To begin with, the Bluetees Playmaker+ Golf GPS Watch gives you distances to over 40,000 golf courses worldwide. That means you can check how far you are from the green, hazards, or the pin; the watch calculates these distances using GPS satellites that track your exact location on the course. For example, when you're standing on the tee box, it'll show you're 385 yards from the center of the green, 370 yards to the front, and 400 yards to the back.
The automatic shot tracking might surprise you with its accuracy. Every time you hit a shot, the watch detects the impact and marks that spot. When you reach your ball for the next shot, it tells you exactly how far you hit it. After 18 holes, you'll have data showing your average distances with each club, and honestly, most golfers hit about 10 to 15 yards shorter than they think they do.
Experience premium precision with the BlueTees PlayMaker+ GPS Golf Watch, designed for serious golfers seeking advanced course data and stylish durability.
Let's talk about visibility, because if you can't read your watch in bright sunlight, what's the point? The 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen on the Playmaker+ is honestly the clearest display I've seen on any golf watch, and I've tested plenty. Last week at Pebble Beach, with the California sun beating down and ocean glare everywhere, I could read every distance without squinting or shading the screen with my hand.
The color saturation makes the course maps pop in a way that cheaper LCD screens just can't match. Hazards show up in red, fairways in green, and the contrast is sharp enough that even my 65-year-old playing partner (who usually complains about small text) could read it when he borrowed it for a few holes. The Gorilla Glass 3 protection has already saved me from several accidental scrapes against cart frames and club shafts.
What really impressed me was how the screen automatically adjusts brightness. Walking from shade to full sun, the display modifies seamlessly. It sounds like a small thing, but when you're trying to maintain the pace of play, not having to fiddle with settings matters. The crown-free design means there's nothing to catch on your glove during your swing, something I didn't realize bothered me about other watches until it wasn't there anymore.
Here's where I expected the Playmaker+ to fall short. Bigger brands have been mapping courses for years, so how could Bluetees compete? Yet everywhere I've played, from my home course in Connecticut to a random executive nine in rural Georgia, the watch has had accurate, detailed course maps ready to go. Even Garmin's premium models like the S70 only offer 43,000 courses, making Bluetees' coverage remarkably competitive for a fraction of the price.
The front, center, and back distances are precise (I've checked them against my rangefinder dozens of times), but it's the lively hazard views that really shine. Standing on the 16th tee at my club, where a creek runs diagonally across the fairway, the watch shows me exactly how far to carry it from my current position. As I walk up after my drive, those distances update in real-time. No more guessing whether I have 165 or 175 to clear that bunker guarding the green.
The hole flyovers feel almost like cheating. Before each tee shot, I can see the entire hole layout from above, including hidden hazards I wouldn't know about otherwise. Playing a new course last month, I avoided at least three penalty strokes just by knowing where the trouble was hiding. The Green Compass feature, which points you toward the green when you can't see it, saved me on a blind dogleg where I would've aimed 30 yards right without it.
My only gripe? The touch response can be a bit sluggish when your hands are sweaty or if you're wearing rain gloves. It's not a deal-breaker, but something to note if you play in humid conditions frequently.
I've tried shot tracking features before and usually give up after a few rounds. They're either too complicated or require constant manual input that interferes with my rhythm. The Playmaker+ gets it right by keeping things simple yet useful.
After each shot, a quick tap records your position. The watch automatically calculates the distance, and at the end of your round, you've got a complete map of every shot you hit. But here's where it gets interesting – the free one-year membership includes analytics that actually matter. I can see my average distance with each club (turns out I've been overestimating my 7-iron by about 8 yards), shot dispersion patterns, and scoring averages from different distances.
The 3D round playback in the app is surprisingly addictive. Last week, I spent 20 minutes reliving a round at Whistling Straits, seeing exactly where I gained and lost strokes. The club selection assistant has already helped me make better decisions; it suggested a 6-iron instead of my usual 7 from 165 yards into the wind, and I stuck it to 12 feet.
What sets this apart from basic GPS devices is how the data builds over time. After tracking 15 rounds, I can see clear patterns in my misses. I tend to pull my driver on holes that dogleg left (probably overcompensating), and my approach shots from 125-150 yards consistently come up short. That's actionable information I wouldn't have without this level of tracking.
The scorekeeping function seems basic at first, but Bluetees has thought through the details. Your current score relative to par displays prominently, along with total strokes and, my favorite touch, your longest drive of the day. It's a small ego enhancement that keeps me engaged even during rough rounds.
