Critical Golf: Unbiased Golf Equipment Reviews

Golf GPS Reviews - Overall Ranking

Spring 2012 - Reviews, ratings and rankings of the best golf GPS devices. Our editors test and compare the newest golf GPS devices head-to-head to help you determine which golf GPS is best. Golf GPS devices tested include offerings from Callaway, Garmin, Golfbuddy, Skycaddie, Bushnell, Celestron, IZZO, Sonocaddie and Golf Guru.

How We Test

Intro to GPS Devices

Garmin Approach G6

The Garmin Approach G6 exemplifies the trend of putting all of the best features of previous devices into progressively more compact designs. We love the sleek form factor and ease of use, great course coverage, and no additional yearly or per-course fees. It’s not perfect – we aren’t fans of the arbitrary nature of when target distances are displayed, and experienced some bugginess when accessing old scorecards on the device. But all in all, a very good device. Check out our detailed Garmin G6 review.
Retail price: $299.99
Three-year total cost: $299.99
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Score

Grade

A-

Garmin Approach G3

All the basic features of the Garmin Approach G5 in a slightly smaller (though still as rugged) body and at a lower price point. A solid device that warrants a look from anyone considering purchasing a golf GPS device. Read our detailed Garmin Approach G3 review.

Retail price: $269.99
Three year total cost: $269.99
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Score

Grade

A-

Garmin Approach G5

Intuitive touchscreen interface, the ability to determine the distance to any point on the hole, and ready to go out of the box (just add AA batteries). Recently added the ability to track statistics (although only for the round in progress, not for multiple rounds over time). Better course coverage would be the icing on the cake. Read our detailed Garmin Approach G5 review.

Retail price: $349.99
Three year total cost: $349.99
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Score

Grade

A-

Garmin Approach S1

As the only golf GPS watch on the market, the Garmin Approach S1 stands out among the crowd. Just a bit thicker than standard watches, the S1 has an easy-to-use interface providing distances to the near, center and far edges of the green. While hazard distances aren’t available, the S1 provides hole and par information, along with shot measuring capability. If you are looking for just the basics and don’t mind wearing a watch while you play, or simply miss your Finnish Suunto G9, the S1 is the way to go! Read more at our detailed Garmin Approach S1 review.

Retail price: $249.99
Three year total cost: $249.99
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Score

Grade

A-

Bushnell neo+

With its “Plus” series, Bushnell joins the growing number of manufacturers offering golf GPS devices that come with courses pre-loaded, and, even better, requiring no membership fees for access to the course database. The neo+ is one of the simplest devices we tested, providing text distances to the front, center and back of the green and up to four other hazards/targets on each hole. If you are looking for ease of use, the neo+ ranks among the top devices. Read on at our detailed Bushnell neo+ review.

Retail price: $149.99
Three year total cost: $149.99
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Score

Grade

A-

Bushnell Hybrid Laser GPS

The Bushnell Hybrid features the great idea of combining a laser rangefinder and a GPS device into a single package. Evaluated from the GPS perspective (we have a separate review evaluating it from a laser rangefinder perspective), it’s a bit light on features, is big and bulky, and costs a bundle. A fair attempt for a first generation product, but we’re hoping that new versions will have better integration between the GPS and rangefinder functions. Read our detailed Bushnell Hybrid Golf GPS Device review.

Retail price: $499
Three year total cost: $499
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Score

Grade

B+

GolfBuddy World

The GolfBuddy World is a nice combination of an intuitive user interface, quality graphics, a full set of features, exceptional course coverage with pre-mapped targets, and no annual or per-course fees. While users can use the touchscreen to target any point on the hole and receive distances both to that point and to the green, as well as select the flagstick location, touchscreen sensitivity fell short of our expectations. The screen isn’t as bright as we would like, but hole and green graphic images are crisp. Though still not as well known as SkyCaddie and Garmin, GolfBuddy is making good progress. Read our full GolfBuddy World review.
Retail price: $299
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Score

Grade

B+

Sonocaddie V500

The Sonocaddie V500 brings you the latest features, including satellite images and video flyovers. But uneven implementation of certain interface elements left us disappointed. Combine that with overall poor image quality of satellite views, lack of ability to zoom, limited mapped points, and buggy software, and you’re left with a device that gets lost in the noise. Oh, and it finished last in our course coverage analysis at a mere 21% of courses available. Not compatible with Macs. Read our detailed Sonocaddie V500 review.

