Best Golf GPS 2024

If you're serious about improving your game and lowering your scores then investing in a DMD (distance measuring device) is a must. These take many forms, including a golf rangefinder or even a golf speaker with in-built GPS, but on of the most popular is a golf gps, which provide quick, accurate and easy-to-access yardages for your upcoming shot as well as hole information that can assist your strategy. 

Within the golf GPS market, devices can take many forms - be it a value golf watch or a handheld GPS that can also clip easily to your golf bag. Along with the array of options, they are also priced at different points so there is bound to be a model that suits your needs and budget, depending on the level of information you require. 

These days, you don't just get yardages to the front, middle and back of the green. Most golf GPS devices provide so much more, including information on hazards and overhead maps of the hole which will often help determine your strategy, especially when you're tackling a new golf course. Some will factor in slope, track your shots and even show you the undulations of the green you are approaching. Below, we've created a guide highlighting the leading options within the golf GPS sector, so you can pick the device that's right for your game.

The Quick List

Best Golf GPS

Best watch overall

When it comes to the new Garmin Approach S70, it’s probably easier to talk about what it can’t do than what it can. In short, it can’t swing the club for you, but it can pretty much do everything else.

To begin with, the watch comes preloaded with more than 43,000 courses and, by simply pushing one button, you can go from an interchangeable watch face (which can show your last round on the bottom) to full-on golf mode. It's crammed with features, more on that later, and unlike many smartwatches on the market, the battery life on the Garmin Approach S70 is impressive, as we found it can hold its charge for up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours when using GPS.

Feature-wise, we were able to get accurate yardages to greens and bunkers, as well as other features on the course like tracking our score, shot distances and even club selections. Finally, we could easily swipe to see the weather forecast and even integrate that into our round and, like other models on this list, if you set up the S70 with a smartphone, it can relay all your notifications so you're kept fully in the loop. For more of the best Garmin golf watches check out our specific guide as well.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S70 Watch Review

Best versatile watch

When it comes to the LX5, the first point of call is the touchscreen! Not only is it bright, crystal clear and easy to read in an array of conditions, but the overall watch itself weighs 65g and is very comfortable to wear. To some, the LX5 maybe a little bulky, but we found it never impeded our swing.

Going back to the touchscreen, which is the standout feature, you can see clear front, middle and back yardages, then all you need to do is swipe in different directions to see the hole map, hazards, score entry or measure your shot distance. Arc lines also help improve strategy, while you can zoom in on the green and move the pin position for more precise distances. 

Preloaded with over 35,000 courses, which have been ground-verified on foot, the LX5 is a very handy watch to have since you can even add statistics like fairways and greens hit, as well as putts taken. Once you finish your round, these can be synced to the SkyGolf360 app for easier analysis.

• Read our full Sky Caddie LX5 GPS Watch Review

Best GPS device overall

Garmin features once again in this guide, this time with the Approach G80, which sits at the premium end of the GPS spectrum. Nailing the basics with the front, middle and back yardages of the green, the brand takes it one step further with features such as Garmin’s PlaysLike Distance. You may wonder what exactly is it? Well, it gives you distances to not only the target, but it is also adjusted for uphill or downhill shots, which can be easily turned off for tournament play. 

Another feature is Green View, which allows you to zoom in on the green to get precise yardages according to wherever the pin is on the day and, away from the course, there is also the free Garmin Golf app, which lets you compete, compare and connect with fellow golfers.

Aesthetically, all of this features in a slim device with a 3.5″, sunlight-readable, colour, touchscreen display and, if you want even more value for money, the G80 can even double up as a launch monitor, with the ability to track club head speed, ball speed, smash factor, swing tempo and estimated distance making this an excellent option in the handheld market.

• Read our full Garmin Approach G80 GPS Review

Most accurate GPS

One of the largest models on the list, the SX550 features a 5.5” full HD color touch screen and uses in-built WiFi to download the latest, ground-verified courses on foot from more than 35,000 available for improved accuracy. The green view will also dynamically rotate to show full IntelliGreen Pro information from the golfer’s own angle of attack.

All of the courses on the SX550 have all been walked and mapped by one of SkyCaddie’s half a dozen or so trained course mappers. Using professional grade satellite equipment, SkyCaddie have personally walked every hole on every course loaded onto the SX550, mapping out the exact size of fairways, shapes of greens and distances to hazards.

