- Updated: August 24, 2023
Best GPS Golf Watch 2023
Gone are the days of overly simplistic and rarely reliable GPS golf watches. As technology continues to improve, many players are substituting their rangefinders for a golf watch that will show them all the golf course data they could want!
On top of being comfortable, simple to use, and even stylish (depending on the maker), many of the best golf GPS watches on the market simply beat the tiresome act of reaching for your rangefinder before every shot.
Our favorite GPS golf watch of the 2023 season has to be the Garmin Approach S70 GPS Watch for its easy-to-read touchscreen display, its incredible battery life, and the fact that it is usable as an everyday watch with health tracking features!
Some of the best golf watch options of 2023 are so convenient and detailed that it feels like you always have a caddie with you while playing!
1 |  OUR TOP PICK | Garmin Approach S70 Watch |
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2 |  ALTERNATIVE | Shot Scope X5 GPS Watch |
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3 |  ALTERNATIVE 2 | SkyCaddie LX5 GPS Watch |
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10 Best Golf GPS Watches 2023
- Garmin Approach S70 GPS Watch (Best Screen and Battery Life Golf Watch)
- Shot Scope X5 GPS Watch (Shot Tracking Golf Watch)
- SkyCaddie LX5 GPS Watch (Bright and Colorful TouchScreen)
- Bushnell iON Edge GPS Watch (Affordable Option from a Trusted Brand)
- Apple Watch SE (Most Affordable Apple Watch)
- GolfBuddy aim W11 (Budget-Friendly Advanced Color Golf GPS Watch)
- VoiceCaddie T9 Hybrid Golf GPS Watch (High-Tech Option For Golfers Pursuing Better Play)
- TecTecTec ULT-G GPS Golf Watch (Most Affordable/Entry-Level Watch On Our List)
- TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition (Ultra-Premium/Luxury Golf GPS Watch)
- Garmin Approach S42 Golf GPS Watch (Affordable Option from Garmin)
Make sure you stick around after our individual best gps golf watches breakdowns, where we’ll discuss our favorite features and answer some of our reader’s most commonly asked questions!
1. Garmin Approach S70 GPS Watch (Best Screen and Battery Life Golf Watch)
Specifications: 1.4″ Diameter Color OLED TouchScreen, 20+ Hour GPS Battery Life, Virtual Caddie Feature, 43,000+ Preloaded Courses
The Garmin Approach S70 is the top GPS watch on our list because of its amazing screen and super long battery life. It is one of the more premium golf gps watch options. With the in-depth and accurate course and club information you receive, you’ll always feel like you have a professional caddie on your wrist!
The Approach S70 has a bigger screen than previous Garmin golf watch models, that’s fantastic for reading what your new “Virtual Caddie” will tell you.
This assistant factors in wind speed, direction, and elevation adjustments and suggests a club based on the distance you typically swing with that particular club.
Additional Features of the Garmin Approach S70 Golf GPS Watch:
A complete overview of hole maps with quick-reference front, middle, and back of the green distances
“Green View” gives you the actual shape of the green (paired with the Garmin Golf App, you can receive Green Contour Data as well)
“Hazard View” lets you quickly scroll through each hazard on the map with distances to the front and back
“AutoShot” automatically detects shot distances (can be paired with optional Approach CT10 club tracking sensors)
Strokes-Gained Analytics and online leaderboards on the Garmin Golf App
Receive emails, texts, and alerts straight to your watch
Health tracking features like Heart Rate, Pulse Ox, Blood Oxygen Saturation, All-Day Stress, Calories Burned, Distance Traveled, and much more
Check Out the Full Review: Garmin Approach S70 GPS Watch Review,
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2. Shot Scope X5 GPS Watch (Perfect Shot Tracking Golf Watch)
Specifications: 1.2″ Color Display, 10+ Hours of Battery Life, Highly Detailed Shot Tracking Data in Shot Scope App, 36,000+ Preloaded Golf Courses
The Shot Scope x5 is one of the best golf watches available for players obsessed with learning everything they can about their golf game to improve.
The Shot Scope x5 uses “Track Tags” you place in the grip of every golf club to automatically detect the distance and direction of every shot during your round.
Pair this highly accurate club information with the front, middle, and back of the green yardages and easily visible hazards on your color screen, and Shot Scope says you’re “Proven to reduce scores.”
Post-round, players can upload and analyze over 100 statistics on their game, including strokes-gained analytics in every category that lets you know the areas of your game that need improvement.
