I wore the Apple Watch Ultra for golf — here's what happened

Apple Watch Ultra for golf
(Image credit: Future)

As a beginning golfer, I might not be ready to fully invest in the up-front costs of the game, but that doesn’t mean I won’t use devices I already have to enjoy the experience. For example, I know the Apple Watch isn’t typically touted as a GPS golf watch, but I figured I could use it to track my activity on a recent outing.

Let me make one thing clear: the Apple Watch is not a golf watch. At least, not when you compare it to a device like the Garmin Approach S42, a wearable with built-in software for course mapping, shot-tracking, hazard warnings and scorekeeping. That said, the Apple Watch Ultra tackled one of the biggest reasons I wouldn’t have previously recommended an Apple Watch for golf: battery life.

Continuous GPS and activity tracking is a major battery drain for all the best smartwatches. Golf, which is a sport that relies heavily on exact location and yardages, is aided by rangefinders and GPS watches. More experienced players need to know the distances to the green and to upcoming hazards in order to decide which club to use for any given swing. (But I am not a very experienced player. In fact, I still rely on a caddy or partner to recommend clubs, while also welcoming a bit of trial-and-error.)

The Apple Watch Ultra has a 36-hour battery life, or 60-hour battery life with low power mode enabled. Now, my Cellular connectivity cuts down on those battery life estimates, but I can also make some battery-saving adjustments such as disabling the Always On Display to save juice.

Still, Garmin watches can last anywhere from 8 to 24-plus hours with continuous GPS, making them some of the best running watches. That’s why they’re beloved by marathon runners. When you think about it, an average marathon time of 4 to 5 hours is about how long it takes to complete 18 holes.

Perhaps a regular Apple Watch would struggle to go the distance, but it’s no sweat for the Apple Watch Ultra. In fact, after starting the round on a practically full battery, the watch was down to about 75% by the time I hit the clubhouse. This means I could play approximately four full rounds on a charge, although that doesn’t accommodate regular use or sleep tracking.

Apple Watch vs. Golf watch

Apple Watch Ultra for golf

(Image credit: Future)

Otherwise, the Apple Watch’s native golf workout in the activity app tracked my calories burned and my heart rate. I wasn’t too preoccupied with either, since I don’t golf to replace my workouts (although it’s always fun to close my Apple Watch rings.) 

Beyond testing the battery life and seeing those metrics, there isn’t much else the Apple Watch Ultra had to offer for my game. If I wanted to get more golf-related insights or replicate the experience of a dedicated golf watch, I’d need to use one of the best Apple Watch apps for golf.

I’ve seen other golfers who wear an Apple Watch use the Tag Heuer Golf app, which costs $49/year for full Apple Watch functionality. It lets you see courses on your wrist, and on the Apple Watch Ultra’s flat 49mm display, I’m sure it’d look great. Distances to the green and hazards, as well as club recommendations and scoring, would make the Apple Watch a more viable golf watch, too. 

As I find my groove on the green, I’ll have to decide whether to try out an Apple Watch-compatible golf app or invest in a true golf watch. On one hand, a golf watch could take my game to the next level. On the other hand (err, wrist), the Apple Watch Ultra is my daily smartwatch, providing me enough connectivity features that it could theoretically replace my iPhone. Do I really want to switch between watches? 

Either way, as the best Apple Watch yet in terms of battery life, the Apple Watch Ultra is more equipped than any other Apple smartwatch 

More from Tom's Guide

Kate Kozuch

Kate Kozuch is the managing editor of social and video at Tom’s Guide. She writes about smartwatches, TVs, audio devices, and some cooking appliances, too. Kate appears on Fox News to talk tech trends and runs the Tom's Guide TikTok account, which you should be following if you don't already. When she’s not filming tech videos, you can find her taking up a new sport, mastering the NYT Crossword or channeling her inner celebrity chef.

Read more
Golfshot on an Apple Watch
I tested the 3 best golf apps for Apple Watch — here’s my favorite
Garmin golf watch
I played a golf round with the Garmin Approach S50 smartwatch, and it's fantastic — here's why
Close-up of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (left) next to the Garmin Instinct 3 (right) in a user's hand
Garmin Instinct 3 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Biggest differences to consider before you buy
A golfer using the Garmin G20
I just saw Garmin's new golf gadgets up close — and this handheld blew me away
Close-up of the Garmin Instinct 3 in 45mm on a user's wrist with the 'torch' flashlight shining
I wore the Garmin Instinct 3 for over a week — here's 5 things I like and 2 I hate
Apple Watch Ultra 2 on a black silicone strap and Amazfit T-Rex 3 on an orange silicone strap shown side-by-side on a user's wrist
I walked 10,000 steps with Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Amazfit T-Rex 3 —here's the winner
Latest in Smartwatches
Apple Watch SE shown in a user's hand on a neon green and grey fabric strap; the background is bright orange
Hurry! The Apple Watch SE is just $169 right now in Amazon Big Spring Sale
the Garmin Epix Pro 51mm on Tom's Guide writer Nick Harris-Fry's wrist
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale knocks up to 53% off Garmin watches — here are 9 deals I’d buy now
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 shown close-up on a user's wrist with the snorkeling and surfing workout tracking modes displayed; colorful flowers are out of focus in the background
7 reasons why this budget-friendly smartwatch is my new go-to for surfing and swimming
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra 3 just tipped for two major upgrades
Apple Watch SE (2022) shown on wrist
Apple Watch SE 3 reportedly in ’serious jeopardy’ — here’s why
Apple Watch Series 10
Future Apple Watch models could get a surprising new feature — what we know
Latest in Features
Wordle answer for #1,244, Thursday, November 14
I used ChatGPT to help me win at Wordle — here's what happened
A hand feels the temperature regulation of the SPRINGSPIRIT Dual Layer Mattress Topper.
What is a bamboo mattress topper and should you buy one?
2025 Mini Cooper Countryman SE All4 review.
I drove the Mini Cooper Countryman EV for a week — here’s my pros and cons
Troubadour Apex 3.0 Backpack
I tested this laptop backpack for 6 months — and it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made
a person with muscular calves running
Physio says runners need these 3 calf strength variations in their training — here’s why I’m finally listening
Obscura VPN website landing page
Obscura VPN wants to be the "best darn VPN out there" – can it?