Best Golf Watch 2024

In the world of golf, where precision and timing are crucial, having the right tools at your disposal can make a world of difference. That's why we feel owning the best golf watch is vital, particularly if you take the game seriously but you're struggling to improve.

Fortunately, we've curated a list of the best golf watches on the market, which we've picked based on their price, performance, features, and user reviews. From GPS-enabled devices that accurately measure distances to advanced swing analysers that help you refine your technique, these watches offer an array of features designed to elevate your golfing experience.

But that's not all. Like in our list of the best fitness trackers and smartwatches, we've also considered factors like GPS accuracy, durability, battery life, user-friendliness, and overall value for money here. So whether you're a beginner looking for an inexpensive device, like this GolfBuddy Aim W12, or a seasoned pro looking for a slightly more expensive bit of kit, such as this Garmin Approach S62, our detailed guide is the ideal place to start your search for that ultimate golfing companion. Let's get into it...

Best golf watches

1. Garmin Approach S62 - best all-rounder
2. GolfBuddy Aim W12 - a great budget watch
3. Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) - a top premium device
4. Voice Caddie T9 - best pick with slope
5. TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition - an excellent choice for everyday wear

Credit: Garmin

1. Garmin Approach S62

Best golf watch overall

We're starting off with what is arguably the most well-rounded golf watch on the market - the Garmin Approach S62. It's reasonably priced as far as golf watches go, and it comes with a ton of advanced features to take your game to the next level.

It's essentially a virtual caddie as it's capable of providing detailed information on wind speed and direction, and it can suggest the best club to use based on your distance to the hole. With 42,000+ full-colour courses to download as well, you'll be able to see accurate information for pretty much any course you play.

It also features Garmin's Playslike Distance, which calibrates yardage based on uphill and downhill shots, Green View, which accurately presents an image of the green's true shape from wherever you are on the course, and PinPointer, which lets you know the direction to the hole when shooting blind.

And, if that wasn't enough, if you pay for the Garmin Golf app membership, you can gain access to Green Contour Data to help you figure out slope direction with ease.

We've only really scratched the surface of what this watch is capable of. We've not even touched on its health-tracking capabilities, sleep analysis, and the likes of Garmin Pay. There's simply too much to like about this Garmin device.

• Read More: Best Garmin watches

Credit: GolfBuddy

2. GolfBuddy Aim W12

Best budget golf watch

Golf watches are by no means cheap. So, if you're a beginner to the sport or you simply don't want to invest heavily in a smartwatch right now, then we'd recommend you check out this budget-friendly GolfBuddy Aim W12.

Although cheaper than some of its competitors, it still packs some excellent features that can improve your game. For example, it can provide slope adjustment information along with accurate distances to the front, centre, and back of the green. What's more, you can hone your approach game thanks to its ability to provide detailed information on the undulations of the green.

Adding to this, it features carry distance tracking and can warn you of any potential hazards. It will also give a 2D hole flyover before each hole from the 40,000 courses available to download, so you can work out the best route to the green without having to look yourself.

Away from the course, the watch features step and calorie-tracking capabilities, plus it boasts an IPX7 waterproof rating just in case you get caught out in the rain. So, despite its lower price tag, this watch is still a great option to consider.

• Read More: Best golf shoes

Credit: Garmin

3. Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2)

Best premium golf watch

Back to Garmin now, but this time a more expensive device that should suit seasoned pros looking to invest in a premium bit of kit - the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2).

It's a seriously stylish device that offers all the same features as the previous Garmin watch, including 42,000+ courses, Green View, distance and wind speed tracking, club selection tips, and so on.

However, this watch does upgrade on the previous Garmin device in several key areas. For instance, it boasts a longer battery life of up to 16 days, is water-resistant up to 100m, and has activity profiles for swimming, running, biking, etc. when you step away from the course.

But, perhaps the best thing about this watch is its domed sapphire crystal AMOLED display surrounded by a 46mm case made of Grade-5 titanium. This gives it an ultradurable exterior that'll last for years to come. Expensive - yes, but definitely a great golf watch on the whole.

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Credit: Voice Caddie

4. Voice Caddie T9

Best golf watch with slope

If you're after something a little cheaper with slope tracking, we'd recommend checking out the Voice Caddie T9. Why? Well, it comes with something called V-Algorithm 3.0 which can provide automatic slope calculations quickly and accurately to help you out on the course.

That's not all. It features built-in shot and putt tracking and boasts a vibrant full-colour touchscreen that can give precise yardages to the front, centre, and back of the green.

Furthermore, the device offers advanced functionalities like Active Green tracking and green undulation displayed through a heat map and break direction arrows. This should come in particularly handy if you're struggling to improve your approach play.

