The Best Golf Watches of 2021

There are plenty of golfers who oppose the use of tracking technology, but it can be helpful for reducing scores. Sure, clubs do install markers that give a rough indication from how far you are from the green, but exact measurements are needed if you are to weave an iron to within 3-feet of the cup. Whether you utilise a laser or a watch, modern technology has enabled amateur golfers to have a technological caddie with them at all times. Below, we list seven of the best golf watches to help you lower those scores as much as possible in 2021.

Garmin Approach S62 GPS Watch, £479.99

The Garmin Approach S62 is, undoubtedly, one of the best golf watches on the market. It goes beyond your traditional accessory capabilities and provides the golfer with a virtual caddie – but you certainly have to pay for the privilege. It offers full-colour course mapping with Pinpointer, which is a directional feature which helps the golfer to play blind shots more efficiently. The PlaysLike distance feature accounts for both uphill and downhill shots and the Virtual Caddie takes into account playing conditions and previous swings to help make the best decision for each and every shot.

Furthermore, each shot is auto-recorded and detected by the Virtual Caddie, enabling the equipment to understand your game and, therefore, give more precise recommendations on shots. There are plenty of courses preloaded too, 41,000 to be exact. The 24/7 wrist-based heart rate monitoring and a Pulse Ox sensor estimates blood oxygen saturation and, as well as being a general fitness tracking watch, you can make contactless payments for those swift purchases in the pro shop.

Features:

• Virtual Caddie Suggestions
• Smart Notifications/Activity Tracking/Heart Rate Monitor
• Colour Touchscreen Display (ceramic bezel)
• Battery Life: 20 Hours in GPS Mode/14 Days in Smartwatch Mode

Garmin Approach S60 GPS Watch, £299.99

A more affordable – but still costly – alternative to the S62 is the Garmin Approach S60. An improved, larger display (1.2”) benefits from a sunlight-readable colour touchscreen display with higher-resolution and enhanced touch. Touch Targeting allows the golfer to touch the screen of the watch to find out exact yardages for specific areas of the course – which will greatly assist for avoiding hazards, finding sections of the green or for laying up purposes. The watch also comes with 40,000 preloaded courses worldwide.

SwingTempo measures the relationship between the back swing and the downswing, which will help you to improve both rhythm and consistency. Pinpointer will provide an exact direction to the green when you are in a blind spot, which means reduced guesswork and, ultimately, better scores. You can also sync this watch to your smartphone to get notifications, such as texts, incoming calls or even emails. The watch also functions on the Garmin Golf application and the rechargeable battery can last up to 10 hours in golfing mode and 10 days as a smartwatch.

Features:

• A Premium GPS Watch
• New Improved Touch-Screen Display
• Enhanced AutoShot Game Tracking
• Pre-Loaded With More Than 40,000 Golf Courses
• Battery Life: 10 Hours in Golfing Mode/10 Days in Smartwatch Mode

SkyCaddie LX5C Golf Watch, £299

The SkyCaddie LX5C has a stylish ceramic bezel which is harder wearing and more scratch resistant than the standard moulded model. This watch has numerous outstanding features and it is also supported with its impressive course library which has been mapped out on foot for the most complete and accurate information on the available market.

It is one of golf’s largest touchscreens, which offers a clear and cohesive view of the holes. The watch comes preloaded with 35,000 courses and a variety of faces have been implemented to give it a classic look. Additionally, you can utilise the watch away from the course as it comes with fitness features such as a step counter and a heart rate monitor. The battery life will last for the duration of two rounds.

Features:

• Display Size - 3.5cm
• Display Resolution – 454x454
• Water Resistant 30 ATM

GolfBuddy aim W10 GPS Watch, £249.99

GolfBuddy have been a permanent fixture in the rangefinder industry, and the aim W10 GPS Watch builds on that established success. This watch provides slope adjustment on measured distance and an in-depth hole view with dual arc distance readings. It has a 1.3” TFT-LCD full-colour touch screen that allows you to zoom in and out to provide better views on your intended target. As an additional bonus, the watch can be wirelessly cast on to another Android/iOS device via Bluetooth to view on a larger display screen.

