It’s not uncommon for watchmakers to cater to enthusiasts. Not just those who love beautiful watches, but also those who swear by music, horseback riding, sailing, auto racing… And among all these passions, there is one that is increasingly featured on watches: golf!
From the most sporty (and connected) to the most elegant, here are some of the most beautiful watches of the moment to show off on the greens.
Fairway Putter P01
This is certainly not the most well-known brand in this selection, but it is undoubtedly the one that makes the best synthesis between golf and watchmaking. Its simple name alone evokes the Ryder Cup and the most prestigious tournaments on the planet.
Fairway Watches was born in 2020 at the initiative of Julien Gros. After spending a year as a watch operator at Rolex, he decided to venture out by creating “a watch brand for timepiece or golf enthusiasts (or both at the same time)”.
This young independent Swiss brand only offers limited editions, usually between 30 and 99 pieces. This is the case with this Putter P01, produced in 65 copies, and which is notably distinguished by its asymmetrical case with such a particular shape and its integrated bracelet.
At the heart of this black PVD steel case, we find a Swiss made movement (ETA 2824-2 or Sellita SW200-1 depending on the customer’s choice), which gives this Fairway a 38-hour power reserve. More than enough to complete an 18-hole course!
TAG Heuer Connected x Malbon Golf
Yes, we know, it’s not a “real watch”. But TAG Heuer is nevertheless a “real watch brand” and as we said in our test, this connected watch has (almost) all the advantages of a “real beautiful Swiss watch”.
Since the launch of its first smartwatch in 2015, the La Chaux-de-Fonds house has enjoyed a great popularity among the golfing community. It is therefore quite natural that it partnered with the lifestyle brand Malbon Golf to present this TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4.
In its 45 mm DLC titanium case topped with a bezel with 18 graduations (like the 18 holes), the watch obviously includes the TAG Heuer Golf application, which enriches your experience on the greens: courses, scores, statistics, recommendations, everything is there to help you always make more shots under par.
We also love the touch of cheerfulness this watch brings with the colors of Malbon Golf, like turquoise, green, and yellow. The strap, a combination of rubber and calf leather, is also a real success, a feature that stands out on the wrist!
B.R.M Chronographs GF6-44
B.R.M Chronographs is known for offering watches with sophisticated design and name, and this GF6-44 is no exception to the rule! The brand founded by Bernard Richards, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023, certainly has motor racing in its DNA, but it should not be summed up to that alone.
Offshore racing and golf are also among the areas of preference for the French house. In fact, B.R.M Chronographes does not hesitate to present its GF6 as “the first automatic watch with which you can play golf”. Furthermore, several details are there to remind us, like the texture of the dial or its white ceramic crown (positioned on the left!).
The other distinctive feature of this watch is located at the level of its movement: indeed, at the heart of the 44 mm case is the automatic movement 2824/2 and the full-floating system, the self-regulating mass and 6 shock absorbers of which allow for complete shock absorption. Perfect for swinging without damaging your watch!
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Edition “Golf”
We already knew that Omega was the first brand to have sent a watch to the Moon or that it was highly appreciated by a certain James Bond. But one should not forget its penchant for the sports world. Official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, Omega also likes to recall that it maintains very close ties with the golfing world. Evidence of this is the Seamaster Aqua Terra, notably worn by the Spanish player Sergio Garcia.
Like many of the watches presented in this selection, the color green is prominently featured. It is combined here with a black sunray dial with a “teak” horizontal pattern, creating a most attractive effect. The name “Seamaster”, the second hand and the quarter-hour markers also switch to “green”, but it is especially the striped Nato strap that gives this Omega a decidedly sporty look.
Byrne Golf Limited Edition
In the United States, there are (at least) two golf courses named Byrn, in New Jersey and near Philadelphia. So, it’s not surprising to see the young Swiss brand playing putt! What remains surprising, however, is the unique design of its watches, with its 4 cubes (at 3h, 6h, 9h, and 12h) that rotate to give the dial a new face.
After introducing this concept in the world of casinos, Byrne therefore applied it to golf, with the possibility of seeing Arabic or Roman numerals, golf balls or clubs appear. And for the “illusion” to be perfect, the dial and the bracelet naturally dress in green.
Only 24 copies of this Gyrodial Golf will be available in the Byrne sales network this year, in Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan.
Hublot Big Bang Unico Golf
We conclude this selection of golf-inspired watches with this very beautiful limited edition (100 pieces) which stands out from the other models mentioned here by… the absence of green! Joking aside, this Hublot Big Bang Unico Golf sports an ultra-sporty look with its 45 mm carbon fibre and blue Texalium case (weighing less than 100g).
But beyond its look, the real uniqueness of this watch lies in its movement specially designed for golf. The HUB1580 movement, visible through the back of the case and the skeletonized dial, not only provides 72 hours of power reserve, but also allows this Big Bang Unico to display your score. The push-button located at 2 o’clock (which somewhat evokes a golf putt) activates this mechanism: the number of the hole currently being played appears at 9 o’clock, the number of shots played on this hole at 3 o’clock, and the total score at 6 o’clock.
It may be a bit more tedious than with the TAG Heuer Connected, but the Hublot mechanics have an incomparable charm!
And of course, it’s impossible to talk about watches and golf without mentioning the case of smartwatches dedicated to the practice of this sport. Garmin is undoubtedly the reference in this field with its MARQ Golfer or (especially) its Approach collection. A model like the S70 can display all the useful data, with no less than 43,000 preloaded courses, a virtual caddy (with recommendations for the best club to use) or even data on the contour of the green. In short, everything you need to make the cut and follow in the footsteps of Matthieu Pavon.
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