Retail Price: $399 plus fees
Three year total cost: $428.95
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Score

Grade

B+

GolfBuddy World Platinum

With the release of the World Platinum, GolfBuddy joins the ranks of devices that offer full hole graphic layouts and the ability to target any point on the course for distance readings. The device is extremely easy to use and information is presented in a clear manner. And with lots of work on their course database, GolfBuddy how features exceptional course coverage in our tests. Check out our full GolfBuddy World Platinum review.
Retail price: $399.99
Three year total cost: $399.99
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Score

Grade

B+

SkyCaddie SGXw

The SkyCaddie SGXw’s ability to determine any point on the course, pre-mapped targets, radiating yardage arcs, mapping of the entire green all add up to the most extensive mapping and distance information you can find in a golf GPS unit. The optical trackpad received mixed reviews from our staff (and there are still bugs to work out). It’s a great device for data aficionados, but players will want to consider both the device size and hefty price tag before purchase.
Retail price: $399.95
Three year total cost: $519.80
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Score

Grade

SkyCaddie SGX

The SkyCaddie SGX has some of the latest features, including full hole graphic views and detailed green maps that show contours and false fronts. But course coverage for these new maps is still sparse, a user interface that feels overloaded (maybe it’s time to move to a touchscreen?) and a steep price tag, keep the SGX from rising higher in our rankings. Read our detailed SkyCaddie SGX review.
Retail price: $299.95 plus yearly fees
Three year total cost: $419.80
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Score

Grade

Celestron CoursePro Elite

The Celestron CoursePro Elite suffers from being a “tweener” – caught as neither a compact basic device nor a full featured top-end unit. Most consumers are likely to find a better fit elsewhere. The exception is that the CoursePro Elite may appeal strongly to those who enjoy customizing their own course maps or need a device that displays one of the whopping twelve different languages that the CoursePro Elite supports. More…

Retail price: $149.95
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Score

Grade

B-

Matrix SHOTMATE Voice

The Matrix SHOTMATE “speaks” distances at the push of a button. Approximately the size of a matchbook, and with a clip to attach to a cap, shirt or belt, it’s incredibly easy to use, and comes with courses preloaded. The trade off is that the SHOTMATE only provides distances to the center of the green, which may be sufficient for some, but alas, the distances to bunkers, creeks and trees are all too relevant to our game. Read on for our detailed Matrix SHOTMATE Voice review.
Retail price: $149.99
Three year total cost: $149.99
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Score

Grade

B-

Sonocaddie V300

Overhead hole maps, friendly interface and lots of features will make this device appealing to many users. However, multiple bad experiences with significant distance errors make the V300 difficult to recommend whole-heartedly. Not compatible with Macs. Read our detailed Sonocaddie V300 review.

Retail Price: $349 plus fees
Three year total cost: $378.95
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Score

Grade

B-

IZZO SWAMI 3000

The SWAMI 3000 brings a number of significant improvements to the original SWAMI 1500, including course name displayed on screen, pre-loaded with over 19,000 courses. If you like bells and whistles, look elsewhere, but if an uncomplicated approach is more to your liking, the SWAMI 3000 is a nice simple unit in a lightweight and compact form factor.
Retail price: $99.99
Three year total cost: $139.98
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Score

Grade

B-

Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC+

The Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC+ has a good form factor and is quite light, with solid buttons, an intuitive menu and a color screen that works fine in different lighting conditions. Hole map usability is an issue – the device can move the target point you have selected on a whim, creating a maddening experience. Only green points and selected pre-mapped targets come installed – if you want the overhead hole maps, you’ll have to download individually (annual fee required). More…
Retail price: $299.99
Three-year total cost: $369.97
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Score

Grade

C+

Golf Guru 4

The Golf Guru 4 aims to be jack of all trades, but ends up master of none. The release of the device seems premature, as course coverage for AerVu maps is poor and the software was tremendously buggy. Not compatible with Macs. More…

Retail price: $399.95 plus per course fees
Three year total cost: $509.95
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Score

Grade

IZZO SWAMI 1500

We like the concept of a basic, lightweight device that comes cheap and has low annual fees. But little functionality, coupled with numerous distance errors, keep the SWAMI at the bottom of our rankings. Not compatible with Macs. More…

Retail Price: $99.99 plus yearly fees
Three year total cost: $129.96
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Score

Grade

C-

Bushnell neo+ Watch

Bushnell jumps on the golf GPS bandwagon with their latest GPS device, the neo+ golf GPS watch. The watch can provide distances to the front, center and back of the green, as well as measure shot distances. The neo+ watch provides hole and par information and comes preloaded with over 25,000 courses. The watch does not provide hazard distance information, nor does it have scoring capability.
Stay tuned for our detailed Bushnell neo+ golf GPS watch review. You can also find us on twitter or Facebook, where we release our latest posts.
Available: May 2012
Retail price: $199.95
Three year total cost: $199.95
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Callaway upro mx+

The replacement to the Callaway upro mx, the new Callaway upro mx+ has the same form factor and features as the original: a full-color 2.2″ LCD touchscreen, “Anypoint” technology (that lets users pick points on the hole to plan upcoming shots) and a scorecard that allows players to track scores and basic statistics, including fairways hit, greens in regulation and putts. Here’s hoping that that Callaway has fixed all the problems that plagued the original upro mx!
Read our detailed Callaway upro mx+ review.
Available: May 30, 2012
Retail price: $249
Three year total cost: $249
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Expresso AG50

The Expresso AG50 comes loaded with front, center and back green distances along with pre-mapped targets. With a paid membership via iGolf.com (the same company that provides data for Bushnell XGC/XGC+ golf GPS devices) of $34.99/year , players will also have access to full hole images and the ability to determine distances to any point on the course.

