Right out of the box, the LX5C feels solid. We're talking about a 47mm case that weighs just 65 grams, which means it's big enough to read easily but won't weigh down your swing. The ceramic bezel gives it that premium look without the premium price tag of, say, a Garmin Approach S62 that costs twice as much.
Here's the thing about the display: SkyCaddie uses a 1.39-inch color touchscreen that actually works when your fingers are sweaty. The resolution sits at 454 x 454 pixels, which translates to crystal-clear yardages even in bright sunlight. You know how some watches become impossible to read at noon? Not this one!
The SkyCaddie LX5C golf watch combines cutting-edge GPS accuracy with smart features to help golfers improve every shot and conquer the course with confidence.
The initial time I powered up the LX5C on the course, I actually laughed out loud. The 1.39-inch AMOLED display is absurdly large for a golf watch – we're talking about a screen that's bigger than what you'll find on most smartwatches, period. But the reality is: once you've used it, every other golf watch screen feels like you're squinting at a postage stamp.
The Full HD HoleVue feature is where this watch earns its keep. Instead of showing you a basic overhead view with some dots for hazards, you're looking at an actual aerial photograph of the hole. I can zoom in with a pinch gesture (yes, it's that responsive), pan around to check out trouble spots, and drop a cursor anywhere on the screen to get exact yardages. Standing on the 14th tee at my home course last week, I zoomed in on a fairway bunker that always gives me trouble. The watch told me it was 237 to carry and 251 to clear completely – measurements I'd verified with my rangefinder months ago. That's when I knew this thing was legit.
The ceramic bezel on the LX5C model gives it a premium feel that wouldn't look out of place at a business dinner. Sure, it's a chunky watch at roughly 2 inches square, but the dual silicon bands keep it comfortable even during a sweaty August round. Multiple watch faces let you customize the look, though I stick with the simple analog display when I'm off the course. The ruggedized casing holds up remarkably well to golf abuse – I've banged it against cart frames and caught it on tree branches without leaving a mark.
This is where SkyCaddie separates itself from every other GPS watch I've tested: they don't just pull satellite data and call it good. The company sends actual people to walk courses with surveying equipment. I was skeptical of this claim until I played a newly renovated course near me that had completely redesigned three holes just six weeks prior. My buddy's Garmin still showed the old layout. The SkyCaddie? Already updated with the new configuration.
With over 35,000 courses preloaded, I haven't found a track yet that wasn't in the database. But it's not just about quantity – it's the quality of the mapping that blows me away. The IntelliGreen Technology shows the exact shape of each green, including subtle contours and tiers. What makes this even more impressive is that the green shapes automatically rotate to match your exact approach angle, so you're always seeing the most relevant view for your shot. On a tricky par 3 at Pebble Beach (yes, I splurged), the watch showed me that the pin was on a back shelf that was actually 15 yards deeper than the center of the green. That's the difference between a birdie putt and being in the back bunker.
The watch connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for updates, so I never have to plug it into my computer. Course updates download automatically when I'm connected to my home network. The included 3-year Eagle Membership means these updates keep coming without any additional subscription fees, which is invigorating in a time where everyone wants you to pay monthly for everything.
Traditional GPS watches give you three numbers: front, center, and back of the green. The LX5C throws that whole concept out the window with what they call Pinpoint Technology. Instead of fixed measurements, I can drop a cursor anywhere on the whole view to get an exact distance.
Last month, I was playing a dogleg par 4 where the ideal landing area is between two bunkers. With the drag-and-drop cursor, I marked my target zone and got 268 yards – exactly where I wanted to hit my 3-wood. Then I moved the cursor to check the carry distance over the corner trees (242 yards) and the distance if I bailed out right (285 to reach the rough). This level of strategic planning used to require a caddie with a yardage book.
