Best Golf Watches 2026 - Our favorite models on the market, tested and reviewed
A golf watch can save you ample shots when out on the golf course. Here, we take a look at the best ones on the market
It wasn’t all that long ago that golfers headed out with nothing more than a scorecard, a pencil and the trusty yardage markers to guide them, plus maybe a swing thought ringing in their ears from their last lesson with the local pro. Time waits for no golfer though and the rise of technology has completely transformed the game, giving today’s players access to a host of devices that can improve their swing and sharpen their course management. While the best launch monitors help golfers fine-tune their distances and identify flaws in their technique, GPS devices have arguably made the biggest impact on the way we play.
GPS removes the guesswork from distances, meaning the best golf watches deliver precise yardages at a glance. Whether you need to know how far it is to the front, middle or back of the green, the data is right there on your wrist. This makes club selection easier than ever, no matter your level of experience. As a general rule of thumb; the more expensive the watch, the wider the range of features.
Not all golfers want the same thing though, some want much more than just the yardage number so the range of options can be overwhelming. We’ve broken this guide into categories to show what each model does best. We’ve tested them all thoroughly and while every watch has its strengths, some will naturally suit different players and preferences.
One final thing to point out is that most golf watches double up as excellent everyday smartwatches too. That makes them great value if you’re also tracking your fitness goals or taking part in other GPS-based sports like cycling. But if golf is your sole focus, you might also want to take a look at our guide to the best rangefinders for pinpoint accuracy when you want exact yardages to your target.
The Quick List
The brilliant AMOLED display on the S70 is a game-changer, making every map and yardage pop with exceptional detail. Useful tools like wind speed data and club recommendations make it feel like a real caddie on your wrist.
Thanks to slope-adjusted yardages and a custom movable pin, the Ion Elite from Bushnell delivers accuracy that matches most laser rangefinders in a more practical, user-friendly package.
The S50 offers plenty of on-course metrics and precise yardages, alongside a wealth of health data for your time off the course. It ticks a lot of boxes for players who value both low scores and peak physical fitness.
The LX5 is like having a professional caddie's yardage book on your arm thanks to the impressively-detailed hole maps that show you exactly what's ahead, even on blind shots.
The G6 is the best choice for golfers who want hole mapping at a reasonable price. By adding aerial hole views to its already excellent hazard tracking, its a device that genuinely helps you plot your way around the course.
A premium, feature-rich GPS watch that truly has it all. If you’re looking for one of the brightest and most advanced models available, in our view this is among the best on the market.
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The S44 is essentially the S50 but with fewer health features, meaning it comes in at a slightly lower price. Nevertheless, it's still a very well-rounded device that looks great on your wrist, allowing you to wear it on and off the course with ease.
For golfers who want a high-tech edge without a complicated setup, the W12 delivers pro-level guidance and clear, detailed maps in a stylish, easy-to-use package.
A premium smartwatch with a golf mode, perfect for those who want a stylish watch off the course that can double up as a mini caddie for your wrist on the course. It's arguably the most premium-feeling watch in this guide.
Best Golf Watches 2026
Top pick
Garmin Approach S70 Golf Watch worn on the golf course
The S70 succeeded the excellent Approach S62 as Garmin’s flagship golf watch, keeping everything that made its predecessor great while adding refinements to make it even better. New features include an improved display, enhanced graphics and better battery life. Altogether, these upgrades make it our top pick in this guide.
The AMOLED touchscreen display is one of the brightest we tested, making it a standout feature of the S70. The ceramic bezel and sleek overall design add to its appeal, making it perfect for golfers who want a watch that performs brilliantly and looks great both on and off the course.
The S70 is packed with advanced technology, which comes at a premium, but if you’re looking for detail and depth, it delivers in abundance. Like all Garmin Approach models and the best Garmin golf watches, it includes over 43,000 preloaded courses and automatically transitions between holes, providing precise distances not just to the pin but also to bunkers and water hazards. When paired with the smartphone app it even factors in elevation and wind, creating the feeling of having a tour caddie on your wrist, giving you club recommendations based on your data. Beyond golf, the S70 doubles as a full-featured smartwatch, offering health and fitness tracking as well as on-the-go access to messages and emails.
