Best Golf Watches of 2025: That'll Change Your Game Forever

Now, I know, everyone seems to want a rangefinder nowadays. And don’t get me wrong, they’re great.

But you know what? For a lot of golfers, I think a golf watch is actually a better solution. And that’s for several reasons.

For one, golf watches are a faster way to get yardage than fumbling around with a rangefinder. Especially if you’re the level of player that really only needs yardage to the front, middle, and back of the green.

Golf watches also provide a lot of on-course information that most rangefinders can’t match. Things like detailed hole maps, layup distances, and distances to hazards. The best golf watches go far beyond that with features like a virtual caddie, wind speed and direction information, and advanced stat tracking.

But the biggest advantage to me is that the right golf watch can also be the right watch for your everyday life off the golf course. When was the last time you used your rangefinder to track your sleep, your stress, or your steps? A good golf watch can do all of those things and far more.

The trick, however, is knowing which golf watch to get. There are a lot of them out there. And, of course, they all claim to be the best.

So we’re going to break down the best golf watches of 2025. No fluff. No filler. Just the 10 best models worth your money right now, with clear guidance on which one is right for your game and your goals.

Let’s get started.

Next up, we’ve got the Shot Scope V5. Now, if you’re interested in shot tracking but you also are trying to save some money, I’d take a very serious look at this golf watch.

The V5 doesn’t deliver all of the advantages of something like the S70. You won’t get slope-adjusted yardages, for example. And off the course it’s going to be a lot more limited.

But what you do get is free shot tracking. The watch comes with tags that you screw into the butt end of each club. After that, the tags interface with the watch, which in turn communicates with the Shot Scope app where all of your on-course performance is then stored and available for you to review.

The V5, which you can pick up for not much more than $200, offers an incredible value, when you compare it to the far more costly shot-tracking options like the S70 or the Arccos system.

Another big plus with the V5, or any of the Shot Scope products, is that there are no subscriptions! So, really, when you consider all that you get for around 200 bucks and that you don’t have to continue paying anything extra, this is a hell of a deal.

Now you’re not going to get things like sleep tracking, or a heart-rate monitor, or relaxation reminders. And this isn’t a watch that’s going to display your emails and texts. But a lot of people don’t need those things. In fact, a lot of people don’t want those things. And they certainly don’t want to have to pay for them.

If you’re looking for a really solid watch that isn’t going to cost you $500 or more but that comes pretty close performance-wise to some of those higher-end options, this is a great choice to consider.

The next watch on our list has to be the SkyCaddie LX5C. If accuracy is your top priority, this watch is the clear standout.

Unlike other GPS watches that rely on satellite imagery or third-party data, the LX5C uses ground-verified, error-corrected course maps. That means SkyGolf has physically walked each of its 35,000-plus mapped courses. That’s why serious players trust the numbers: because they’re not estimates, they’re measurements.

The AMOLED touchscreen is big and bright, and it makes yardage easy to see, even in full sun. You can zoom and pan across really nice hole views to dial in layup distances, hazard placements, and green information.

The LX5C’s IntelliGreen feature even shows the true shape of the green from your angle of approach, so you’re never guessing where to land it.

And when you’re out of position, like behind trees, you still get a clear, exact distance to your target, which is something most golf rangefinders can’t offer.

This watch doesn’t have every smart feature under the sun, but if you care most about knowing exactly how far you’ve got and where to hit it, the LX5C is a definite winner.

For our next golf watch, we’re going to Garmin and their brand-new S44.

Now this golf watch isn’t nearly as advanced as the S50 and S70 models higher up the Garmin food chain. But you know what it is? A pretty darn solid watch that includes a beautiful AMOLED display and costs only $300!

The S44 is a slim, lightweight watch that disappears on the wrist during your swing but still delivers a bright, vibrant display. The screen alone is a big deal at this price point. It gives you a premium Garmin experience without the elevated price. The display is crisp, easy to read in sunlight, and makes the whole map actually enjoyable to interact with. And yes, you get full-color course views with distances to the front, middle, and back of every green.

No, you don’t get the virtual caddie or plays-like distances like you do higher up the Garmin line. But for a lot of golfers, those extras are far from essential.

What you do get is a rock-solid Garmin golf GPS experience in a watch that’s clean, modern, and simple. You also get notifications, step tracking, and some basic fitness functionality, so it’s not like this watch is bare bones.

The S44 may not be flashy, but it’s incredibly dependable and checks all the boxes that matter most to everyday golfers. It’s the Garmin golf watch for people who don’t want to overthink things. It gives you the features you need, skips the ones you don’t, and looks great doing it. At $299.99, that’s a win in my book.

Next up, let’s talk looks. If you’re judging purely on screen quality, this is the best-looking golf GPS watch you can buy.

The 1.2-inch AMOLED display on the Vice Caddie T11 Pro just pops. It’s absolutely stunning. In fact, it rivals the Garmin S70’s screen and even gives some Apple Watch displays a run for their money. That level of clarity makes a huge difference when you’re studying hole layouts or checking green contours.

And speaking of greens, the T11 Pro includes built-in heat maps and green slope data, without any kind of subscription. You can double-tap to reveal tiers, shelves, and break patterns, giving you valuable intel for where on the green you want to try to land the ball and how the putt is going to move once you’re on the green.

The full-color GPS hole maps look fantastic, and the detail is legit. Honestly, guys, for a $350 watch, you’re getting visuals that feel like they belong on a $700 device.

