Just a few years ago, it was rare to hear music playing on a golf course, regardless if it was at a Country Club or Public golf course.
Fast forward to 2021, still dealing with Covid, social distancing, and single passenger golf carts….
It seems like everyone has their own private Bluetooth speaker in their golf cart.
For the traditionalist, MUSIC IS A VIOLATION OF OUR PERSONAL PRIVACY ( What movie is that from???)
We are not traditionalist, and we spent a lot of time testing and reviewing the best Bluetooth speakers available in 2021.
So what does this mean to you?
So What?
So Lets Dance!!
Best Bluetooth Speaker for Golf Carts
Bushnell Wingman GPS Golf Speaker
When you see the Bushnell brand, your first thought might be GPS devices. In this speaker, they’ve combined their signature tech with a premium-quality portable sound device so you can be confident spending a few extra dollars on a speaker will be worth it for years to come.
The Wingman can connect from 100 feet so you won’t have to worry about disconnecting and connecting on a “cart path only” round.
The Wingman features a magnet to attach to your golf cart. This magnet is super strong so you can be confident that the speakers falls off if you hit a bump. I wish my Rangefinder magnet was this strong…..I probably wouldn’t have to replace the viewfinder ever year because it cracks after falling to the ground.
The Wingman also doubles as GPS navigation device providing you with a distance to the front, center and back of the green through the speaker. The unit has a detachable fob you can put in your pocket, and as you are determining your next show, just click it and it will tell you the distance to the hole. Unfortunately, you have to download the app on your phone from Bushnell and have your phone on during the round, but as long as your Electric battery can handle it and you don’t get killed with data charges, it is a great feature.
The sound quality is Awesome in my opinion. Of all of the bluetooth speakers I have used, this has the most crisp sound and great base.
Pros
- Magnetic attachment makes it easy to attach and detach when needed
- Long connection range of 100 feet
- Premium sound quality
- GPS navigation feature
Cons
- Battery life relatively short at just 10 hours
Ultimate Ears BOOM 3
When durability is your prime concern, this is the Bluetooth speaker for your golf cart. Not only is it dustproof and waterproof, but the outside can take abuse. I accidentally dropped it twice, once on a hard surface, not a scratch on it.
The 360-degree-sound design gives a nice even distribution. If you’re playing music through Spotify or Amazon Music, you can use the “Magic Button” on the speaker to control everything without constantly going back to your smartphone.
One problematic thing is the array of sound effects it plays when you power on/off or turn Bluetooth on/off. It makes every operation on the speaker a little annoying to others around you.
Pros
- High strength and lasting durability
- Dustproof and fully waterproof; drop it in water and see!
- Handy “Magic Button” makes controlling playlists easy
- 360-degree sound for balanced listening
Cons
- Plays sound effects when operating; can’t turn them off
Puma Sound Chuck
This speaker is certainly smaller, but it will surprise you with its power, strength, and speed. It feels very sturdy in hand and has solid audio quality (though not quite as good as you get from Bose).
The Bluetooth connection is fast and stable, and it recharges fast, too, despite a long 30-hour maximum life. Despite the many positives, the attachment clip isn’t long enough for a lot of golf cart frames, meaning you’ll have to put it in the cupholder.
Pros
- Durable materials
- Fast Bluetooth connection
- Fast charging and long battery life
- Solid sound quality
Cons
- It can’t easily attach to most golf cart frames; clip too short
Golf Bluetooth Speaker with Mount, Ampcaddy Version 3
My second favorite Bluetooth speaker for golf carts is the Ampcaddy 3. The Ampcaddy takes “portable” to new heights with its ability to fit onto just about any half-inch to two-inch shaft, including the frame of your golf cart.
Assuming you’re not a slow player nor intend to blast it on full volume the entire time, the battery will last you around two 18-hole rounds. I know users will be impressed with the 15-watt power output bass level, which is very good for a device this size.
My only real complaint with this one was that it doesn’t quite live up to its promised 40-yard signal range. I don’t think I made it past 15 yards from the golf cart when the signal started to experience interruptions.
Pros
- Fantastic audio quality with enough bass for outdoor acoustics
- The power output of 15 watts of bass from the small 2-inch resonator is very impressive
- Fits just about any cart frame or other 0.5-2 inch shaft; you can take it anywhere
- The handy swivel feature makes it easy to point sound in the right direction
- 20 hours of battery life and IPX7 waterproofing
Cons
- The connectivity range doesn’t entirely live up to the manufacturer’s promise
Celtic Blue Tallboy Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The best thing about the Celtic Blue is how durable it feels, which is important for an outdoor speaker. It’s shockproof, stain-resistant, waterproof, and built with solid-feel materials.
