Quick Picks
Best Overall: Garmin Approach S70 (47mm) — $599
Best Value: Garmin Approach S42 — $299
Best for iPhone Users: Apple Watch Ultra 2 + Golfshot — $799
Best for Android Users: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 + apps — $299
Best Dedicated Golf Watch: Garmin Approach S62 — $499
Best Budget: Garmin Approach S12 — $199
What Golf Features Matter?
Modern golf watches offer far more than just yardage. Here's what to look for:
GPS Distance
The fundamental feature. Accurate front/center/back distances to the green, plus distances to hazards, layup points, and doglegs. Look for watches with 43,000+ preloaded courses (Garmin) to ensure your home course is included.
Green View / Pin Placement
Move the pin position on a digital green map to get accurate distance to today's actual flag location. Essential for approach shots and club selection.
Hazard Information
See distances to bunkers, water, and out-of-bounds areas. Better watches show layup distances to carry hazards safely.
Shot Tracking
Automatic or manual tracking of each shot. Know exactly how far you hit each club. Some watches auto-detect shots using accelerometers; others require manual tagging.
Slope/Elevation
"Plays like" distances that account for uphill/downhill shots. Note: Slope features are typically tournament-illegal—look for watches with "tournament mode" that disables them.
Tournament Legal: For competitive play, ensure your watch has a mode that disables slope calculations and advice features. Garmin watches include "Big Numbers Mode" that shows only basic distances, making them legal for tournament use.
Our Top Picks
Garmin Approach S70 (47mm)
The gold standard for golf watches. The Approach S70 combines Garmin's best golf features with full smartwatch functionality. The 47mm version features a stunning 1.4" AMOLED display that's readable in bright sunlight.
Golf features: 43,000+ courses, AMOLED green view with manual pin, PlaysLike distance with slope, virtual caddie club recommendations, hazard view, wind speed/direction, automatic shot tracking with club tagging, post-round analysis in Garmin Golf app.
Beyond golf: Full fitness tracking, music storage, Garmin Pay, smartphone notifications. It's a premium smartwatch that happens to excel at golf.
Garmin Approach S42
All the essential golf features at half the price of the S70. The S42 includes 42,000+ preloaded courses, green view with touch-targeting pin placement, hazard/layup distances, and automatic shot tracking.
The color touchscreen is smaller but perfectly functional. Battery lasts 15 hours in GPS golf mode—enough for multiple rounds. It lacks the S70's virtual caddie and AMOLED display, but delivers the core golf experience most players need.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 + Golfshot App
If you want ONE watch that does everything—golf, fitness, daily smartwatch—the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a golf app is compelling. The 49mm titanium case and 2000-nit display are perfect for outdoor visibility.
Golf apps: Golfshot, Hole19, 18Birdies, and others provide GPS distances, scoring, and stats. These require subscriptions ($29-99/year) for full features. The experience isn't as seamless as dedicated golf watches, but the everyday functionality is unmatched.
Best for: Golfers who want Apple's ecosystem and don't want a second watch for golf.
Garmin Approach S62
The S62 sits between the S42 and S70, offering virtual caddie club suggestions and larger display in a more traditional golf watch form factor. If you don't need the S70's AMOLED and music storage, the S62 delivers nearly identical golf functionality.
Virtual Caddie analyzes wind, elevation, and your club distances to recommend the right club for each shot. It's like having a knowledgeable caddie on your wrist.
Garmin Approach S12
Proof that great golf GPS doesn't require a big budget. The S12 covers the essentials: 42,000+ courses, front/center/back distances, green view with manual pin placement, and hazard distances. The sunlight-readable display lasts 30 hours in GPS mode.
No touchscreen, no shot tracking, no virtual caddie—but the core distance information is accurate and reliable. Perfect for casual golfers or as a backup watch.
Golf Watch Comparison
| Feature | S70 | S62 | S42 | S12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 | $499 | $299 | $199 |
| Display | AMOLED | Color LCD | Color LCD | MIP |
| Virtual Caddie | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Shot Tracking | Auto | Auto | Auto | ✗ |
| Wind Data | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Music Storage | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Golf Battery | 20 hrs | 20 hrs | 15 hrs | 30 hrs |
What About Apple Watch & Galaxy Watch?
General-purpose smartwatches can work for golf with third-party apps, but they're not the ideal choice:
Pros: One watch for everything, notifications during rounds, music playback
Cons: Shorter battery life, app subscriptions required, less golf-specific optimization, smaller course databases
If golf is your primary sport and you play frequently, a dedicated golf watch like Garmin Approach will serve you better. If you play occasionally and want one watch for all activities, Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch with a golf app is a reasonable compromise.
The Bottom Line
For serious golfers, the Garmin Approach S70 is the best overall choice with unmatched golf features and full smartwatch functionality. The Approach S42 hits the sweet spot of value—all essential features at $299. Budget-conscious players can start with the Approach S12 at $199. And golfers who want one watch for everything should consider Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a golf app subscription.