Best Garmin Golf GPS Watches – Which Watch is Best for Golf?

November 8, 2019 Admin

Garmin Golf watches are establishing itself as the industry standard in golf GPS watches. They seem to be the dominant force in golf watches and brand that the majority of golfers want.

Garmin has undoubtedly upped the golf watch game. Garmin Golf GPS Watches are not just rangefinders anymore. They’re complete golfing aids that are crucial to improving your game.

Best Garmin Watches

In this post I offer my advice on what I feel are the best Garmin golf watches worth considering. They range in budget, performance and overall style.

I try and offer deep insightful information in my Garmin golf watches reviews in order to let you make the best possible choice for you when purchasing.

Garmin Approach S60 – Best Performing

Garmin is establishing itself as the industry standard in their goal to becoming the best golf GPS watch brand on the market. The Garmin Approach S60 (Full Review Here) is packed with the latest and greatest golf technology that will have techies watering at the mouth on the tee box.

The Garmin S60 boasts an impressive list of features that many will try and replicate. But beware, if you came here expecting the latest and greatest golf watch at a bargain, well, you’re in the wrong place. The S60 wont come cheap, but is it worth it? Read on to find out.

The Garmin S60 (Check Price HERE) provides one of the most detailed yardage info available on a golf GPS watch. It’s high resolutions color display presents the yardage and hazard info clearer than any other watch. You get a sky-view image of the green and it’s exact shape, a really nice touch that can be overlooked on other watches.

Performance

The Garmin Approach S60 comes loaded with 40,000 courses from around the world that updates for you for free, so need to worry about course changes or dated information. You will not be charged a subscription fee for updates and new course information like you do for some handheld GPS devices.

Once you arrive at the golf course, the Garmin S60 will pick up your golf course automatically within seconds. A nice improvement is the speed it picks up the golf course. Some GPS watches will be take some time to find the course, not a life time, but when I arrive at the course I want to get on with my golf.

The Garmin Approach S60 allows you to move the flag stick around the green to get a more accurate pin position, using a clever drag and drop touchscreen technology. I think this is important, especially if you play on some links courses that have very large greens.

A lot of courses nowadays provide golfers with pin location maps, so you can move your flag stick around your Garmin S60 to get your accurate yardage.

Excellent Hazard Info

One of the key areas where Golf GPS watches fail to deliver is providing hazard information easily. With some watches, even the best golf GPS watches, it can take endless button clicks and messing with functions, taking 5 minutes and then pissing off your playing partners.

However, this is not the case with Garmin Approach S60. The S60 clearly displays the yardages to hazard info such as bunkers, drains, water hazards. It will also give you layup info for Par 5’s and Dog legs.

You can also use tap yardages. What you do is place your finger on your intended target and you will get the yardage to that location based on your location. It’s a really nice feature and more importantly it’s quick to use.

High Resolution Touchscreen

Like mentioned the Garmin Approach S60 is equipped with a really nice 240 x 240 pixels high resolution color display. The watch face is not too large or chunky. The extra pixels add to the clarity making the 30.5mm display more than adequate to clearly display your golf GPS information.

Sometimes golf watches can be hard to read in sunlight, but the S60 comes with a sunlight readable face. Personally I hate when there’s a glare on the watch, so this is a nice feature in my opinion.

Battery Life

One of the major pitfalls for golf GPS watches is the poor battery life. On GPS mode, many watches will get through about 1 -2 rounds of golf. The S60 battery probably is not the best out there, but 10 hours on GPS mode about 2.5 rounds of golf. I can live with that, especially if its standard mode last up to 10 days. It’s easy to charge, just like a smartphone.

Customisable

The S60 Watch is so customizable; It’s probably one of it’s standout features. You can can download different apps, watch face styles and change the watch straps.

You can really transform this watch into your own and suit your very own style. I love this, changing the watch faces and bands. You can change up the style of your watch completely peaking your interest in the watch once again and prevent you from getting board of the same style.