Weather updates have saved my bacon more than once. Two weeks ago, the watch showed incoming precipitation 30 minutes before the clouds rolled in. We sped up our pace and finished just as the downpour started. The temperature readings help too, knowing it's actually 85 degrees, not the 78 I thought, explains why I'm coming up short on approaches (the ball's flying farther in the heat). The IP67 weatherproof rating means I never worry about getting caught in unexpected rain or accidentally submerging it while retrieving a ball from a water hazard.
The activity tracking feels like a bonus rather than a core feature, but I appreciate seeing that I walked 7.2 miles and burned 450 calories during my round. It's motivated me to walk more often instead of taking a cart. The round duration timer has also made me more aware of pace; turns out my "quick" nine holes actually takes 2 hours and 15 minutes, not the 1:45 I've been telling my wife.
This feature caught me off guard; I didn't expect to care about controlling music from my watch. But paired with Bluetees' GPS speaker (sold separately), it's become part of my routine for casual rounds. Being able to skip tracks or adjust volume without pulling out my phone keeps things flowing.
The broader Bluetees ecosystem integration shows they're thinking beyond just this one product. The watch syncs seamlessly with their mobile app, where all your data lives. Updates download automatically when connected to WiFi, and I've already seen two firmware improvements that added features based on user feedback.
The Android and iOS compatibility means everyone in my regular foursome can use it, regardless of their phone preference. The app interface is clean and intuitive, with none of that overly complex stuff that plagues some competitor apps. Even setting up the watch took less than five minutes, which says something about their user experience focus.
Experience premium precision with the BlueTees PlayMaker+ GPS Golf Watch, designed for serious golfers seeking advanced course data and stylish durability.
You shouldn't wear your Bluetees Playmaker+ while swimming or in the shower. Although it has an IP67 water resistance rating that protects against rain and splashes during golf, it's not designed for swimming or bathing. The watch can only handle immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Prolonged water exposure, hot water, soap, and water pressure in showers can damage the seals and compromise the device's longevity.
Your warranty lasts 2 years from the date of purchase and covers manufacturer's defects that affect your watch's performance or operation. You're protected against operational failures like GPS accuracy issues or function problems during normal use. It won't cover cosmetic damage, wear-and-tear, or damage from misuse. You'll need proof of purchase for claims, and you're responsible for return shipping costs. The included 1-year Advanced Analytics Package is separate from hardware warranty coverage.
Yes, you'll find that the PlayMaker+ works seamlessly with both Android and iPhone devices through the Blue Tees GAME companion app. You can sync your golf data, track shots, and access premium analytics on either platform. The app lets you start rounds, update firmware, and view post-round 3D playbacks regardless of your phone's operating system. You'll enjoy features like live leaderboards, weather updates, and customized performance dashboards on both Android and iOS.
Yes, you'll find the PlayMaker+ perfectly suited for left-handed use. Since it's entirely touchscreen-based without any crown or physical buttons, you won't face the typical awkwardness of cross-hand adjustments when wearing it on your right wrist. The interface doesn't favor either hand orientation - you'll explore course views, track shots, and keep score through simple swipes and taps that work similarly well regardless of which hand you're using.
Yes, you'll find the watch works excellently on international golf courses. It comes preloaded with over 42,000 courses across 29 countries, so you won't need additional downloads when traveling abroad. The GPS functionality, scorekeeping, and app features operate seamlessly worldwide. You'll get accurate distances to greens and hazards wherever you're playing. The course database receives frequent updates to maintain accuracy at international venues, ensuring reliable performance during your overseas golf trips.
So here's my bottom line: The Bluetees Playmaker+ has earned a permanent spot on my wrist. At $199, it delivers features that compete with watches costing twice as much. The display alone justifies the price, and the shot tracking analytics have genuinely helped me identify weaknesses in my game.
This watch is perfect for the data-curious golfer who wants actionable observations without getting buried in overwhelming statistics. It's also ideal for anyone who plays multiple courses and values accurate GPS distances over laser precision. If you're someone who only plays the same course every week and already knows every distance by heart, you might not need this. But for the rest of us who want to play smarter golf and have the data to back up our improvement, the Playmaker+ delivers more value than anything else I've tested in this price range. The 60-day return policy means you can try it risk-free, though I doubt you'll send it back.
