Best Garmin Golf Watches 2026
After putting many models to the test, we run through the best Garmin golf watches currently on the market.
Garmin is one of the world's leading tech brands and over recent years it has made a big slash in the golf industry with its market leading GPS technology. A brand synonymous with high-quality products, Garmin is now one of the top names when it comes to the best golf GPS devices. While Garmin excels across all golf GPS platforms, perhaps the area they are most accomplished in is when it comes to producing the best golf watches. Garmin offer some of the best watches across all price categories.
So whether you want something basic that gives you front-middle-back yardages, something a little more upmarket with 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. The reason they are so good is that Garmin has found a perfect balance between usability, convenience and powerful features in all of their watches.
We have tested them all and here we will 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
For golfers who demand elite accuracy and a wealth of data on their wrist, the S70 is the ultimate high-performance wearable. Its headline feature is a brilliant, high-definition display that brings course maps to life with incredible clarity.
The S50 offers everything you need for a successful round, plus a wealth of health features for off the course. It’s an ideal choice for golfers who value high performance on the links but also want detailed fitness insights elsewhere.
The S44 is essentially the S50 but with fewer health features, meaning it comes in at a slightly lower price. Nevertheless, it's still a very well-rounded device that looks great on your wrist, allowing you to wear it on and off the course with ease.
If you’re looking for a straightforward device that simply tells you how far you are from the pin, the S12 is the perfect fit. It swaps complex menus for ease of use, delivering precise yardages on a crisp black-and-white screen.
The Approach S62 was Garmin's flagship offering before being upgraded by the S70. This watch is one for the gadget loving golfer who wants lots of cool golf features and the ability to track shots all in one place.
The MARQ Golfer is the luxury counterpart to the S70, offering identical top-tier features in a significantly more premium chassis. With its Grade-5 titanium build and vivid AMOLED screen, it is a smart, high-end watch.
Best Garmin Golf Watches
Top pick
There is a strong argument to say that the Garmin Approach S70 is the best golf watch out there on the market currently. Despite the wealth of technology, it is very user-friendly, and it is a perfect option for the gadget-loving golfer. That being said, even the not so tech-savvy golfer should be able to get the hang of this watch fairly quickly.
The S70 sets a high bar by blending accurate yardages with profound statistical tracking to help you nail your club selections. Equipped with live weather data and a personalized Virtual Caddie that learns your habits over five rounds, it is easily one of the most advanced watches on the market. Visually, its large, colorful screen looks superb and comes with 43,000 courses ready to launch at the touch of a button. It works flawlessly as both a premium golf asset and a highly capable everyday fitness smartwatch.
A lot of golf smartwatches can have poor battery life, but this is not the case with the S70 which can hold its charge for up to 16 days when using it as a standard smartwatch. In golf mode using the GPS you will get 20 hours, which is still very impressive.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S70 Golf Watch Review
Best for golf and health
One of the most complete watches we've ever tested. 'How can Garmin make their watches better?' we asked ourselves ahead of the release of the S50. The answer was making this not only a golf watch, but a fully functional fitness watch too.
In terms of functionality, the watch gives you immediate access to 43,000 preloaded courses displayed on a remarkably sharp 1.2-inch color AMOLED screen. This vivid display cleanly lays out all the critical information you need on the fairways, including distances to hazards in addition to front, middle, and back green yardages.
As for the fitness capabilities, this is one of the best watches we've reviewed in terms of day-to-day functionality. It is fully loaded with the best health tracking features modern watches can offer. Heart health can be tracked through the HRV status, blood oxygen saturation can be tracked thanks to the Pulse OX sensor, sleep is tracked in excellent detail, and all your daily activity can be tracked too.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review
Best looking
The Approach S44 feels very much like a diet version of the S50, offering an easy-wearing design that perfectly bridges the gap between on-course utility and everyday wear and style. In fact, it proved to be so practical that it hasn't left my wrist since I wrapped up my field testing last April.
While the unboxing process is straightforward to the point of being anti-climactic, this lack of fuss emphasizes that the focus is right where it belongs: performance on the golf course.
On the course, this model matches the high standards of the Approach S50, offering a crisp, intuitive display that provides essential data at a glance. The yardage accuracy is exceptional, something we've come to expect with Garmin products, consistently delivering reliable numbers that eliminate guesswork. We found the automated score tracker particularly helpful; it provides a gentle vibration as you leave each green as a reminder to log your strokes - it's a small feature but one that is very well thought out. While it doesn't have the same advanced wellness bells and whistles found in the S50, it remains a capable companion for general exercise, offering fundamental tracking for steps, running, cycling, and swimming.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S44 Golf Watch Review
Best value
The Garmin Approach S12 sits at the opposite end of the spectrum from premium models like the S42, S62, and S70. It sacrifices the high-end styling, advanced golf tracking, and everyday smartwatch capabilities found in those more expensive devices. However, for golfers who want a straightforward tool that does exactly what it promises, it stands out as an exceptional value-for-money option.