You can change from a sporty silicon band maybe for golfing or running to a fancy leather strap perfect for business attire.

Post Round Analysis With Garmin Connect

One of the biggest advantages of a golf GPS watch over a laser rangefinder is the post round analysis capabilities they provide. Garmin have put a lot of effort into their analysis software.

The Garmin S60 can be paired with your Garmin TruSwing. The TruSwing uses sensor metrics to see to track your swing tempo, speed, club-path measurements, critical club angles and more. this info can be viewed on your Garmin S60.

This info can also be uploaded to the Garmin Connect Smartphone application.

Using Garmin Connect you can simply upload your golf scores for post round analysis. The shot tracker abilities of this watch are truly amazing. It automatically records the location and distance of each detected shot and uploads it to the user’s Garmin Connect account for post-round analysis.

It’s swing tracking is very sensitive and precise, knowing what are practice swings and golf shots. This allows you to review your game post golf and analyse your golf and pin point where you need to improve on.

Everyday Smartwatch & Fitness Tracker

The Garmin Approach S60 is far more than golf a golf GPS watch. It is also a fantastic smartwatch. You can use this daily as a regular smartwatch and pair it with your phone via Bluetooth.

You can receive all your calls, texts and emails and even check the weather for golf through your Garmin Approach S60. Hence why it’s one of Garmin’s best golf GPS watches. I

The Garmin S60 is also a fitness tracker. Garmin boasts a large list of features such as Step counter, Auto goal (learns your activity level and assigns a daily step goal), calories burned, sleep monitor. It also comes loaded with outdoor activities like running, cycling, rowing, and swimming.

Pros

Stylish watch
Comfortable
Customisable (digital watch faces, mobile apps, quick fit straps, etc)
Various features such as AutoShot, Quick Touch Yardages, Swing tempo, and post round analysis of each hole.
Excellent standalone smartwatch you can use daily

Cons

Very expensive
Takes time to learn all the features.

Garmin Approach S60 – Final Verdict

If you are serious about golf , you need this watch. The Garmin S60 is the best golf GPS watch currently available on the market. It will not disappoint. You should really consider getting his watch to help your game (Check Price Here)

Garmin continues to surprise me by the features the provide. The S60 is not just one of the best golf GPS watches, it’s one of the best fitness watches available. When you consider the price of fitness watches these days being priced at over $500, the S60 is nicely priced.

The improvements it can make to your golf game and lifestyle make this a solid investment. No other watch on the market can compete with the S60’s technology and performance.

Check The Price On Amazon HERE

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Garmin Approach S6 Golf GPS Watch Review

Garmin’s Approach S6 golf GPS watch is one of Garmin’s newest golf GPS watches. The S6 still falls into the high end price bracket. It succeeds the Garmin S5 and like a sister model to the outstanding Garmin S60.

If you want a high performance golf GPS watch but don’t intend in breaking the bank for a S60, this might be the watch for you.

Performance

The Garmin S6 provides yardage to the front, middle, and back of the green with 180 x 180 pixels high resolution color touchscreen. Similar to the S60, except the S60 has a 240 x 240 pixel screen.

GPS watches can lack the precise yardages that laser rangefinders can provide. If you are playing into a large green and the pin is at the back right, having the distance to the centre doesn’t give you exact yardages and a little guessing comes into to play.

However, Garmin has fixed this problem with the drag and drop pin mode. The S6 allows you to zoom in on the pin with Green View. simply tap the flag using the color touchscreen then drag and drop the flag to the position it is on the green. to zoom in on the green.

Hazard Info

The hazard and lay up feature on the S6 is pretty much identical to the S60. The S6 clearly displays the yardages to hazard info such as bunkers, drains, water hazards.

Like the S60, you can use tab yardages to get precise yardages to hazards, bunkers, lay ups. Tab your intended target or landing area to get the yardage based on your location.

