Should you wear a watch on the golf course?

The season of golf is upon us. The weather is getting warmer, and, for those regular on the golf course, that means it’s time to get their gear and attire and start playing.

Most golf courses have a clear dress code: golf shoes, collared shirts and long shorts, or slacks and turtlenecks in somewhat colder weather. What about a watch, though?

If you’re a watch lover, you’ve probably had this dilemma in the past. Should you wear a watch? While there are differing opinions on this matter, the general consensus states that it doesn’t hurt to wear it. However, if you have a pricey watch, it might be better to reconsider exposing it to potential damage, albeit unlikely.

Potential problems

The central concern when it comes to wearing a watch while golfing comes down to the possibility of damaging either the watch itself or your golf game. There’s a low risk involved with swinging with a watch on, as the movement can lead to parts loosening.

Brooks Koepka with the US Open trophy

You may even have heard of an anecdote or two about golfers who swung so hard that their watches ended up dislodging from their sockets. This is certainly something we all want to avoid, although these anecdotes are more likely misrepresentations intended to exaggerate the power of one’s swing.

Another reason you might want to leave your watch at home is the fact that your swing could be negatively affected by the added weight. Particularly, if you’re not used to wearing a watch on the golf course, it might throw off your follow-through and feel awkward. It could also move around too much if you like to wear it a bit loose.

An average golfer can swing a driver at a speed of up to 90 mph. This can send a shockwave up the golf club to your watch, which could potentially cause parts to become loose, although that is not likely with a well-made timepiece. That said, you might want to avoid wearing a dress watch while golfing. Avoid gold and leather straps as well, as there’s some potential for damage from perspiration and heat.

Best watch for golfing

Aside from a few notable exceptions, professional golfers don’t usually wear watches during tournaments. Some watches like Bubba Watson’s Richard Milles are explicitly designed for the golf course. However, these are out of most people’s price ranges, retailing at six figures.

In the much more affordable, but still low-to-mid five-figure range, many golfers will be happy to discover the Rolex Submariner. This watch is made to withstand the high pressures of scuba diving, meaning it should have no trouble with the shock of hitting a golf ball.

In the end, if you’re a watch-lover, we see no reason why you shouldn’t wear one while playing golf. The odds of damaging your timepiece by hitting golf balls are quite low. However, you might want to be careful about the type of watch you choose to wear on the golf course.