Don't let the simplicity fool you of this watch fool you - the S12 is packed with course data. You’ll get clear yardages to the green, hazards, and layups, with the added benefit of manual pin adjustment for pinpoint accuracy. While shot tracking is a manual process on this model rather than automatic like more expensive models, it remains a powerful tool for learning your distances. With integrated scorekeeping and a high-visibility 'Big Numbers' mode, the S12 delivers everything a golfer needs for a fraction of the cost. It is, quite simply, one of the best value-for-money GPS watches on the market and a regular feature on the Golf Monthly E-Com newsletter each Saturday when we see it on sale, simply because it oozes value for money.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S12 GPS Watch Review
Best features
Although the Approach S70 has taken over the flagship title, the Garmin S62 shouldn't be overlooked. It has been around for a few years, but it still stands as one of the most capable golf watches on the market, now with the massive bonus of a heavy discount compared to its original release price.
In terms of features, you get access to a Virtual Caddie which factors in wind conditions and slope-adjusted distances. Despite its sophisticated capabilities, the device is incredibly user-friendly. The responsive touchscreen makes adjusting the movable pin extremely easy, while the PinPointer compass is an absolute game-changer for guiding you through blind shots and is particularly useful for links golf.
With all of these great features on offer it is no surprise that the S62 was included in the Editor's Choice awards at Golf Monthly. Another thing we like is that not only can you use this as an everyday smart watch, but the straps are easily detached so you can purchase different color options to mix and match different outfits.
- Read our full Garmin Approach S62 GPS Watch Review
Best ultra-premium
The MARQ Golfer GPS Watch is simply stunning and that is reflected by the price. It has been built from lovely premium materials including a 46 mm titanium case and a ceramic bezel that has been etched with 1-18 hole markings, making this a real head turner in the clubhouse. It's as much a piece of expensive jewelry as it is a golf watch.
Like many modern high-end golf watches, the MARQ is designed for life both on and off the golf course, serving as a stylish timepiece you can wear to any social event. However, the flashiness of this watch shouldn't take away from the phenomenal on-course capabilities. It comes packed with top-tier golf features, including elevation-adjusted distances, real-time wind insights, and smart club recommendations based on your personal shot history.
- Read our full Garmin MARQ Golfer GPS Watch Review
How we test golf watches
Conor joined Golf Monthly in late 2024 after graduating with a Masters degree in Sports Journalism from St Mary's University and heads up reviews for rangefinders, GPS and golf watches.
Conor is lucky to have Royal County Down as his home golf course, beginning to play the game at the age of four, later becoming a caddy at RCD at just eleven years old and doing so for over 12 years. Playing to a 5 handicap, you’ll likely find him on the range trying (and failing) to hit a Shane Lowry-esque stinger that helped him win The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
We take our product testing very seriously here at Golf Monthly and we have a comprehensive testing procedure when it comes to golf watches. We do our testing while out on the course and over numerous rounds of golf, while if the watch is also designed for use away from the course we will ensure we test it thoroughly in day to day situations. On the course we aim to test in differing conditions when possible so we can see how these watches perform in the sun, wind, and rain.
Our review process is built on a foundation of trust and expert analysis. Through direct, comparative field testing, we closely examine essential criteria including GPS precision, build quality, and weather resistance. This ensures that our final recommendations are as practical and informative as they are authentic.
Conor Keenan testing the latest Garmin Approach S44 watch on the 9th hole at Royal County Down
We also reiterate that the trust we have built between our brand and our loyal readership is one we value greatly, meaning our only goal when writing reviews is to deliver informative verdicts free from bias. No manufacturer can ever 'buy' a good review, nor can a brand get preferential treatment over another. Instead, we simply call it how we see it.
How to choose the right GPS watch
Features
When shopping for a golf watch, your first step should be separating your essential needs from your luxury wants. While the idea of a high-tech virtual caddie on your wrist is tempting, ensure the device you choose excels at the fundamentals first - then decide what fancy features you'd like, if any. If you want a versatile watch that transitions from the golf course to the rest of your activities, you should be prepared to invest more in a model equipped with everyday lifestyle features.
Your routine
Choosing the right watch often comes down to your individual playing style. Speedy golfers who want instant, distraction-free yardages are better off with a simplified interface like the Garmin S12. On the other hand, methodical players who evaluate wind, slope, and hazards before every swing will thrive with the Approach S70.
Golf course
For complex layouts with blind spots and doglegs, a GPS watch can be your best friend, particularly high-end models equipped with a PinPointer compass for hidden targets. A laser might offer more speed on simple, open courses or might suit better those who don't like wearing a watch as they swing.
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.
Versatility
Not all golf watches transition well to life off the course - depending on what you want, you must examine the feature set if you are looking for versatility. While adding more functions drives up the cost, a higher price point is much easier to swallow if the watch becomes a permanent fixture on your wrist.
Budget
With a Garmin for every budget, choosing a watch is a simple matter of features vs. price. If you’re after a high-value, no-nonsense tool, the S12 is the definitive budget pick. But if you want a 'lifestyle' watch that handles everything from club recommendations to emails, it’s worth spending more for a premium model.
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 which also offer high quality options.
Is it worth getting a golf watch?
We definitely think golf watches are worth the money. They are incredibly convenient, simple to use, and sit comfortably on your wrist or bag, giving you detailed information about your upcoming shot while saving you time. More expensive versions also provide great health tracking benefits so you can track your gym work, running or other sporting activities.
Can I use golf watches for non-golf activities?
Yes, because modern golf watches seamlessly transition from the course to the office or the gym. In addition to helping you with your game, lots of the top models act as a smartwatches to manage emails and phone calls, as well as a fitness tracker to monitor your steps and heart rate.