Best Golf GPS Watches for Everyday Golfers
The best golf GPS watches include the Garmin Approach S70 Golf GPS Watch for a big 1.4 in screen and a long GPS battery, the Garmin Approach S50 Golf GPS Watch for an all-day watch with Garmin Pay and music, and the Garmin Approach S44 Golf GPS Watch for a slim watch with smart alerts.
On this page (12 sections)
- The 5 best golf GPS watch models in detail
- Side by side: courses, battery and screen size
- Garmin S44, S50 or S70: what each step adds
- Golf GPS watch features in plain words
- How we picked these five watches
- Does a golf GPS watch need a subscription?
- How long the battery lasts on a full round
- Touch screen or buttons for your wrist
- Fit and comfort: case size and strap
- Slope and plays-like yardage on a watch: what to check before a competition
- Watch or laser for exact flag distance
- Which golf GPS watch to buy for your round
A golf GPS watch shows the front, middle and back of the green from a course map on your wrist. The best golf GPS watch for you depends on how long the battery lasts, how much screen you want to read and whether it asks for a membership.
We compared five watches from Garmin, TecTecTec and SILLAID on those points and on the courses each one stores. If the exact distance to a flag matters most, read Golf Rangefinder vs GPS Watch: Which Should You Buy? first, because a laser measures the object you aim at.
Our picks at a glance
-
1
Best for a big 1.4 in screen and a long GPS batteryGarmin Approach S70 Golf GPS Watch
9.2/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for an all-day watch with Garmin Pay and musicGarmin Approach S50 Golf GPS Watch
8.8/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for a slim watch with smart alertsGarmin Approach S44 Golf GPS Watch
8.6/10 our score
See it on Amazon
- 4
Best for a 1.43 in touch screen and slope modeCheck it - 5
Check itTecTecTec ULT-G Golf GPS Watch
Best for simple yardages with no subscription
The 5 best golf GPS watch models in detail
The Approach S70 scores highest because it pairs the largest Garmin screen with the longest GPS battery figure here. The TecTecTec ULT-G scores lowest because it has an LCD and five buttons only, though it is the simplest to run.
Garmin Approach S70 Golf GPS Watch
- 1.4 in AMOLED display
- 43,000+ preloaded CourseView maps
- Barometer for PlaysLike Distance
- AutoShot round analyzer
A 1.4 in AMOLED screen and up to 20 hours of GPS battery give you pannable color maps and the longest GPS figure here. Green contour data needs a Garmin Golf membership.
Pros
- Largest Garmin screen in this roundup
- Barometer for PlaysLike Distance
- Pan and zoom on course maps
Cons
- Green contour data needs an active Garmin Golf app membership
- The 47mm case is the largest Garmin here
The Approach S70 has a 1.4 in AMOLED display, the largest of the Garmin watches in this roundup. Garmin says it carries more than 43,000 preloaded CourseView maps and runs up to 20 hours in GPS mode.
Maps pan and zoom, so you can study a target on the green before you pick a club. Garmin says a built-in barometer helps its PlaysLike Distance account for uphill and downhill shots, wind, temperature and air pressure.
Green contour data, which shows the slope direction of the green, needs an active Garmin Golf app membership. The AutoShot analyzer records detected shot distances on its own, and optional Approach CT10 sensors add club tracking.
The case is 47mm, the largest Garmin case here, so try the fit before you commit. It's the pick for a golfer who wants the most Garmin screen and the longest GPS battery.
Garmin Approach S50 Golf GPS Watch
- 1.2 in color AMOLED display
- 43,000+ preloaded courses
- Hazard view and PinPointer
- Garmin Pay and music downloads
A 1.2 in color AMOLED display and up to 15 hours in GPS mode sit in a watch that also handles payments and music. Garmin says it lasts up to 10 days in smartwatch mode.
Pros
- Garmin Pay for contactless payments
- ComfortFit nylon strap
- Hazard view for bunkers, water and layups
Cons
- Music services may need a subscription
- Heart rate, stress and sleep tracking are extras if you only want golf
The Approach S50 is the Garmin pick for a watch that does more than golf. It has a 1.2 in color AMOLED display, more than 43,000 preloaded courses and a ComfortFit nylon strap.
Hazard view shows bunkers, water and layups, and PlaysLike Distance adjusts yardage for elevation changes. Garmin says it runs up to 15 hours in GPS mode and up to 10 days in smartwatch mode.
Garmin Pay works for contactless payments with a supported card, and music from Spotify, Amazon Music or Deezer can play on the go. Garmin notes that the music services may need a subscription.
It also tracks heart rate, stress and sleep, which is extra if your focus is the course. The 43mm case and 1.2 in screen match the S44, so the choice comes down to features rather than fit.