That said, you can disable the slope and GPS if needed in Tournament Mode. So, if you're playing competitively in a competition or with your friends, this watch ensures there's no outside help to give you an advantage... although you could always "forget" to switch Tournament Mode on...

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Credit: TAG Heuer

5. TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition

Best golf watch for everyday wear

Our final entry, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition, is essentially a top-tier smartwatch designed for everyday wear, but with golf-specific features to help improve your game.

It comes with a ceramic bezel and boasts an exceptional TAG Heuer Golf app that enables you to effortlessly monitor your progress across an extensive selection of more than 40,000 golf courses, with similar golf-tracking and assistant features as our previous four entries, including full shot-tracking functionality. Interestingly though, the device also comes with a set of three TAG Heuer-branded balls and one extra ball marker for your game.

Away from the course, the watch offers health and activity monitoring, with built-in warm-up tips, guided 7-minute workouts, and the ability to track your daily steps, calories burnt and heart rate.

Overall, this TAG Heuer device is an excellent option to consider for both golf and everyday use. Its impressive range of features and additional touches, like the three golf balls, make it a top pick in our eyes.

• Read More: Best golf shoes under 100

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Buying a golf watch isn't always straightforward and can sometimes lead to several questions. Don't worry though, we've answered some of the most commonly asked queries to help you out.

What features should you look for in a golf watch?

When selecting a golf watch, there are several important features to consider. First and foremost, you'll want something with mapped courses. The premise of a golf watch is to track your performance and shots, and provide accurate yardage. So, you're going to need something that can give information about the course you're on quickly and effectively. Therefore, look for a device with preloaded courses or the ability to download them.

Other key golf features include the ability to provide precise measurements to the front, back, and centre of the green as well as to hazards and layup points, the ability to keep track of your scores and statistics during your round, and, in some cases, shot tracking whereby the watch automatically detects and records your shots, providing you with valuable data such as shot distances, club usage, and shot dispersion.

To achieve all this, you'll also want to look for a watch with built-in GPS. This is needed so the device can accurately measure distances to hazards, greens, and fairways, enabling you to plan your shots better and make more informed decisions on the course.

Aside from these main golf features, the rest of what you'll need will come down to your own personal use case. For instance, a watch with a particularly long battery life becomes essential if you play a full 18-holes or multiple rounds in a day. We would advise you to pick up something with a relatively long battery life though so it doesn't end up dying mid-round. Also, we'd recommend something that's water-resistant, just in case you get caught out in adverse weather.

Just remember to consider your specific needs and preferences when selecting a golf watch. It's also a good idea to read reviews and compare different models to find the one that best suits your requirements.

Can a golf watch be used for other sports or activities?

While golf watches are primarily designed for the course, many models offer features that can be useful for other sports or activities as well. For instance, many smartwatches have built-in fitness tracking capabilities that can track your steps, distance, calories burned, and heart rate, which can come in handy when tracking practically any kind of activity.

If your watch comes with GPS tracking as well, it will most likely be capable of tracking your runs, walks, bike rides, and so on, following what route you take so can analyse your performance afterwards.

What's more, if you have a water-resistant golf watch, you may be able to take it into a pool to track your swimming. Some may even have built-in swim-tracking modes, although this won't always be the case.

But, while golf watches can be versatile, it's important to note that their features are normally optimised for golf, so might not provide the same level of accuracy or specific tracking metrics as dedicated watches for other sports. If you have specific requirements for a particular activity, it's recommended to explore watches designed explicitly for that sport, like some of the best running watches around for instance, to ensure you get the most accurate and comprehensive data.

How accurate are golf watches?

Golf watches are generally considered to be quite accurate in providing distance measurements on a golf course. Most modern devices use GPS technology to calculate distances to various targets such as the green, hazards, and layup points. However, the accuracy of golf watches can vary depending on several factors like the quality of its GPS chip and the strength of the satellite signal it receives. Higher-end golf watches often have more sophisticated GPS technology, resulting in better accuracy.

The accuracy of distance readings is also influenced by the quality of the course mapping data. Some golf watches use more detailed and up-to-date course maps, which can enhance the accuracy of the measurements.

In some cases, your location on the course might affect the accuracy of the measurements. If you are standing in a specific area where satellite signals are weaker or blocked, the readings might not be as precise. Tree cover, tall buildings, or cloudy weather may also affect accuracy to some degree.

However, in general, most golf watches provide distances with a margin of error of a few yards. For most golfers, this level of accuracy is sufficient for course management and shot selection. However, it's essential to understand that no GPS-based technology is entirely infallible, and occasional discrepancies in readings may occur.

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