Find the Best Golf Watch in Time for Father’s Day 2024!
Get a golf gift for dad this year that he'll really love! Our collection of golf GPS watches features only the best brands—like Garmin, Bushnell, Voice Caddie, & Shot Scope—with options for every budget!
If your dad loves golf but doesn’t already have a golf watch, there’s a very good chance he would appreciate one.
That’s because today’s golf watches are absolutely incredible in all that they can do. And it’s likely that your dad has taken notice. He’s probably regularly playing with golfers who wear golf watches. And he’s probably hearing all of the great things they say about them.
Plus, a golf GPS watch is one of those golf gift items that might actually fit within a reasonable Father’s Day budget. Golf is expensive as hell. There aren’t that many things you can buy your golfing dad that are going to make a big impact on him without costing you a fortune.
So, whether you want to go for it and get your dad the best of the best, or you just want to get him something more basic but still totally awesome, there’s an option for you on this list. The best part is that each and every one of these choices is vetted as a can’t-miss winner.
Read on to see which features (and prices) most resonate with you and what you think your dad might like.
Oh, and before you dismiss this list because you know your dad already has a rangefinder, don’t be so sure he wouldn’t also love a golf watch. More and more players are switching to the speed and convenience of modern golf watches. And many golfers now carry both a golf rangefinder and golf GPS watch while they play.
Think about it: Is your golf-nut dad really going to be bummed that you got him a golf watch? No chance!
SkyCaddie LX2: Best Basic Golf Watch
The thing about today’s golf watches is that, for a lot of people, the advanced technology is a bit overboard. Not everyone wants all of the features that a $500-plus golf watch delivers. If all your dad needs is accurate front/middle/back yardages, the SkyCaddie LX2 is the perfect choice. And it will only set you back $150.
There are no subscription fees with this little 1.28-inch touchscreen workhorse. And you do get a step counter, some alarms, a stopwatch, timer, and digital scorecard with stats to go along with preloaded yardages on more than 35,000 golf courses.
If your dad isn’t a tech junky but would still appreciate the ease and convenience that a golf watch would provide for his game, this is a great option that would make for a very nice gift at a reasonable price.
Shot Scope G5: Most Affordable Shot-Tracking Golf Watch
If your dad wants a GPS golf watch that will help him track all of his stats, but you want to spend just half of what normally costs $300-plus to get that kind of capability, the Shot Scope G5 is your best option.
This golf watch doesn’t include tracking tags like some of the more expensive Shot Scope selections, but for just $149.99, the G5 includes a built-in shot distance measurement feature. So after your dad hits his shot, he’ll be able to very easily input into the watch what club he hit. Then when he gets to his ball, the watch will automatically calculate the distance of his last shot. That means that via the Shot Scope app, he can see how far he’s hitting each club, including averages over time.
To get that kind of game-improvement feature at this price is an awesome bargain. But even if your dad doesn’t want to use the shot-tracking feature, he’ll still have:
- Font/Middle/Back yardages
- Distances to front and carry of hazards
- Yardages to doglegs and distances to layup points
- More than 36,000 preloaded courses worldwide
- Digital scorecard
- Multiple clock faces
- Battery life of more than 36 holes
- No subscription fees
Garmin Approach S62: Best Golf Watch for Most Dads
The reason we rate this golf watch as the best option for most dads is because it’s almost as nice as the highest-end Garmin Approach S70, but it costs $150 less. That makes it a great choice if you want to buy a very serious golf watch but don’t want to spring for the absolute top of the market.
Priced at $449.99, the S62 justifies its cost and then some with a virtual caddie that compiles your club data and makes recommendations based on both your past performance as well as current conditions, including wind speed and direction and slope adjustments. You’ll get detailed color maps of every hole on more than 41,000 golf courses, with pin placements, hazard locations, and ideal landing areas.
The Garmin Approach S62 is also a full-fledged fitness tracker that includes a heart rate monitor, a pulse oxygen sensor, a sleep sensor, a step counter, a stress level monitor, and more.
No, it’s not as beefed up as the S70, but it still packs a wallop and is likely to impress any golfing dad.
Voice Caddie T9: Best Golf Watch for Tracking Putts
Sure, something like the Garmin Approach S70 or S62 has even more bells and whistles and the advantage of very advanced fitness tracking functionality, but the Voice Caddie T9 does some things even better than those Garmin watches. And it costs a lot less!
First of all, the T9 is smart enough to know when you’ve taken a shot. With other golf watch options, you have to manually enter your score after each shot, especially your putts. The Voice Caddie T9 handles that job for you, including on the putting green.
You also get a very useful swing tempo monitor to allow you to groove a precise, smooth, and repeatable swing.
There’s an awful lot included with this golf watch. If you want to get your dad a top-of-the-line gift and still have a little money left over, the T9 is going to be tough to beat.
SkyCaddie LX5/LX5C: Best Golf Watch Display
No need for dad to strain his eyes if you’re going to hook him up with the SkyCaddie LX5. This golf GPS watch provides the highest-resolution display of any watch we’ve tested. Our partner Gabe at YouTube’s Let’s Play Thru agrees and rated the SkyCaddie display a 5 out of 5 in one of his golf watch reviews.
The difference between the LX5 and LX5C is in the watch’s bezel. With the LX5C, you get a higher-quality ceramic bezel, while the LX5 comes with a simpler, less-expensive plastic bezel. Overall, to our eyes, either option makes for one of the better-looking golf watches on the market.
