, as well as the sunlight-readable dial, as these combined features help to add to a stress-free round. The measure-shot feature captures how far you’ve struck the ball and, by way of contributing to help improve your game, you can log your scores and some stats after each hole to analyse performance.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S12 GPS watch review

How we test golf watches

At Golf Monthly we have a comprehensive testing procedure when trying to find the best golf watches. This involves using different models out on the course, over a number of rounds and importantly in different conditions too because this gives us an idea on how particular models deal with sunlight, rain and wind. 

As the entire team are regular golfers, watches usually get a thorough testing and often get compared to one another side by side to test for things like accuracy, waterproofing, durability and other features. That way we can give honest and insightful feedback to you, the reader. We also look to try out watches off the golf course too if they have been designed as such, because this gives us an idea on versatility. 

The final thing we wanted to mention in this section is no manufacturer can buy a good review. Our testing team reviews golf equipment and makes its own opinion on how good or bad the product is. Check out how Golf Monthly tests products here.

How to choose the right golf watch

Features

If you have decided you want a GPS watch, now you need to think about what features are important to you. If you’re looking for your standard front, middle and back GPS yardages then a budget watch will do the trick, however there are some incredible watches out there that offer much more.

Alternatively, there are watches which can go into much greater detail when providing yardages, course detail, hazard information and so on. Obviously there are models with larger screens too which can be a particularly useful feature. Some also can help you record your score, track your shots, and many also have fitness features for off the golf course as well.

Versatility

Speaking of off the golf course, 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.

Your routine

When looking at buying a golf watch it is important to think about what you do during your routine on the golf course. Are you a fast player who just needs a quick glance at numbers on a screen, or are you more of a deliberate player that wants as much detail as possible before committing to a shot? There are models that fit into different routines and styles so be aware of how you play the game. Ultimately a glance at a watch is much quicker than taking a device out of its case or dragging pointers on the screen, so weigh up if extra detail or less disruption is most important to you.

Golf course

Next it is worth considering what type of golf course you play on regularly. We have found that courses with lots of doglegs and blind tee shots require the in-depth GPS information of a watch, whereas courses that are more out in front of you are perhaps more suited to the simplicity of a laser. Additionally if you play at other clubs in matches or socially, then you may want the extra information a GPS offers over a laser. Additionally be aware of how many golf courses are preloaded onto different watches as well. 

Battery power

Laser rangefinders run on powerful batteries that are easily replaced every six months to a year, while GPS devices normally need charging regularly via a USB, so consider if you have the discipline to keep it topped up ready for your next round.

Budget

Finally we should mention budget. If you want a simple model then there are budget-friendly options. However if you want to spend more you can with Garmin and TAG Heuer in particular offering ultra-premium models.

For more golf tech buying advice, check out our guides on the best value golf watches or the best cheap golf launch monitors.

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