Additional Features of the Shot Scope x5 Golf GPS Watch:
2 Extra Tracking Tags for Additional Clubs (or a desert club)
Club recognition is displayed on the watch screen
Dynamic Front, Middle, and Back of the green distances (changes based on your location)
Front and Carry Distance for every bunker or water hazard
Interchangeable Straps
Statistics on Tee Shots, Approaches, Short Game, Putting, Scoring, and Full Round/Season
“PinCollect” technology lets golfers ping their exact pin location for enhanced approaches, short game, and putting statistics
Virtually tour any club in the world on Shot Scope “Course Hub” to view how Shot Scope users play that course.
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3. SkyCaddie LX5 GPS Watch (Bright and Colorful TouchScreen)
Specifications: 1.39″ Diameter Color TouchScreen, Includes Small & Large Wristbands, 2 Rounds of Battery Life, Water Resistant, 35,000+ Preloaded Courses
SkyCaddie describes their LX5 as “Golf’s Brightest & Largest Color GPS Golf Watch,” and we’d have to agree! The LX5 gives golfers the speed and convenience of a watch with all the detailed information of a handheld GPS device.
Within the ultra-bright and fully-color display, golfers can pan the fairway image up and down to focus on any critical area of the hole and move the cursor to dial in specific distances.
The SkyCaddie LX5 comes preloaded with over 35,000 “ground verified, error-corrected course maps,” so you can know and trust the accuracy it provides.
On top of all that, the LX5 has a customizable watch face with analog or digital options, it’s waterproof, and it comes equipped with many of the features you’d expect from modern fitness brands (heart rate, step counter, step goals, etc.), making the SkyCaddie perfect for on-course and off-course versatility.
Check out our hands-on review of the SkyCaddie LX5 GPS Golf Watch HERE.
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4. Bushnell iON Edge GPS Watch (Affordable Option from a Trusted Brand)
Specifications: 1.08″ Diameter TouchScreen, 16+ Hr Battery Life, 1 Year Warranty, 38,000+ Preloaded Courses
The Bushnell iON Edge GPS golf watch is one of the best sellers on the market because it’s affordable while offering many of the features you need to perform your best on the golf course.
For starters, the iON Edge comes preloaded with more than 38,000 worldwide courses and features enormous, easy-to-read front, center, and back green yardages.
When you approach your golf ball, use Bushnell’s “GreenView” with “Movable Pin Placement,” which lets you cycle through the different pin locations to receive more accurate distances to the flag.
The iON Edge allows players to track up to 6 hazards and layup distances per hole, and when you use the new Bushnell Golf App features, you can get more advanced views of the courses you play to strategize better!
Additional Features of the Bushnell iON Edge GPS Golf Watch:
16+ Hours of Battery Life
Auto Course Recognition via GPS
Auto Hole Advance
“Shot Distance Calculator” to let you know your exact yardages with each club
A Magnetic USB Charging Cable
Scorekeeping straight to the Bushnell Golf App for review and analysis
1 Year Warranty
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5. Apple Watch SE (Most Affordable Apple Watch)
Specifications: 1.78″ or 1.53″ Diagonal Color TouchScreen, WaterProof, Many Health Tracking Markers, 3 Months of Fitness+ Free, Fantastic Golf Apps Available, 18 Hour Battery Life
The Apple Watch SE is likely the most advanced health tracking watch on our list, but it also functions as one of the best golf watches out there.
The Apple Watch SE is Apple’s base-level model and is offered in three primary colors but with near-infinite band variations and styles to match your personal preferences.
It’s waterproof up to 50 meters deep and helps wearers stay active and motivated with “Activity Rings” that gradually fill from a day full of movement. The Apple Watch isn’t only focused on work, as nearly every app you could want pairs with the watch, essentially making your watch a second cell phone.
The Apple Watch turns into one of the best golf GPS watches when you pair it with one of the many golf apps (like the V1 Golf App) that simultaneously serves as a rangefinder, caddie, and stat tracking app.
The V1 Golf App also provides golfers with a detailed post-round summary of their strokes-gained and lost statistics to show you exactly what aspects of the game you need to improve to score better.
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6. GolfBuddy aim W11 (Budget-Friendly Advanced Color Golf GPS Watch)
Specifications: 1.3″ Color TouchScreen, 13+ Hour Battery Life, Green View + Undulation, 40,000 Preloaded Courses
The GolfBuddy aim W11 GPS golf watch is GolfBuddy’s newest offering in the ultra-accurate on-wrist course assistant category.
The aim W11 comes straight out of the box with 40,000 courses preloaded and offers free annual updates to accommodate any course renovations.
The color touch screen shows in-depth hole layouts along with the front, middle, and back of the green distances.
Players can pinch and zoom to get exact distances to targets and hazards, along with incredibly detailed green undulation heat maps so you can most accurately plan your next shot. A “Green View” that exacts usually requires a steep annual fee, but it’s completely free with the GolfBuddy aim W11.
