Best Value Golf Watches 2026

Golf watches have become all the rage of late because of the combination of GPS capability, versatility, usability, and not to mention most of them are just very cool pieces of gear. Importantly, not only do brands like Garmin make top of the range models like the MARQ which costs thousands, but these brands also make watches at the complete opposite end of the price spectrum, meaning we can all invest in a model if we want.

But why would you want a golf watch in the first place? Well as we mentioned above watches usually come with GPS functionality meaning you can turn up to a golf course and know how far you are from the flag or certain hazards. Watches these days are also very comfortable and are highly convenient because you can just glance at your wrist to get a yardage rather than have to get a laser rangefinder from your bag. Watches also tend to be easy to use, offer a degree of style and versatility, and many also come with other features like fitness tracking and so on.

From our testing we have found there are lots of golf watches that offer all of these performance factors, but also a lot of value too because they don't break the bank. This guide is therefore a list of those watches. Additionally if you are more of a laser kind of golfer, then take a look at our guide on the best budget rangefinders as well.

The Quick List

Best Value Golf Watches 2026

Top pick

The Shot Scope G6 is a fantastic example of a golf watch that embraces simplicity. Set-up is effortless and despite the lack of a touchscreen, the physical buttons make menu navigation incredibly easy. Crucially, simplicity doesn’t mean a compromise on performance, with the device packing plenty of premium features.

Said features include clear color hole maps, distances to hazards and doglegs, lay-up points, and an integrated digital scorecard. The screen makes it easy to see both reach and carry distances, and cross-referencing these numbers with the overhead map is completely seamless. I also appreciated the green-view feature, which allows you to manually cycle the pin through a variety of positions. The screen size is generous, easy to read, and I liked the lightweight sleekness of the G6 as well.

Overall given its affordability, the G6’s performance is to be commended. While it’s not an ‘all singing, all dancing’ watch when it comes to complete performance, we found that out on the course it provided us with all the key numbers and a few extra elements as well.

• Read our full Shot Scope G6 GPS Watch Review

Best simplicity

Although the S12 is a not as stylish as its upgrade the S42, it does come in at a cheaper price point, making it great value for money. It has over 40,000 preloaded courses, so finding the course you are playing is quick and easy. Once on the first tee it gives you plenty of information like distances to bunkers, water hazards and where the ideal layup spots are. The main feature of this watch is the front, middle and back yardages giving you great information for finding the green, you are also then able to out exactly where the flag is on that green to give you a more exact yardage.

One of the S12's standout features is manual shot tracking, which lets you measure exact distances by logging where you hit a shot and where you play your next one. Over time, this builds a very useful map of how far you actually hit each club, knowledge which will become invaluable in your quest to go low.

The watch also simplifies scorekeeping and basic stat tracking, highlighting areas of your game that need work. For golfers who struggle with small displays, the 'Big Numbers' mode is a brilliant addition, ensuring the screen is easy to read even in bright, direct sunlight. Despite its basic black-and-white screen and compact footprint, the S12 is superb value for money. It focuses on the essentials and executes them flawlessly and at a fraction of the cost of high-end smartwatches.

• Read our full Garmin Approach S12 Review

Best for style

If you want a watch that looks as good as it performs, the A2 is a top-tier choice. Its clean white design is matched by an interface that is extremely easy to master. By pairing a responsive touch screen with four physical buttons, the A2 gives you multiple ways to access its deep feature set. We particularly liked the side buttons during testing which act as a fail-safe for scrolling through menus when your hands are sweaty or in the rain - particularly useful for our UK and Ireland based reviewers! The display’s adaptive brightness is a clever engineering touch that keeps the watch powered for up to 10 full hours of GPS play.

As well as front, middle, and back distances, you get the time, battery life, hole and par and your current score. It will also tell you the number of steps you’ve taken. Swipe to the side and you can access the full-colour hole maps, and swipe again to see a close-up view of the green and its undulations.

Admittedly, the A2 is a little more basic than the Voice Caddie T9, and the price reflects this, but for most golfers it provides more than enough information to select the right club on every shot.

