Which Garmin Golf Watch Should You Buy?
We compare this year's Garmin golf watches, including Approach S70, S50, and S44 plus the fenix 8. Whether you're looking for an affordable option, one with the most advanced features, or something in between, we've got you covered below!
So, you’re in the market for a Garmin golf watch. First of all, congratulations. If you’ve made it to that point in your decision-making process, you’ve cleared the most important hurdle.
Garmin makes what are unquestionably the very best golf watches. So if you’ve narrowed it down to that brand, you’re definitely on the right track.
The only problem is that Garmin makes a lot of different golf GPS watch versions. Which means, it’s not exactly simple to know which is the right Garmin golf watch to get.
And to confuse matters even further, some of Garmin’s fitness watches also include golf features. But they aren’t marketed as golf watches, so they might not jump out as obvious options if you’re looking for something to use out on the course.
In other words, it’s exciting to shop for a Garmin golf watch. You know you’re going to end up with something really good. It’s just that it can be a bit of a pain to figure out which one to buy.
Until now…
Keep reading as we cut through the confusion to help you find the best Garmin watch for golf.
Shop the Gorgeous Garmin Approach S70
Get the best GPS watch in golf with the brightest AMOLED display! Free 2-day shipping & Free 60-day returns!
Table of Contents
- Watch a Garmin fenix 8 Review from a Golfer's Perspective
- First the Answers, Then the Questions: Your Garmin Golf Watch Choices
- Are You Serious About Game Improvement? Buy the Garmin S70 Golf Watch
- Are You a Golfer and a Runner? Buy the Garmin fenix 8
- Are You a Casual to Intermediate Level Golfer? Buy the Garmin S44 Golf Watch
- Looking for the Garmin Golf Watch Sweet Spot? Buy the Garmin Approach S50
- Do You Just Need the Golf Watch Basics? Buy the Garmin Approach S12
- Is Golf Watch Fashion a Major Consideration? Buy the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2)
- BONUS: Cheap Golf Watches Alert!
- Why Buy Your Garmin Golf Watch From PlayBetter?
Watch a Garmin fenix 8 Review from a Golfer's Perspective
First the Answers, Then the Questions: Your Garmin Golf Watch Choices
No need for any suspense. Let’s just get right to it and tell you which Garmin golf watch candidates should have your attention. After that, we’ll talk through which ones fit best for which specific use cases.
Kind of like getting the answers to the test before you even know the questions.
Drum roll, please. And the Garmin golf watch short list is:
Just six options? How hard can this test be? Well, you might be surprised. See, each of these Garmin watches do some things the same but many other things quite differently. Features vary considerably. Not to mention, price and aesthetics.
Make no mistake: Each of these Garmin watches is the right answer for somebody. Now, let’s find out which one will ace your test.
Are You Serious About Game Improvement? Buy the Garmin S70 Golf Watch
Here’s the truth: If I could recommend only one golf watch, it would be the Garmin S70 golf watch. That’s because, pound-for-pound, it’s the best overall. It includes Garmin’s most advanced golf-specific features and enough high-level fitness and lifestyle features to make it a very interesting option even off the golf course.
But it’s certainly not for everybody. The Approach S70 is best suited for avid golfers seeking a high-end GPS watch that enhances both their game and daily life.
It’s ideal for players who value in-depth course data, such as full-color maps, plays-like distances that consider weather and elevation, and an advanced virtual caddie that provides personalized club recommendations based on individual performance.
The S70’s comprehensive golf features make it a great fit for low- to mid-handicap golfers aiming to improve their strategy and shot accuracy.
Additionally, its robust health tracking, including heart rate, sleep, and stress monitoring, makes it appealing to those who want to stay fit both on and off the course.
With its sleek design and AMOLED display, the S70 is also suitable for those who appreciate a stylish Garmin smartwatch that can be worn in any setting, from the course to formal occasions.
However, its premium price tag, starting at $649.99, may not be ideal for casual golfers looking for just basic GPS functionality.
Are You a Golfer and a Runner? Buy the Garmin fenix 8
OK, here’s something wild: Garmin’s fenix 8, is designed as a high-end multisport watch. But golf is a sport, right? Right! And the fenix 8 gives you everything the Garmin Approach S70 can do (which is the same thing as saying everything any golf watch can do) PLUS an insane amount of additional fitness and lifestyle features.
The fenix 8 is perfect for athletes who demand top-tier performance across various activities. It caters to endurance athletes, adventurers, and fitness enthusiasts who benefit from advanced navigation, training features, and health metrics.
With its rugged design, including options for a titanium bezel and a sapphire, scratch-resistant glass watch face, the fenix 8 is built for extreme environments, making it ideal for trail runners, triathletes, scuba divers, backcountry explorers, and yes, golfers!
The fenix 8 also offers features like adaptive round-trip routing and ski/snowboard difficulty tracking, enhancing outdoor navigation and sport-specific training.
So, yes, the fenix 8 is the ultimate Garmin watch for running and golf, but it’s actually suitable for a lot more than that.
Are You a Casual to Intermediate Level Golfer? Buy the Garmin S44 Golf Watch
The Garmin Approach S44 is the new and improved version of the S42. And while it’s not a revolutionary product, it’s a meaningful upgrade that’s going to please a lot of golfers.
The S44 delivers excellent-but-basic (by Garmin’s standards, that is) GPS golf features at a reasonable $299.99 price point, making it a great option for players who want a high-quality golf watch without stepping up to Garmin’s more expensive models.
The biggest and most obvious improvement? An AMOLED display. The S44 brings Garmin’s premium, crisp, and vibrant screen technology to a $300 golf watch for the first time. And you don’t have to pay any more than you did with the S42. That’s huge!