There’s more to this speaker than meets the eye. It’s also a power bank that can charge your other devices. It also has a built-in microphone so you can take hands-free calls at the same time.
To fulfill all these functions and more, it has a powerful battery with up to 30 hours of life, and its Bluetooth connection is stable up to 100 feet. The audio quality is decent but needs an additional equalizer app to optimize properly. It’s also very loud, so beware of disturbing other players!
Pros
- Speakers all the way around for 360-degree sound: perfect for the outdoors
- It can get loud enough to drown out any noise
- Powerful 6000mAh battery with up to 30 hours of life
- Power bank and hands-free call function
- Highly durable and sturdy for outdoor play
Cons
- Standard audio quality average and only gets to the optimum level with an additional equalizer app
JBL Xtreme Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL brand is synonymous with audio quality and enjoyment, and this speaker doesn’t disappoint. Its bass quality, in particular, helps to set it apart from just about any other item in this list.
The dual charge out USB port is very handy to keep the battery going longer on those very leisurely paced golf days. Be warned, though, this speaker is not waterproof. It is splashproof but can’t be submerged or get soaked.
This is the speaker you want when pure quality of sound is your top demand. It maintains crystal-clear sound at every volume, including when you’re making a call.
Pros
- Available in 3 different colors
- 15 hours of battery life, but can connect to maintain a charge while using
- Noise-reducing, echo-canceling technology helps maintain top audio quality
- Splash proof
Cons
- Not fully waterproof like many competing models
Amazon Basics Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly item, then this one from Amazon Basics is perfect. It’s compact but powerful, producing a wide range of quality sounds with its 2.5-watt full-range speakers.
The smaller size makes it perfect for taking on the golf course. With all your other equipment, a bulky speaker is just extra weight, so this one solves that problem.
It’s set up with advanced Bluetooth tech and an Aux option for easy connection to different devices. On the course, its handy carry case and cabling make it a nice, self-contained option.
One issue that I had with it, but perhaps is to be expected with a budget model, is the sensitivity of the Bluetooth connection. I detected several distortions while driving along in the golf cart.
Pros
- Compact and nicely contained with its carry case and cabling
- Light and portable but durable for a budget model
- Good range of sound with a 2.5-watt power output
- Very budget-friendly price
Cons
- Bluetooth connection is not the most stable; it distorts more easily than others
ROKFORM G-ROK Portable Wireless Golf Speaker
The built-in magnetic mounting makes this one perfect as golf cart speakers. Just stick it in place and get going. The magnets are very strong. It’s not just a hyped-up claim. It has an additional clip on the side, too, if you want to clip it to your bag.
As its name suggests, the G-ROK is ready to rumble with IPX7 waterproofing and dust resistance. It’s also shockproof and will withstand being dropped even from tall-person carrying heights.
The battery should last you up to 6 rounds, assuming you don’t max it out, meaning you don’t have to charge up after every game. Despite all that power, it remains light and compact.
The audio is reasonable for simple music, but anything with a bit of weight will come out a little tinny at higher volumes. Those with a penchant for AC/DC might be disappointed.
Pros
- Easy attachment thanks to powerful magnets
- IPX7 water and dust resistance
- Shockproof and made with hard, durable materials
- 24-hour battery life
Cons
- Sound is tinny at high volumes with “bigger” music styles
Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Where many Bluetooth speakers let users down is in failing to give a smooth, rich bass. This offering from Bose can help you put that disappointment aside. Whether it’s lying on the golf cart dash shelf or attached to the frame or your bag, the sound is flawless.
The secret is in Bose’s use of cutting-edge transducer and passive radiators. This is where the crystal-clear sound emanates from. It’s hard to believe such gorgeous sound can come out of a device so compact.
While it has more advantages, like easy connection to Google and Siri, the 6-hour battery life is a little lackluster. It should be enough for a good round of golf, but it means you always have to be conscious of wearing it down.
Pros
- Small but durable, with a durable tear-resistant silicone strap
- Pairs with Bluetooth and also responds to voice commands
- Can connect to multiple speakers
- Completely waterproof
Cons
- A short 6-hour battery length
JBL Clip 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
This second offering from JBL features a unique integrated carabiner for easy attachment to the golf cart or your golf bag. It’s small but powerful, managing 10 hours of playtime and carrying an IPX7 waterproof rating.
Compact it may be, but JBL has not skimped on features and quality. You still get call-answering capability, as well as premium-level noise- and echo-canceling speaker technology.
For those who like bass-heavy music, though, the sound may not be everything you want.