Garmin Approach S44 Golf GPS Watch
- Slim 43mm case
- 43,000+ preloaded courses
- Hazard view and PinPointer
- Smart notifications with a paired phone
A slim 43mm watch with up to 15 hours in GPS mode covers the basics well. Enhanced CourseView maps need a Garmin Golf membership.
Pros
- Smart notifications on the wrist when paired
- Keeps score on the watch, then uploads to the Garmin Golf app
- Hazard view and PinPointer
Cons
- Enhanced maps, green contour, PlaysLike Distance and Touch Targeting need a Garmin Golf membership
- Smaller 1.2 in screen than the S70
The Approach S44 has a slim 43mm case and a 1.2 in color AMOLED display, the same screen size as the S50. It covers more than 43,000 preloaded courses and shows front, middle and back yardages.
Hazard view marks bunkers, water and layups, and PinPointer helps you line up a shot when you can't see the green. You can keep score on the watch, then upload the round to the Garmin Golf app for stat tracking and handicap calculation.
Paired with your phone, the S44 sends emails, texts and alerts to your wrist, so the phone can stay in the cart. Garmin says it runs up to 15 hours in GPS mode.
Enhanced CourseView maps, green contour data, PlaysLike Distance and Touch Targeting need a Garmin Golf membership. If front, middle and back yardages cover your round, you can skip the membership and still use the watch as it comes.
SILLAID AMOLED Golf GPS Watch
- 1.43 in AMOLED touch screen
- 40,000+ preloaded courses
- Slope mode on or off
- Up to 6 hazard distances
A 1.43 in AMOLED touch screen, the largest in this roundup, is the main draw. SILLAID says there are no subscription fees.
Pros
- No subscription fees, SILLAID says
- Slope mode on or off
- Free SILLAID Golf app for scores and round history
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Shot distance tracking is manual
- Changing the language may need a SILLAID app update
The SILLAID has a 1.43 in AMOLED touch screen at 466 x 466 resolution, the largest display in this roundup. SILLAID says the screen stays easy to read in bright sunlight and refreshes at 60Hz.
It stores more than 40,000 courses, and SILLAID says there are no subscription fees. Yardages show the front, middle and back of the green, plus up to six hazard markers for bunkers and water.
Slope mode turns on for plays-like distance and off for true distance, so you can match the setting to your event. SILLAID gives the weight as 49g and says a full recharge takes about an hour.
Shot distance tracking is manual, so it's a step you take rather than something the watch does for you. The free SILLAID Golf app keeps scores, stats and round history in one place, and a 2-year warranty backs the watch.
TecTecTec ULT-G Golf GPS Watch
- 38,000+ preloaded courses
- No phone needed on the course
- Front, back and middle distances
- Five buttons, no touchscreen
No phone needed on the course and five buttons to run it, TecTecTec says. The watch has 38,000+ preloaded courses and no subscription fees.
Pros
- No phone needed on the course
- TecTecTec says there are no complicated menus
- One-year warranty
Cons
- LCD display, not an AMOLED screen
- No touchscreen, so every choice is a button press
The ULT-G is the simplest watch here, with five buttons, an LCD display and no touchscreen. TecTecTec says it works on its own during a round, so you don't need to carry your phone.
Press the satellite button to find nearby courses, pick yours and start the round. The watch moves through the holes on its own, and it shows front, back and middle distances, plus hazards and shot distance measurement.
TecTecTec says the battery lasts up to 2.5 rounds per charge. The watch has 38,000+ preloaded courses, free course updates and no subscription fees, and it comes with a one-year warranty.
A companion app is optional and handles the free course and firmware updates. Pick it for a plain setup with few decisions to make, and skip it if you want a touch screen or an AMOLED display.
Side by side: courses, battery and screen size
Battery and screen size separate these five watches the most, so compare those two rows first. Course counts run from 38,000 to 43,000 preloaded courses, so they rarely decide the pick on their own.
| Product | Best for | Courses | Battery | Display | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Approach S70 Golf GPS Watch | a big 1.4 in screen and a long GPS battery | 43,000+ preloaded | Up to 20 hours in GPS mode | 1.4 in AMOLED | 9.2 |
| Garmin Approach S50 Golf GPS Watch | an all-day watch with Garmin Pay and music | 43,000+ preloaded | Up to 15 hours in GPS mode | 1.2 in color AMOLED | 8.8 |
| Garmin Approach S44 Golf GPS Watch | a slim watch with smart alerts | 43,000+ preloaded | Up to 15 hours in GPS mode | 1.2 in color AMOLED | 8.6 |
| SILLAID AMOLED Golf GPS Watch | a 1.43 in touch screen and slope mode | 40,000+ preloaded | 8+ hours of continuous tracking | 1.43 in AMOLED touch | 8.0 |
| TecTecTec ULT-G Golf GPS Watch | simple yardages with no subscription | 38,000+ preloaded | Up to 2.5 rounds per charge | LCD with five buttons | 7.7 |
The SILLAID has the largest screen at 1.43 in, and the Approach S70 has the longest GPS figure at up to 20 hours. The ULT-G gives its battery in rounds rather than hours, so read that row as a round count and not a time.
