Must-Have Advance Golf GPS Watches
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One of the greatest benefits of effective golf GPS watches is that you can now measure precisely how far your drive flies, maximizing your chances for a birdie. With these golf GPS watches, you also have the ability to track how many imperfections or pings you make as well as shot accuracy and distance to the pin. Many models offer social networking features where you can compare stats with other players and share them with friends on Facebook and Twitter.
First things first: what makes a good golf GPS watch?
Well, there are three main factors that contribute to this: durability, features, and price. You can read all about that and more in this article.
With all the options out on the market, we decided to do the hard work and come up with a list of our favorite GPS watches. We will use specific examples to demonstrate each golf GPS watch’s features, what they’re good for, and who would benefit the most from them.
There should be no more excuses for your golf buddy beating you after using one of these watches out on the green. The following is a look at the top five golf GPS watches:
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AT A GLANCE – THE TOP 5 ADVANCED GOLF GPS WATCH (SEE ON AMAZON) |
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1. TOP PICK: Garmin Approach S60, Premium GPS Golf Watch |
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1. TOP PICK: Garmin Approach S60, Premium GPS Golf Watch |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Sleek GPS golf watch that reflects your passion on and off the course ⛳️ Large, 1.2″ Sunlight-readable color touchscreen display ⛳️ Quickly gets your location using GPS to Show precise yardages to greens, hazards, and doglegs, on full-color course maps ⛳️ Convenient Quick Fit bands for fast style changes without tools ⛳️ More than 40,000 preloaded courses from around the world |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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Look good both on and off the course with the Garmin Approach S60. A large, 1.2-inch sunlight-readable color touchscreen displays all of the critical information you need to know about your round so that you can improve your game. Also, with QuickFit bands, you don’t need any tools to change your look to match your activity. The Approach S60 has a battery life of up to 10 hours while golfing or up to 10 days in watch mode. Preloaded activity profiles include running, cycling, swimming, and more, so you can use them for more than just golfing. In addition, the Approach S60 has built-in activity tracking features such as the move bar and vibration alerts for calories and steps. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“Best watch I’ve ever had. The primary purpose is for golf but I like that I can use it for running and biking as well. I no longer need to switch out my watch between golf, running, work and leisure. This is the only watch I use. I like the fact that you can switch out the bands for the watch. Mine came with the leather band but have purchased silicone bands, one from Garmin and one from a site on Amazon (same bands as the Fenix 5). The Garmin band was $45 and the one from the Amazon site was $10. Same quality but one comes from Asia so it takes a little longer to receive. Through some trial and error, I was able to figure out how to use the automatic shot feature. It doesn’t work when you have the option for big numbers selected. Once I switched it off, I know to see the automatic distance after I select the club. An only minor issue is when I take a practice swing sometimes it will detect it as a real swing and log it. A minor issue that I will figure out. I’ve only used it for 6 rounds so far and no issues with battery life. Looking forward to using it for back-to-back rounds.” |
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PROS ✅ Battery life last for 10 hours in golf mode and up to 10 days in watch mode ✅ Convenient QuickFit bands, you can change your style without tools to match your activity ✅ Sleek and stylish design for on and off the course ✅ Waterproof |
CONS ❌ No heart rate monitor |
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2. PREMIUM CHOICE: Garmin Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Large scratch-resistant color touchscreen & interchangeable QuickFit bands ⛳️ More than 41,000 full-color CourseView maps ⛳️ Virtual Caddie suggests clubs based on distance, wind speed & direction, & indicates where the golfer should aim at the map ⛳️ Hazard View to see each hazard on map ⛳️ PlaysLike Distance for uphill & downhill shots ⛳️ PinPointer tells the direction to the pin when you have a blind shot |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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With 41,000 preloaded courses, it is possible that your home course is one of them. The S62 does what you need to do with a golf GPS. It provides you with wind direction and distances. You can use the fitness functions and connect them to your mobile phone when you’re off the course. The Garmin Approach S62 is much more than just a golf GPS watch. It tracks the heart rate and can even estimate blood oxygen levels. This watch allows you to receive emails and texts and it can also be used for hiking, cycling, swimming, and golf. You can even use it to make contactless payments via Garmin Pay. It’s so effective that it almost seems like cheating. Some of these features in any regular golf competition wouldn’t be permitted, you can turn them off and use Garmin Approach S62 as a traditional golf watch, which most amateur events would permit. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“This watch does it all. I love how it tracks every shot I take. It tracks the exact location, distance, and direction of every shot I take. You can then sync to Garmin Connect to view the round, club distances, club direction, and other performance metrics. For example, at the 9th hole at my local course, I noticed that I came up short of the green 54% of the time. It is uphill and I wasn’t taking enough club to get there. It has other great features like “plays like,” which gives you the distance to the pin adjusted for the slope, wind, etc. You can quickly see how far it is to hazards etc. as well. The one knock I have is it can be a bit clunky to get the exact distance using your finger to target an exact spot on the screen’s map. It takes a few seconds to slide the target where you want it. Some other cool non-golf features – Weather – Wind speed and direction – Sunrise and sunset – Heart rate – Pulse Ox – Steps – You can also upload different watch faces, widgets and apps from Garmin for free ” |
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PROS ✅ Has everything you could possibly want from a golf watch ✅ Lots of features that will genuinely help you save shots on the course ✅ Excellent battery life ✅ Stylish package |
CONS ❌ The volume of features will be needlessly complicated for some