Pros
- IPX7 waterproof rating
- Strong, integrated carabiner for stable and convenient attachment to golf cart
- Decent 10 hours of battery for small size
- Solid call and general quality of sound
Cons
- Bass level not as rich or smooth as competitors, especially the Bose Soundlink Bluetooth speakers
Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST Portable Waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Speaker
Purely judging this one as a speaker, I would have easily chosen this one as my top pick. Considering their use as golf cart speakers, however, I can’t quite give it that accolade.
It’s still a top-notch speaker, though, and will sit nicely in your cart, just not so comfortably attached.
First of all, the audio quality is beyond anything that I’ve heard before; 360 degrees of pure acoustic joy. Next, it connects to Bluetooth at up to 150 feet without a hitch, meaning I could enjoy my tunes while searching for my ball in the rough.
The MEGABLAST is IP67 rated, meaning it can be submerged in up to a meter of water for as long as 30 minutes. Besides, it comes with Amazon’s Alexa built-in, allowing for superb vocal-control features.
One issue that can be a problem on the golf course, however (besides not attaching to the golf cart), is that the voice command requires considerable volume from you when playing music. Shouting on the golf course isn’t always welcome.
Pros
- Unbeatable sound quality, including bass quality
- Impressive Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity range
- IP67 waterproof rating
- Built-in Amazon Alexa
Cons
- Doesn’t attach to the golf cart and requires a loud voice for control while music is playing
And the Winner is…
Bushnell Wingman GPS Golf Speaker
The Bushnell Wingman speaker has the best sound of all the speakers on this list, and also has the ability to link to your phone and provide you with distances to the hole throughout your round. This is a great little benefit, but this is my top speaker because of the sound and other features.
The sound is crystal clear and can be really loud if you want it to be. You probably shouldn’t play it at its highest volume if you want to come back to the course ever again.
BUT, take this thing home, put it on the deck, on your boat and crank it. Great Bass and a crystal clear sound.
The Bushnell Wingman also has a strong magnet that you can attach to your golf cart. This means you won’t have to worry about it falling out of the cart when you hit a bump, and you can also have it within eye site so when you are cleaning out your golf cart after your round, you won’t forget it.
Finally, the charge lasts for an entire round. Depending on how loud you play it, you may be able to get up to 2 rounds. I hate when my battery dies on anything, and this speaker holds a charge very well.
FAQs
What Are the Best Speakers for Golf Cart?
The best golf cart Bluetooth speakers will share several important qualities:
- They will be portable.
- A golf cart speaker will be simple to use and have easy and reliable Bluetooth connectivity with a smartphone or other device.
- The audio quality should be high, with a rich and pleasing bass if possible.
The speaker that exemplifies these qualities is the Bushnell Wingman GPS Bluetooth speaker. These speakers are user-friendly, with no special requirements or prior knowledge required. If your Bluetooth and speaker are both on, then it will quickly and seamlessly pair up.
The Bushnell Wingman is also light enough to carry in your bag but sturdy and steady enough as a golf cart speaker. When it comes to outdoor golf cart Bluetooth speakers, one has to accept that high-quality sound has limitations, but the Wingman still delivers excellent audio, with a nice supporting bass.
Other great features include simple design features like the ability to answer phone calls, simple track selection, and the speaker facing inward toward the user. I think an inward-facing speaker is better in a golf cart speaker, but some prefer the 360-degree-audio style of other brands like JBL.
Finally, the best golf cart Bluetooth speaker is one that lasts. Here, “lasts” refers to the life and charging speed of its lithium-ion battery. Second, it refers to the quality and durability of its materials. These are more qualities that help to set a golf cart Bluetooth speaker like the Bushnell Wingman GPS Golf Speaker apart.
Can You Play Music on the Golf Course?
The answer to this depends largely on the exact situation. Listening to music via headphones while practicing is generally permitted. It’s your choice. Who would stop you? Playing it through Bluetooth golf cart speakers, on the other hand, could be more problematic, depending on course rules.
First, you should ask yourself: does this background music help me improve my game? If so, and you are playing competitively, then you might be in breach of rule 14-3a, which states that extra equipment cannot be used to improve performance.
You may think that it’s unfair to say that using music is the same as using something like a launch monitor, but if it helps you improve your game, then it can and likely will be considered an electronic aid.
Golf courses may also have their own rules regarding someone playing loud music via speakers. It can be a big distraction to other players. On a busy day at the course, if there were clashing music from two speakers or more, it would create a distraction.
Some courses are more likely to enforce stricter rules than others. If you like to listen to music when you golf, you should ask the course owners or managers before beginning your game.
I really hope you like this review, and invite you to check out some of the other reviews I recently completed including the Best irons for ladies, how long your golf clubs should last, tips on reading a putting green, and the Best women’s putter for 2021. If you have a topic you would like us to review, please be sure to drop us a line at PG Golf Links. We will be happy to accommodate you.