Best Garmin Golf Watches: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best value
4. How we test
5. How to choose
6. FAQs
Garmin is a well known brand in the world of technology and over the past few years it has lunged itself into the golf market as well. A brand synonymous with high-quality products, it is arguably one of the top names when it comes to the best golf GPS devices on the market. However, it's not just golf GPS devices where they excel in, but especially amongst the best golf watches, with the company arguably the most recognized in this section of the market. There are also plenty of different options available at a range of price points. Whether you want basic front-middle-back yardages, a bright and easy-to-view display, or an out-and-out fully-fledged smart watch with golf capabilities, there's a Garmin to suit your needs. Why are they so good? Well, Garmin has found a delicate balance between usability, convenience and powerful features in all of their watches.
Acknowledging all of this, here we list the best Garmin golf watches on the market right now. However, if golf watches aren't for you, then why not check out some of the best budget golf rangefinders, best golf launch monitors, or the best golf shot tracking apps and devices too.
The Quick List
The Approach S70 is the most feature-packed golf watch to date with a brilliant display and incredible detail as well as an expansive suite of features.
The Approach S62 Watch is undoubtedly one for the gadget lover who wants lots of features and the ability to track shots all in one place.
Contained in a sleek package are a number of extremely useful and easy-to-use features for golfers of all levels, the S42 is ideal for use anywhere.
If you are looking for something simple that works well, the S12 ticks the box. The yardages are accurate and well-displayed on a black and white screen.
A smart and sophisticated golf watch that boasts cutting edge features and a crystal clear display, the MARQ is one at the top end of the price spectrum
The S10 GPS watch is extremely easy to use and delivers all the basic functionality most would need. We found the yardages provided to be accurate and useful.
Best Garmin Golf Watches
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Best overall
The Garmin Approach S70 is one of the more user-friendly GPS watches and is one of the best options for the more tech-savvy and gadget-loving golfer. There are many great features when it comes to the S70, not only can you do the general yardages to greens, bunkers, and hazards but it can also track your score during play and pick up club selections for giving you the yardages you hit them. Another amazing feature is the weather forecast integration, which will help to give you yardages and data based on the current weather. With these features, you can not doubt that this is one of the most comprehensive and best golf watches you can get.
When it comes to visuals this watch looks fantastic on your wrist, the large screen is bright and colorful when looking at the hole map. This watch comes loaded with over 43,000 courses and can swiftly transition from watch face to golf mode at the flick of a button. The main aspect of this watch is golf which it is very good at, but you can use this watch for general fitness tracking too.
Upon arrival to the course you are playing the watch will download that course automatically via satellite and your round will begin. A lot of smartwatches you can get, especially golf watches can have poor battery life, but this is not the case with the S70. This watch can hold its charge for up to 16 days when using it as a standard smartwatch, however, in golf mode using the GPS you will get 20 hours, which is more than enough for a round of golf. This watch really is one of the best GPS watches on the market.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S70 Golf Watch Review
Garmin Approach S62 GPS Golf Watch
The S62 is a lovely watch with a slightly larger face than you find in some of the cheaper Garmin models. With this bigger screen, you get more contrast giving you a clearer view. This watch also comes with a feature giving you a Virtual Caddie, this can detect the current wind direction and give you info based on previous shots, making sure you have the correct club for the shot being played.
It is really easy to access the information at your disposal and there are plenty of features and distances given for the money paid. You can easily get elevation changes and the yardages to hazards. Another feature allows you to move where the pin is positioned, this gives you more accurate yardages rather than the standard front middle, and back. All of these great features make it no surprise it was included in the Editor's Choice awards at Golf Monthly.
When it comes to styling the S62 is very versatile and you are easily able to wear this watch off the course in your everyday life. You can also use this watch for other fitness tracking if you are someone who does sports other than golf.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S62 GPS Watch Review
Garmin Approach S42
There is a lot to like with the S42 from Garmin. The size of the watch is great firstly and you can feel how well made it is from the moment you put it on. The analog display this watch has we really liked, giving it suitability to be worn for more social settings.
The course is where this watch is really at home, with one click of the side button you are into golf mode. From this point, you can easily scroll through the many features available. Initially, you will have the front, middle, and back yardages as normal, but you can also add in the pin location to give you that accurate yardage when pin hunting on the course.
There are more great golf-related features to get your hands on like the AutoShit round analyzer, which tracks your shots and records how far you hit your shots. It will also give you the yardage to bunkers, hazards, and where the ideal places to lay up are. Once it has collated all the data from your round, you can load it into the paired Garmin Golf app on your phone and see all this data directly in the app, giving you an overview of where you have saved and lost strokes, and it gives you areas to improve on too.
The final thing worth noting is the fitness-tracking abilities of this watch. The S42 is not all about golf you can also see how many steps you have taken, the calories burnt, the distance covered, and also how well you sleep. If you can invest the time and money into this watch you can really have a great golf watch at your disposal.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S42 GPS Watch Review
Best value
The S12 may not be as stylish as its counterparts the S42 and S62, but at the price point, it can be a viable option for some. This watch has access to over 40,000 courses preloaded so getting set up with the course you are at is quick and easy.