Next, we’ve got the watch that I think makes the most sense for the most number of golfers. If you’re looking for a golf GPS watch that strikes the perfect balance of performance, features, and price, the PlayMaker+ from Blue Tees might be your answer.

At $299, it delivers an impressive list of tools that will satisfy the vast majority of players. You get 42,000 preloaded courses, front/middle/back yardages, shot tracking, scorekeeping, and weather updates, all on an AMOLED display.

One standout feature is the Green Compass, which orients you to the pin no matter where you are. Super useful on doglegs or when you have a blind shot.

Post-round, your data syncs to the Blue Tees app, giving you a full view of your shot patterns, scoring trends, and club performance.

The PlayMaker+ isn’t overloaded with bells and whistles you’ll never use, but it’s got everything you need to play your best. For most golfers, that’s really all they want.

Now, let’s talk about the high end. The Garmin fenix 8 is loaded with just about every possible feature you could want for any kind of sport or fitness activity, and that includes golf.

The fēnix 8 is for the golfer who refuses to be defined by just one sport. It’s for the early-morning runner, the weekend hiker, the strength-training junkie, and yes, the golfer who wants pro-level GPS tools baked into a watch that’s ready for anything.

On the course, it’s everything you’d expect from Garmin’s top-tier golf tech — plays-like yardages, wind data, stat tracking, virtual caddie, green contours, and 43,000-plus courses.

Off the course, the fēnix 8 is a beast. You’re getting full multi-sport tracking, daily readiness scores, advanced sleep analytics, and niche features like jet lag tracking and skin temperature monitoring. It even has a built-in flashlight and offline maps for backcountry excursions.

Also, the fēnix 8 looks like a serious timepiece. It’s sleek and modern but rugged enough to handle any kind of activity. The AMOLED display is sharp and sunlight-readable, and the combination of a touchscreen plus five physical buttons gives you fast control in any environment.

Battery life is another standout, delivering almost a month in smartwatch mode and multi-day stamina even when tracking GPS.

Yes, it’s a premium watch at a premium price. But if you want one device that can handle your entire active life and still give you the best golf experience, the fēnix 8 is the watch to get. For the right person, it’s not just the best golf watch. It’s the best everything watch.

Sticking with Garmin, we’ve got the new Approach S50. This watch lands smack dab in the middle of the updated Garmin watch line. And that means that it’s a perfect option for those who want Garmin's reliability and reputation but who aren’t quite ready to spend all the way up to the highest-end features.

The real beauty of the S50 is that it gives you options. You can keep it simple and still get a gorgeous AMOLED display, accurate GPS yardage, and solid performance straight out of the box.

Or you can level it up with Garmin’s $100-a-year Golf subscription and suddenly you’re rocking green contour maps, enhanced hole views, and serious post-round insights.

Either way, you’re getting a stylish, well-built watch that feels like it should cost more than it does. And because it's so lightweight and low-profile, it’s one of the few golf watches you’ll actually want to wear all day, not just on the course. Plus, it’s got almost as many lifestyle and fitness features as the top-end S70.

The S50 looks good, performs well, and fits seamlessly into your lifestyle. It’s not trying to be the flashiest or most advanced. It’s just incredibly well-balanced. That’s what makes the S50 such an appealing choice for so many golfers. It covers all the essentials, delivers unexpected lifestyle bonuses, and nails the look and feel. For $399.99, that’s a tough package to beat.

Next, we’ve got a watch that proves you don’t have to sacrifice key features to stay under $200. The Voice Caddie A3 Hybrid is a sleek, lightweight GPS watch that includes slope-adjusted distances, pin placement, and a bright color touchscreen, features typically found in far more expensive models.

With green undulation data and Smart Green View technology, the A3 gives you a serious edge when it comes to reading the green and planning your approach shots. You also get distances to the front, center, and back of the green plus hazard distances. The A3 even tracks your shot distances and driver landing area.

Add in built-in fitness tracking for walking, running, and cycling, and it easily doubles as a basic everyday activity watch.

With 40,000-plus preloaded courses and no subscription fees, it’s one of the most complete sub-$200 golf watches available. If you want solid GPS performance, a stylish design, and some surprisingly advanced features, the A3 Hybrid is an easy recommendation.

Rounding out our list is the Garmin Approach S12. And, guys, if you can get this watch for $149.99, it’s a steal!

Yes, Garmin has several more advanced options. But, as we’ve discussed, a lot of golfers just want basic. The problem with going basic is that oftentimes that means sacrificing quality. Well, not when you’re talking about Garmin.

You get accurate front/middle/back yardages to every green, hazard, and layup on more than 43,000 preloaded courses worldwide. It’s got a clean, easy-to-read high-res display that performs well even in bright sunlight. The battery life is borderline legendary, lasting up to 30 hours in GPS mode. That means you can play multiple rounds before ever needing to recharge.

It’s lightweight, rugged, and totally intuitive, making it perfect for golfers who just want to keep things simple. Built-in scorekeeping keeps your round organized. And if you want to level up, the S12 pairs with Garmin’s CT10 or CT1 sensors to track club distances automatically.

It doesn’t have touchscreen functionality or an AMOLED display, but at this price point, it’s hard to complain. What you do get is a trusted Garmin build, reliable accuracy, and zero distractions.

For newer golfers, casual players, or anyone just wanting dependable GPS yardage, the Garmin Approach S12 is one of the smartest values in the game.