Best Golf GPS Watches for 2025

Paul Liberatore is the founder of Golfers Authority, which reviews the world's best golf products and gear. This post contains affiliate links, where we may receive a percentage of any sale made from the links on this page. Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication.

I know everyone's crazy about rangefinders these days, and they're great tools, but a golf watch could be the smarter choice for many players.

Golf watches are just fast and easy to use. Instead of pulling out a rangefinder and aiming it at the flag, you'll get instant yardages to the front, middle and back of the green right on your wrist. That's perfect for many players.

But good golf watch isn't just for golf: It's actually useful in your everyday life. Your rangefinder can't track your sleep, monitor your stress levels or count your steps. A golf watch can do all that and more.

The tricky part is picking the right one. That's why I'm going to break down the top 10 golf watches for 2025.

Ready to find your perfect golf watch? Let's dive in.

What to Consider When Buying a Golf GPS Watch

There are a wide range of available GPS watches. Some offer basic functionalities like yardage to the green's front, middle, and back and are priced economically. But some advanced models can manage every aspect of your life. The variety is astonishing.

Price is a primary consideration, and generally you get what you pay for. However, it's important to stay within the budget for a single piece of golf equipment. In essence, be practical about your budget and stick to it.

Accuracy is another crucial aspect. Surprisingly, not all GPS watches are equally precise. Wear a watch on the golf course whenever possible. If that's not feasible, conduct thorough research. Ask friends for recommendations and consult online consumer reviews.

Consider the number and type of features you need. Are you a casual golfer who needs only the basic yardages, or are you looking to improve rapidly and require comprehensive data on sleep, physical activity and overall health?

Lastly, consider the watch's style. While style might not be a significant concern for everyone, it's undoubtedly essential for some. Choose a design that suits your taste.

Best Overall GPS Watch: Garmin Approach S70 GPS Watch

Think of everything you'd want in a golf watch, then add all the features you'd want for everyday life—that's what the S70 delivers.

The AMOLED screen is a game-changer. Everything looks crisp and bright, whether you're checking yardages or tracking your daily steps. Plus, you can customize it to show exactly what you want.

But it's not just a pretty face. The S70 is smart about helping you improve your game. The Virtual Caddie feature learns your playing style, like how far you hit each club and where your shots typically land. It'll also suggest club changes if there's trouble ahead, like when there's a bunker you've been struggling with.

What's really cool is the PlaysLike Distance feature. It considers everything—elevation, wind, humidity—to tell you exactly how far your shot will actually play. It's like having a pro caddie in your corner.

You'll get full-color maps of every hole, distances to hazards, and a neat aiming arc that shows where your ball should land based on your usual distances. It's like having a caddie who knows both you and the course inside out.

Off the course, it's a fantastic everyday smartwatch. You've got top-notch fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, stress tracking - the works. The battery life is impressive too - up to three weeks in regular mode, and you can play multiple rounds before needing a charge.

Sure, at over $600, it's not cheap. But whether you go for the 47mm or 42mm version, the S70 is as good as golf tech gets in 2025. Sometimes, you really do get what you pay for.

Best Golf GPS and Tracker Combo: Shot Scope V5 GPS Watch

The Shot Scope V5 is a fantastic option if you're looking for shot tracking without breaking the bank. I've found it's worth a serious look for budget-conscious golfers.

While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the S70 (like slope-adjusted yardages), and it's fairly basic off the course, here's what makes it special: you get free shot tracking for life. Just screw the included tags into your club grips, and they'll sync with your watch and the Shot Scope app. Everything you do on the course gets stored and analyzed, ready for review.

At just over $200, it's a value, especially when compared to pricier options like the S70 or Arccos system. What I love most: no subscriptions. Pay once, and you're done. For about 200 bucks, it's a sweet deal.

You won't get fancy features like sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring or notification displays. But many golfers likely don't need (or want) those extras, and they definitely don't want to pay for them.