The Expresso AG50 isn’t just a golf GPS device, however. It is equally a car navigation device, and multimedia player. With its smorgasbord of offerings, it is a member of a unique category of golf GPS devices that also includes Golf Guru.

Check back for our Expresso AG50 review, or follow us on twitter (twitter.com/criticalgolf), where we tweet all our latest reviews they are released.

Retail price: $199.95
Three year total cost: $304.92
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Expresso WR62

The Expresso WR62 golf watch not only allows users to see distances to the front, center and back of the green along with hole number and par, but also provides distances to pre-mapped hazards – the first golf GPS watch to provide this level of information (with no additional fees to boot). We found ourselves big fans of the watch form factor in the Garmin S1, and are looking forward to testing a device that provides even more information.
Check back for our upcoming Expresso WR62 review, or follow us on twitter (twitter.com/criticalgolf), where we tweet our latest reviews as they are posted.
Estimated shipping date: mid-May 2012
Retail price: $179.99
Three year total cost: $179.99
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Garmin Approach S3

The new Garmin Approach S3 has some key pieces of functionality that the S1 lacked, including: distances to layup points and customizable targets, green view graphics (with the ability to adjust the pin placement using the…wait for it…a glove-friendly touchscreen), and scoring capability. The Garmin Approach S3 comes with both white with red trim and black with grey trim color options to match your preferred golf attire, and gives the users the ability to select a white or black background for the display.
Stay tuned for our detailed Garmin Approach S3 touchscreen GPS golf watch review.
Availability: May 2012
Retail price: $349.99
Three year total cost: $349.99
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GolfBuddy Voice

The GolfBuddy Voice is a small device (picture a matchbook) with a clip that can easily attach to a hat, bag, or belt and speaks the distance to the front, center and back of the green with a push of a button (in 8 languages, no less) and can track shot distances. Unlike the Matrix SHOTMATE, the GolfBuddy Voice also features a small screen with information.
Retail price: $199.99
Three year total cost: $199.99
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GolfBuddy Platinum

On the heels of the GolfBuddy World Platnium and GolfBuddy World is the…GolfBuddy Platinum (seriously?). A 3-button device with touchscreen, no additional annual or per course feeds. The device features score and stat tracking, shot measurement capability, customizable targets, and a high performance battery (GolfBuddy claims a whopping 18 hours). Courses come pre-loaded (from around the world, which makes us wonder more about the naming conventions the company uses…).
The GolfBuddy Platinum has an improved high-contrast 3″ touchscreen, all in a device that is a shade heavier (5.7 oz) and larger (2.5 x 4.3 x 1.0″) than the previous units. Other GolfBuddy devices have performed well in our tests, and we are looking forward to getting this device to the course.
Retail price: $399.99
Three year total cost: $399.99
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Motorola MOTOACTV

Motorola leverages their existing MOTOACTV platform with their Golf Edition, which has over 20,000 courses worldwide pre-loaded on the device. The MOTOACTV Golf Edition provides hole par, distances to the front, center and back of the green as well as to pre-mapped hazards…but keep in mind that all mapping comes from a 3rd party company that aggregates USER-provided mapping (unlike all other golf gps devices)! You can keep scorecards, club distances and statistics such as number of putts and GIR.
Retail price: $299.99 plus $29.99 for watch strap (looks like the strap is currently free)
Three year total cost: $299.99
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Snooper Shotsaver S430

Please note that as Shotsaver products have an extremely limited number of courses available within the U.S. and are manufactured and distributed within Europe, we are not offering a full review at this time.
Retail price: £249.99
For those in the UK, Shotsaver S430 is available directly from Snooper.

Sonocaddie V300 Plus

With the V300 Plus, Sonocaddie is starting to rival SkyCaddie with the sheer number of devices they have available: 6 versus SkyCaddie’s whopping 7 devices. A marketer’s dream!
The Sonocaddie V300 Plus has a color screen and comes preloaded with basic distance information, including course hazards, targets and a graphic indication of whether they are on the left, center or right side of the hole. It does not, however, provide a map of the hole. Accessing hole maps, which include both color graphic layouts and satellite images, requires an additional membership fee of $29.95 per year.
Retail price: $229.95
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