Preloaded Course & Hole Overview

The Garmin S6 features full-color course views for more than 40,000 courses from around the world. The Garmin Approach S6 gives you a CourseView like the premium S60 model mentioned ablove

This will help you avoid hazards in tricky landing areas, allowing you to pick the ideal location where you hope to play your next shot from.

With the S6 you can preview doglegs, bunkers and water hazards from wherever you are on the course.

Everyday Smartwatch

The Garmin S6 can be connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth and act as a smartwatch. The Garmin S6 lets you receive emails, texts and alerts directly to the S6. You can read full texts and emails on your Garmin watch without looking at your phone.

Battery Life

The battery life is average on the Garmin S6. It’s not very surprising considering the technology it packs into one watch. On GPS mode (or golfing mode), it last 10 hours, well according to Garmin’s website.

What is impressive though is it’s battery outside of GPS mode. Garmin claim it lasts up to 12 weeks in ‘watch mode’.

However I’m buying this for Golf, not for fashion, so GPS mode is more important to me personally. The average battery life is a sacrifice I’m willing to take for the high resolution color screen.

Swing Analysis

SwingTempo and SwingStrength are new features on the S6 that help you lower your scores. While practicing you can collect data for swing timings and swing strength.

SwingTempo is designed to get your timing in the golf swing correct. The timing ratio is between the back swing and downswing, and is crucial for a consistent and solid back swing.

If you struggle your rhythm this can really change your game. The SwingStrength feature is used to match your swings against your standard full swing. Are you swinging too hard or soft. The SwingStrength feature can help you.

Scoring & Shot Tracking

The Garmin S6 allows you to do handicap scoring options for individual holes in both Stroke play and Stableford. You record your round and fill out your card after if you need to. It’s easily done using the S6.

The Garmin S6 will automatically move from hole to hole for you. each hole is set at the Par score and simply increase or decrease (hopefully haha) the score sing the +/- on the touch screen.

You can save, review, share and print scorecards from your computer or laptop. The Garmin Approach S6 can also measure shot distances, using the Measure Shot feature.

The Garmin S6 also allows you to track your stats such as fairways hit, GIR, putts per round. These stats are vital as you can easily spot a trend in your game where you compare these stats across a number of rounds.

Customisable

The Garmin S6 is not as customisable as the Approach S60. You cannot change the straps, however it has a mutual style that can fit with any activity be it fitness or business.

It’s swings more in the athletic style but an athletic looking watch that has an almost futuristic feel to it. It’s light weight (1.6oz) and can be worn casually or with a business suit (depending on the color).

Although it does have a sportier feel to it, I don’t mind strolling into the office with this watch on my wrist (though it will definitely attract some attention).

Pros

Extremely accurate with drag & drop pin mode
Excellent hazard & layup information
Preloaded courses
No membership or subscription requirement.
High resolution Color display
SwingMetrics Technology
Connect to smartphone to receive texts, emails and alerts
Scorecard uploads, shot counting and post round analysis software
Garmin Connect Technology

Cons

Less technology than the Garmin Approach S60
Small touch screen
Poor battery

Garmin Approach S6 – Final Verdict

This one is a great option if you don’t watch to spend the money on a Garmin Approach S60.

The Garmin S6 still packs a serious punch and is one of the best garmin golf watches available to buy.

The S6 offers you everything you need in a golf GPS watch. If you’re in the market for a high end golf watch and love fancy features, then the S6 is a great option.

It’s far cheaper than the Garmin Approach S60 and will still blow all of your golf buddies minds. From the golf range to the golf course, the Garmin S6 is solid and it offers almost every feature that you could want in a golf GPS watch.

Check The Price On Amazon HERE

Garmin Approach X40

The Garmin Approach X40 (Full Review) is originally a fitness tracker Fitbit style watch that has golf GPS capabilities. The Garmin X40 golf GPS watch is probably the best GPS watch available for both golf and other physical activities. It’s the perfect day to day fitness tracker.

The X40 is a little but thicker than a Fitbit. However, that’s fine as this watch packs a lot of technology into such a small watch.

