10 Best Garmin Golf Watches 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Approach S50 is an advanced golf GPS smartwatch designed to enhance your golfing experience. One of its standout features is the stunning 1.2” AMOLED display, which brings over 43,000 preloaded golf courses to life on your wrist, making it easier to navigate the course. The ComfortFit nylon strap ensures that the watch is lightweight and comfortable to wear both on and off the course.

With up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 15 hours in GPS mode, it has sufficient endurance for multiple rounds of golf without needing frequent recharges. The GPS accuracy is excellent, providing distance measurements to the front, middle, and back of the green, as well as hazard views to help you navigate bunkers and water hazards. The Playslike Distance feature further enhances accuracy by adjusting yardage for elevation changes, giving you a better understanding of your shots. However, the advanced features don't stop at golf; the watch also includes fitness profiles for strength, yoga, and cardio, along with health monitoring such as wrist-based heart rate, stress tracking, and advanced sleep monitoring.

For golfers who want detailed shot tracking, pairing with optional Approach CT1 or CT10 club trackers is a great addition, though these are sold separately. Connectivity and app integration are robust, with Bluetooth and USB options, and the Garmin Golf smartphone app allows for stat tracking and handicap calculation. Additionally, the watch offers Garmin Pay for contactless payments and music downloads from popular streaming services, making it convenient for on-the-go use. While the watch is quite feature-rich, potential drawbacks include the need for separate purchases for full shot-tracking capabilities and a higher price tag compared to some other golf watches. With its comprehensive set of features and strong performance on the course, the Garmin Approach S50 is an excellent choice for avid golfers looking to improve their game.

The Garmin Approach S44 is a slim and stylish golf GPS watch featuring a sharp 1.2-inch AMOLED color display, making course details clear and easy to read. It comes preloaded with over 43,000 courses, primarily covering North America, providing quick access to important distances like front, middle, and back of greens, as well as hazards such as bunkers and water. Battery life lasts up to 15 hours in GPS mode, sufficient for an extended day on the course.

For shot tracking, it pairs with optional club sensors (sold separately) to offer useful insights into your game, helping you focus on areas needing improvement. Scorekeeping is simple directly on the watch, and stats can be synced to the Garmin Golf app for more detailed analysis and handicap tracking. Comfort-wise, its slim design and lightweight build make it easy to wear without feeling bulky. The watch also supports smart notifications, allowing you to receive emails, texts, and alerts right on your wrist when connected to your phone.

Some users may find that the battery requires daily charging if used heavily with GPS and smart features. Advanced shot tracking requires purchasing additional accessories, and while course coverage is strong in North America, it might be less comprehensive in other regions. The Approach S44 is well suited for golfers seeking a handy, stylish GPS watch with solid on-course functions and basic smart features, without involving overly complex technology.

The Garmin Approach S50 is a solid choice if you want a reliable golf GPS watch with a sharp, colorful 1.2-inch AMOLED display that clearly shows over 43,000 preloaded golf courses. Its GPS accuracy and course coverage are very good, providing precise distances to the green's front, middle, and back, as well as hazards like bunkers and water, which helps with course navigation. The Playslike Distance feature is a helpful addition for adjusting shot distances based on elevation changes.

Battery life is decent, offering up to 15 hours in GPS mode—enough for a full day on the course—and up to 10 days when used as a smartwatch. The lightweight ComfortFit nylon strap makes it comfortable to wear throughout the day, and the watch is durable enough for regular golf play. Shot tracking requires optional club trackers sold separately, so this might add extra cost if detailed shot analytics are important to you. When paired with these, the watch can help you analyze your game by showing which clubs and shots may need improvement. Scorekeeping is easy with on-watch features and syncing to the Garmin Golf app for stats and handicap tracking.

Beyond golf, the S50 tracks wrist-based heart rate and other health metrics like stress and sleep, giving a broader picture of your fitness, which can be useful if you want to improve your overall performance. Smart features include Garmin Pay for contactless payments and music playback via popular streaming services, though these require subscriptions and compatible payment cards. The watch relies on Bluetooth and USB for connectivity without cellular options, and some users might find that the watch's functionality is best enjoyed when paired with a smartphone. The Ivory color and aluminum bezel give it a stylish look that’s suitable on and off the course.