A wide range of features doesn’t always guarantee smooth performance but the S70 impresses with its intuitive interface and clear graphics, making every function easy to use and highly effective. While you’re unlikely to use every feature in a single round, its user-friendly design ensures it suits both tech enthusiasts and those new to golf watches. Battery life is excellent, lasting several rounds before needing a recharge via USB-C, with Garmin claiming up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and around 20 hours with GPS.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S70 Golf Watch Review
Best accompanying app
Bushnell Ion Elite Golf GPS Watch being worn on the golf course
Golfers will appreciate this versatile watch for its blend of style and functionality, offering excellent value for money. It looks superb on the wrist, with the stainless steel bezel adding a premium touch. Paired with its excellent companion app, it delivers strong performance from tee to green, with plenty of functionality and crisp, easy-to-read visuals. For those familiar with the ION Edge, the ION Elite is a significant step up.
Part of that upgrade lies in the display as the ION Elite offers a brighter, higher-quality screen that pairs beautifully with its premium metallic bezel. Its impressive IP67 rating also offers reassurance for golfers who don’t shy away from playing in less-than-perfect weather.
In testing, it provided accurate distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, along with extra data accessible via on-screen icons - including green views, hole maps, lay-up distances, and scoring. The detailed maps were a standout, giving a clear view of each hole and helping to plan shots more strategically from tee to green. The slope feature was equally valuable, offering adjusted yardages that inspired confidence on undulating courses. We also appreciated the scoring screen, which tracks fairways and greens hit, providing useful insights into areas of your game that could use
The battery life is worth a shout out too and lasts around two rounds before needing a recharge. Overall, this watch upholds Bushnell’s strong reputation for creating some of the finest golf tech on the market.
- Read our full Bushnell Ion Elite Golf GPS Watch Review
Best for golf and health
One of the most complete watches we've ever tested.
'How can Garmin make their watches better?' we asked ourselves ahead of the release of the S50. The answer was making this not only a golf watch, but a fully functional fitness watch too.
Beginning with golf functionalities, 43,000 courses are at your disposal on the crisp 1.2-inch color AMOLED screen, giving you all the information you need in relation to yardages to hazards and the front, middle and back of each green. It's also great how lightweight this watch is - we barely noticed wearing it as we swung the club. Add to that the fabric strap and it's the best watch-wearing experience I've had bar none. Unlike many silicone straps, which have specific holes to fit around your wrist, this fabric strap uses a small Velcro closure that means to can fit it to any size you like. It meant no awkward fit, and the lightweight, low-profile watch barely made an impression on my wrist.
The S70 is easily one of the best health watches we’ve tested. It comes fully loaded with modern tracking tech, including a Pulse Ox sensor for blood oxygen and HRV monitoring to help you understand your heart health and recovery. The sleep tracking is exceptionally detailed, giving you a daily 'Sleep Score' so you know exactly how well you're resting. It’s the perfect all-in-one tool for golfers who want a high-performance smartwatch that keeps a constant eye on their wellbeing.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review
Best accuracy
The Sky Caddie LX5 GPS Watch with a detailed golf hole map
If you’re familiar with SkyCaddie’s SX400 and SX550 handheld GPS units, the LX5 can be seen as their wearable counterpart. Like those devices it boasts a bright HD colour touchscreen, comes preloaded with 35,000 courses and offers an extensive range of features designed for both on and off-course use.
The display is a real highlight as its clear, bright and wonderfully user-friendly. The beautifully detailed hole graphics provided a clear view that genuinely enhanced our on-course strategy, even offering recommendations like the optimal driving position, which is data gathered from mappers who have physically walked the holes. The screen’s clarity also makes essential yardages to the front, middle and back of the green easy to read, while a quick swipe opens up an array of in-depth data, from scores to maps and more.
Despite its wealth of features, we found the LX5 easy to navigate, making it a great option for a wide range of golfers. Battery life is solid too and we comfortably managed two full rounds before needing to recharge. If we were to nit-pick, although the watch is fairly basic and there are certainly more stylish options available, with five different watch faces to choose from there’s a good chance one will suit your taste.
- Read our full Sky Caddie LX5 GPS Watch Review
Best budget
The Shot Scope G5 GPS Watch being tested on the golf course
The Shot Scope G6 is a great example of a watch that embraces simplicity and for many golfers, that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. Setup is quick and straightforward and even without a touchscreen, navigation is effortless. It also doesn’t skimp on features, which adds to its excellent overall value.
It features a generously sized screen that’s clear and easy to read, while remaining lightweight and surprisingly sleek. The number of features on offer here is impressive for its price point. You get colour hole maps, distances to hazards, doglegs and lay-up points, along with a built-in scorecard. We particularly liked how the reach and carry distances were clearly presented, making it easy to identify which hazards the numbers referred to when cross-referenced with the maps. While the hole maps are a little basic, they still provide enough detail to plan your shots effectively, especially on blind holes or unfamiliar courses.