• Read our full Voice Caddie A2 Golf Watch Review

Best accompanying app

Remaining a standout, user-friendly pick in 2026, the Bushnell ION Elite is perfect for golfers who want to glance at their wrist and get instant, accurate yardages without navigating a maze of menus. Despite the simplicity, this is far from a basic golf watch - it finds a great balance between entry-level distance trackers and premium smartwatches. The standout feature is the inclusion of Bushnell’s patented Slope Technology, marking the first time this feature has appeared on one of their wearables and bringing a level of accuracy usually reserved for laser rangefinders or top-dollar devices.

Specifically with the Slope Functionality, a lot of the best golf watches.don't even have this feature. You can access it via the golf settings, where you can choose to toggle the Slope feature on/off. Another great addition is the tournament mode setting, which gives you 100% clarity on whether the set-up is legal for tournament play.

Finally we should mention the accompanying Bushnell app because it elevates the watch further. On the app you have access to hole flyovers and more in-depth performance analysis capabilities, which undoubtedly adds value.

• Read our full Bushnell Ion Elite Golf GPS Watch Review

Best sporty look

The Shot Scope G5 is proof that you don't need an 'all-singing, all-dancing' device to improve your course management. It strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and performance, delivering critical yardages on a generously sized display. Despite its large screen, the watch maintains a minimalistic feel thanks to its streamlined casing and soft silicone strap, meaning it's stylish enough to be worn as a sporty-looking watch off the course.

Once we selected our course, the G5 instantly displayed clear front, middle, and back yardages for each green. The main screen also keeps key details in view which includes battery life, the time, hole number, par, and your current score relative to par. Hazard data is just a single click away, offering precise distances to both the front and the carry of each. On top of that, you get distances to doglegs and lay-up areas, a shot-distance measurement tool, and a digital scorecard to log your round.

Ultimately, we were highly impressed by the G5’s performance - its feature set is practical and incredibly easy to navigate. Best of all is the watch's sporty, ultra-lightweight design means it sits so comfortably on the wrist that you completely forget it’s there mid-swing.

• Read our full Shot Scope G5 GPS Watch Review

How we test golf watches and GPS devices

Conor Keenan

Conor joined Golf Monthly in late 2024 after graduating with a Masters degree in Sports Journalism from St Mary's University and heads up reviews for rangefinders, GPS and golf watches. 

Conor is lucky to have Royal County Down as his home golf course, beginning to play the game at the age of four, later becoming a caddy at RCD at just eleven years old and doing so for over 12 years. Playing to a 5 handicap, you’ll likely find him on the range trying (and failing) to hit a Shane Lowry-esque stinger that helped him win The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

When it comes to GPS watches, we have a comprehensive testing procedure at Golf Monthly. We use many different models out on the course for numerous rounds and in different conditions, giving us the best insight in to how these watches function come rain or shine.

Every GPS watch reviewed by Golf Monthly is subjected to rigorous, real-world testing by a team of active, passionate golfers. While our wearable testing is led by Conor Keenan, who spent over a decade caddying at the world-renowned Royal County Down, he is backed by a knowledgeable team of gear experts who live and breathe golf and have plenty of experience with the tech that comes with the sport.

This hands-on process involves testing devices side-by-side against competing models to evaluate real-world accuracy, battery life, durability, and waterproofing. Over more than a decade of gear testing, we have built an unshakeable bond with our readers because our reviews cannot be bought, and no manufacturer receives preferential treatment. No matter the model we test, you will always get an honest, unfiltered verdict based on actual performance.

How to choose a GPS device

Your routine

The best golf watches usually only require you to take a quick glance at them, so make sure you know if you want greater detail or less disruption for your round, as having to get a rangefinder or a different device out of its case or your bag can be long-winded.

Your course

Navigating complex doglegs and blind approaches on a new course is tough, but a quality GPS watch takes away the guesswork. By giving you an aerial preview of the hole (this isn't included in every model on our list), you get a teaser of the layout that's otherwise hidden from view. With advanced features like hazard plotting and flag-finders to guide your blind shots, you can step up to the ball and trust your target completely.

Features

The current golf market is more diverse than ever, offering everything from entry-level, distance-only devices to advanced wearable computers that retail for several hundred pounds. Since a high number of features often results in a premium price tag and more cluttered user interfaces, identifying your specific on-course requirements is the most reliable way to maximise your investment.

FAQs

We hope you enjoyed this guide on the best golf GPS devices. Also make sure you research the best golf simulator, best golf GPS apps and the best golf watches for ladies too because they can truly add to your golfing experience.