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3. MOST LIGHTWEIGHT: Shot Scope V3 GPS Watch |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ GPS + Performance Tracking ⛳️ Daylight Readable Color Screen ⛳️ 35,000 preloaded courses ⛳️ Power-Sense Strap Technology to provide seamless tracking ⛳️ Everyday watch mode |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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The ShotScope V3 is clear, simple, and high-quality. You will get a GPS watch for less than $200 with shot and performance tracking and 35,000 pre-loaded courses. It’s convenient and straightforward to use. The analytics provided by ShotScope V3 is awesome. It offers you more than 100 statistics covering what you usually see on tour. The data is remarkably extensive. If you are into golf statistics, this watch is definitely for you. Most importantly, ShotScope V3 statistics will tell you things you wouldn’t otherwise have realized about your game. This will give you an idea of what parts of your game you need to improve on and help you make better decisions on the golf course. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“This product has advanced technology which is extremely useful in playing your best golf and improving your game. Shot Scope V3 has been instrumental in reducing my handicap from 16 to 8, along with an online PGA coach. The mobile and desktop software – along with supplemental blog articles by Shot Scope – are extraordinarily useful in improving all aspects of one’s game. Data doesn’t lie. I was pleased to see I’m top 200 (out of almost 10,000 users) in driving accuracy but found other – more sizable than imagined – deficiencies to improve on. Easy to use on the course, once pin collection becomes a habit. Don’t believe accurate claims by other writers. Shot Scope uses front/ middle/ back yardages, so of course, a laser range finder will be more accurate. Both are useful. Shot Scope provides good estimates, and often I don’t need to (laboriously) pull out the range finder and shoot. Version 3 shrunk the form factor to a terrific, readable size, and I love this product … …having used it for almost a year now. ” |
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PROS ✅ Tracks a huge number of different statistics ✅ Competitively priced, given the V3 is both a GPS golf watch and stat-tracker in one ✅ A lovely stylish compact watch with interchangeable straps allowing customization |
CONS ❌ Side buttons are occasionally mistakenly pressed during a swing when not locked |
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4.MOST COMPLETE:SkyCaddie LX5C GPS Golf Watch Power Bundle |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Includes 3 Year Prepaid Membership to over 35,000 preloaded ground verified courses ⛳️ Golf’s largest and brightest color touchscreen measuring 1.39″ with Ceramic Bezel ⛳️ Full HD graphics for stunning imagery provides the best graphics in a golf wearable ⛳️ HoleVue with Zoom slide the crosshair to reveal critical distances to hazards, carries, and layups ⛳️ IntelliGreen exact shape of the green rotates, distance to the front, back, move the crosshair to the pin ⛳️ Keep your SkyCaddie LX5C around and never go without a charge again with our PlayBetter Portable Charger! |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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An industry-leading 1.39-inch color touch screen, the LX5C with Ceramic Bezel is golf’s simplest GPS watch. The LX5C’s Ceramic Bezel gives it a cutting-edge look and feel. On and off the golf course, it’s a lightweight and comfortable watch that can be worn all day long. The LX5C’s water-resistant casing and brilliant Amoled display allow you to read the information in direct sunlight. Over 35,000 preloaded ground verified course maps are included with a 3-year prepaid worldwide membership. The SkyCaddie LX5C uses the same “next-generation” technology as the award-winning SX Family of GPS rangefinders, delivering in a wearable all the information you need to play your best golf. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“I have had five other GPS units. This one for ease of use and the information it provides is the one I have settled on. The fact you have it on your person at all times helps speed up the round, especially if you walk away from the cart any distance. Graphics, scoring, and accuracy are top-notch. Also, while comparing to other GPS units, I found this unit to be the most accurate ( probably because the courses are manually mapped according to the manufacturer). Green views are with features, a great help.” |
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PROS ✅ You can track each shot you take, the club used, distance and location ✅ It’s a versatile watch on and off the course that is lightweight and comfortable to wear ✅ Allows you to upload your information in the SkyGolf 360 Cloud ✅ 3 Year Prepaid Worldwide Membership ✅ Complete with a portable charger |
CONS ❌ It is a little complicated to use, but you eventually get the hang of it ❌ It is only water-resistant
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5. BEST ON BUDGET: CANMORE TW353 Golf GPS Watch |
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SPECIFICATIONS ⛳️ Free course data is provided for over 38,000 (and counting) golf courses around the world ⛳️ Manage your game, not your golf watch! GPS course finder switches holes automatically and gives you the easy-to-access distance to the green (F/M/B), hazard distance, shot distance, scorecard, and of course—digital clock with alarm ⛳️ Soft, durable rubber wristband feels great – The watch is lightweight, so it won’t throw off your stroke ⛳️ White-on-black monochrome display is easy to read even in bright sunlight |
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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A tee shot is a matter of inches in golf. If you’re like us, you’ll take any advantage you can get, even if it’s just a slick gadget! CANMORE GPS Golf Watches are exactly what you need to take your game to the next level. When it comes to smart golf watches, CANMORE Golf Watches are an excellent option for those new to the sport or who want to experiment with something new. Golf Mode on the CANMORE TW-353 automatically displays the top 10 courses closest to your location, so you don’t need to do any setup before you can begin playing. Using Golf Mode as soon as you arrive at the course is recommended in order to give the watch time to connect with GPS satellites. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“I bought this for my husband to use at a golf tournament he took part in. He is very impressed with this watch. It did what it was supposed to do, and he shared how good it was with his golf buddies. A few said they might get on, based on his good review. He liked the way it looked, also.” |
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PROS ✅ The watch automatically changes to the next hole ✅ Waterproof ✅ Features a white-on-black screen that remains easy to read even under the brightest sun |
CONS ❌ It takes a long time to find a course and will hold up your game, so be sure to start the search well before you’re on the tee box
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