The Golf GPS works quiet well for yardages. It also allows you to keep score for post golf analysis. You can view on the Garmin Connect App that we have discussed already in this article.

The auto shot detection works well for me although sometimes the X40 picks up practice swings. This maybe from hitting the ground on a certain practice swings. The Connect app syncs smoothly with the X40 and has lots of data view options.

What I love about the Garmin Connect is you can click on specific holes that went well and relive how you did it. For example, how far you hit your drive and where you hit to the 2nd shot pitching wedge you hit to a couple of feet.

FitBut Inspired Design

The Garmin Approach X40 (Check Price HERE) is perfect for anyone who is looking for a solid golf GPS watch with other fitness tracking capabilities outside of golf.

The Garmin Approach X40 is a perfect for on and off the golf course. It’s nice Fitbit style is a direct competitor with FitBit and will appeal to a lot of users.The screen is narrow and long but displays the info you need quiet well. It’s easy to use and doesn’t over complicate things.

The Garmin Approach X40 can pair with your smartphone for calls and texts. Not much use to you while golfing but remember this can is also a day to day fitness tracking watch.

Finally, I highly recommend the Garmin Approach X40 watch, it’s definitely one of the best golf Garmin watches available. Hence why it made my list.

Battery Life

The battery life is quiet good and capable of 2- 3 rounds of golf on a single charge. This is great. Many other golf GPS watches drain the battery on GPS mode. On normal mode (day to day non golfing GPS mode), the battery will last around 5 days.

Pros

Great battery life
Nice compact design, very similar to a FitBit
Auto shot detection
Garmin Connect Analysis
The Garmin Approach X40 is a day to day fitness tracker

Cons

Distances to hazards can look confusing
The Garmin Approach X40 watch will sometimes pick up practice swings as shots. Hopefully Garmin will update this issue.
No Color Screen

Garmin Approach X40 – Final Verdict

This golf GPS watch is the best option for a golfer with an active lifestyle. It gives accurate yardage, has a great battery, and provides distances to the hazards.

But what makes this GPS watch one of the best golf GPS watches is the additional technology that is somehow jam packed into this small device.

Not only does it measure your heart rate and offer activity tracking like a Fitbit, but it also provides the Garmin connect technology allowing you to connect with the golf community around you.

If you’re in the market for a good golf GPS watch, but love the technology of a FitBit, this is the golf GPS watch for you.

Check The Price On Amazon HERE

Garmin Approach S20

The Garmin Approach S20 has all the features you’d imagine would be included in a golf GPS watch. You can analyse your round after each game knowing how far you hit each shot, this is done through Garmin Connect smartphone app.

Performance

I was most impressed with this watch on the course, and it’s one of the reasons why the Garmin Approach S20 (Full Review) is one of the best Garmin golf watches. The yardages were accurate. Within a yard of the course markers at all times.

The yardages to front, middle and back along with the hole number and the par are displayed clearly on the screen together with an outline of the green shape. To scroll between the holes is very easy using the Up and Down buttons on the left side of the S20.

There is also more information available on each hole for hazards, lay up distances. This sounds great however, it takes far too long to get this info and your playing partners will not be too happy waiting 5 minutes for you to find out this info and then take your shot.

Moveable Pin

I do like the option to move the flag pin on the green to allow you to get the exact yardage. You can select from a number of pre selected locations. Simply press the button on the side of the watch to move the pin location to match the pin you are playing into.

For Garmin golf watch this cheap, I was a little surprised that this feature was included in this watch. It makes the S20 the perfect fit if you are looking for accurate yardages to the pin, but not too fussed about the other premium features.

Everyday Smartwatch

This watch can be worn as an every day fitness watch. It will count your steps around the course and calories burnt, which is nice and makes you feel better after the round.

A nice feature with this watch is that it really can be used on and off the golf course. By syncing it with your smartphone to receive calls, texts and emails; you have an everyday smartwatch.

