The Best Golf GPS Devices of 2024 & 2025

What do you think of when you picture a golf GPS device? Is it a handheld device that displays all the important yardages? Or perhaps it's a GPS golf watch that gives you all the information you need right on your wrist? How about a Bluetooth golf GPS speaker? That's a growing category with products that blast music and give yardages around the course, and more.

Of course, some folks still prefer to use the device they already own, a smartphone, and take advantage of a free golf GPS app.

There are plenty of great products within each of these golf GPS categories. I've personally used multiple products in all four of these categories over the last several years. I personally gravitate towards the GPS golf watch category because I like not having to reach into a pocket to find the information that I need, and with my "gamer" device, the Shot Scope V5, I get a tour-level look at my game and statistics that I simply can't live without.

I get that a lot of people prefer not to play with a bulky watch on their wrist, appreciate the specific distances they can get from some handheld devices, or simply won't play golf without some background tunes. So I've hand-picked some of my favorite golf GPS devices in every category. Here are my top-recommended golf GPS devices.

Pros:

• Crystal clear display
• Detailed green map
• Long putt guide to help reduct 3-putts
• Wind speed and direction
• No subscription costs

Cons:

• Some players may find the T11 Pro has too many features and too much going on, which can be distracting during a round

The newest golf GPS watch from Voice Caddie, the T11 Pro, does just about everything you can imagine. It goes without saying that it displays distances to the front, center, and back of the green on every hole, but there's so much more to this watch.

Before you hit your approach shot, the T11 Pro's Smart Approach View makes it easy to plan the best possible target to leave the most makeable putts, thanks to a color-coded green map showing slopes and runoffs. Once you get to the green, the Smart Putt View shows which way, and how severely, your putt will break. It even offers a Long Putt Guide to pinpoint how far outside the hole you need to aim longer putts.

When you sync the T11 Pro with the Voice Caddy app, you get wind direction and speed information delivered to your wrist as well. The T11 Pro also gives you access to slope-adjusted distances and club recommendations. It's like having a caddie on your wrist.

Pros:

• Best game-tracking system in golf
• No subscriptions
• MyStrategy feature helps you show up to the course with the best possible plan

Cons:

• Automatic shot tracking doesn't catch every shot

I love Shot Scope's suite of GPS devices because they give precise on-course distance to every target I need. After my rounds, it's like having my own version of PGA Tour's Shot Link in my back pocket. I can pour over strokes gained stats and my performance with every club in every on-course situation, and see how I compare to players of my ability, and players in my target handicap range.

Shot Scope also offers all users a really nifty feature called MyStrategy, which allows you to overlay your dispersion with any club off of every tee on any course. This makes it easy to pick the perfect club and the perfect target off every tee.

Pros:

• Access to green detail on your wrist
• Health and activity tracking makes the Approach S70 an all-day watch, not just a golf watch
• Vivid display

Cons:

• Some features, including green contour data, are only available with subscription
• High entry price to begin with

Garmin just might be the first brand you think of when you start shopping for a golf gps device. The Approach S70 is Garmin's finest golf watch, with a high-quality touchscreen, 43,000 pre-loaded courses, club recommendations based on your own performance and wind conditions, plus plays-like distances.

On top of all the golf features, Garmin gives boasts 24/7 health and activity tracking, making the Approach S70 your everyday watch, not just a golf watch. The catch is the Approach S70 is at the top end of the golf GPS price spectrum, checking in with an MSRP of $699, plus some features, like Green Contour Data, are only available with an additional subscription.

Pros:

• Free app gives you GPS distances on your smartphone
• Digital scorecard, basic stats, and side games included with free version
• Course preview option to plan your round before you play

Cons:

• Drains phone battery
• Using phone throughout round can lead to distractions from other notifications
• Premium features require a subscription

I've heard so many golfers question why some players spend hundreds of dollars on a golf GPS device when anybody with a smartphone can get free access to the exact same features. While there are some drawbacks to using your phone as an on-course GPS, they're not entirely wrong. If you're curious about the best free golf GPS app, in my opinion, that's 18Birdies.

The free version of 18Birdies gets you access to GPS distances, shot tracking, scoring, stat tracking, side games, and multi-player scoring, among other features. If you're simply looking for some extra helpful info to get around the course, I highly recommend the 18Birdies app.

The biggest one of those drawbacks I mentioned are that using your phone as an on-course GPS is a quick way to drain the battery, and I'm not a fan of leaving the golf course with no battery. I also prefer not to look at my phone (and all the potential distractions) while I play, but that's just me.

