If you’re like most golfers, you’re constantly trying to improve your game and lower your scores. While there are many ways to do this, a quick way to get better at golf is to invest in accessories that will help you with your course management.
Distance Measuring Devices (DMD) are one accessory you would want to look at. These are commonly a watch, a handheld device, or a laser rangefinder. While each type has its strengths and weaknesses, a good portion of golfers prefer watches vs a rangefinder for how convenient they are.
Garmin golf watches are one of the most respected products. If you want to see their range of offerings, read on.
Why Choose a Garmin Golf GPS Watch?
Since its inception in 1989, Gamin has continued to manufacture innovative GPS devices across a diverse range of markets. More notably are their sports and fitness watches, which are undoubtedly some of the world’s best.
With an entire series of watches dedicated to aiding the everyday golfer, there are many options in the Garmin collection that you could use. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced golfer, with price ranges for everyone and with different stronghold features in each watch, there is a Garmin watch for every type of golfer.
Read on to find the best Garmin golf watches for your needs.
Garmin Golf Watch Reviews for 2023
With a particular focus on overall features, affordability, and usability, here is our comprehensive list of the best golf watches in the Garmin collection:
1. Best Overall: Garmin Approach S62
Specs:
- Weighs 61g
- Large 1.3 easy-to-read color touchscreen display
- Water-resistant (5ATM)
- Up to 14 days battery life in smartwatch mode with 20 hours in continuous GPS mode
Pros:
- More than 41000 preloaded courses
- Virtual caddie system
- Personalized stats profile in Garmin golf (Strokes, putts per round, greens, and fairways hit)
- Sunlight readable display
- Connection to Garmin app allows wind speed and direction feature
- Hazards and course targets
- Adjust Yardages to account for uphill and downhill shots using the playslike feature
- Tons of extra off-course features
Cons:
- Expensive
- The battery life could be better
Being the latest addition to the Garmin collection of golf watches, it should come as no surprise that the S62 is our best overall pick. It comes loaded with tons of new and updated features that make it the ideal golfing partner.
This is the ultimate course strategy tool with over forty-one thousand preloaded courses and a virtual caddie system. Its large 1.3” sun-readable touchscreen display is an upgrade of its predecessor, the Garmin S60. You don’t have to worry about battery life with the S62, as in GPS mode, it can last up to 20 hours, going for up to 14 days in smartwatch mode.
A quick glimpse of its specs will tell you that this watch is more than just a golf watch, as it has a lot of off-course features to add to the entire experience. This is the best golf watch Garmin produces in the sub $1000 price range.
Also read Garmin s60 vs s62.
2. Best Value: Garmin Approach S40
Specs:
- Weighs 43g.
- Large 1.2 easy-to-read color touchscreen display
- Water-resistant (5ATM)
- 10 days battery life in smartwatch mode with 15 hours in continuous GPS mode
Pros:
- 42,000 preloaded courses from all over the world.
- Hazards and course targets
- The Green View feature allows manual pin positioning for greater accuracy
- Auto shot detection feature
- Sunlight readable display.
- Sleek modern design
- TruSwing compatible
- CourseView updates
Cons:
- Not very user-friendly for first-time users
- Few sports and fitness features
- It could be more accurate with manual pin positioning
Although Garmin released an update of this watch with the S42, the Approach S40 still stands its ground as one of the best watches in the Garmin collection. Besides battery life, you can get almost all the features found in the upgraded version at a lower price.
In addition to the fact that it can also display distances to the back, front, and middle of the green, it can also identify hazards and automatically records detected shot distances.
For a mid-range watch, most golfers would be thrilled with this watch. From the first tee to the last putt, the Approach S40 is designed to make you an all-round better player. Check out our full Garmin S40 review here.
3. Best Entry Level: Garmin Approach S12
Specs:
- Weighs 34.1g
- 1.3-inch sunlight-readable high-resolution display
- Water-resistance (5ATM)
- 10 weeks battery life in smartwatch mode with 30 hours in continuous GPS mode
Pros:
- Good battery life
- 42000 preloaded courses from all over the world
- Easy to use
- Stat tracking (strokes, putts per round, greens and fairways hit)
- Connects With CT10s
- Sunlight readable display
- Stylish design that makes it cool to wear off-course
- Tournament approved
- Gives distances to hazards and doglegs
Cons:
- Poor screen resolution quality than other comparable smartwatches
- No slope features
- Few sports and fitness features
The Approach S12 is arguably one of the best entry-level golfing watches on the planet. Designed as an upgrade to the Approach S10, it resolves some of the issues on the previous version. If for nothing at all, the Approach S12 was made so that two words could come together as one, simplicity and efficiency.
With over 30 hours of battery life while in GPS mode and 10 weeks while in smartwatch mode, you can rest assured that you will never need to worry about your watching dying on you while you are playing a round. Although it is priced slightly higher than other comparable entry-level watches, it makes up for the extra coins in extra features and quality.
4) Best Premium: Garmin MARQTM Golfer
Specs:
- Weighs 88g (95g with silicone rubber)
- 1.2-inch sunlight-readable high-resolution display
- Water-resistance (10ATM)
- Battery life
- Smartwatch mode: Up to 12 days
- GPS mode: Up to 28 hours.
