Technology is apart of all our everyday lives and golf is no different. The development of golf devices has been seismic over recent years and Garmin has been at the forefront of that. The brand are one of the leading lights when it comes to golf devices, making quality products that are designed to enhance your game and experience on the golf course.
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In this article, we take a look at the best Garmin golf devices 2026. The NCG team has got their hands on watches, rangefinders, GPSs the lot, to see which would the most suitable for you. Here’s everything you need to know before investing in such a device…
Best Garmin Golf Devices 2026
AT A GLANCE
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Garmin Approach S44 GPS Golf Watch
More information: Garmin / Amazon
The Garmin Approach S44 GPS Golf Watch is a lightweight and easy-to-use watch. It has the features you would expect in a golf watch in a smart package without any of the extra features that some premium watches offer.
The strap is robust, comfortable and flexible, so, all in all, the S44 is a pleasure to wear, and certainly could be your all-day watch if you wish.
Once you’ve pressed the top button and selected ‘Golf’ on the touchscreen, the GPS kicks into action and finds out where you are quickly and accurately.
ON / OFF COURSE
Garmin Approach S50 GPS Golf Watch
More information: American Golf / Garmin US
I usually don’t wear watches on the course, but after trying the Garmin Approach S50, I was surprised by how lightweight and comfortable it is.
It works well for checking yardages and quickly loading courses, making it very useful during play.
Overall, it’s a great device I now wear daily, both on and off the course.
PREMIUM OFFERING
Garmin Approach S70 GPS Golf Watch
More information: Garmin
The Garmin Approach S70 GPS Golf Watch is a delight to use. It has all the features you would expect in a golf watch in a smart package and offers so much more besides. It can be paired with a compatible Garmin rangefinder to offer even more information.
This is a premium GPS golf watch. I haven’t yet tested a watch that offers all the important information with such clarity and simplicity. The battery life is also outstanding with up to 21 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 20 hours in GPS mode. I certainly had over 60% of juice left after 36 holes in a day on a recent trip to Devon.
BEST LASER
Garmin Approach Z30 Golf Laser
More information: Garmin
The Garmin Approach Z30 Golf Laser is an absolute joy to use and has a number of useful features. It’s not the cheapest rangefinder and, for optimum performance, needs to be paired with a Garmin Smartwatch.
Historically I’ve always favoured a rangefinder over a GPS watch. More recently I have enjoyed the simplicity and speed of a watch. I have to say that using the Approach Z30 paired with a Garmin Smartwatch really is the best of both worlds and I think this represents the future of distance measuring devices.
PORTABLE
Garmin Approach S44 GPS Golf Watch
So here we have a golf watch that offers all the important features you need on the course. The battery life is also outstanding with up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 15 hours in GPS mode. So that should be plenty for 36 holes in a day. Charging is quick and simple via an included proprietary charger.
This is Garmin golf watch that I can wholeheartedly recommend, and it works well as a standalone distance measuring device.
It also pairs seamlessly with the Garmin Approach Z30 rangefinder, and I do rather love that combination of watch and rangefinder.
Pros:
- Crystal clear display.
- Long battery life.
- Intuitive to use.
Cons:
- Occasional GPS glitches.
- RELATED: Read our full Garmin Approach S44 GPS Golf Watch review here.
RRP: £299.99 / $299.99
More information: Garmin / Amazon
CLICK TO RETURN TO ‘AT A GLANCE’
Garmin Approach S50 GPS Golf Watch
On the course, I was really impressed with how it performed. From the tee, you can easily check yardages to bunkers or other hazards, then the approach shot gives you clear yardages to front-middle-back. It was easy to load the course you are playing – the GPS signal picked up the location straight away.
Although simple, I found the score-tracking function to be quite helpful. The S50 gently vibrates on your wrist to remind you to record your score as you approach the next tee, which is especially handy during competitions. Additionally, the device automatically silences smartphone notifications when in golf mode, meaning you can simply concentrate on golf when on the golf course.
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Outside of golf, this watch is superb for everyday wear. It offers a comprehensive range of health features, including heart health monitoring via HRV, blood oxygen levels with the Pulse OX sensor, detailed sleep tracking, and overall activity monitoring. This kind of information takes this watch beyond merely a golf watch but if you do not require such info then the S44 might be a more suitable option.
Pros:
- Very lightweight
- Packed with tech that is of use on and off the golf course
- Yardages are spot on and easy to read
Cons:
- None
- RELATED: Read our full Garmin Approach S50 GPS Golf Watch review here.
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But the Approach Z30 is so much more than a standalone rangefinder. The real beauty of this device is pairing it (via Bluetooth) with your Garmin Golf smartphone app or, as I did, with a compatible smartwatch or handheld. I used the Garmin Approach S70 GPS Golf watch.
Pros:
- Crystal clear display
- Intuitive to use
- Clever integration with compatible Garmin Smartwatch
Cons:
- Expensive
- RELATED: Read our full Garmin Approach Z30 Golf Laser Rangefinder review here.
RRP: £389.99 / $399.99
More information: Garmin
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Overall, this is still a pretty sizeable investment for many people; however it’s a great addition to any player’s practice sessions. The fact that its pocket size means that you can slip it in your bag easily and could even take it out on the course if you wanted, be it not during a Saturday medal.
Pros:
- Extremely accurate
- Covers all club and ball data
- Very portable and comes with handy tripod
- Syncs with Garmin app
- Incredibly easy to set up
Cons:
- No ball normalisation
- RELATED: Read our full Garmin Approach R10 Launch Monitor review here.
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If a premium golf watch, that is equipped with all the tastes and new golf technology that you could possibly need out on the golf course, is your desire then the Garmin Approach S70 GPS Golf Watch is the one for you. If a compact, more budget-friendly and easy to use device ticks all the boxes you require then may be the Garmin Approach G20 Solar GPS is the best option.
Either way, whichever option you choose to go with you’ll be met with a premium product.
CLICK TO RETURN TO ‘AT A GLANCE’
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