Should You Wear Your Rolex While Golfing?

If you’re wondering whether it’s safe—or smart—to wear your Rolex on the golf course, you’re not the only one. It’s a surprisingly common question among collectors, especially those who wear their watches daily.

Image Source: Getty Images

In fact, a 2021 RolexForums thread titled “Golfing with Rolex watches” kicked off with exactly that: “Would you guys ever golf with your Rolex? And for those of you that have, what watch specifically was it?”

The replies were split, ranging from “Yes. Any and all. Who cares—it’s a watch,” to “Not in 1000 years!”

So to save you from scrolling through pages of questionably informed comments, here’s what you actually need to know.

Shock to the System?

Image Source: David J. Phillip, Associated Press

The main concern around golfing with a mechanical watch is the force generated during a swing. When your club makes contact with the ball (or the ground, occasionally), that sudden jolt travels up your arm and, yes, through your watch. That force—repeated again and again—could, in theory, take a toll on the movement over time.

The good news is, Rolex has spent decades trying to mitigate that issue.

Since the 1930s, Rolex movements have included shock absorption systems designed to protect the most delicate parts of the movement: the balance wheel and escapement, which regulate timekeeping. In 2004, Rolex introduced the Paraflex shock absorber (pictured above), which offers up to 50% more impact resistance than the previous generation. It’s been rolled out across most modern Rolex calibers ever since.

Put simply: if you own a Rolex made in the last 15–20 years, it was built with shocks in mind. Golf swings included.

The Comfort Factor

That said, just because you can wear your Rolex while golfing doesn’t mean it’s always comfortable. A full-size, braceleted steel sports model (or anything in solid gold) can feel heavy or unbalanced during a swing. Some people find that distracting. Others don’t notice it at all.

It’s also worth noting that most professional golfers don’t wear their Rolex on the course. They’ll strap it on when it’s time to hoist a trophy or conduct an interview—but not while playing. And that’s likely not out of fear of damaging the watch. It’s more about comfort and consistency. At that level, even the smallest disruption can throw off your feel.

Then there are outliers—like Bubba Watson, who famously wears various Richard Mille watches while playing. His signature RM055 has a case made of ultra-light ceramic, titanium, or carbon, and a skeletonized movement designed specifically to withstand over 500 g’s of acceleration. It’s also worn on a soft rubber strap, which keeps weight down and ensures a secure fit. In short, that’s a different breed of watch—and not a fair comparison for a Rolex on a Jubilee bracelet.

Curved End Rubber Straps For Rolex Watches

If comfort is your main concern, the easiest solution is to swap your bracelet for a high-quality rubber strap, like those from Everest. A properly fitted rubber strap is sweatproof, lightweight, and more secure than a jangly bracelet or leather strap in warm weather. It’s a simple upgrade that makes any Rolex feel more at home on the course.

So, Should You?

Image Source: Crown & Caliber

If you’re comfortable golfing with your Rolex—and comfortable knowing it could slightly shorten your service interval—do it. If you’re not, don’t. That’s really all there is to it.

There’s no rule, and no clear consensus (as the RolexForums thread proves). But here’s the through line: Rolex watches are built to be worn. The brand’s longstanding connection to golf—through event sponsorships and player partnerships—only reinforces that. These watches are meant to be part of your life, not kept in a box until the moment feels “safe.”

Curved End Rubber Strap for Rolex Submariner

Could golfing every day speed up your next service by a few months? Maybe. But it’s still a watch built to take a hit. And if something does go wrong, it can be fixed.

As one commenter in that thread put it, “Like anything, it may break for any number of reasons. You get it fixed and move on.”

Hard to say it better than that.