If you're after a solid golf watch that performs nearly as well as those $500+ models but costs way less, the V5 deserves a spot on your shortlist. I

Most Accurate Golf Watch: SkyCaddie LX5C GPS Watch

If you're obsessed with accuracy, you'll love this watch.

What makes it special? Well, unlike other GPS watches that just use satellite images, the folks at SkyGolf actually walked more than 35,000 courses to create their maps. I'm talking real boots-on-the-ground measurements, not just estimates. That's why serious players trust it so much.

You'll love the big, bright AMOLED touchscreen—it's easy to read, even when the sun's bearing down on you. You can also zoom and pan around detailed hole views to check your layup distances, spot those pesky hazards and get the scoop on the green.

There's this neat feature called IntelliGreen that shows exactly how the green looks from where you're standing. No more guessing games about where to land your shot. And when you're in trouble (we've all been there), like stuck behind trees, you'll still get precise distances to your target.

It might not have every fancy bell and whistle out there, but if you're like me and just want to know exactly how far you need to hit it and where to aim, you can't go wrong with the LX5C.

Editors Choice: Garmin Approach S44 GPS Watch

While it's not as fancy as the S50 and S70 models up the Garmin food chain, it's a really solid watch with a beautiful AMOLED display—and it'll only set you back $300.

What I love about the S44 is how slim and lightweight it feels. You'll barely notice it's there during your swing, but you still get a bright, vibrant display that's impressive at this price point. The screen is crisp, easy to read even in bright sunlight, and makes checking those hole maps actually fun. Plus, you're getting full-color course views with distances to the front, middle and back of every green.

I'd say the S44 is perfect for golfers who want something reliable without all the complicated extras. It's got everything you need, nothing you don't and looks sharp.

Best Value Golf GPS Watch: Garmin Approach S12 GPS Watch

Garmin makes fancier watches, but I know a lot of golfers just want the basics. Usually, when you go for basic features, you're sacrificing quality. Not with Garmin, though.

You'll get accurate yardages to the front, middle, and back of every green, plus distances to hazards and layup spots on over 43,000 courses worldwide. The high-res display is super easy to read, even when the sun's beating down. And talk about battery life—this thing's a champion, lasting up to 30 hours in GPS mode. That means you can play several rounds before even thinking about charging.

I love how they've kept it lightweight and tough, and it's so easy to use that you'll figure it out in minutes. It'll keep track of your score too, and if you want to get fancy later, you can pair it with Garmin's CT10 or CT1 sensors to track your club distances automatically.

Now, you won't get a touchscreen or a fancy AMOLED display, but at this price, no complaints. What matters is Garmin's trusted quality, spot-on accuracy and nothing to distract from your game.

Whether you're just picking up golf, play casually on weekends, or simply want reliable yardages without the bells and whistles, the Garmin Approach S12 is one of the best values in golf tech today.

Best Golf GPS Display: Voice Caddie T11 Pro Golf GPS Watch

First off, the screen quality on this golf GPS watch is incredible. The T11 Pro's 1.2-inch AMOLED display is stunning and really pops. I've compared it to the Garmin S70 and even some Apple Watches, and it holds its own against these premium devices. When you're out there studying hole layouts or checking how the green breaks, that crystal-clear display makes all the difference.

Here's what I love about the greens feature: you're getting built-in heat maps and slope data without paying extra for subscriptions. Just double-tap the screen, and you'll see all the tiers, shelves and break patterns. It's helpful when you're planning where to land your approach shot or figuring out how your putt's going to roll.

The GPS hole maps are gorgeous, with colors that really bring the course to life. For a $350 watch, you're getting visuals that look like they belong on something twice the price.

Best Golf GPS Watch for Most People: Blue Tees PlayMaker+ Golf Watch

Next, we’ve got the watch that I think makes the most sense for many golfers. If you're hunting for a GPS watch that hits the sweet spot between features and price, you'll want to check out the PlayMaker+ from Blue Tees.

