When Blue Tees told me they were sending their new Player Go speaker, their smallest golf speaker yet, I'll admit I rolled my eyes a bit. Another Bluetooth speaker for golf? Really? I've tested enough golf speakers to outfit a driving range, and most of them end up collecting dust in my garage. But the reality is: after three weeks of testing this compact little unit on courses from dawn patrol rounds to twilight scrambles, I'm eating my words. The Player Go isn't just another speaker with a golf logo slapped on it – it's genuinely altered how I think about audio on the course.
Experience golf’s best companion with the Blue Tees Player Go Speaker. Engineered for crisp, powerful sound and seamless portability, it’s ideal for players who demand top-quality audio on and off the course. Elevate your game and lifestyle with this pro-grade wireless speaker designed for true golf enthusiasts.
Let me start with what completely won me over: those dual magnetic plates built into the back. I know, I know – magnets on a speaker isn't exactly groundbreaking. But the execution here is what matters. The Player Go snaps onto my cart's frame with an audible click that's oddly satisfying, and more significantly, it stays put. I've bombed down cart paths that would rattle your fillings loose, and this thing hasn't budged once.
What really impressed me was the placement flexibility. Most golf speakers either clip to your bag (where they get muffled) or sit in the cupholder (taking up prime real estate). With the Player Go, I found myself sticking it to the roof support beam for ideal sound distribution, then moving it to the side rail when I wanted it closer for GPS readings. One round, I even stuck it to the ball washer at the tee box while we waited for the group ahead – try doing that with your JBL Clip.
The magnet strength hits that sweet spot, too. Strong enough that I trust it completely, but not so strong that I'm wrestling with it every time I want to reposition. After testing it in everything from drizzle to cart-rattling rough terrain, I can confidently say the magnetic system alone justifies evaluating this speaker over traditional clip-on options.
This is where things get interesting – and a bit complicated. The Player Go connects to the Blue Tees Game app to provide audible GPS distances for over 40,000 courses. When it works well, it's brilliant. Press the Action Button, and a clear voice tells you "157 to center, 148 to front, 165 to back." No pulling out your phone, no squinting at a watch face.
The Auto-Course Recognition genuinely surprised me. I showed up at three different courses during testing, and each time, the speaker recognized where I was within about 30 seconds of turning it on. The app automatically loaded the course layout, and I was getting distances before I even teed off. That's the kind of seamless tech integration that makes you wonder how you lived without it.
But – and this is significant – the GPS isn't perfect. On tight, tree-lined holes, I noticed distances could be off by 5-8 yards compared to my rangefinder. Open holes were much more accurate, usually within 2-3 yards. For a $150 speaker that also plays music, that's acceptable. But if you're the type who needs exact yardages for every shot, you'll still want a dedicated rangefinder as backup.
The programmable Action Button is clever too. You can set it to cycle through different functions – GPS distances, play/pause, skip track. I kept mine on GPS mode 90% of the time, but having the flexibility is nice. My only gripe? Sometimes there's a slight delay (maybe 2 seconds) between pressing the button and getting the distance readout.
For a speaker that fits in your palm (5.85" x 3" x 1.9" to be exact), the audio quality shocked me. Blue Tees claims "360-degree sound," and while that's marketing speak to some degree, the sound dispersion is legitimately impressive. Whether the speaker was behind me on the cart or sitting on the dashboard, I never felt like I was missing part of the music.
The Outdoor EQ mode is where this speaker shines on the course. It enhances the high frequencies and mids in a way that cuts through wind and ambient noise without making everything sound tinny. I A/B tested it against my buddy's JBL Flip 5 on the range, and while the JBL had slightly more bass, the Player Go was clearer and more intelligible at distance. When you're 30 feet away from the cart looking for your ball in the rough, that clarity matters more than chest-thumping bass.
Indoor mode, which I tested at home and in the cart barn, adds back some low-end warmth. It's not going to replace your home stereo, but for a pre-round playlist in the locker room or some background music while cleaning clubs, it's more than adequate. The fact that they included two distinct EQ modes shows Blue Tees actually thought about how golfers use speakers in different environments.
Party Mode is fun if you have multiple Blue Tees speakers. I paired it with a buddy's Player+ (the bigger model), and the combined output was genuinely impressive – almost too loud for the course. The dual pairing capability creates a true stereo soundfield that rivals much larger speaker setups. But for a backyard putting green session or post-round beers, the stereo separation and increased volume came in handy.
I'm going to be straight with you – I'm rough on gear. I've destroyed two "water-resistant" speakers in the past year alone. So when Blue Tees claimed IPX7 waterproofing (full submersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes), I was skeptical.
