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9 Best GPS Golf Watches in 2023

Article By: Faheem Hussain Published On: August 9, 2023 , Last updated on : August 31, 2023 | Reviewed by : Editorial Board
9 Best golf GPS watches

 If you’ve ever played golf or video games about golf, you should know how long the gentlemen’s game can take. You would also know that golf courses are large, so navigation is vital to scoring high. But finding the best GPS golf watch is easier said than done. So, we’ve compiled a list of the best GPS golf watches to help you find your top pick.

What should the best GPS golf watches have?

Before we dive in and rank the best GPS golf watch, we need to go over something first. There are many things we must consider when looking for the perfect GPS watch for golf. Namely, the GPS accuracy, the watch’s design, display, durability, battery life, and comfortability, to name a few. How well the watch excels in each determines its ranking on the list.

GPS Accuracy

The accuracy of the GPS is one of the most important factors in finding the perfect GPS golf watch. Especially when you consider how large some golf courses can be; after all, precise navigation is key in nabbing victory. The GPS accuracy becomes very important to carrying those features depending on what else the watch offers.

Design and Display

The watch’s design also plays a pivotal role when determining the best GPS watch, from how the design of the strap and case all the way to its looks too. The watch’s display must also be visible and easy to read. It’s generally preferred that the watch comes with a backlight to make it easier to look at in bright conditions.

Comfort

Comfortability isn’t just about how comfortable it is; it’s also about looking out for the wrist. Golf is all about the swing, and wrist strength is key to executing the perfect swing. But if the watch on your wrist makes you itch or leaves blisters and scars, it can ruin your swing. How comfortable the watch is depends on the watch’s overall design and the material it’s made of.

Durability

When you’re out golfing, you’re watching is bound to get hit with dust and water. Hence, we must look out for how much punishment it can withstand and what it’s resistant to. Given how often you have to get the ball out of the bunker, we must look out for dust resistance. There aren’t enough situations where you have to dig through water with your own hands, but having water resistance definitely helps.

Battery Life

Battery life is another important factor, as they determine how long they’ll last. Most watches last months, but when it comes to feature-heavy watches like these, they will only last for a while. Charging and battery replacement are also necessary, given their relatively low battery.

Also read: Best Dive Watches for Deep Sea Explorations

Additional Features

Additional features are often miscellaneous things added to the golf watch, from adjustments to quality-of-life features. Some cool features include uploading course maps into the watch and syncing it with the GPS navigation. Another neat feature is a built-in anemometer, given its importance in golf.

Garmin Approach S70

Garmin Approach S70

The Garmin Approach S70 is the best GPS golf watch, thanks to its design, GPS accuracy, and features. The watch also has a couple of apps that take your golf game to the next level. Though somewhat of a minor issue, the battery life drains very quickly during GPS mode.
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Golf Buddy Aim W12

Golf Buddy Aim W12

The Golf Buddy Aim W12 is the best golf GPS watch that’ll give you the most mileage. The watch might look standard, but once you wear it, it’s like it’s a part of you. We were quite shocked at how many apps this watch has, from hole preview to a…
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Garmin Approach S62

Garmin Approach S62

The Garmin Approach S62 is a tough and versatile version of the S70. This watch has an impressive battery life, which also drains fast. The watch also has the app PlaysLike Distance to keep track of uphill and downhills on the green.
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Bushnell iON Elite

Bushnell iON Elite

If you’re looking for a stylish watch with a good virtual caddie app, then Bushnell’s iON Elite is the best GPS golf watch for you. Bright and colorful, the watch’s touchscreen is also easy-to-use. However, the watch has a tendency to glitch out every now and then.
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SkyCaddie LX5

SkyCaddie LX5

SkyCaddie LX5 is the best GPS golf watch to help you stay on track. Having the largest touchscreen, this watch lets you zoom in and out to get a full view of where you are. It also works with Wi-Fi, so you can sync the data on the watch with…
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SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Golf Edition

SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Golf Edition

SAMSUNG’s Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Golf Edition is the best GPS golf watch made for golfers. It is designed to endure any kind of damage, and it comes in various designs. In conjunction with the heart tracker, the watch’s Auto Workout Tracking app helps keep track of your exercises.
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TecTecTec ULT-G