Additional Features of the GolfBuddy aim W11 GPS Golf Watch:
Digital Scorecard
Pedometer
“Watch Mode” for off-course wear (along with two different colored bands)
Wireless Bluetooth Casting to GOLFBUDDY Smart App on multiple devices
Manual pin placement for more accurate distances to your target
Check out our review of the previous model GolfBuddy aim W10 HERE.
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7. VoiceCaddie T9 Hybrid Golf GPS Watch (High-Tech Option For Golfers Pursuing Better Play)
Specifications: 1.2″ Diameter Color TouchScreen, Green Undulation Maps, 27 Holes of Battery Life, 40,000+ Preloaded Courses
The VoiceCaddie T9 Hyrid is one of our favorite choices for the best overall golf watch of the year because of its incredibly precise and in-depth data for such a lower price than ultra-premium competitors.
The T9 comes equipped with shot and putt tracking and keeps track of your score throughout the round, so you don’t have to. The full-color touchscreen provides slope-adjusted yardages to the front/center/back of every green you’ll face.
The color-mapped Green Undulation view rotates in relation to your direction from the hole, and once you hit the green, the “Smart Green” feature will estimate a read to the hole from your ball.
That isn’t even close to all the VoiceCaddie T9 Hybrid has to offer.
Additional features of the VoiceCaddie T9 include:
“Swing Tempo Practice” to work on a consistent tempo and swing rhythm from indoors or outdoors
MyVoiceCaddie App provides round statistics, scorecards, and specific shot-tracking data
“Putt View,” “Course/Hole View,” “Green View,” and standard “Front/Middle/Back Yardage View“
“V. AI 3.0” lets the VoiceCaddie T9 know when players move from the tee box to the fairway and finally to the green, so golfers don’t have to press anything to progress through their view of the hole
Check Out: Voice Caddie SC300 Launch Monitor, Voice Caddie Swing Caddie 2 Launch Monitor
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8. TecTecTec ULT-G GPS Golf Watch (Most Affordable/Entry-Level Watch On Our List)
Specifications: Bright Black & White Display, Button Navigation, 2.5 Round Battery Life, 38,000+ Preloaded Courses
If you’re just entering the golf GPS watch space and aren’t looking to break the bank with your Initial investment, look no further than the TecTecTec ULT-G golf watch.
For the lowest price on our list, golfers will receive highly accurate distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, along with yardage to hazards.
While the TecTecTec ULT-G isn’t as in-depth as some of the more premium models, it is completely USGA Compliant for golf tournaments and exceeds competitors in different, exciting ways.
For starters, TecTecTec believes you’ll like their ULT-G GPS golf watch so much that they offer a risk-free 30-day trial that promises if you don’t LOVE their product, you’ll get your money back!
On top of that, the ULT-G comes with access to more than 38,000 golf courses (with no hidden fees anywhere) and automatically recognizes what course and hole you’re navigating.
Read our hands-on review of the TecTecTec ULT-G GPS Golf Watch HERE!
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9. TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition (Ultra-Premium/Luxury Golf GPS Watch)
Specifications: 1.39″ OLED Color TouchScreen, 1 Full Day Battery Life (5h Golfing), 1hr 30min Charge Time, 40,000+ Preloaded Courses
TAG Heuer is known for creating high-quality, sporty-looking watches. The TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition watch is by far the most premium offering on our list, and we’d love to show why I’d be a great addition to your golfing weaponry.
The TAG Heuer Connected golf watch shows golfers high-resolution 2D maps displaying hazards and distances on over 40,000 golf courses. Now when you move the watch’s crown, you move your view of the hole with it.
The updated TAG Heuer Connected now automatically detects swings and sends them straight to the TAG Heuer golf app for in-depth post-round analysis.
A new “Driving Range” feature displays a “heat map” for every hole to show where previous shots have landed to strategize your attack better.
Additional Features of the TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition GPS Watch:
New 3D Mapping Technology on the iOS app generates an animated video of any hole you want
TAG Heuer Golf App automatically tracks drives and holds detailed club statistics
30% Longer Battery than previous Connected models
Free ball marker attached to watch strap
Free guided workouts from watch
Waterproof with Swimming Performance Tracking capabilities
Running and Cycling Tracking
Health Tracking includes Steps, Calories, and Heart Rate
Water, Calls, Emails, Texts, Agenda, and Google Pay all work seamlessly with TAG Connected
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10. Garmin Approach S42 Golf GPS Watch (Affordable Option from Garmin)
Specifications: 1.2″ Color TouchScreen, 15 Hours of Battery Life, Manual Pin Positioning, 42,000+ Preloaded Courses
The Garmin Approach S42 is one of the more affordable golf gps watches Garmin has released. We view the S42 as the “little brother” to the top Garmin Approach S70.