The Garmin S44 and S50 share a 1.2 in display and up to 15 hours of GPS battery. Their differences sit in the features, which the next section sorts out.
Garmin S44, S50 or S70: what each step adds
The S44 covers the golf basics, the S50 adds payments, music and health tracking, and the S70 adds the bigger screen, the barometer and the longest GPS battery. All three carry more than 43,000 preloaded courses.
The S44 is the slim, golf-first choice. It keeps score, sends phone alerts to your wrist and uploads rounds to the Garmin Golf app.
The S50 keeps the same 1.2 in screen and 43mm case, then adds Garmin Pay, music downloads and wrist-based heart rate, stress and sleep tracking. Garmin also lists PlaysLike Distance for it, with adjusted yardage for elevation changes.
The S70 moves up to a 1.4 in screen in a 47mm case with a ceramic bezel. It adds a barometer for PlaysLike Distance, the AutoShot round analyzer, a virtual caddie that suggests a club and up to 16 days in smartwatch mode.
Golf GPS watch features in plain words
Hazard view, PinPointer and PlaysLike Distance are the Garmin terms you'll see most, and each answers one question on the course. What is in front of me, where is the green and how far does this shot really play?
Hazard view shows bunkers, water and layups on the hole you're playing, and Garmin lists it for the S44 and S50. The S70 uses full-color CourseView maps that pan and zoom for that kind of detail.
PinPointer helps you line up a shot when you can't see the green, such as around a dogleg. Garmin lists it for the S44 and S50.
PlaysLike Distance adjusts yardage for elevation changes, and on the S70 it also draws on a barometer for wind, temperature and air pressure. The SILLAID's slope mode does a similar job for uphill and downhill shots, while the ULT-G sticks to plain distances.
How we picked these five watches
Our score weighs specs and features against what you're shopping for. We compared screen size, battery, preloaded courses, fee policy and extras for each watch.
Watches that state their battery in hours and their fee policy in plain terms scored higher, because those are the numbers you need to compare. A battery given in rounds is harder to line up, so the ULT-G lost a little there.
The scores rank the watches for a golfer who wants accurate yardages with little setup. They are not a verdict on every use.
Does a golf GPS watch need a subscription?
Not for the basics. TecTecTec and SILLAID both say their watches have no subscription fees, and all five models come with preloaded courses.
Garmin ties some extras to a membership. On the S44, enhanced CourseView maps, green contour data, PlaysLike Distance and Touch Targeting need one, and on the S70, green contour data does.
Garmin also says the S50's music services may need a subscription. Garmin's home page, garmin.com, has the current membership terms.
A membership matters most if you play the same courses often and want the extra map detail. If you only want front, middle and back distances, the two no-fee watches cover that with nothing more to buy.
How long the battery lasts on a full round
The Approach S70 has the longest GPS figure here at up to 20 hours, and the S44 and S50 follow at up to 15 hours. The SILLAID gives 8+ hours of continuous tracking, and TecTecTec rates the ULT-G at up to 2.5 rounds.
Each maker measures battery its own way, so compare hours with hours and read the ULT-G figure as a round count.
Golf GPS watch battery and charging between rounds
The S44 charges in about 30 minutes and the S50 in about 2 hours, which matters if you play twice in one week. SILLAID says a full recharge takes roughly an hour.
Garmin also gives smartwatch-mode figures, up to 10 days for the S50 and up to 16 days for the S70, which help if you wear the watch all day.
If you play about once a week, charging the night before is the simplest habit. Each figure above covers at least one full round.
Touch screen or buttons for your wrist
Buttons give you the shorter routine, and a touch screen gives you more to look at between shots. The ULT-G uses five buttons and no touchscreen, while the SILLAID has a 1.43 in touch screen.
Five buttons work the same way on every hole, which keeps things quick when you're walking. A touch screen suits a golfer who likes to look around the map before each shot.
A bigger screen shows more of the hole at once, and the S70 is the largest Garmin face here at 1.4 in. Pan and zoom on its course maps lets you look at one target on the green in more detail.
Fit and comfort: case size and strap
The Garmin S44 and S50 share a 43mm case, and the S70 is the big one at 47mm with a ceramic bezel. If you want the smaller watch, the two 43mm models are the safer fit.