Using the Garmin Connect smartphone app, the Garmin Approach S20 updates all courses automatically.

This really is a gorgeous looking watch that allows you to change your watch bands.

Battery Life

The battery life is also impressive with up to 8 weeks in standard mode and 8 hours in the GPS mode (Golfing mode). If you tend to play in the rain, it’s important to note the Garmin Approach S20 is waterproof.

Pros

Accurate yardage info
Can be used as an everyday fitness watch
Garmin Connect analysis
Waterproof
Good battery
Changeable bands

Cons

Complicated to use at times
Better Garmin watches available
Hazard and layup info takes too long long to get

Garmin Approach S20 – Final verdict

The Garmin Approach S20 is one of the best Garmin golf watches. It ticks plenty boxes. It provides accurate yardages, general fitness tracking, can be used as everyday watch and looks amazing. The customizable options available allow you to really transform the S2 into your own. With an impressive battery to go with it, you wont be disappointed with the Garmin Approach S2.

Check The Price On Amazon HERE

Garmin Approach S2

best Garmin golf GPS watches — Credit: Garmingolf.com

The Approach S2 is one of the best budget golf watches available. Even though it has been out for quiet sometime, it continues to remain popular with golfers. Why so? Well it performs well and it one of the cheapest Garmin golf watches you can buy.

The style of the Garmin S2 is a bit of a chameleon watch. The sleek black style can suit sport, casual or formal style. It’s not too chunky or bold. it’s cool black finish will get your all the right kinds of attention.

The S2 is a brilliant golf watch and one of gamin’s best golf watches, in fact it’s one of the bets golf GPS watches, period. A cost friendly GPS watch that wont disappoint.

Performance

The Garmin S2 performs very well for such a cheap golf watch. It does the simple things extremely well.

It’s on the market now for quiet some time and year after year it continues to be popular.

The Garmin S2 gives you yardage to the front, middle, and back of the green. It also provides yardages for two layup areas on a given hole.

You can also still use the digital scorecard for keeping your scores, that you can upload onto your computer and Garmin Connect.

Very Reasonably Price

This Garmin Golf GPS watch is a cheap golf GPS watch. However, cheap is the wrong word to use here.

It’s one best performing and affordable golf GPS devices on the market. If you are on a tighter budget or looking for an entry level golf GPS watch, the Garmin Approach S2 might be the golf GPS watch for you.

Great watch that does the simple things right

The Garmin S2 does not give you the detailed course overview that a S6 or S60 might do. If you want a full detailed of each hole, hazards etc, this watch is not for you.

But if you want the basic front, middle, back of the green yardages, then look no further than the Garmin Approach S2.

Lets’s face it, most golfers want a Golf GPS watch to get yardages to the target, that it.

A lot of golfers are not always looking for the best golf GPS watches with the latest premium features that they’ll barely use.

Many golfers want a reasonably priced golf GPS watch that provides the yardage to the front, middle, and back of the green.

Battery Life

The Garmin S2’s battery life is better than the high end Garmin watches. With the S2 you get a 26 hole GPS mode battery. This can cover your 2 days of weekend golf if it’s full charged. On normal mode the S2 will last for over 21 days.

Pros

Affordable
Tons of pre-loaded courses
Accurate (even from the rough or out of bounds areas)
Easy to use
Easy to wear
Aesthetically pleasing
Scorecard function
Yardage to the dogleg and layup locations

Cons

Does not offer yardages to bunkers or lakes
At times you’ll have to manually adjust it to reflect the correct hole

Garmin Approach S2 – Final Verdict

The Approach S2 is one of the best Garmin golf watches available for some time now. It does the simple things extremely well. A on the market year after year. It doesn’t have the latest and greatest tech, but it doesn’t need that to be one of the best golf GPS watches.

The S2 is a cheap golf watch. But, it’s far from cheap when it comes to quality and performance. think of it more as a bargain watch. The perfect entry level Golf GPS watch.

Check The Price On Amazon HERE

Why Should You Use a Golf GPS Watch?

