A GPS Golf Watch for Any Budget

Teed up by: Tim Radigan

A great way to start lowering your scores on the course is to know your distance from the target. GolferScore can almost guarantee that using a golf GPS watch will improve your game. Using a golf watch or “wearable” eliminates guessing distances and offers golfers a quick and efficient way to determine the perfect club selection for every shot. And unlike laser rangefinders or GPS apps on your phonea golf watch is far easier to access during your round. There’s no need to retrieve from your bag or walk back to the cart; a GPS watch is with you every step of the round. It’s like having little caddie that lives on your wrist.

GPS golf watches have come a long way over the years and come with some great options. A GPS golf watch allows golfers better course management with detailed depictions of each hole, distance to the front, middle, and back of greens, along with slope information. Some GPS golf watches even offer shot tracking and keep info on each club in your bag. When paired with certain apps, some watches will even keep critical swing stats like club speed, swing path, and face angle. So whether you’re looking to knock a few strokes off the card or you’re on a mission to break 80, one of these golf GPS watches can help you get there.

Garmin Approach S10 GPS Golf Watch

Pros

  • 41,000 pre-loaded courses to choose from
  • Free software updates
  • No subscription fees
  • Priced affordably under $150.00 

Cons

  • 1.2" screen size screen 
  • Low quality watch band

Conclusion:

The Garmin Approach S10 is a basic entry-level GPS golf watch.  We like it because it's affordable and  offers a very comfortable, thin, lightweight face. The watch band seems to have a limited life but is easily replaceable with something more durable.  If you're ballin' on a budget, this golf watch is a great way to start bringing down those scores.  

Bushnell Neo Ion 2 GPS Golf Watch

Pros

  • 36,000 pre-loaded courses 
  • Bluetooth wireless course updates
  • Long Life Battery allows 3 rounds before recharging
  • Pairs with Bushnell Golf App for tracking data

Cons

  • 1.0" screen size is small at 1"x 1" 

Conclusion:

The Bushnell Neo Ion 2 Golf GPS Watch is still a contender in the under $200 price point.  While the screen is small and difficult to read at times, it still offers value for the price.  We like the design and reversible watch band.  Bushnell also offers USB charging vs the device specific chargers of other brands.

Callaway GPSy GPS Golf Watch

Pros

  • Shot distance measuring capability 
  • Keeps score and tracks putts
  • Virtual Caddie offers club selection assistance 
  • Accounts for up and downhill shots
    PinPointer identifies the green on blind shots
  • 1.28" marginal screen size

Cons

  • 1.28" screen size is marginal 
  • 30,000 pre-loaded courses

Conclusion:

Callaway offers the GPSy Golf GPS Watch just under the $300 threshold.  It's no surprise that golfers demand more features at this pricepoint, and Callaway delivers.  What we really like in the Callaway GPSy are the numerous data points tracked by this golf watch.  Score stats, score history, shot distance and GIR to name a few.  This is a feature rich golf watch that's both accurate and stylish. 

Garmin Approach S62 GPS Golf Watch

Pros

  • Large (1.3") color touchscreen
  • 41,000 pre-loaded courses
  • Virtual caddie club selection
  • PinPointer identifies the green on blind shots
  • Accounts for up and downhill shots 

Cons

  • Price for those on a budget, that's it! 

Conclusion:

The Garmin Approach S62 is a premium high-end golf GPS watch, without a doubt. We like everything about it and since we had to find a "con" we chose price. Although to be fair, it's worth every penny for those that will utilize all of its features. You may not be able to join a country club, but now you can take Garmin's Virtual Caddie with you o every round. If you can justify $500 for a golf watch, this one is worth a serious look.

SkyCaddie LX5 GPS Golf Watch

Pros

  • Largest (1.39") screen available
  • Bright color touchscreen
  • HoleVue offers zoom for greater detail
  • Large easy to read numbers eliminate the need for glasses

Cons

  • Subscription required after 3 years

Conclusion:

We like that SkyCaddie physically walks every course in the mapping process, offering golfers added confidence with accurate data. The SkyCaddie LX5 offers a bright and easy to read color touchscreen. Anyone wearing glasses during a round will appreciate the large numbers feature, which enables easy viewing. The Dynamic RangeVue, HoleVue, and IntelliGreen technology provide the information you need to knock strokes off your next round.

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