You won’t get shot data or club recommendations with the SkyCaddie, and there’s no wind speed or direction with this watch. But for the quality of the display, this golf watch can’t be beat. It comes with a large screen, multiple brightness options, and a very crisp resolution.
The LX5/LX5C features a simple-to-navigate touchscreen with a nice overview of each hole. You can swipe, pinch, and drag around the screen to get distances to hazards and layup targets. And you’ll always get the standard front/middle/back yardages from wherever you are on the hole. On the fitness side, you get a step counter and heart rate monitor.
There may be golf watches with more features, and there are options that cost a bit less. But for display quality, which may be the most important consideration for your dad, the SkyCaddie stands above the competition.
Bushnell iON Elite: Best Golf Watch for $200
If you’ve got a Father’s Day budget of $200, this is our recommendation for the best way to spend it on a golf watch for dad. Yes, there are a couple of options on this list for $150, but if you can step up just a bit more, the Bushnell iON Elite offers fantastic returns.
This is a golf watch that is going to give dad everything he wants without giving him all the things he doesn’t need. The iON Elite does the basics but does them very well. You get front/center/back yardages, scorekeeping, a green view, moveable pin placement, distances for up to six hazards or layups per hole, and a 12-hour battery life.
Are there golf yardage watches that do more? Sure. But does your dad need any more features than what the iON Edge provides? Maybe not.
Almost every golfer, including your dad, knows that Bushnell is renowned for making durable, super-high-quality golf tech products. It’s a brand you can trust and a gift you can give with confidence.
Garmin Approach S42: Best Looking Golf Watch
Some golf watches don’t make for great style accessories off the course. Many of them are a bit large, especially for smaller wrists. But the S42 gives you a sleeker design, a slightly smaller 1.2-inch watch face, and a narrower silicone band than with other Garmin golf watch options. You also have three watch/band color options from which to choose.
The Garmin S42 doesn’t have all the features as the S62 or S70. Things like a virtual caddie, wind speed and direction, and a heart rate monitor aren’t included with the S42. But maybe your dad doesn’t need all of that. Maybe he’d rather have a golf watch that is still going to deliver all of the basic golf watch functionality but that will look better around his wrist when he’s not playing golf.
And the Garmin S42 golf watch still has plenty of features. You get the spot-on Garmin GPS accuracy. With a quick touchscreen swipe, you get yardages to spots on the green and to various hazards on each hole. You can manually move the pin around to reflect where the hole is cut that day. And you’ve got a step counter and weather updates.
Shot Scope X5: Best Golf Watch Value
If you’re looking for a very nice golf watch that isn’t quite as luxurious (or expensive) as some of the highest-end models but that still delivers almost all of the best features, here it is. The Shot Scope X5, at $299.99 and with no annual subscriptions, packs a serious punch for the price.
The X5 is stylish, and the band is very comfortable. Most importantly, the information it delivers is incredible and accurate. To get shot-tracking tags included and all of the resulting stats about your golf game, with no subscription fee, is crazy!
Shot Scope X5 features include:
- Green view with pin placement
- Front and carry distance for water and bunker hazards
- Layup points and doglegs on each hole
- More than 36,000 preloaded courses
- Automatic performance tracking
- Multiple clock-face designs
- Step counter
- Digital scorecard
- More than 100 statistics about your game, including Srokes Gained and handicap benchmarking
Best Overall Golf Watch: Garmin Approach S70
If you’ve got the budget for the best golf watch for dad, here’s a gift that will absolutely blow him away! This is the highest end golf GPS watch of 2024.
The S70 has everything! No other golf watch combines innovation, features, reliable performance, and style in a way that can rival the S70.
Among the features:
- A super-bright AMOLED touchscreen display
- Maps and yardages from 43,000+ preloaded golf courses
- Club suggestions based on performance and even wind speed and direction
- A plays-like distance feature that takes into account slope and weather
- 24/7 health monitoring and activity tracking
- A stylish, lightweight build and ceramic bezel
- Much, much more
The S70 comes in Black, White, or Gray, and there’s a 47mm or 42mm option. The watch itself is absolutely gorgeous. This is something your dad can wear proudly to even a high-end occasion.
Garmin fēnix 7 Pro & Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2): Two Bonus Options That Go Way Beyond Golf
Now, if you really want to go big-time with a gift for your dad, check out these two Garmin multisport watches.
Why are we including them here?
Because these watches actually include all of the same golf features as the Garmin Approach S42. But, in the case of the Garmin fēnix 7 Pro and Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2), you also get a ton of fitness/lifestyle features that make these products among the top of the line for Garmin. We’re talking navigation features, training tools, health and wellness monitoring, and so much more.
Yes, these are pricey watches, but if your dad is active beyond the course, either of these options is going to be a game-changer for his golf and everyday life.
Buy Your Dad a Golf Gift He’s Going To Love
Put a smile on your dad’s face and a little style around his wrist. If your dad loves golf, he’s going to be thrilled with a new golf watch.
Even if he’s been a rangefinder devotee to this point, you might be surprised at how much he’ll love playing with a GPS golf watch. Chances are, he already knows that but just hasn’t been able to justify spending even more money on his favorite hobby. You have the opportunity to give him something that will blow him away. How cool would that be this Father’s Day?
And you know what? If he hates it (he won’t), just send it back. Each one of these golf watches is eligible for free 60-day no-hassle returns at PlayBetter.com. Now this becomes a no-brainer, don’t you think?
About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen
Marc "Shef" Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he's not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.