Best golf GPS watches for smarter yardages in 2025

Best golf GPS watches – closer look

Here’s a more detailed look at some of the watches from the table above. Some are golf-first devices that just do yardages really well. Others double as everyday fitness or smartwatch options. Combine a reliable GPS watch with good waterproof golf shoes and a comfortable stand bag and walking 18 becomes a lot more enjoyable.

Garmin Approach S12, Easy-to-Use GPS Golf Watch, 42k+ Preloaded Courses, Black, 010-02472-00

Rating: 4.4 ★ (2877 reviews)

$149.99 $199.99

This GPS watch appeared in our search for popular golf wearables and has encouraging feedback from other players. If it looks like a fit, click through to see recent reviews, current pricing, and any color or strap options.

View on Amazon

Garmin Approach® S44, Essential Golf GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, On-Course Features, Silver Aluminum Bezel with Black Silicone Band

Rating: 4.4 ★ (297 reviews)

$207.99 $299.99

This GPS watch appeared in our search for popular golf wearables and has encouraging feedback from other players. If it looks like a fit, click through to see recent reviews, current pricing, and any color or strap options.

View on Amazon

TecTecTec ULT-G Stylish, Lightweight and Multi-Functional Golf GPS Watch, Durable Wrist Band with LCD Display, Worldwide Preloaded Courses - Black

Rating: 4.2 ★ (5320 reviews)

$109.99

This GPS watch appeared in our search for popular golf wearables and has encouraging feedback from other players. If it looks like a fit, click through to see recent reviews, current pricing, and any color or strap options.

View on Amazon

Izzo Golf Swami Golf GPS Watch with Personalized Club Suggestions

Rating: 3.7 ★ (69 reviews)

$79.99 $99.99

This GPS watch appeared in our search for popular golf wearables and has encouraging feedback from other players. If it looks like a fit, click through to see recent reviews, current pricing, and any color or strap options.

View on Amazon

Garmin Approach® S44, Essential Golf GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, On-Course Features, Silver Aluminum Bezel with Twilight Silicone Band

Rating: 4.4 ★ (297 reviews)

$249.99 $299.99

This GPS watch appeared in our search for popular golf wearables and has encouraging feedback from other players. If it looks like a fit, click through to see recent reviews, current pricing, and any color or strap options.

View on Amazon

Bushnell Golf iON Elite GPS Watch

Rating: 3.7 ★ (224 reviews)

$149.99 $219.99

This GPS watch appeared in our search for popular golf wearables and has encouraging feedback from other players. If it looks like a fit, click through to see recent reviews, current pricing, and any color or strap options.

View on Amazon

How to choose the right golf GPS watch

Most modern golf GPS watches will get you “somewhere” near the right yardage. The better ones make it easy to trust the number at a glance and move on with your shot. As you compare models, think about how you actually play, not just how many features fit on the spec sheet. Pairing a watch with solid fundamentals—like a repeatable motion from a proper golf swing and a confident routine from a stress-free tee shot—is where the real gains show up.

• Course coverage. Look for preloaded courses and free updates. If you travel or rotate between a lot of local tracks, wide coverage matters.
• Yardage detail. At a minimum you want front, middle, and back distances. Many watches also show you key hazards and layup spots, which is a huge help on unfamiliar holes.
• Screen readability. If you can’t see it in full sun, it doesn’t matter how accurate the GPS chip is. High-contrast layouts and clear fonts beat cluttered “feature soup” screens.
• Battery life. Check how many hours in GPS mode the watch can realistically handle. If you play 36-hole days, battery life becomes a deciding factor.
• Comfort and size. Oversized or heavy watches can feel odd during the swing. Slimmer, lighter designs are easier to forget you’re wearing.
• Golf vs. smartwatch extras. Some models are dedicated golf watches. Others blur into full smartwatches with notifications, step counts, and sleep tracking. Decide what you’ll truly use.
• Subscriptions and apps. A few ecosystems lock premium features behind a paid app or subscription. Make sure you’re okay with any ongoing costs before you commit.

The “best” watch isn’t automatically the most expensive one. The winner is the watch that gives you the information you need in one quick glance and doesn’t get in the way of playing golf.

Golf GPS watch vs laser rangefinder

If you’re debating between a GPS watch and a laser rangefinder, the honest answer is: they’re both useful, but in different ways. Many golfers eventually end up with both.

A GPS watch is usually the better first purchase, because it speeds up play and gives you a big-picture view of each hole. Once you’re more serious about scoring and tracking trends, you can start comparing your numbers to the average golf score or work out your official index using our handicap guide.

Tips for getting the most from your GPS watch

Once you’ve picked a watch, a few simple habits will help it become a tool you lean on instead of an expensive toy that lives in a drawer.

1. Update before big rounds. If your watch uses an app, sync courses and firmware before a golf trip or tournament so you’re not doing it in the parking lot.
2. Learn two screens well. You don’t need every feature. Get comfortable with your main yardage view and one backup screen (like a hazard view or green layout).
3. Check the hole number. Automatic hole advance is handy until the watch jumps ahead on back-to-back fairways. A quick glance avoids surprise “wrong hole” yardages.
4. Use it to choose targets, not just clubs. Let the watch steer you away from trouble and into wider landing areas. Combine that with the right golf ball and you’ll see more consistent results.
5. Build a charging habit. Keep the charging cable where you usually drop your wallet, keys, or phone. Plugging in after a round becomes automatic.

The whole point of a GPS watch is to remove guesswork. The more you trust the numbers, the easier it is to commit to a swing and focus on making a good move at the ball.

Related reading

• Best divot repair tools – take care of the greens you play on.
• Best waterproof golf shoes – stay dry and stable in all conditions.
• Best golf stand bags – lightweight bags that are easy to carry.
• How to judge golf club distances – essential for making the most of your GPS watch.