Considering its affordability, the G6’s performance is impressive. While it’s not the most advanced watch on the market it delivers all the essential numbers golfers need, plus a few thoughtful extras. Altogether, it’s an easy pick as our top choice for the best budget golf watch.
- Read our full Shot Scope G6 GPS Watch Review
Best for green reading
Golf Monthly testing the Voice Caddie T11 Pro Golf GPS Watch on the course
The T11 Pro GPS is so feature-packed it might even risk distracting you on the course. Alongside essentials like yardages and wind direction, it includes a host of extras from automatic slope calculation and putt tracking to detailed green undulation data, earning it our pick as the best watch for green reading. All this technology is housed in a premium-looking design with a bright, responsive touchscreen, though unsurprisingly it comes with a fairly hefty price tag.
All of these features are complimented by a high-quality casing and an exceptionally clear OLED touchscreen that surpass the competition. The display’s sharpness makes the graphics easy to interpret and the touchscreen itself is highly responsive. It also functions well as an everyday smartwatch, though its slightly larger size may not suit everyone’s preference.
The sheer amount of data delivered automatically makes this feature-rich watch far more user-friendly than it might initially seem. We found its readings to be highly accurate, with standout features like full-hole mapping presented seamlessly, which is a testament to how well the watch automates complex information. Whether you need this level of detail comes down to personal preference. For some it may be a bit much, but overall it’s a surprisingly hands-off experience. For golfers who want extra guidance on the greens, it could prove to be an exceptionally useful tool.
- Read our full Voice Caddie T11 Pro Golf GPS Watch Review
Best mid-price
The Approach S44 is essentially the S50-Lite. It's easy to wear and has functionalities that allow it to be usefully worn but on and off the course.
It’s an incredibly good-looking watch that skips the fancy packaging to deliver pure product quality. The design is simple but sharp, making it one of the few golf watches you'll actually want to wear as your daily timepiece. After our review in April, we found ourselves keeping it on 24/7. This wasn't just because of the crisp AMOLED screen, but because it’s the most comfortable and stylish mid-range watch Garmin has released to date.
If you're looking for the 'S50 experience' on a budget, the Approach S44 is a great alternative, especially for those who don't invest too much time into following their fitness trends and want their watch to be golf-first. It offers the same crisp, sunlight-readable screen as its more expensive sibling, delivering the exceptional yardage accuracy and features in plentiful supply. We particularly appreciated the smart scoring reminder; the watch gives a gentle buzz as you leave the green, making sure you never forget a hole - we've experienced this feature on other watches but none have been as consistent with this feature as both the S44 and S50 which gives you this vibration essentially immediately after you leave the green, an accuracy I've yet to be seen matched by rival devices. As mentioned, It skips the high-end wellness sensors found in the S50, but it still covers all the fitness basics like tracking your steps, cycling, and swimming with ease. It’s a dedicated golf tool that still works as a solid daily fitness tracker.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S44 Golf Watch Review
Best simplicity
The GolfBuddy Aim W12 Golf GPS Watch showing off its vibrant and large touch screen
The Aim W12 from GolfBuddy is a straightforward, value for money golf watch that offers a solid range of core features without a hefty price tag. From our experience with the Aim W12, it’s a solid upgrade over the 2021 Aim W11. It looks and feels better on the wrist, featuring a slimmer, more refined design and a clear, well-sized colour display. We also appreciated the inclusion of two straps (one leather and one silicone), both of which come with an IPX7 waterproof rating.
While the W12’s design prioritises delivering the essential numbers clearly and simply, it still packs in some impressive features for its price. The bright, clear touchscreen enhances the experience of using tools like the 2D hole flyover and green undulation map. During testing we particularly enjoyed the slope functionality, which provided accurate, elevation-adjusted yardages. This is an invaluable asset when playing on hilly courses.
While the W12 took slightly longer than some other watches to locate the course, it performed flawlessly otherwise. Navigating between features was quick and straightforward thanks to a responsive touchscreen. Battery life in golf mode has decreased from 13 hours on the Aim W11 to 10 hours on the W12, but that still allowed us to complete two full rounds before recharging. Overall, it’s an impressive and well-priced watch that offers excellent value for money.