In testing, we felt this extensive course mapping at play as soon as we loaded the device and the range of information on offer gave us the clearest and most detailed picture of a golf course as we have seen on a GPS device. The SX550 features in our Editor's Choice awards and could well be one of the best golf GPS devices ever made. However, be weary of the annual membership costs that apply after your first year.

• Read our full Sky Caddie SX550 GPS Review

Best speaker overall

This Bushnell Wingman View combines all the power of a Bluetooth speaker with Bushnell's market-leading GPS. The sound quality carries really well on the golf course, the bass has plenty of depth to it and ultimately every member of your four-ball will be able to enjoy the music on tee boxes and around greens.

The main difference is the built-in GPS, which is all visible from the LCD screen built into the side of the speaker. It gets all of its data from the free Bushnell app which, when linked to the speaker, effectively casts all the information from your phone to the speaker. Additionally the speaker comes with a small detachable remote in the top of the device that allows you to control the device from afar. The remote lets you turn the volume up or down, change the song, and announce the yardages to the front, middle and back of the green. This is a superb addition.

For more of inspiration check out our guide on the best golf speakers as well.

• Read our full Bushnell Wingman View Speaker Review

Best battery life

Blue Tees are known for producing some of the best budget golf rangefinders on the market, but its The Player magnetic speaker that we are interested in here. To begin with, it has a premium look and excels in terms of its range (100 feet) and sound quality, which is among the best in the golf speaker category. 

It also features a magnetic strip that allows the speaker to be attached to a cart during play, and the magnet holds up well in terms of security during play. Add in the fact that it is also waterproof, with an IPX7 rating, and the fact the battery life is over 12 hours, and the The Player is an excellent and affordable option.

Another noteworthy feature is that there are indoor and outdoor modes available to choose from, as this speaker offers more versatility than just being used on the golf course. If there’s one downside it’s the size, which is on the larger for this category and can make the device difficult to store in a golf bag.

• Read our full Blue Tees The Player Magnetic Speaker Review

How we test the best golf GPS devices

At Golf Monthly we have a comprehensive testing procedure around GPS devices. As you would expect, 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, GPS devices 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. 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, for information on how Golf Monthly tests its products, click here.

What to consider when buying a golf GPS device

Your routine

The best golf watches only require a quick glance so they are much quicker than taking a device out of its case, so weigh up if extra detail or less disruption is most important to you.

Your course

If your course has lots of doglegs, blind tee shots, or you play at other clubs in matches or socially, then you might want the extra information a GPS offers over a laser.

Type

As the list above shows, there are different types of GPS device to use and they all have positives and negatives affixed to them.

• GPS Watch - Simplicity and convenience are the key here. If you are the type of player who would rather have a quick glance at their wrist to know the yardage rather than using a larger GPS or laser, then a watch could be the way to go. GPS watches nowadays are a lot more compact, slim-lined and light making them ideal because they do not hamper the swing or distract in any way.
• Handhelds - The chief bonus here is the large screen which gives a lot more detail and the touch screen functionality will be familiar to most users because of modern phones. You get clear hazard information and overhead maps of the hole too which could guide your strategy and save you shots.

Features

There is also a difference in device when it comes to features. Below is a list of some of the ones we consider to be useful to the GPS wearer.

• Clear and accurate distance information - this is a no brainer really but some models are more accurate and clear than others.
• Pre-loaded courses - there is some variation in how many courses are pre-loaded onto some models compared to others.
• Scorecard - rather than have to write down or log scores into an app, on some GPS devices you can mark your score down with ease.
• Stat tracking - particularly useful to those wanting to know more about their game and where they earn or give away shots.
• Green mapping and pin location - some devices give the user the ability to map the green and place the pin in the correct place. This often gives more information to the user on yardage and what club to hit.
• Waterproofing - a waterproof device is very important, especially if you play somewhere that gets a lot of rain
• Battery power - GPS devices normally need charging via a USB after two to four rounds, so consider which would be easiest for you on a week-to-week basis.

For more buying advice in the technological side of the game, check out our guides on the best golf launch monitors, best golf simulator, or best portable launch monitors.

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