The course maps are also much clearer and more engaging, making the whole experience a big step up from the S42’s relatively dull screen.
Navigation has also improved, thanks to the addition of a second physical button. It may seem minor, but for golfers who prefer tactile controls alongside a touchscreen, this makes flipping through menus and yardage screens much smoother.
Off the course, the S44 provides essential smartwatch features like text and call notifications, step tracking, and calendar updates, but it lacks advanced fitness metrics like heart rate monitoring or sleep tracking.
Ultimately, the Approach S44 is the perfect “good” option in Garmin’s streamlined golf watch lineup.
Looking for the Garmin Golf Watch Sweet Spot? Buy the Garmin Approach S50
If you’re looking for a golf watch that does it all—without the premium price of the S70 or fenix 8—the Garmin Approach S50 is your best bet. At $399.99, it sits comfortably between the S44 and S70, offering all the key golf features plus significant fitness and lifestyle upgrades.
And it’s got the beautiful, bright, high-contrast AMOLED display that makes it easy to read yardages, hole maps, and notifications in any lighting conditions.
The S50 delivers all the same core golf features as the S44, including front/middle/back yardages, full-color maps, and hazard distances. But unlike the S44, the S50 offers “plays-like”distances adjusting for elevation changes.
What’s really cool about the S50 and S44 is that Garmin now gives you the option to upgrade the golf features on your watch by paying the $9.99 monthly or $99 annual subscription. In the case of the S50, the upgrades can get you almost up to the golf-level performance of an S70.
But the S50 truly stands apart off the course. It includes a heart rate monitor and Garmin’s full suite of health and wellness tracking, such as advanced sleep monitoring, stress tracking, and guided breathing exercises. It’s a legit 24/7 smartwatch, something the S44 can’t quite claim.
Another major differentiator is the nylon ComfortFit band, which is lighter and more breathable than the standard silicone bands found on other Garmin golf watches. At just 29 grams, the S50 is noticeably more comfortable, especially for those who plan to wear it all day and night.
The S50 is the perfect middle ground in the Garmin watch lineup. For golfers who want premium features at a more approachable price, the S50 is the sweet spot.
Do You Just Need the Golf Watch Basics? Buy the Garmin Approach S12
There’s something to be said for an affordable, durable, reliable golf watch that doesn’t try to do too much. And that’s exactly what the Garmin S12 golf watch is.
Listen, if you’re a beginner golfer, or even an advanced player who maybe plays the same golf course all the time and doesn’t need all of the super-advanced details that are going to tell you every single variable imaginable, you probably don’t need anything more than the S12.
And it’s not like it’s not awesome. It’s just not insane, over-the-top, crazy awesome.
It’s also only $199.99. Which is nice.
With the S12, you get:
- Front/Middle/Back Yardages on more than 42,000 courses from around the world
- Scorekeeping feature right on the watch
- Ability to track how far you hit each club with compatible Approach C10 club tracking sensors
Do you need more than that?
Is Golf Watch Fashion a Major Consideration? Buy the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2)
If you’re the type of golfer who wants to exude classiness, the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) was designed especially for you. This is a drop-dead gorgeous golf watch. In fact, it’s a stunningly beautiful Garmin watch even if you never used it to play golf.
It’s also completely loaded! This is like buying a high-end luxury car and then also getting the highest trim level available.
Yes, it’s got a virtual caddie. Yes, it’s got both a touchscreen and buttons. Yes, it’s got an AMOLED display. Yes, it’s got a French Jacquard-Weave nylon strap. Ok, this could go on for a while. Let’s face it: The answers to all the questions with the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) are YES!
This is where performance meets style. Even if your game doesn’t look the greatest, with the MARQ Golfer on your wrist, at least you will.
BONUS: Cheap Golf Watches Alert!
PlayBetter has now slashed the price of the Garmin Approach S42 golf GPS watch ($199.99 from $299.99). While by current standards the S42 no longer earns a position in the Best Garmin Golf Watch category—it’s still a Garmin! And you know that means it’s still better than a lot of the competitors.
At $100 off the original price, you’ll still get a boatload of Garmin golfing features, including:
- Yardages to the front/middle/back
- 43K+ preloaded golf courses from around the world
- Yardages to layups/doglegs
- Digital scorecard
- Garmin AutoShot
- Green View with Manual Pin Position
- Hazards and Course Targets
- And more!
Plus, the Garmin S42 is a smartwatch in its own right, offering smart notifications, calendar, and weather, as well as step counter, GPS-based distance, time, and pace, and some basic activity profiles.
While the touchscreen display does not sport the eye-catching AMOLED display, it’s a comfy, smaller-sized GPS watch with a 1.2” display and a snappy style.
If you want a mid-range GPS watch with quite a few Garmin golf tools baked in—without the steeper price tag—this might be your jam, on and off the course!
Shop the 2025 Garmin S44 Golf GPS Watch with Bright AMOLED Display!
Get your Garmin Golf features on a stunning screen with free 2-day shipping & free 60-day returns!
Why Buy Your Garmin Golf Watch From PlayBetter?
Yeah, you could buy any of these Garmin watches from a number of different places. The question is, why would you need or even want to look further than PlayBetter.com?
PlayBetter offers free two-day shipping. They’ve got a no-hassle, no-questions-asked return policy. They have passionate golfers on staff, available to answer your questions. And they are a team of hardworking, dedicated, really friendly people who are committed to making your experience a great one.
Now be honest: Do you think you’re going to find that just anywhere nowadays?
But regardless of where you choose to shop, you should now at least know which is the best Garmin golf watch for your game, your style, and your life off the course. Enjoy!
About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen
Marc "Shef" Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.
Featured Products
Related Articles