The Energetic RangeVue feature updates distances in real-time as you move. Walking up to my ball after a drive, I watched the yardages tick down with each step. It's surprisingly accurate – within a yard or two of my laser rangefinder in every test I performed. The watch automatically detects which hole you're on and reorients the display based on your position, so you're always looking at the hole from your current angle.
Beyond the core GPS features, SkyCaddie packed in some genuinely useful extras. The digital scorecard syncs with their SkyGolf 360 Cloud service, tracking not just your score but also putts, greens in regulation, and fairways hit. After a round, I can pull up the app and see my stats overlaid on the course map – it's like having ShotLink data for your own game.
The heart rate monitor might seem gimmicky for a golf watch, but I've found it useful for tracking my fitness during walking rounds. On a hilly course, I can see I'm burning 600+ calories over 18 holes. The step counter shows I'm walking about 7 miles per round (who knew?). These fitness features work well enough that I don't need to switch to my Apple Watch after golf.
Battery life is solid but not spectacular. I get two full rounds per charge, sometimes stretching to three if I turn off the heart rate monitor—the watch charges quickly, though – about 90 minutes from dead to full. The multi-core processor means no lag when switching between holes or zooming on maps, something that drove me crazy with earlier GPS watches.
The SkyCaddie LX5C golf watch combines cutting-edge GPS accuracy with smart features to help golfers improve every shot and conquer the course with confidence.
No, you shouldn't wear your LX5C while swimming or in the shower. With its 3 ATM water resistance rating, it's only designed to handle splashes, rain, and sweat during golf rounds. Swimming and showering involve water pressure and prolonged exposure that exceed what it can safely handle. You'll risk damaging the watch and voiding your warranty. For these activities, you'd need a watch with at least a 5 ATM rating.
Your SkyCaddie LX5C comes with a 6-month standard warranty from the purchase date, though you can extend it by registering within 30 days if you're in the US. Some retailers offer 2-year extended warranties. The warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials during normal use. It won't cover cosmetic damage, wear and tear, liquid damage, accidents, or unauthorized repairs. You'll need your receipt for any warranty claims.
Yes, you'll find the SkyCaddie LX5C fully compatible with left-handed golfers. You can wear it on either wrist comfortably, and the touchscreen interface works perfectly regardless of your dominant hand. The course data, yardage measurements, and shot tracking aren't biased toward right-handed play. All features—from the rotating display graphics to the digital scorecard—function similarly whether you're left or right-handed. There's no need for special accessories or setup adjustments.
Yes, you can use the SkyCaddie LX5C in tournaments and official competitions since it's allowed under USGA and R&A rules. However, you'll need to disable prohibited features like slope calculations, elevation data, and swing analysis. You can still use distance measurements, shot tracking, and digital scorecards. Always check the specific tournament's local rules beforehand, as individual clubs may have additional restrictions on GPS watch usage during competitions.
After your included 3-year membership expires, you'll pay around $50 per year for a standard annual renewal to maintain full functionality and course access. You can save money by purchasing multi-year plans upfront rather than yearly renewals. Membership costs vary based on coverage level - statewide, nationwide (Eagle), or worldwide (Double Eagle) - with broader geographic access costing more. The renewal keeps your access to 35,000+ ground-verified course maps and real-time updates.
The SkyCaddie LX5C isn't trying to be everything to everyone. If you want a slim fitness tracker that happens to give golf distances, look at the Garmin Approach series. If you just need basic yardages and don't care about course details, save money with a Shot Scope.
But if you're a serious golfer who wants the most accurate course information possible on your wrist, the LX5C is in a class by itself. The combination of ground-verified mapping, the huge display, and the Pinpoint Technology has genuinely improved my course management. I find myself pulling out my laser rangefinder less and less – the watch usually has all the information I need and then some. For golfers who play multiple courses regularly or travel to play, having this level of detail for over 35,000 courses is a revolutionary moment. At just $299.99, it's actually more affordable than I expected for this level of technology. Yes, it's an investment, but it's already paying dividends in my scores.