Once we arrived at the course for testing we found the overall usability of the watch to be really good. When you are stood on the tee it gives you loads of info, such as distances to hazards, bunkers, and even yardages for the ideal layup. A great feature is the ability to move the pin around, this allows you to get a more accurate yardage if you are looking to be more direct at pins.
A feature we really liked in testing is the shot measuring feature, allowing you to see how far you hit each shot. You can easily input your scores for each hole along with some stats, this allows you to see where you can improve when you finish a round. The final feature we will touch on is the big numbers mode, this is great for anyone who has poor eyesight, and pair this with the sunlight-readable dial it really does make it more accessible. This watch really is great value for money, with the amount you get at an affordable price.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S12 GPS Watch Review
Garmin MARQ Golfer GPS Watch
The MARQ Golfer GPS Watch has been built from lovely premium materials, this is a 46 mm titanium case and a ceramic bezel that has been etched with 1-18 hole markings. As you find with many golf watches these days, this watch is not restricted to just being used on the course.
This watch has the ability to allow for elevation changes, give you insights into what the wind is doing, and give you the best club selection. You can also play music through this watch as well as make contactless payments, check your heart rate, and track your daily activity, along with other things.
When it came to testing this high-end product we really enjoyed it, it was easy and fun to ease and it oozed premium quality on your wrist. When it comes to a negative point, the only thing holding this watch back is the price, as it does not come cheap. If you can afford this amazing watch then you will enjoy this watch a lot.
- Read our full Garmin MARQ Golfer GPS Watch Review
Garmin Approach S10 GPS Watch
The Garmin S10 is a slightly older model but it is still one you can get hold of and if you are into golf a model you may want. This watch is a great combination of performance and value, initially, it will give you the standard front, middle, and back yardages. However, when you get a little deeper into the features you can also keep track of your score, track how long you have been playing a round, and the steps you have taken. If you have this watch in GPS mode you will get around 12 hours of battery life out of it, and it is available in three different colors for those that like a specific styling.
This watch is compact and lightweight, but it comes with he standard features you find in other golf watches we have covered here. It does not have a touchscreen like some of the better watches, you have to use buttons on the side to navigate this watch.
The overall versatility of this watch is limited when compared to other models, but for a golf-specific watch then this does enough for the money paid, making it great value.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S10 GPS Watch Review
How we test golf watches
When it comes to testing we have a comprehensive testing procedure with golf watches. For this, we use different models while out on the course and over numerous rounds of golf. We also aim to do this in differing conditions so we can see how these watches perform in the sun, wind, and rain.
As a team, we are all regular golfers so the watches get a thorough testing while also being compared to each other side by side. This is great when we are testing accuracy, waterproofing, durability, and other similar features. This allows us to give our honest opinion on a product and make sure it is as insightful as possible. where a watch can be used off the course we look to do this too, this makes sure that you know all about a watch on and off the course. For testing at Golf Monthly, we go on the fact that no manufacturer can buy a good review, no matter what we test, we will always give our honest opinion on anything whether good or bad.
How to choose the right GPS watch
Features
An important aspect of buying a GPS watch is knowing what features you want and require. This is important as it has a massive impact on the cost and overall satisfaction of a product. When it comes to the basic front, middle, and back yardage all the watches will give this but some are much cheaper, if this is the only requirement you have then go for a budget one., should you want more features and versatility off the course, spend more.
Versatility
Many brands and watches do not work off the course so if you are looking for something versatile then make sure you check the range of features that watch is offering.
Your routine
When looking at buying a golf watch it is important to think about what you do during your routine on the golf course. Are you a fast player who just needs a quick glance at numbers on a screen, or are you more of a deliberate player that wants as much detail as possible before committing to a shot? There are models that fit into different routines and styles so be aware of how you play the game. Ultimately, a glance at a watch is much quicker than taking a device out of its case or dragging pointers on the screen, so weigh up if extra detail or less disruption is most important to you.
Golf course
Next it is worth considering what type of golf course you play on regularly. We have found that courses with lots of doglegs and blind tee shots require the in-depth GPS information of a watch, whereas courses that are more out in front of you are perhaps more suited to the simplicity of a laser. Additionally if you play at other clubs in matches or socially, then you may want the extra information a GPS offers over a laser. Additionally be aware of how many golf courses are preloaded onto different watches as well. Finally for more buying advice around GPS handhelds, take a look at out guide on the best golf watches for ladies.
FAQs
Which company makes the best golf watches?
Garmin are arguably the most recognized name when it comes to the best golf watches, but there are also companies like Bushnell and SkyCaddie who also offer premium performers.
Can I use golf watches for non-golf activities?
You certainly can as most double up as not just a watch for golf, but for fitness and work as well. Along with on course activities, golf watches can be used to check email and make calls, as well as track steps and your heartrate during a workout.
Is it worth getting a golf watch?
Yes, we think certainly think that golf watches are worth it. Firstly, they save a lot of time, last a long time, are convenient and simple to use, offer in-depth detail of the shot you face, and can sit easily on your golf bag or wrist. With a golf watch you no longer have to find a sprinkler, or guess yardages because you can simply look at the screen to help you plot your way around the course.
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