Then came the downpour on hole 14 at my home course. We're talking biblical rain, the kind where you can barely see the cart path. My playing partner scrambled to protect his phone and rangefinder, while I just left the Player Go magnetically attached to the soaking wet cart frame. Twenty minutes later, when the rain passed, it was still playing music like nothing happened. Not a hiccup, not a glitch.
I've since accidentally knocked it into a creek while retrieving a ball (don't ask), and deliberately tested it in my sink at home. Each time, it emerged unscathed and fully functional. The USB-C charging port has a tight rubber seal that inspires confidence, and the speaker grilles drain water quickly without affecting sound quality. Voice Caddie's laser models offer similar weather-resistant construction, though their GPS units require more protection in wet conditions.
For anyone who plays in unpredictable weather or tends to be clumsy around water hazards (guilty as charged), this level of waterproofing changes the Player Go from a fair-weather accessory to an all-conditions tool.
Battery performance is where you need to manage expectations. Blue Tees is transparent about this: at 100% volume, you're getting about 3 hours. At 70%, it jumps to 11 hours. At 50%, you're looking at 16 hours, and at 30%, you can squeeze out 18 hours.
During my testing, I found 50-60% volume was perfect for golf – loud enough to hear from anywhere around the cart, but not obnoxious to other groups. At that level, I consistently got through 36 holes with battery to spare. The 2600mAh battery isn't huge, but it's well-managed.
The 4-hour charge time via USB-C is reasonable, though I wish it supported faster charging. The auto-off feature after 10 minutes of lost connection is smart – I can't tell you how many times I've killed speaker batteries by forgetting to turn them off after a round.
One thing to note: using GPS features does drain the battery faster. With heavy GPS use and 60% volume, I was getting closer to 10-12 hours rather than the advertised 16. Still plenty for most golf outings, but something to evaluate if you're planning an all-day golf trip.
Experience golf’s best companion with the Blue Tees Player Go Speaker. Engineered for crisp, powerful sound and seamless portability, it’s ideal for players who demand top-quality audio on and off the course. Elevate your game and lifestyle with this pro-grade wireless speaker designed for true golf enthusiasts.
Yes, you can use your Blue Tees Player Go speaker while it's charging. You'll maintain full functionality - play audio, access GPS, and track shots without interruption while connected to the USB-C cable. The device won't shut down or limit features during charging. Just verify you're charging within the recommended 5°C-35°C temperature range, as the speaker may stop charging if it gets too hot during use.
Yes, you'll find the Player Go speaker fully compatible with golf cart USB ports. Your speaker's USB-C port accepts the standard 5V output that golf cart USB ports provide. The included USB-C to USB-A cable plugs directly into most golf cart USB ports without needing converters. You can charge while playing since golf carts typically supply 0.5A to 2.1A current, which matches the speaker's 5V/0.5-1.0A charging requirements perfectly.
No, it doesn't work with Garmin or Bushnell golf GPS apps. You'll need to use the Blue Tees GAME app exclusively for GPS functionality like yardages and course data. While you can connect any device via Bluetooth for music playback, the GPS features won't integrate with third-party apps. If you're committed to Garmin or Bushnell apps, you'll need their compatible speakers instead of the Blue Tees Player Go.
Yes, you can pair two Player GO speakers together for improved sound. You'll need both speakers powered on and within 3 feet of each other. Simply long press the Play button on your main speaker to activate TWS pairing mode - you'll hear a confirmation tone when they're linked. This setup doubles your audio output and creates party mode sound that's perfect for the golf course, with both speakers playing synchronized music.
The magnet can damage credit cards if they're placed directly on or near it - the neodymium magnet is strong enough to erase magnetic strips. You'll want to keep cards away from the speaker. Your phone won't suffer permanent damage, though the magnet might temporarily affect compass functions. Contemporary smartphones are generally resistant to magnetic fields, but it's best to maintain some distance to avoid any potential interference with magnetic accessories.
After three weeks of testing, the Blue Tees Player Go has earned a permanent placement on my cart. Is it perfect? No. The GPS could be more accurate, and I wish the battery lasted longer at higher volumes. But it does something no other speaker in my collection does – it makes both music and GPS distances instantly accessible without fumbling with multiple devices.
This speaker is ideal for the casual to intermediate golfer who wants quality audio and basic GPS functionality without carrying multiple gadgets. If you're a low-handicapper who needs laser-precise distances, pair this with a rangefinder. But if you're like me – someone who just wants good tunes and reasonably accurate yardages while enjoying a round with friends – the Player Go delivers exactly what you need in a package small enough to forget it's there until you need it.
