Luxury Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer has launched a version of its Connected watch that is designed specifically for golfers.
Following from the TAG Heuer Golf app, which was launched last year, the TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition watch is packed with features to track your game, including 3D mapping, hazard distances, shot tracking, scorecards, statistics and a new ‘Driving Zone’ feature.
As well as offering traditional watch functions and golf GPS, it also serves as a fitness monitoring device, offering data tracking for other activities such as running, cycling or fitness, which can be synchronised with data from Apple Health or Strava. Activities are recorded with a range of built-in sensors, including a new non-medical-grade heart-rate monitor, GPS, a compass, an accelerometer and a gyroscope.
The Connected Golf Edition watch is designed to be used in conjunction with Tag Heuer’s Golf App which is available for free on iOS and Android and is accessible even without a Connected watch. It delivers key insights to improve performance, records shot distances and scores, and displays 99% of golf courses around the world with precise 3D mapping technology and regular updates.
A new feature for 2020 is the Driving Zone, which shows users the best part of the fairway to aim for on each hole based on their past rounds. Each previous tee shot will be mapped out with reliable performance indicators as to how they scored for that hole.
The original features of the Golf App, such as distances to greens and hazards, course mapping, scores up to four players, shot distances and round-by-round stats are also included in this new version. All the information entered into the app from the watch can be instantly sent to a smartphone or stored locally if the phone is not nearby. After each round, the player can view a range of statistics, including putting average, longest drive, score distribution and more.
The Connected watch boasts a 45mm titanium case with a black ceramic bezel that has 18 engraved graduations which serve as reference for performance on each hole. The crown has two function buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock which are pushed to record shots and shot distances.
It comes with two interchangeable straps – a golfing version which is made from white rubber with green stitching that has a dimpled, golf ball-like texture; and a black perforated rubber alternative for everyday and more formal uses. Other strap options, which can be bought at extra cost, include a black scale pattern with red stitching, a perforated red, orange or khaki, plus a steel bracelet.
The dial features an OLED touchscreen protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. To extend the battery life – which is up to six hours in golf GPS mode – the screen alternates between active and ambient mode, but it always shows the time. The watch is fitted with a magnetic battery charger, and comes with a travel pouch and accessory box that contains four TAG Heuer-branded tees, a branded divot tool, three branded balls and the additional black rubber strap. The battery takes 90 minutes to fully recharge from flat.
“The TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition further solidifies our leadership in the luxury smartwatch segment with a one-of-a kind timepiece thoughtfully crafted to boost the player’s game and stand out on the course,” said TAG Heuer’s chief designer Frédéric Arnault. “Playing with a TAG Heuer Connected is a true game-changer that will give any golfer an immediate competitive edge. Marrying form and function in a new way, it offers an easy-to use and performance-oriented digital experience not only for golf, but many sports and everyday activities as well. Every detail has been purposefully engineered to help refine the player’s strategy, improve their accuracy and remove the guesswork so they can focus on enjoying the game, without compromising on elegance and style.”
The TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition has an RRP of £2,100 and is available from June 4 in select retailers and TAG Heuer boutiques. It will also be available at www.tagheuer.com for customers in Australia, Japan, Switzerland, the UK and the US.