Golfers have been looking to improve their game with the last few decades. We all want lower scores and handicaps, am I right? For years, game improvement technology only came from club equipment. The best new irons, the latest and greatest driving technology and so on.

Over the last few years the evolution of GPS devices in my opinion is the single greatest tool modern day golfers can use to improve their golf game. Why so? In order to shoot low scores, you need good course management tee to green. Accurate yardages and hazard information is crucial to lowering your scores.

How many times have you been out on a course that’s badly marked with distance markers, and you are essential guessing the yardage. Your best estimate is 150 yards, when the shot is in fact 140, and you blow your ball over the back of the green. Enter Garmin golf GPS watches.

How Will A Golf GPS Watch Improve My Game

Lower Scores

We all want to shoot lower scores. If you don’t, then your probably lying. Let’s face it, golf is more fun when we play better. It’s such a thrill making birdies, rather than fishing my Prov1 out of the lake.

A golf GPS watch can help you lower your scores by providing you with accurate yardages and course information. Knowing your yardages is so important, especially if you plan on your lower scores.

GPS watches can save you a couple of shots each round. Taking the guess work out of each shot allowing you to focus on making a solid swing.

Faster Play

We all hate slow golfers. The guy striding out the yardages from the 100 yard sprinkler head. Look and go. That’s all it is with a golf GPS watch. That’s how quick and easy it is to check your yardage. No walking around the fairway trying to find the yardage sprinkler head or the 150 maker in the overgrown bushes.

Data Collection

How far do you hit your 6 iron comfortably? Are you confident your answer is accurate? Do you really know or are you guessing?

A rangefinder is not only a yardage tool, it’s a data collecting device. After using a golf rangefinder for a few weeks you will begin to collect your own personal data and know your yardages with all your irons.

This data is collected in a number of ways depending on the golf rangefinder device you are using.

For example, most golf GPS watches can be connected to smartphones and computers for post round analysis. You can record and review how far you hit each shot, and the GPS watches can do this automatically.

Golf Laser rangefinders won’t record this for you but after a few weeks you will no without thinking what club you need to hit that yardages after using the rangefinder on each shit. Or you can manually take note of each yardage.

Overall Fitness Tracking

Nowadays most golf GPS watches are everyday fitness watches. They count your steps, the number calories burned, and also be used as every day smartwatches, receiving texts, emails and alerts directly to your smartwatch without even looking at your phone.

Which Golf GPS Watch Should I Use?

There’s a number of factors to consider before buying Garmin Golf Watches, such as budget, expectations, technology needed.

Budget

I think budget and expectations are the most important ones. There are plenty of golf GPS watches out there to choose from, and they vary dramatically in price depending on the features they provide.

Most golf GPS watches will provide you the key functions with is yardage to the front, middle and back of the green. Most GPS watches should do this pretty well.

From here on the, the more features you get the more expensive you get. High end watches tend to be more like full blown smartwatches. F

or example the Garmin Approach S60 (Full Review) is probably the best Garmin golf GPS watch available. It’s Garmin’s most technology packed golf GPS watch but comes at a heavy cost.

But at the other end of the pricing spectrum you have the Garmin Approach S20 (Full review), a more budget friendly offering from Garmin that focuses on doing the simple things right, which is getting golfers accurate yardages.

Technology & Features

The technology in golf GPS watches continues to impress me year after year. The cheapest golf GPS watches will be just under $100 each, and rise up to $600. There are a number of manufacturers out there but Garmin continues to dominate.

However, Bushnell is trying to take some market share in the GPS watch market. If you don’t know already, Bushnell currently dominates the laser rangefinder market. The best Garmin golf watch for you depends, totally on you. If you read on, I will help you decide what watch is best for your golfing needs.

Garmin Golf Watches

I hope you enjoyed this post about the best Garmin golf watches available to buy. The vary in style, performance and of course budget. But hopefully one of the Garmin Golf watches will be right for you.