TecTecTec ULT-G

The TecTecTec ULT-G is one of the best GPS golf watches in terms of durability. Waterproof and dust resistant, this watch can handle anything. The watch owes its durability to its design and material, that ensures it doesn’t take too much damage.
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Golf Buddy Aim W11

Golf Buddy Aim W11

Golf Buddy Aim W11 is one of the best GPS golf watches. If you want to check your map or upload a new golf course, you can pair it with your smartphone to do just that. Moreover, it too has a Green Undulation for checking slopes on green.
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Shot Scope V3

Shot Scope V3

The Shot Scope V3 is one of the most accurate and durable watches on this list. With a 10-hour long battery and a water and dust-resistant body, this watch can last long without a scratch. However, the watch has trouble keeping track of how many swings you take.
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The best GPS golf watch | Top 7 picks

Now that we’ve gone over some of the considering factors let’s go over the list. For this list, we go over our top picks for the best GPS golf watch and their individual pros and cons. The aforementioned factors will be factored in, but how well they use them will determine how high they’ll rank on the list.

List of the best GPS golf watches:

  • Garmin Approach S70
  • Golf Buddy Aim W12
  • Garmin Approach S62
  • Bushnell iON Elite
  • SkyCaddie LX5
  • SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Golf Edition
  • TecTecTec ULT-G
  • Golf Buddy Aim W11
  • Shot Scope V3

Garmin Approach S70

01 Garmin Approach S70If you’re looking for the best GPS golf watch, then look no further than the Garmin Approach S70. One might look at it and find that the watch’s stylish look complements its lightweight build perfectly. The AMOLED display also happens to be vivid and bright enough to be used in daylight, making it somewhat unique. But there’s more to this watch than meets the eye.

The watch also has a couple of apps that take your golf game to the next level. Alongside 43,00 preloaded courses, you can upload your own courses into the watch, but that’s not all. The watch’s virtual caddie app helps you find the perfect angle and shot distance for the perfect shot. The app also keeps track of your health with preloaded activity profiles for the perfect swing.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and stylish design
  • Vivid and bright AMOLED display
  • Upload golf maps with panning and zoom features
  • PlaysLike Distance to keep track of slope and

Cons:

  • Battery life goes down faster in GPS mode

From what we’ve gathered, this watch is almost flawless, but there is one issue we found, though somewhat minor. The battery life actually lasts for an astounding 16 days, which is a lot. Hence, why it’s a real shame that its battery depletes fast when in GPS mode. In spite of this hiccup, Garmin’s Approach S70 is the definitive GPS golf watch, if not the best.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Material: 9/10
Durability: 8/10
Uniqueness: 9/10
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Golf Buddy Aim W12

02 Golf Buddy Aim W12The Golf Buddy Aim W12 is the best GPS golf watch that’ll give you the most mileage. The watch might look standard, but once you wear it, it’s like it’s a part of you. It also helps that the watch is waterproof. Now, trips to the pond won’t ruin your wristwatch. The watch also has a 10-hour long battery life, which isn’t much but justified given what it’s capable of.

What puts this watch on our is its in-app features. We were quite shocked at how many apps this watch has, from hole preview to a shot-distance calculator. One of them is Green Undulation, a feature that displays the slope gradation, helping you find the perfect shot. If there is something you need to assess in the middle of a match, this watch has an app for that.

Pros:

  • 10-hour long battery
  • Upload course maps with hole recognition
  • IPX7 Waterproof
  • Green Undulation to display the slope angles on green

Cons:

  • User interface can be tricky to get used to

So, the watch is great and versatile to boot, but it isn’t without its shortcomings. The battery life might be low, but it’s only a minor inconvenience, especially when it comes to the user interface. The user interface will take a while to get used to, given how many apps it has. But once you get around that, you’ll see how Golf Buddy Aim W12 lives up to its name.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Material: 9/10
Durability: 9/10
Uniqueness: 9/10
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Garmin Approach S62

03 Garmin Approach S62If you’re looking for a watch that is as tough as it is versatile, then Garmin’s Approach S62 might be for you. Like its first-placing counterpart, this watch has an impressive battery life, which also drains fast, but we’ll get there. The watch also has a color touchscreen that’s easy to read and with a backlight. But this is where the similarities end and the S62 begins to shine.

