Golf GPS devices are a high-tech marvel for golfers. The last decade has seen a huge boost in all kinds of GPS enabled technologies and with advent of golf GPS devices, course management has never been easier.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
There are two main types of golf GPS devices:
- Wristwatch Golf GPS
- Handheld Golf GPS
There are also some other devices like range finders and golf trolleys that have GPS capabilities, but for the purpose of this article, we will not be discussing those.
A golf GPS device uses Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites to identify your exact location on the golf course and give you valuable information on:
- Yardages
- Distance to hazards
- Distance to the green
- Statistical game tracking
This information is valuable to modern golfers who would otherwise have to rely on cadies that are local to the course. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, GPS devices can help you navigate your game and the golf course with ease.
Investing in a good golf GPS device can be a game changer for beginners, but with so many options to choose from, it can quickly become confusing.
The 4 Best Golf GPS Devices
We have researched some of the best devices for you and here is our selection of the best golf GPS devices.
1. Garmin Approach S10, Lightweight GPS Golf Watch
Garmin is an excellent sports tech manufacturer that has been making quality golf GPS devices for a long time. Their Approach S10 GPS golf wrist watch is a lightweight easy-to-use device with great value for money.
The sleek and comfortable design features 4 buttons and has a high-resolution, 0.9 x 0.9inch display that is sunlight-readable. It has a rechargeable battery that can play up to 12 hours in GPS golf mode, giving you more than a full day of use on the course.
This device is capable of giving you yardages to the front, back and middle of the green – as well as hazards and doglegs on over 41,000 preloaded golf courses around the world. It allows you to keep score on the watch giving you a summary of your round, total distance played and total time.
The Garmin Express feature lets you upload your scorecards for every round to keep track of your scores throughout a season. As an added feature, you can use the free Garmin Golf app to participate in weekly leaderboards and tournaments.
As an everyday watch, it displays local time, date and sunrise and sunset times. Because it is water-rated to 5 ATM (50 meters), you do not have to fear water holes during play. Complete a hole and it will automatically shift to the next hole as you walk from the green to the tee box.
2. Bushnell 368821 Phantom Golf GPS
The Phantom Golf GPS from Bushnell is an extremely popular and highly rated handheld golf GPS device that is fairly priced. It is an easy-to-use device that has built-in Bluetooth that allows for wireless course updates.
It has integrated BITE magnetic mount technology that makes it easy to stick to any metal surfaces including your golf cart. It also comes with a clip holder to attach to your bag or belt.
The Phantom comes preloaded with more than 36,000 courses in 30 countries and automatically recognizes courses. Its screen displays large, easy-to-read front , center and back distances, up to 4 hazard distances per hole and a shot distance calculator.
Upon purchase of this product you receive free access to the Bushnell Golf App that shows 3D flyovers with front/center/back and hazard distances and 3D hole layouts.
The long battery life allows you to play up to 2 rounds before recharging.
3. Garmin Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch
Here is another great product from Garmin, the Approach S62 is a premium golf GPS watch with abundant features.
It has a large1.3 inch easy-to-read color touchscreen display with a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and interchangeable QuickFit bands – allowing you to change your watch bands as often as you change your golf course.
You can download custom watch faces, apps and widgets and customize your watch face with any photo from your smart phone. It has more than 41,000 preloaded full-color CourseView maps of golf courses from around the world.
The Approach S62 has a Virtual Caddie feature that factors in wind speed and direction and suggests a club based on the distance you typically swing with that particular club.
The Hazard View feature allows you to quickly scroll through each hazard on the map and PlaysLike Distance lets you adjust yardages to account for uphill and downhill shots. The PinPointer feature tells you the direction to the pin when you have a blind shot so you can know where the pin is even if it is not visible to you.
The battery life is up to 20 hours in GPS mode and 14 days in smart-watch mode. You can even pair the device with the Garmin Golf app to participate in leaderboards and tournaments.
This is a high-end premium device from Garmin and charges a premium price.
4. SkyCaddie SX400, Handheld Golf GPS with 4 inch Touch Display
The SkyCaddie SX400 is a handheld golf GPS device with a full HD 4 inch touchscreen display. Driven by an ultra fast multi-core processor, it is a premium device to measure yardages and view golf with trusted accuracy.
With over 35,000 preloaded and ground-verified golf courses, SkyCadie gives unmatched accuracy. The Halve HD course graphics come with Integrated Targets and distances to all hazards, carries and layups.
The Dynamic HoleVue allows you to rotate the fairway and zooms in as you move from tee to green. The IntelliPath feature not only provides the distance to your intended target but also provides distances to all relevant attributes on the course.
The IntelliGreen Pro technology provides the exact shape of the green and surrounding area, automatically rotating the green based on your angle of approach. Scoring and statistic tracking is easy to use and provides great statistical analysis.
The Big Number Mode shows ultra large numbers to provide accurate front, center and back distances. Shot Tracking will track the club used, location and distance of every shot you hit.
Our Final Thoughts
Golf GPS devices are a great tool for course management. The devices mentioned here are all good and will give you the essential data you need to improve your game.
If you are a beginner or don’t want to spend too much on a golf GPS device, then the Garmin Approach S10 is best for you. If money is of no concern, then the SkyCaddie SX400 is the best handheld and the Garmin Approach S62 is the best GPS wrist watch for golf you can buy today.
GPS technology in golf is still a sore subject and some golf courses do not allow GPS devices. Always check the rules of the golf course before opting to use a golf GPS device.
We hope you enjoyed our selection of the best golf GPS devices.