My favorite part? It's called the Green Compass, and it's a game-changer. No matter where you're standing, it'll point you right to the pin. That's helpful when dealing with tricky doglegs or blind shots.

After your round, everything syncs up to the Blue Tees app, so you can see exactly how you played: shot patterns, scoring trends and which clubs are working best for you.

I love that the PlayMaker+ doesn't try to be fancy with features you'll never touch. Instead, it focuses on what actually helps your game. That's what most of us golfers are looking for, isn't it?

Best Multi-Sport Golf Watch: Garmin fēnix 8 Golf GPS Watch

The Garmin fenix 8 is packed with pretty much every feature you'd want for sports and fitness, and yes, that includes golf.

If you're someone who doesn't want to be boxed into just one sport, this watch is for you. I'm talking about early-morning runners, weekend hikers, gym enthusiasts and golfers who want pro-level GPS features in a watch that can handle it all.

When you're on the course, you'll get everything you'd expect from Garmin's best golf tech: plays-like distances, wind info, stat tracking, a virtual caddie, green contours and access to more than 43,000 courses.

But off the course, this thing is a powerhouse. You've got full multi-sport tracking, daily readiness scores, detailed sleep tracking and some pretty cool extras like jet lag monitoring and skin temperature readings. There's even a built-in flashlight and offline maps for when you're out in the wilderness.

It has a modern, sleek design but is tough enough to handle whatever you throw at it. The AMOLED screen is crystal clear, even in bright sunlight, and I love how you can control it with either the touchscreen or the five buttons—whatever works best at the moment.

The battery life is incredible. You can use it as a smartwatch for almost a month, and even with GPS tracking, it'll run for days.

It's not cheap, but if you want one watch that can keep up with your active lifestyle while giving you top-notch golf features, the fenix 8 is your best bet.

Best Golf GPS Watch Under $400: Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch

The new Garmin Approach S50, sits right in the sweet spot of Garmin's updated watch lineup. It's perfect if you want Garmin's trusted reputation but aren't ready to shell out big bucks for their top-tier features.

What I love about the S50 is how flexible it is. You can keep things basic and still get an awesome AMOLED display, spot-on GPS distances, and great performance right when you unbox it.

Want to kick things up a notch? Drop $100 a year on Garmin's Golf subscription, and you'll unlock some pretty cool stuff, like green contours, better hole views and some serious stats to analyze after your round.

Either way, you're getting a watch that looks and feels more expensive than it is. It's so light and slim that you'll probably want to wear it all day, not just when you're playing golf.

The S50 just works—it looks sharp, performs like a champ and fits right into your daily routine. It's not trying to be the fanciest or most high-tech watch out there. Instead, it strikes this perfect balance that many golfers will appreciate.

Best Golf GPS Watch Under $200: Voice Caddie A3 Hybrid

I love how this watch packs all the key features you'd expect from pricier models into a sleek, lightweight design with a bright color touchscreen.

What's really cool is how it helps with your game. You'll get slope-adjusted distances, precise pin placement and this neat Smart Green View technology that shows all undulations on the green. When you're planning your approach shots, you'll see distances to the front, center and back of the green, plus where those pesky hazards are lurking. It'll also track how far your shots go and where your drives typically land.

I'm a big fan of its versatility, as it's not just for golf. You can use it as your everyday fitness tracker for walking, running and cycling. That's pretty sweet for a golf watch at this price point.

It comes loaded with more than 40,000 courses, and there aren't any subscription fees to deal with. For under $200, I can't think of a more complete golf GPS watch.

Which Golf Watch Is Right for You?

There's never been a better time to shop for a golf watch. They're incredibly fast, accurate and smarter than the clunky models we used to see. And they actually look good enough now that you can wear them to dinner after a round. When you find the right match, a good golf watch can make a real difference—you'll play better, feel more confident and have a lot more fun out there on the course.