- Read our full GolfBuddy Aim W12 GPS Watch Review
Most premium model
The Huawei Watch Ultimate is crafted from premium materials, featuring a zirconium-based liquid-metal case and a dual-color nano-ceramic bezel, giving it the look and feel of a true high-end smartwatch as well as a capable golf device. The punchy price point sees it enter the market as one of the more expensive golf watches, but its versatility, premium design and useful functionality go a long way towards justifying it for those with deep pockets.
The watch includes a dedicated golf-mode with access to over 15,000 global courses, offering yardages to the front/middle/back of the green, “plays-like” distance accounting for slope, green-contour mapping and an AI caddie to support smarter on-course decisions. Beyond golf, it supports a full spectrum of outdoor and fitness functions including dual-band GNSS positioning, hiking/expedition mode, dive support up to 100 m water resistance, golf range-mode feedback for swings and multimodal health tracking. Battery life is also strong, with typical usage lasting up to 8 days and lighter use stretching to around 14 days, combined with fast wireless charging for convenience between rounds or days off-course.
In terms of on-course performance, it is helped immensely by its responsive 1.5-inch touchscreen and intuitive golf-specific watch faces that make tracking scores and stats effortless. The GPS accuracy and distance readings are quick and reliable, helping golfers make smarter decisions hole by hole. In our testing we found it especially useful for keeping pace and improving course management, while still offering the battery life and versatility needed for off-course use too.
- Read our full Huawei Watch Ultimate Green Edition Review
Specifications table
Model | Courses preloaded | Battery | Weight | Straps |
Garmin Approach S70 Golf Watch | 43,000 | 20 hours in GPS mode | 56g | One |
Bushnell ION Elite Golf GPS Watch | 38,000 | 12+ hours | 38g | Two |
Shot Scope G6 GPS Watch | 36,000 | GPS Mode: 2+ rounds of golf / Watch Mode: 4 days | 42g | Two |
Garmin Approach S50 GPS Watch | 41,000 | 20 hours | 61g | Two |
Voice Caddie T11 Pro Golf GPS Watch | 40,000+ | 10 days Golf Mode/27 holes | 48g | Two |
Sky Caddie LX5 GPS Watch | 35,000 | Up to two rounds | 65.2g | One |
Garmin Approach S44 | 42,000 | 15 hours | 43g | Three |
GolfBuddy AIM W12 Golf GPS Watch | 40,000 | 10 hours | 50g | Two |
Huawei Watch Ultimate Green Edition | 15,000 | 8 days (standard use) | 76g | Three |
How we test golf watches
Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 15 years and as the Deputy Editor oversees all equipment testing. One of his areas of expertise is distance measuring devices and specifically GPS watches. As such, he knows what makes the perfect golf watch - performance, features, versatility, battery life, looks and value for money. Joel has personally used most of the watches in this guide.
Our testing procedure for golf watches is every bit as thorough as it is for any other product we review. Each watch is used over multiple rounds and in a variety of conditions, giving us a far more accurate impression than a single round ever could. This approach allows us to assess performance across different weather scenarios and measure overall accuracy, often by comparing readings against some of the best laser rangefinders available. Testing over several rounds also helps us evaluate how each watch performs in specific situations, such as elevated tee shots or blind approach shots.
Top-tier golf watches now offer incredible tech, from blind-shot pointers to sensors that calculate wind and slope to give you the perfect yardage. Our experts test these devices over several rounds to ensure that high-tech features translate into lower scores. We also live with these watches off the course to test their health and smart-features, giving you an honest look at their overall value. Our reviews are strictly impartial and performance-based, so you can trust that our advice is focused solely on helping you find the right gear for your game - its what has helped us build a level of trust amongst our readership for over a decade and that will not change.
Glossary
If you are not too familiar with golf GPS technology then a lot of the terminology above can be confusing, so we've compiled this helpful glossary to explain some of the terms and features described above.
GPS (Global Positioning System) - Satellite-based system that determines precise location and distances.
Action Buttons - Physical buttons used for navigation either instead of, or alongside, a touchscreen.
GPS Mode / Golf Mode - High-power mode used during play for accurate distance tracking. Drains the battery much more quickly than standard use.
Companion App - The mobile app (eg Garmin Golf or Bushnell Golf) for syncing and analysis post round.
Slope - Adjusts yardages up or down to account for elevation changes between you and the target.
Virtual Caddie - Suggests club selection based on previous shot data and conditions.
PlaysLike Distance - A feature that factors in slope (and on some devices also wind) to give a “true” yardage.
