Best Golf Watches 2026: Garmin S70, S62 & More Reviewed

Golf demands precision, and Garmin dominates the golf watch market. With 43,000+ preloaded courses, accurate GPS distances, intelligent club suggestions, and intuitive green views, Garmin essentially owns this category. Buying a Garmin golf watch isn't merely purchasing a distance tool—it's gaining a personal course consultant that learns your swing patterns and adjusts recommendations in real-time based on weather and terrain.

In this comprehensive guide for 2026, we break down the top contenders to help you find the perfect caddie for your wrist.

Quick Top Picks: 2026 Garmin Golf Watches

Why These Watches Matter

The Approach S70 sets the modern golf watch standard. Its 1.4-inch AMOLED screen dwarfs the S62's 1.3-inch display, jumping from 390×390 pixels to 454×454 pixels. This means sharper hole maps, faster hazard identification, and clearer landing areas on sun-drenched courses.

The S70's enhanced PlaysLike Distance considers terrain, wind speed, temperature, and pressure—delivering true "playing distance" rather than just GPS yardage. The virtual caddie learns your shot patterns, providing smarter club recommendations.

The Approach S62, though previous-generation, remains strong. It delivers 20-hour GPS runtime (three full rounds) and 14-day standby. It has almost all S70's core features, minus the AMOLED quality and the latest caddie updates.

For casual players, the Approach S12 surprises with value. Its monochrome screen reads beautifully in sunlight, and its 6-round battery life exceeds expectations. While lacking virtual caddie and PlaysLike functionality, its GPS accuracy matches expensive models.

Deep Dive: Approach S70 vs. S62

The S70 and S62 represent different philosophies. S70 targets golf-first users seeking cutting-edge technology, while S62 appeals to pragmatists.

Screen Technology Gap

The S70's AMOLED screen changes the game. Blacks appear purer, contrast superior, colors more vivid. This isn't cosmetic—it's functional. In golf, reading distances quickly matters. S70's high-resolution course maps reveal trees, bunkers, water hazards, and green contours instantly without squinting.

The S62's LCD screen remains clear but struggles in direct sunlight compared to AMOLED. However, S62's smaller 1.3-inch display feels less bulky during daily wear than the S70's 1.4 inches.

Features and Battery

Both include 43,000 courses, green views, and PlaysLike Distance. But S70's PlaysLike proves more accurate, and its virtual caddie performs more intelligently.

Battery heavily favors S62: 20 hours GPS mode, 14-day standby versus S70's 16 hours GPS and 10-14 days standby. Playing multiple rounds without charging? S62 wins.

Virtual Caddie and PlaysLike

S70's caddie learns your shot dispersion and historical performance, remembering patterns—like your reliable 7-iron versus leftward-drifting 5-iron. S62 offers basic caddie functionality but lacks refinement.

PlaysLike Distance appears on both, but S70's version is stronger. It considers terrain, wind, temperature, and elevation—crucial in high-altitude or windy environments where differences become obvious.

Verdict: S70 or S62?

• Choose S70 if you play different courses frequently and demand the best display quality and smartest caddie.
• Choose S62 if you are budget-conscious. It remains powerful with all core functions, just lacking screen quality and latest optimizations.

The Budget Hero: Approach S12

The Approach S12 often gets overlooked. Many assume $199 means major feature cuts. Actually, S12 matches premium siblings on core golf functionality—it simply skips fancy features.

GPS Accuracy and Course Database

S12 delivers identical GPS precision as S70 and S62—typically accurate within 1-2 yards. It contains the same 43,000-course global database. Play anywhere on Earth and S12 recognizes your course.

Screen and Battery

S12's 1.3-inch monochrome screen lacks S70's AMOLED pizzazz, but boasts hidden advantages: monochrome screens often outperform color screens in sunlight. Combined with S12's optimized large numerals, even vision-challenged golfers read all information effortlessly.

Battery delivers real surprises. S12 runs at least 6 golf rounds (approximately 30 hours) in GPS mode—exceeding Apple Watch's 1-2 hour GPS runtime. Play entire weekends without charging.

Who Should Buy S12?

S12 perfectly suits golf newcomers, casual players, or distance-only seekers. It proves golf technology needn't cost a fortune.

Multi-Sport Enthusiasts: Fenix 8 vs. Approach S70

The Fenix 8 is Garmin's flagship multi-sport watch. For someone primarily golfing, how does it compare to the specialist S70?

Fenix 8's Golf Capabilities

Though non-golf-specific, Fenix 8 offers: 43,000 preloaded courses, full-color display with course mapping, PlaysLike Distance, automatic shot detection with CT10, and complete score synchronization. Users report Fenix 8 performs "exceptionally well" for golf—adequate for 99% of amateurs.

Screen and Virtual Caddie

S70's AMOLED screen surpasses Fenix 8's MIP display in brightness and clarity (unless you opt for the AMOLED Fenix version). In direct sunlight, S70 reads easier. Virtual caddie-wise, S70's version edges ahead slightly, though differences prove minor.

Fenix 8's Advantages

Fenix 8 offers what S70 lacks: solar option delivering 30+ day battery, VO2 Max and training load tracking, advanced running metrics, adaptive coaching, mountaineering and hiking optimization, and powerful terrain navigation.

Recommendation

• Golf is your primary sport? Choose S70.
• True multi-sport enthusiast? Choose Fenix 8.

Realistically, for 99% of amateur golfers, Fenix 8's golf performance suffices. Rather than $800 for S70 golf specialization, similar spending on Fenix 8 gains running, cycling, and overall fitness value.

Game-Changing Feature: PlaysLike Distance

PlaysLike Distance ranks among Garmin's most underestimated features. Simply: it's adjusted yardage accounting for factors standard GPS cannot capture.

What It Considers

• Elevation: Hitting 200 yards uphill to a higher green plays like 220 yards. Downhill shots play shorter. Garmin's barometer calculates this automatically.
• Wind: Tailwind may add 5-10 "playing yards," headwind removes 15-20 yards.
• Air Density: Cold, dry climates increase distance; hot, humid environments decrease it.

Real-World Application

Assume you're a 240-yard driver approaching a 180-yard par-3.

• Standard GPS distance: 180 yards
• PlaysLike calculation:
  • Uphill elevation: +15 yards
  • Headwind (10mph): -8 yards
  • Cold temperature (38°F): -2 yards
• Result: 185 yards

Now you know whether a 6-iron fits—or if you need to downclub to a 7-iron for control.

Garmin Golf App & CT10 Sensors

App's Two Tiers

1. Free Version: Digital scorecard, round history, watch sync, course database.
2. $60/Year Membership: Green contours (elevation maps), virtual rounds (Home Tee Hero), enhanced caddie, swing visualization, global competition.

CT10 Sensors: Are They Worth It?

These stamp-sized sensors screw onto club grips. Swings automatically identify clubs, record distance and direction, and build average distance databases.

• Benefits: Uninterrupted round flow, precise data, long-term trending.
• Drawbacks: Cost ($150-180), maintenance needs.

Verdict: If you are a serious golfer wanting authentic game data, buy the CT10 sensors. If you just want scores, skip them.

Conclusion

Whether you choose the premium Approach S70, the reliable S62, or the budget-friendly S12, Garmin offers a tool to lower your handicap. For the multi-sport athlete, the Fenix 8 proves you don't need a dedicated golf watch to get pro-level features.

Analyze your budget and your needs. If you play new courses often, the S70's detailed mapping is indispensable. If you stick to your home club, the S12 might be all the caddie you need.