The S44 comes on a silicone band and the S50 on a ComfortFit nylon strap, which Garmin says makes it an easy all-day wear. SILLAID says its watch has a 49g body and is comfortable from the first tee to the last putt.
A watch that stays in the bag can't give you a yardage, so try one on before a round if you can.
Slope and plays-like yardage on a watch: what to check before a competition
Distance measuring is allowed by default under the Rules of Golf, and a committee can prohibit it. Slope and other readings, such as plays-like yardage, aren't allowed in a round unless the committee permits them.
That matters for the SILLAID's slope mode and Garmin's PlaysLike Distance. SILLAID lets you switch slope off for true distance, and for a Garmin you should confirm in the manual whether PlaysLike Distance can be turned off before you enter an event.
The ULT-G shows plain distances, so it has no slope question to answer.
Our guide to golf rangefinder rules and slope walks through the details. Your event or club committee has the final word on the local rule.
Watch or laser for exact flag distance
A watch is the better tool for seeing the layout of a hole, and a laser is the better tool for the exact distance to a flag. If you can only buy one, decide which of those two you reach for more often.
When a laser beats a golf GPS watch
A laser ranges the object you aim at, which helps when a flag sits in front of trees or a bunker. A watch reads distances from the course map, so it can't tell you which object is the flag.
A laser also helps on a shot over a rise or into a green you can't see well, since you point at the flag itself. Laser models with slope measure the angle to the target, and the Best Golf Rangefinders With Slope roundup covers those.
If you want a laser and GPS on one device, Golf Rangefinder With GPS: Is a Hybrid Worth It? looks at that choice. If you'd rather carry a laser, the Best Golf Rangefinders for Seniors and Older Golfers roundup is one place to start.
When a golf GPS watch is enough
A watch fits well if you want the layout of a hole, the front, middle and back yardages and a scorecard on your wrist. You don't have to aim at anything, and the S44 keeps score from the watch itself.
Between shots you glance at your wrist instead of reaching into the bag, which keeps the walk moving.
A handheld GPS with a cart magnet is another route if you'd rather not wear a watch, and the Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope Golf GPS Review covers one. Phone apps can show yardage too, and Golf Rangefinder App vs a Real Rangefinder compares them with a real laser.
Which golf GPS watch to buy for your round
Pick the Approach S70 if you want the largest Garmin screen and the longest GPS figure, and you're ready for a membership for green contour data. Pick the Approach S50 if you want the same 1.2 in display as the S44 with Garmin Pay, music and health tracking on one watch.
Pick the Approach S44 if you want a slim 43mm watch with smart alerts and up to 15 hours in GPS mode. Pick the SILLAID if you want the largest screen here and no subscription fees, and you don't mind tracking shot distances by hand.
Pick the TecTecTec ULT-G if you want the simplest watch, with five buttons, no phone on the course and no subscription fees.
Buying for someone else? Ask whether they want a watch that does more than golf, which points to the S50, or one that keeps the basics simple, which points to the ULT-G.
If a watch isn't settled for you yet, Golf Rangefinders: The Complete Buying Guide lays out every option, from the best golf GPS watch to a laser.
Our top 3 picks at a glance
-
1
Best for a big 1.4 in screen and a long GPS battery
Garmin Approach S70 Golf GPS Watch
9.2/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for an all-day watch with Garmin Pay and music
Garmin Approach S50 Golf GPS Watch
8.8/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for a slim watch with smart alerts
Garmin Approach S44 Golf GPS Watch
8.6/10 our score
See it on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
Do golf GPS watches need a subscription?
TecTecTec and SILLAID both say their watches have no subscription fees, and all five models come with preloaded courses. Garmin ties extras such as enhanced maps and green contour data on the S44 and S70 to a Garmin Golf membership, so confirm what you need before you buy.
Which golf GPS watch has the longest battery?
The Garmin Approach S70 has the longest GPS figure here at up to 20 hours, and the S44 and S50 are at up to 15 hours. TecTecTec rates the ULT-G at up to 2.5 rounds per charge, so compare hours with hours, since each maker measures its own way.
Can a golf GPS watch replace a laser rangefinder?
A watch works well for the front, middle and back of the green, but it can't aim at one object. A laser is the better tool for the exact distance to a flag that sits in front of trees or a bunker, so some golfers keep both.
Do golf GPS watches work without a phone on the course?
The ULT-G works on its own during a round, TecTecTec says, and the Garmin and SILLAID watches come with preloaded courses. Pairing a phone adds extras, such as smart alerts on the S44 and score uploads to the Garmin Golf app.
Are golf GPS watches allowed in tournaments?
The event or club committee decides which devices are allowed, so check the local rule before you play in a competition. Some of these watches show elevation-adjusted yardage, such as the SILLAID slope mode and Garmin PlaysLike Distance, and an event can limit those features.