Course Mapping / Hole Maps - Displays overhead layouts of each hole with yardages.
Green Contour Mapping - Shows slope and breaks on greens.
Pin Placement / Moveable Pin - Allows manual adjustment of the pin position on the screen for more accurate yardages.
PinPointer / Compass - Indicates the direction of the green on blind shots.
Score Tracking / Digital Scorecard - Lets you enter and store scores directly on the watch.
Shot Tracking - Automatically records shot distances and locations for post-round analysis.
Club Tracking Sensors - External devices (like Garmin CT10s) that are attached to the grip to record club-by-club data.
Auto Course Recognition - Detects which course you’re playing.
Auto Hole Recognition - Detects when you’ve moved to the next hole automatically.
Flyover / 3D View - Visual representation of a hole from above.
Bezel - The outer ring surrounding the watch face, often ceramic, metal or plastic.
AMOLED / LCD / OLED Display - Types of screen technology which affect brightness and clarity.
Fitness Tracking - Monitors heart rate, steps, calories etc.
Contactless Payments / Garmin Pay - Allows payments directly from the watch.
How To Choose The Right Golf GPS Watch
Features
Not all golf watches are created equal, or for the same type of golfer. If you just want quick yardages to the green, an entry-level model is a great way to save money. However, if you want detailed hole maps, wind data, and club suggestions, you should be prepared to pay a premium. You also need to decide if this is a tool just for the weekend or an everyday smartwatch that tracks your sleep and workouts. Mapping out your 'must-have' features before you buy is the best way to avoid overpaying for tech you won't use.
Your routine
Selecting a watch that complements the natural rhythm of your pre-shot routine ensures that technology remains a tool for success rather than a distraction before your shot. For the analytical golfer, premium 'high-data' systems provide a wealth of environmental variables like wind speed, slope, and club suggestions. Conversely, 'ready golfers' prioritize streamlined, high-contrast displays that provide critical yardages at a glance. Just make sure, no matter what watch you choose, to keep your pace of play up so you aren't holding up the golf course behind you!
Versatility
You no longer have to choose between a golf watch and a daily smartwatch. Many of the top brands in 2026 now offer hybrid models that look and work just as good in the office as they do on the links. If you want emails, texts, and advanced fitness tracking along with your yardages, it’s worth stepping up to a premium model.
Battery power
GPS watches need to be plugged in and recharged regularly, unlike laser rangefinders that can go months on a single set of disposable batteries (albeit, a lot of the top models are moving away from disposable batteries). If you’re a frequent golfer, pay close attention to the battery specs because if you have to charge it after every round of golf, it can prove to be a bit of a pain.
Budget
Decide on your budget before you start shopping. If you want a watch that does it all, be prepared to pay for those premium features. If you don’t need the extra bells and whistles, the market is full of budget-friendly models that nail the basics perfectly - our guide to the best value golf watches can help you there. Unless you catch a holiday deal, remember that you generally get what you pay for: more money buys you better screens and deeper analytics.
FAQs
Should I use a GPS watch or a laser rangefinder?
Before committing to a GPS watch, it is essential to determine if it aligns with your specific on-course requirements. For golfers prioritizing streamlined convenience, a watch is the logical choice - however, those seeking absolute yardage to the pin may still favor the precision of a laser rangefinder.
Which is the best golf watch to buy?
This is dependent on what you are looking for. If you value color hole maps, then the SkyCaddie LX5 impresses in this area. The Shot Scope V3 offers shot tracking as well as GPS information while both Bushnell and Garmin provide options that offer simplicity, although Garmin do also have some featured-packed models too.
Is a Garmin golf watch worth it?
Yes - Garmin is one of the leading manufacturers when it comes to golf watches and it has multiple models and varying price points to suit the level of features you are after, starting from the entry level Approach S12 to the feature-packed Approach S62 and the elegant, premium MARQ Golfer.
Is a Fitbit good for golfers?
The best way to use a Fitbit for golf is to view it as a health-first wearable that supports your game rather than a dedicated GPS tool. While they don't offer the deep course maps found on Garmin devices, they are excellent for tracking the physical demand of walking 18 holes.
We hope you enjoyed this guide on the best golf watches and for more gear content, like the best golf simulator or best golf GPS apps, check out the Golf Monthly website. We also recommend checking out our guides on the best golf GPS devices, best golf launch monitors, and the best golf watches for ladies should you be looking to expand your arsenal of golf gadgets.