The Garmin Approach S42 offers all the essential features you could want in a beautiful full-color touchscreen display. It automatically tells you the distance to the pin, the distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, and the front and back numbers of any hazards you might face.
“AutoShot” tracking automatically records your shots per hole and can be paired with the optional “Approach CT10” club tracking sensors for more capabilities.
Every hole features Garmin’s “Green View,” which shows the true shape of the green complex for more accurate aiming. Golfers can ping precisely where the pin is on every green for more precise yardages for chips and approach shots.
Additional Features of the Garmin Approach S42 Golf GPS Watch:
Smart Notifications (Emails, Texts, Alerts when paired with smartphone)
Pairs with Garmin Golf App for Strokes-Gained/Lost Analysis and Online Leaderboards
Tracks Calories burnt, number of steps, and sleep
28 varying color and material band options
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How to Find Your Perfect Golf Watch
We’ve done a good job of weeding through the endless “best golf watches” out there to find what we firmly believe is the “Top 10.”
You now might be wondering to yourself, “How am I ever going to decide between all these great options?”
That’s where we come in. Below, you’ll find all the features we pay the most critical attention to when buying a new GPS golf watch!
Features
There are three categories of the best golf GPS watches:
Low-Price with Basic Features
Mid-Price with Moderate Features
Premium-Price with Ample Features
You’ll have to decide what type of information and how in-depth information you’re looking for.
If you’re the type of golfer that only wants their carry numbers to the green and pin and over hazards, then options from the low-price category will suit you just fine.
If you’re after colored hole maps, extended battery life, and other features like post-round statistics, you’ll be looking in the mid-price category.
Suppose you’re after every feature you could want, like assistance on uphill and downhill shots, wind speed and direction, undulation maps of the green, and fitness tracking. In that case, you should consider some of the nicer mid-price or premium options on our list!
Versatility
Are you specifically looking for another piece of golf tech to help your game? Or are you looking for something that can double as a fashionable piece to accompany everyday wear?
Determine what type of golf watch you’re looking for and choose from one of our many options that cover every range of stylish to not-so-stylish looks.
The Garmin Approach S70, SkyCaddie LX5, Apple Watch SE, GolfBuddy aim W11, and the TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition are all the leading golf watches on our list that are equally as fashionable as they are functional.
Your Routine
Are you the type of player that likes to really strategize over every shot with as much information as possible? Or are you the type that only wants your number to your target and plays quickly?
Whether you’re after a basic golf gps device with bare necessities or an in-depth virtual caddie, our list has you covered. The Shot Scope X5 has shot tracking which will quickly become part of your routine so that at the end of your round, you’ll have details about every shot.
Ease of Use
Do you sometimes struggle with touchscreen devices? If that’s the case, focus on one of our easy-to-use button-based options like the TecTecTec ULT-G or the Garmin Approach S42.
Style of Golf Courses You Play
Do you play a golf course with a lot of elevation changes throughout the round or a lot of hazards you need exact distances too? Or do you play more relaxed and flatter golf courses that only require basic carry yardages?
Determine the type of courses you play most frequently and base your decision there!
Battery Life
There’s nothing more frustrating than having your watch die while playing golf and depending on it. The Garmin Approach S70 took home top honors because of its incredible battery life.
Budget
Cheaper golf gps watches like the TecTecTec ULT-G, Bushnell iON Edge, and the GolfBuddy aim W11 are going to run anywhere from $100-$200 and will still have a greater number of courses preloaded than you’ll ever be able to play.
Middle-tier priced options like the Garmin Approach S70, SkyCaddie LX5, and Voice Caddie T9 Hybrid have more in-depth golf features, color touch screens, and on-course/off-course versatility for a slightly higher price.
If budget is of no concern, consider our most premium option, the TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition. This incredibly high-quality watch combines all the best features of modern golf gps watches with what you’d expect from more athletic performance tracking devices, all in a luxury watch package.
FAQ About The Best Golf Watches
Can you use a GPS golf watch in competitions?
Yes and no. The answer truly depends on the capabilities of your specific make and model of golf watch.
If your golf watch has the ability to contact coaches or trainers during a round, give you information on a slope reading, weather conditions such as wind speed, review swing analysis, or “Play’s Like”/Club Suggestions, it is not permitted during tournament play.
Golf watches that feature a “Tournament Mode” or models that aren’t as detailed with their information are entirely legal.
What's the best GPS golf watch to use?
In our opinion, the best GPS golf watch to use on our list have to be the Garmin Approach S70 because the battery life means you can use it more, the health features means you can wear it every day and the touchscreen allows you to dive in deep into golf details.
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About The Author
Writers of Independent Golf Reviews
Independent Golf Reviews has tested and reviewed 1000+ golf products over the past 10 years. We use our experience and expertise to give golfers an unbiased insight on the market.
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