I’m a huge fan of the GolfBuddy line of products. I’ve been using the Voice GPSfor more than 2 years, and for just under $100, I don’t think you can beat the value.

Recently my belt buckle has gotten a little more crowded though. I’ve added GAME GOLF to my GPS repertoire, and now it’s starting to look like a bit much.

GolfBuddy recently released their WT5 watch, and it is jam packed with features at a very reasonable price point ($199 at the time of this writing). I usually don’t wear a watch on the golf course, or ever, so I was slightly hesitant to give it a shot. I’m glad I did though.

GolfBuddy has done it again! They’ve built a product that can help golfers manage the course effectively without having to waste much time as they prepare for their shots.

Key Features of the GolfBuddy WT5

I think the best part about all of GolfBuddy’s GPS products is that you don’t need to download, or pay for course information. You simply power up your device, and you are ready to go.

The biggest upgrade for me over the Voice GPS is that I no longer had to wait a few seconds to get my yardages to the front and back of the green. They are displayed on the watch at all times.

To me these are the most important numbers for a player. Knowing your exact distance to the pin can be important to certain golfers in different situations on the course. However, I think so many players are choosing the wrong clubs into greens because they don’t consider how much room they have for their misses. Course management is such an important part of improving as a golfer, and knowing all of your yardages is a huge part of that.

Fortunately there’s a solution for players who are craving exact yardages to the pin. The WT5 has a dynamic green setting, which allows you to adjust the pin to 9 different locations on the green. This gives you the best of both worlds, and is probably one of the watch's greatest features.

Last, but certainly not least, the other main benefit of the WT5 is that is gives you distances to various hazards on the golf course such as water, sand traps, and trees. This came in handy on a par 5 at my course where I am always deciding whether or not I want to lay up, or fly my ball over a cluster of bunkers that are around 120 yards from the green.

Everything I’ve listed thus far is extremely useful for making decisions on the golf course, and becoming a smarter course manager. Having all of this info on your wrist, and accessible within seconds makes it a very valuable tool that won’t waste time during your pre-shot routine.

There’s actually a little more though. Here’s a brief list of some other features you might find handy:

• You can keep track of your score
• It also measures how far you walk during a round (my course was 6.34 miles!)
• Mark your shots to see your distance

The watch itself is extremely light, and I didn’t feel that it interfered with my swing at all. Additionally, it has enough battery life to last for about two rounds, so you won’t find yourself having to charge it every time you play.

I am a strong proponent of all golfers taking advantage of GPS technology in general. It makes your decisions on the course easier when you know your yardages, and it saves precious time before your shot, which can be used to think through your options (and hopefully make the right choice). If you are in the market for a GPS watch that has more features than most, I think you’ll have a hard time finding a better option than the GolfBuddy WT5 at $199.

You can purchase the GolfBuddy WT5 GPS watch from Amazon here.