The Virtual Caddie app on this watch ranges from calculators that suggest the best club to a digital anemometer. The watch also has the app PlaysLike Distance to keep track of uphill and downhills on the green. What’s more, this watch has 42,000 maps preloaded into it, and it can even hold more if you upload them.

Pros:

  • Large easy-to-read color touchscreen
  • 20 hours in GPS mode, 14 days long battery life
  • Can hold over 42,000 courses on your wrist
  • Virtual Caddie to find the best club and aim

Cons:

  • Very expensive

So you can see how this watch, even next to the S70, is a cheaper model that is just as good. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still pretty expensive. So, though it has a lot of neat features, at the end of the day, it’s a luxury golf watch. Regardless, Garmin’s Approach S62 is still one of the best GPS golf watches, despite its high price range.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Material: 9/10
Durability: 8/10
Uniqueness: 9/10
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Bushnell iON Elite

04 Bushnell iON EliteIf you’re looking for a stylish watch with a good virtual caddie app, then Bushnell’s iON Elite is the best GPS golf watch for you. Bright and colorful, the watch’s touchscreen is also easy-to-use with a good user interface. On top of a neat touchscreen, the watch’s cool, sleek design perfectly complements how comfortable it is.

Thanks to the brand’s patented Slope Technology, you can plan the perfect shot with the shot distance calculator with its catalog of preloaded courses. Moreover, the watch’s holoView screen also gives you a clear view of the entire course while also keeping track of which course you’re playing in.

Pros:

  • Color touchscreen with an easy-to-use interface
  • Comes with a HoleView screen with shot planning
  • A shot-distance calculator for better accuracy
  • Keeps track of golf scores and automatic course recognition

Cons:

  • Suffers from constant technical issues

So, from what we’ve described, one would think this watch should’ve been placed higher; and it would’ve, if not for one thing. The watch has a tendency to glitch out every now and then, technical issues, like not auto-loading the right map or delayed inputs. But if you can fix your way around this issue, then give Bushnell’s iON Elite a shot.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Material: 9/10
Durability: 9/10
Uniqueness: 9/10
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SkyCaddie LX5

05 SkyCaddie LX5Golf courses can be huge, and naturally so, if you’ve played the game before; it’s not that hard to get lost. SkyCaddie LX5 is the best GPS golf watch to help you stay on track. Sporting the largest touchscreen, this watch lets you zoom in and out to get a full view of where you are. Moreover, its IntelliGreen app helps keep track of slope angles on the green for the best putt.

Another perk this watch holds is that it has a pretty long battery, two rounds long to be exact. The watch also works with Wi-Fi, so you can sync the data on the watch with any other device. On top of keeping track of your stats, the watch also keeps track of your current score, among other things.

Pros:

  • The largest and brightest color touchscreen
  • Zoom in and pan course maps
  • IntelliGreen to keep track of terrain on the green

Cons:

  • Takes some time to turn on and get used to

However the watch may have all the best features, but it has a minor flaw that holds it back. It the user interface will take some time to get used to before you can utilize it. In the grand scheme of things, the SkyCaddie LX5 is tailor-made and designed to help people stay on track and never get lost.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Material: 9/10
Durability: 9/10
Uniqueness: 8/10
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SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Golf Edition

06 SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Golf EditionSAMSUNG makes gadgets for everything and everyone, and their Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Golf Edition is the best GPS golf watch made for golfers. It is designed to endure any kind of damage, and it comes in various designs. Moreover, the watch’s Smart Caddie app picks the best club, depending on your current location.

So, what else does the watch have to help you with your golf match? The watch keeps track of your heart rate, so you don’t have to push yourself too far. This feature also works in conjunction with the watch’s Auto Workout Tracking, an app that keeps track of your exercises. After all, you need to maintain a healthy body for a good swing.