The device provides calculations to the front, centre and back of the green – which also includes distances to targets and hazards. Furthermore, the watch automatically recognises which hole you are playing and has a manual pin placement, digital scoreboard and a rechargeable battery which lasts up to 13 hours in GPS mode.

Features:

• 1.3” Full Colour Touch Screen
• Dual Arc Distance Readings & Slope Compensation
• Wireless Casting (via Bluetooth)
• Preloaded with 40,000 Worldwide Courses (with free automatic updates)

Garmin Approach S12 GPS Watch, £179.99

The Garmin Approach S12 is one of the more affordable models within the Garmin line and although you do lose some of the capabilities that the more expensive models hold, it’s still an excellent choice to give you more control and hopefully see those scores lowered. The watch will auto choose which course you are on by using your exact location – and there are over 42,000 courses that are preloaded on the watch. Additionally, yardages for the front, middle and back of the green are provided, enabling you to understand just how far you are from the putting surface.

The watch also holds technology that allows you to measure the distances of your shots and score for easy revisiting and reflecting. The scorecard function is handy, and it also enables you to upload scores straight to the Garmin Golf application. The watch has a high-resolution sunlight-readable display and a rechargeable battery that will operate for up to 30 hours in GPS mode. Finally, it is also compatible with Approach CT10 club tracking sensors, although these are sold separately.

Features:

• Front/Back/Green Yardage (including dogleg and hazard information)
• Digital Scorecard/Pre-Round Summary/ShotTracking
• 42,000 Worldwide Courses Preloaded
• High-Resolution Sunlight-Readable Display
• Battery Life: 30 Hours in GPS Mode

Shot Scope V3 Smart GPS Watch, £179.99

The Shot Scope V3 watch provides valid competition for the Garmin watches that are within the same price range. The Shot Scope comes with 36,000 worldwide courses that are preloaded into the gadget and it is also one of the lightest models on the market that does not come with any additional cost or subscription fees. The V3 is also available in four different colour schemes.

GPS distances to every green and hazard are provided and the automatic shot tracking, that details areas of improvement within your game, will also offer improvability. After the round, you can upload scores to the mobile app which will then enable you to dive deeper into game analysis – including average club distances, tee shot dispersion, short game proximity and more. From purchase, you get access to the watch, 16 tracking tags, a clip charger and free statistical overviews from the mobile app.

Features:

• GPS Watch With Added Statistics on Your Game
• 36,000 Preloaded Courses Worldwide
• 100+ Tour Level Statistics Including Strokes Gained
• 16 Tracking Tags and Power-Sense Strap Allowing Seamless Shot Detection

Shot Scope G3 GPS Watch, £149.99

The Shot Scope G3 is the sister product of the Shot Scope V3, but it operates solely as a GPS watch and does not come with any of the performance tracking features or statistics. Whilst this watch is still helpful, for the additional £30, the Shot Scope V3 is vastly superior with the statistics that can not only be logged but reflected upon. The G3 provides distances to the front, middle and back of greens while also providing the golfer with information regarding hazards.

There are also 36,000 courses worldwide that come preloaded with the G3 but, as aforementioned, it is only a GPS watch. Utilising Shot Scope’s dynamic yardages ensures that the G3 can give the golfer reliable information for all approach shots. The G3 is available in four colours and it comes with the watch, one clip charger and free usage of the application on either Android or iOS.

Features:

• 36,000 Preloaded Courses Worldwide
• Front/Middle/Back Green & Hazard Distances
• Measures the Last Shot Distance
• Battery Life: GPS Mode, 10+ Hours/Watch Mode, 10+ Days

These are just a select few of the best golf watches on the market. As you’ll know, the price range between the premium and the more basic models is vast. Ultimately, all of these products provide the same basic function and that is to offer detailed yardages around the course. Whether you opt for the Garmin S62 or the Shot Scope V3, you should see your scores lowered but, above all, you should be confident in knowing the correct club to choose for the shot ahead.