GolfBuddy Voice XL GPS Speaker Review
Joe Ferguson takes this interesting combination of yardage and music out on the course…
![Photo of the GolfBuddy Voice XL GPS Speaker](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UcDBCZPTVt455EKj6bi2ji-415-80.jpg)
This is a really well-put-together product. The speaker alone is extremely high quality, while the addition of the GPS yardages is well executed. A premium feel, and exceptionally easy to use, the GolfBuddy Voice XL is an excellent choice for those seeking something a little different on the course.
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High-quality construction
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Exceptionally easy to use
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Super strong cart mounting magnet
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Slightly limited on yardage options/capabilities
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Having never really been an on-course music type of guy, I was somewhat skeptical when the GolfBuddy Voice XL GPS Speaker turned up on my doorstep for review, however with some interesting features involved, I kept an open mind and headed off to the course to see if it could sit amongst the best golf speakers or even the best golf GPS devices.
Straight out of the box the feel of the product is extremely premium. The 701-gram weight provides enough heft to know you have something fairly robust in your hands, but not so much that you might strain a bicep lifting it. The speaker material that surrounds the unit is smooth and once again feels durable enough not to cause problems later down the road.
The buttons on the GolfBuddy Voice XL GPS Speaker are very clear and easy to locate.
For context, size-wise, the GolfBuddy Voice XL is just a touch longer than my hand and not too bulky, it easily fits in a golf bag for post-round storage and transportation.
The instructions were refreshingly simple and clear and the setup process is about as straightforward as it gets. Once you have held down the power button for 3 seconds and have heard the welcoming tune, a blue light will flash which means it is ready to pair with your phone. All you need to do then is head into the GolfBuddy app on your phone, go to device management, and pair up. Then you are all set. It is IOS and Android compatible which is always a plus point.
The magnet of the GolfBuddy Voice XL GPS Speaker is extremely strong.
The overall aesthetic is excellent with high-quality finishes throughout and a cool GB (GolfBuddy) logo tucked on the underside of the device. The buttons are well laid out and couldn’t be any clearer to use. They are plenty big enough that even if your vision is compromised by one too many on-course beverages, you will still have no problems locating the correct one.
One feature that I really enjoyed was the remote control that clips on and off the GolfBuddy Voice XL GPS Speaker easily. I didn’t test its full range but it works perfectly from the opposing side of the fairway and allows you to toggle between songs or even yardages. Speaking of yardages, the offering is fairly basic but covers everything most players will need such as front, middle, and back of the green, and these yardages are also shown on the LED display within the speaker and also verbalized via the speaker which is a cool feature. When the LED display is not showing yardages, it defaults to a handy clock display which is nice and clear.
The cart mounting magnet is one of the better ones I have come across. It is plenty strong enough to know that the speaker is staying put, but doesn’t scare the living daylights out of you as it snaps ferociously into place. Comparable strength to the Shot Scope Pro ZR laser, GolfBuddy has the strength just right on this one.
The GolfBuddy Voice XL GPS Speaker comes pre-loaded with 40,000 golf courses and there are a couple more really cool features worth mentioning. Firstly, the speaker doubles up as a power bank so if, like me, your phone is always limping towards the end of the round power-wise, you can simply top it up via your speaker, brilliant! The speaker itself is charged via a USB-C and can last up to ten hours.
As on-course music hasn’t really caught on in the UK as of yet, I must admit to feeling a little self-conscious while testing out the GolfBuddy Voice XL GPS Speaker, but I did genuinely enjoy what it had to offer. The build quality is undeniable, the speaker is high-quality and it couldn’t be any simpler to use. You can’t ask much more than that.
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Joe has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles. After a successful amateur career being involved in England squads at every age group, Joe completed his PGA degree qualification in 2014 as one of the top ten graduates in his training year and subsequently went on to become Head PGA Professional at Ryder Cup venue The Celtic Manor Resort. Equipment has always been a huge passion of Joe’s, and during his time at Celtic Manor, he headed up the National Fitting Centres for both Titleist and Taylormade. He’s excited to bring his knowledge of hardware to Golf Monthly in the form of equipment reviews and buying advice.
Joe lives in North Devon and still plays sporadically on the PGA West region circuit. His best round in recent years came earlier in 2023 where he managed a 9 under par 63 at Trevose GC in a Devon & Cornwall PGA Tournament.
Joe's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: Switch between Ping G430 Max 10K & TaylorMade Qi10 - both with Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X
Fairway wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour - Fujikura Ventus Black 7-X
Irons: Callaway Apex CB 24' 3-11 - Project X LS 6.5 shafts
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 54D and 60M
Putter: Odyssey Toe Up #9
Ball: TaylorMade 2024 TP5x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R
Bag: Vessel Player IV Pro DXR Stand
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