Pros:

  • Wide variety of colors and designs
  • Designed to endure the toughest hazards
  • Caddie apps to pick the best golf club

Cons:

  • Shoddy health tracking apps

But if there is one thing we’d recommend you not use this watch, it’s to track your health. We mentioned that the watch has a health-tracking app, which is neat, right? Wrong, because the app is terrible at keeping track of biometrics, so it represents the wrong information. However, if you just want a golf watch to help you with your game, then this is the watch for you.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Material: 8/10
Durability: 9/10
Uniqueness: 8/10
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TecTecTec ULT-G

07 TecTecTec ULT-GThe TecTecTec ULT-G is one of the best GPS golf watches in terms of durability. Waterproof and dust resistant, this watch can handle anything, assuming you’re in a bunker or drop the ball in a pond. That last point is a non-issue, thanks to its automatic course recognition and built-in map, which you can upload and update via Bluetooth.

The watch owes its durability to its design and material, that ensures it doesn’t take too much damage. It also helps that the watch’s lightweight design means you can walk around without feeling like you’re carrying an osmium bracelet. Remember, this is a watch that can withstand a lot of sweat and physical punishment.

Pros:

  • Strong and durable design
  • Automatic course recognition
  • Bluetooth connectivity for free course updates

Cons:

  • Watch display can be difficult to read

The watch does have one thing holding it back, and how much depends on how well you can read it. The display is almost archaic in how it displays this information. Correct information, mind you, but not well conveyed given the LCD display used. But once you get used to it, you’ll see why the TecTecTec ULT-G is one of the best.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Material: 8/10
Durability: 9/10
Uniqueness: 8/10
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Golf Buddy Aim W11

08 Golf Buddy Aim W11The Golf Buddy Aim W11 is one of the best GPS golf watches, and once you wear it, you’ll see why. Also, it is the predecessor of the Golf Buddy Aim W12 mentioned earlier in the review. Like its higher-placed counterpart, this watch sports a long battery life, but it lasts much longer. If you want to check your map or upload a new golf course, you can pair it with your smartphone to do just that. Moreover, it too has a Green Undulation for checking slopes on green.

In addition, the Golf Buddy Aim uses not only GPS but GLONASS as well, providing even more accurate and reliable distance measurements. This feature is especially useful in areas with poor GPS coverage. With the combination of GPS and GLONASS technology, you can trust that the Golf Buddy Aim W11 will provide you with accurate yardage and help improve your game.

Pros:

  • One-week long battery life
  • Pair with smartphone and iPhone to check and store data
  • Green Undulation to display slope trajectory on the green

Cons:

  • Touchscreen swipe is slow and sluggish

So, it shares some things with Aim W12, but what it doesn’t share are its drawbacks. Whereas the W12 suffered from a tricky user interface, this one suffers from touchscreen lag. This lag can not only make it hard to use the watch but also ruin the fun pacing of the game. In spite of this, this watch is great, especially if you’re in the middle of a long game.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Material: 8/10
Durability: 8/10
Uniqueness: 8/10
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Shot Scope V3

09 Shot Scope V3For our last entry, we bring you the Shot Scope V3, one of the most accurate and durable watches on this list. With a 10-hour long battery and a water and dust-resistant body, this watch can last long without a scratch. But that’s not all, as the watch’s GPS tracking is one of the most accurate ones out there. With this watch on your side, you’ll never get lost, be it on rough grass or a bunker.

Pros:

  • State-of-the-art GPS accuracy
  • Water and dust resistant design
  • 10-hour long battery with fast charging

Cons:

  • Has difficulty editing and recording swing

There is one hiccup though, and it has to do with the app it has. It’s supposed to keep track of how many swings you take, but the tracking isn’t as good. Not helping matters, is that this watch has a course editor, which is just as shoddy as the swing tracker. Regardless, Shot Scope V3 is one of the best GPS golf watches in terms of strength and GPS accuracy.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 7/10
Material: 8/10
Durability: 8/10
Uniqueness: 8/10
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On par with the game

Golfing is a sport that is best played when you relax yourself and your posture. We’ve gone over a lot, from the many things the best GPS golf watches should have to find the perfect one designed for you. With the best GPS golf watch, you can spend less time worrying about the time and more time focusing on your swing.

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