Which Garmin golf watch is best for you?
02.05.2025
Reading time: 3 minutes
Take your golf game to the next level with a Garmin GPS golf watch.
Who's ready to hit the course? Whether you play golf for a living or just for fun with friends, it's worth considering gaining a competitive edge with a Garmin GPS golf watch before you tee off .
From the innovative Approach® series to the premium MARQ Golfer watch, Garmin offers a range of award-winning golf watch options. But don't worry – we'll help you decide , which feature-rich watch suits you and your game best.
For golfers who want a golf watch that covers the basics:
Approach S12: This GPS golf watch offers the essential golf features. It offers great value for money and up to 30 hours of battery life, so it keeps up with your game even in sunny weather. With more than 43,000 preloaded courses, it has a high-resolution black-and-white display that's easy to read even on especially sunny days. Curious how far you are from the hole? Quickly view the front, middle and back of the green to give yourself an edge. If you're the competitive type, ditch the scorecard and keep score directly in the Garmin Golf app 1 .
For those who want enhanced essentials:
Approach S44: Enjoy the same features as the S12, but take them to the next level with the S44, featuring a stunning 1.2-inch colour AMOLED touchscreen. With AutoShot game tracking 2 you can automatically track where your shots land. The Green View feature shows you the shape of every green anywhere on the course. Plus, with a Garmin Golf membership you get extra features such as Premium CourseView maps, touch targeting and green contour data.
On and off the course:
Approach S50: This advanced GPS smartwatch gives you all the features you need on the course, plus a stylish design that looks great off the course too. On the course, the ComfortFit nylon strap won't interfere with your swing. With the 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, you can easily see key distances to the green, hazards and layups on more than 43,000 courses. The PlaysLike Distance feature shows how far each shot will play, with distances adjusted for elevation changes. In addition to preloaded activities to help you improve strength and mobility, it offers health and wellness features including wrist-based heart rate , 3 stress tracking, Body Battery™ energy monitoring, advanced sleep tracking and much more. Add a Garmin Golf membership and get access to even more – including Premium CourseView maps, touch targeting and green contour data.
For golfers who want premium features:
Approach S70: This is the brightest star of the Approach series. A top-of-the-line GPS golf watch with a 1.2- or 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen. The S70 comes in two sizes and helps you improve your game both on and off the course. It features a virtual caddie (with a dispersion chart showing in-play hazards depending on club selection) and enhanced PlaysLike Distance, which accounts for elevation and environmental conditions. Plus, understanding slopes on the green has never been easier thanks to green contour data, available with an active Garmin Golf membership . Combine it all with preloaded training apps for strength, HIIT, running and more, and you have a complete golf watch that helps you improve your game on and off the course.
For those who love luxury and every feature:
MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) titanium and carbon editions: If you're looking for the best and most modern golf watch, the MARQ Golfer titanium and carbon editions are exactly what you need. MARQ Golfer – titanium edition is made of grade 5 titanium and has a tritone green jacquard-weave nylon strap; the carbon edition is made of forged carbon fibre and has a perforated FKM leather hybrid strap.
Both MARQ watches have a domed sapphire crystal offering a crystal-clear view of the stunning AMOLED display. In smartwatch mode, battery life is up to 16 days, so you never have to worry about charging. With the virtual caddie, green contour data 4 and more, you can reach your peak golf performance. You can also track your sleep and heart rate and hit the gym with countless health and wellness features. Honestly, these golf watches are packed with features to help you conquer the course round after round.
For golfers who want to maximise their data:
OK, this isn't a wristwatch. But hear us out: Approach CT10 club tracking sensors or Approach CT1 club tracking tags for shot tracking give you a clearer picture of your game. Both record club type, shot locations and distance when connected to your Garmin golf watch. You can also pair both with the Garmin Golf app to analyse your stroke count, take part in leaderboards and tournaments, and get more data about your game.
With CT10 sensors, your clubs are tracked automatically every round. Once the sensors are attached to your clubs and connected to a compatible golf device, you're all set. You don't need to do anything else before taking a shot.
When playing with the lightweight CT1 tracking tags, you need to tap the CT1 to your compatible golf watch before each shot to pair it.
Both CT1 and CT10 are compatible with Approach S44 , Approach S50 and Approach S70 . CT10 sensors are also compatible with Approach S12 and MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) Titanium and Carbon Edition models.
Garmin golf simulator – train like the pros
If you want to refine your shots off the course too, check out Garmin's golf simulator options. For example, devices like the Garmin Approach R50 let you track launch angle, speed, spin and trajectory at home or indoors. Together with the Garmin Golf™ app, you can analyse your technique in real time, virtually play hundreds of real courses around the world and compare your results with other players. It's the ideal solution for anyone who wants to take their game to the next level – whether the goal is a better score, a more consistent swing or simply more enjoyment of the game.
Do you now have a better idea of which Garmin golf watch suits you? Shop here.
1 Requires the app on a compatible smartphone paired with Approach S12.
2 Lie and ball contact may affect shot tracking. Putts are not tracked. Some shots, especially chip shots, may not be tracked.
3 See Garmin.com/ataccuracy
4 With a Garmin Golf membership