Pros:

• Excellent display
• Responsive touchscreen gives distances to any target you choose
• Water-resistant so you can use it even in rainy conditions
• Courses are manually mapped so the maps are more accurate than competitor products

Cons:

• Some players don't prefer to carry smart phone-sized device

The SkyCaddie SX400 boasts a sharp and responsive 4-inch touchscreen with detailed full-color maps of each hole. Use the touchscreen to find the exact distance to any location on the hole. Since SkyCaddie maps each course manually, you can trust the maps to be more accurate than any other out there.

The unit itself is comparable in size and shape to a modern smartphone, just a little thicker with perhaps a slightly smaller footprint. That means it fits easily into your pocket while you play for easy access.

Pros:

• Excellent game-tracking system
• Golf-ball sized unit can fit easily into pocket, on golf cart via magnetic mount, or clip to belt or golf bag
• No missed shots because you tap club to GPS to plot shots

Cons:

• No digital scorecard or green view

To oversimplify it, the Shot Scope H4 is a handheld GPS version of the aforementioned Shot Scope V5 GPS golf watch. It includes all the same game-tracking and in-depth stats, plus the MyStrategy feature for planning your way around the course before you even pull into the parking lot.

If you're interested in those benefits, but prefer a handheld GPS over a GPS watch, which are typically bulky, I strongly recommend the H4. Plus, at around $149, it's a great value considering everything it can do for your golf game. 

Pros:

• Large touchscreen with easy-to-read display
• Attractive price
• Easy, not distracting, to use

Cons:

• Stat tracking is on the basic side

If you like the idea of a handheld GPS but you're like me, and you don't like to use your phone for that function, there are plenty of excellent handheld golf GPS options out there, starting with the Blue Tees Ringer. There are few reasons I think players would gravitate to the Ringer. It's quite fairly priced among handheld GPS units, at around $129 on Amazon. It's the perfect not-too-big-not-too-small size to fit in your hand and pocket without being a distraction, and it's really easy to use.

The Ringer auto-updates with GPS distances and you can stick it to the golf cart or a magnetic mount since it has a magnetic back. When distances to the green aren't quite enough, you can easily use the touchscreen display to swipe through to green view, hazards, and shot measuring. You can also use the Ringer as a digital scorecard.

Pros:

• Launch monitor and handheld GPS in one
• Access to green contour view
• Large color display

Cons:

• Total distance is estimated and may vary noticably depending on course conditions

Is the Garmin Approach G80 a handheld GPS that has a build-in launch monitor, or a portable launch monitor with handheld GPS capabilities? No matter how you look at it, the answer is yes, which makes this one of the most unique pieces of on-course golf technology out there today.

The 3.5-inch touchscreen gives you easy access to all the distances and targets you need on the course. When it's time to hit your shot, the Approach G80 becomes a launch monitor, and delivers instant data, including estimated distance, club head speed, ball speeed, smash factor and tempo.

When you're not on the course, you can use the Appraoch G80 to play virtual golf or train your tempo. Garmin Golf members also get access to full-color green contor data right on the unit, making green-reading a breeze. With 15 hours of battery life, the Approach G80 can be a great golf companion on and off the course.

Pros:

• Large touchscreen display
• Premium sound
• Stong magnetic mount so it easily sticks to the golf cart

Cons:

• Not ideal for walkers

Remember the Ringer handheld GPS from Blue Tees we mentioned earlier? Well this Player+ GPS speaker from Blue Tees essential has the Ringer baked into a premium speaker. The large touchscreen display helps you navigate the course with easy-to-read distances and a scorecard. The speaker not only churns out premium sound, but reads audible distances with the push of a button.

With a strong magnetic strip, slap it on the golf cart before your opening tee shot, and you're set for the day.

Pros:

• First tee introductions
• Audible GPS distances
• Detachable remote
• Strong magnetic mount

Cons:

• LCD display is not touchscreen

Here's another golf Bluetooth speaker you have to consider. The Wingman View from Bushnell has an LCD display with distances to the front, center, and back of the green, plus hole information.

The Wingman View reads audible distances, a feature I actually benefitted from recently when a random playing partner drove by my approach shot on every hole with a sly nod while the speaker read my distance. The Wingman View also does first-tee introductions, which is a fun way to add some hype to your round. The detachable remote to hear audible distances when you aren't next to the speaker.