- GPS with Music: Up to 9 hours
- UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 48 hours
Pros:
- Sleek, stylish design
- Virtual caddie system
- Preloaded with 42000 courses
- Wind and direction stats upon connection with Garmin Golf App
- 32GB memory storage (Stores up to 2000 songs)
- Use the playslike tool to adjust yardages to account for uphill and downhill shots
- Extra Off-course features
Cons:
- Some features on this may make you a weaker golfer if you constantly depend on them.
- No touchscreen
- Hard to find
Coming into the list as the most expensive watch in Garmin’s collection of golf watches, there aren’t many things you will find wrong with a MARQ Golfer. This watch is almost a compilation of all the good features you could find in a Garmin GPS golf watch combined with premium analog features to make it the ultimate luxury watch.
Built with long-lasting materials, it stands superior to most of the Garmin collection watches. It also has a unique, stylish edge with eight custom-etched hole markings right on the bezel. It is equipped with a good balance of features for the everyday golfer with additional smartwatch features and a stylish design that makes its use as a wearable off-course watch routine for most owners.
Garmin’s MARQ Golfer is simply a manifestation of ‘golf heaven’ into a watch (for those that can afford its large price tag).
5) Budget-Friendly: Garmin Approach S10
Specs:
- Weighs 35g
- 0.9” -inch sunlight-readable display
- Water-resistance (5ATM)
- 10 weeks battery life in watch mode with up to 12 hours in continuous GPS mode
Pros:
- Good battery life
- Preloaded with 42000 courses worldwide
- Hazards and course targets
- Comfortable, lightweight design
- Sun-readable screen
- Digital scorecard
Cons:
- Compared to other entry-level watches from other brands, it lacks features.
- Poor screen quality
For a cheap option that offers a good portion of information you might need while golfing, the Approach S10 is the watch for the job.
While it doesn’t have many features on it that you would find on other entry-level watches, the S10 is quite accurate with its few features.
In addition to its pocket-friendly price, the Approach S10 offers a good alternative for technophobes tired of modern-day watches fitted with too many features. With just its few features, it somehow manages to bring the fun found in the olden days of golf, where estimations were made without the help of any digital tools.
A no-nonsense golf watch with a meager price tag. These watches are perfect for those on a tight budget.
The Best Garmin Watch for Golf FAQs
What Garmin Watches Have a Golf Mode?
There are plenty of Garmin watch golf apps on some of their other models, but its Approach series watches are the ones that often have the Golf Mode features specifically incorporated into their designs.
What is the Latest Garmin Golf Watch?
Released to the market in January 2020, the Garmin Approach S62 is still the latest addition to the Garmin collection of golf watches. It features the latest upgrades to its predecessor, the Approach S60, and sports loads of new features.
How Does Garmin Track Golf Shots?
The Measure Shot Function allows you to check how far you hit a specific shot during a round. You can also see the distances for each prior hit shot.
You can use the auto-shoot map to show the position of each shot after it has been uploaded if your device is connected to auto-connect. You can also use this tool to study your habits and compare your stats to past rounds.
Do Garmin Watches Work for Golf?
Garmin has a wide collection of sports and fitness watches dedicated to assisting the everyday athlete. With an entire series of watches dedicated to aiding the everyday golfer, there are a lot of options in the Garmin collection that you could use. Whether you are just a beginner or an advanced player, with price ranges for everyone and with different stronghold features in each watch, there is a Garmin watch for every type of golfer.
How Many Years Does a Garmin Watch Last?
Generally, good Garmin watches can last anywhere between 5-10 years. This is mainly because they rely on irreplaceable, rechargeable batteries that have a similar lifespan. Even then, depending on how often you use your watch, this period could be longer or shorter.
Is Garmin Better than Apple for Golf?
While it often just boils down to a matter of preference, many users find that when similar models are compared, the Garmin watches tend to offer a better balance of functionality in golf-related and smartwatch features.
Even then, when compared hand to hand, some users find apple watches to be superior when it comes to smartwatch features and accuracy in golf features. Both have continued to develop with technological advancements, and today you would struggle to find many areas where one is exceedingly better than the other as a golf accessory.
Wrapping up the Garmin Golf Watch Comparison
As we ‘approach’ the end of this article, we hope we have convinced you that every golfer deserves a Garmin golfing partner to be happy with. We are talking about a device that will make you a better player and make your entire golfing experience more fun.
Suppose you are still struggling to pick one, no worries. For those who are new to the golf-watch game, we recommend the Approach S12 as a start-off watch to discover what works for you. However, if you are looking to take your playing to the next level, the Approach S62 is the perfect tool to help you get better. All in all, we hope that you have found the right Garmin golf watch for you!
Chris's love for golf is only rivaled by his wanderlust. A globetrotter at heart, He’s played courses throughout Europe and Asia and at home in NSW, Australia. With a writing style as smooth as his golf swing, he’ll help you find the right gear to match your skill level and style. You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn.
