“Which golf GPS watch should I get?” is one of the questions I get asked most often at Golf 360, right up there with driver and iron fitting questions.
It makes sense. There are plenty of options, prices range from a couple of hundred dollars to well over a thousand, and most golfers are unsure which features will genuinely help them.
Here’s my honest breakdown of the best golf GPS watches available or open for pre-order in NZ, who each one suits, and how to choose between them.
What Does a Golf GPS Watch Actually Do?
At its core, a golf GPS watch tells you how far you are from the front, middle and back of the green, along with useful distances to hazards and lay-up areas.
Beyond that basic function, watches vary considerably in what else they offer:
- Slope-adjusted “PlaysLike” distances
- Automatic shot tracking and club recommendations
- Full-colour course mapping versus simple yardages
- Health and fitness tracking for everyday wear
- Battery life across one round or several rounds
The more features a watch includes, the more it tends to cost. That is why the best watch really depends on what you need it to do.
Golf GPS Watch vs Handheld vs Clip-On
Watches sit on your wrist and, depending on the model, can also work as an everyday smartwatch.
Clip-on GPS units, such as the Garmin Approach G12, attach to your bag, belt or pocket. They are ideal for golfers who do not want another watch on their wrist.
Handheld GPS devices, such as the Blue Tees Ringer or Bushnell Phantom 3, give you a larger screen and can be mounted to a cart or trundler.
None is automatically better than the others. It comes down to how you prefer to play.
Best Golf GPS Watches in NZ (2026)
Best Value: Garmin Approach S12
The Garmin Approach S12 is the one I recommend most often to golfers who simply want reliable yardages without paying for features they may never use.
- 42,000+ preloaded courses worldwide
- Sunlight-readable display
- Up to 30 hours of battery life in GPS mode
- 5 ATM water resistance
There is no AMOLED screen or full smartwatch experience. It is a straightforward golf watch that does the essentials very well.
Best No-Fuss Option: Garmin Approach G12 Clip
If you do not want another watch on your wrist, the Garmin Approach G12 clips onto your bag, belt or pocket.
It uses the same extensive course database and offers strong battery life. It is a good fit for golfers who already wear a normal watch and only want quick yardages.
Best Mid-Range Balance: Garmin Approach S50
The Garmin Approach S50 sits nicely between a basic GPS watch and Garmin’s premium models.
It suits regular golfers who want a brighter, more modern display, extra golf functionality and useful everyday fitness features without going all the way to the S70 or S72.
- Strong balance of golf features, appearance and price
- Designed for regular golfers wanting more than basic yardages
- A practical choice for golfers who will also wear it away from the course
Best Simple Colour-Screen Watch: Garmin Approach S44
The Garmin Approach S44 is a good option for golfers who want modern Garmin technology without making things overly complicated.
It offers a clean interface and easy access to the information most golfers use during a round. It is especially appealing to players upgrading from an older GPS device.
Best for Junior Golfers: Garmin Approach J1
The Garmin Approach J1 is designed to make golf technology approachable for younger golfers.
It introduces juniors to yardages and course awareness in a simple format, making it a useful option for golf families and children learning the game.
Newest Premium Option: Garmin Approach S72 (Pre-Order)
The Garmin Approach S72 is Garmin's newest premium golf watch, available to pre-order at Golf 360 for NZ$1,599 including GST in 43 mm and 47 mm sizes.
It adds swing metrics, a dedicated driving range activity and golf biometric data to the premium mapping and Virtual Caddie features familiar from the S70. Sapphire crystal, a titanium bezel and a ComfortFit fabric band are part of the new design.
- 43 mm: 1.3-inch AMOLED display; up to 15 hours in GPS mode and 10 days in smartwatch mode.
- 47 mm: 1.4-inch AMOLED display; up to 20 hours in GPS mode and 16 days in smartwatch mode.
- Green reading, green contour data, aerial imagery and putting analysis require a separate active Garmin Golf membership.
I would consider it if you want practice feedback as well as course information. An S70 owner who mainly uses yardages does not automatically need to upgrade, and the equivalent battery-life figures are unchanged.
Pre-order update, 12 October 2026: the S72 is not currently in stock. Estimated dispatch is 26–30 October for 47 mm and 2–6 November for 43 mm. These dates are subject to change, with courier delivery following dispatch. Check the product listing for the latest availability.
Established Premium Option: Garmin Approach S70
The Garmin Approach S70 remains a capable premium option for golfers wanting detailed mapping and club recommendations, especially if they do not need the S72's new practice features.
- Vivid AMOLED touchscreen with full-colour course mapping
- PlaysLike Distance with elevation adjustment
- AutoShot tracking
- Virtual Caddie recommendations and additional mapping features
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
The 47mm version provides a larger display and longer battery life.
This is not the watch I would recommend to someone who plays twice a year. It is best suited to golfers who want detailed information and will make use of the extra technology.
Handheld Alternatives
If a watch is not your preference, the Blue Tees Ringer and Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope are useful handheld alternatives that can be mounted neatly to a cart or trundler.
Do You Need a Rangefinder Too?
GPS devices and laser rangefinders solve slightly different problems. A GPS gives you quick distances to the green and hazards. A laser gives you a precise distance to the flag or another visible target.
Many golfers use both: GPS for fast course-management decisions and a laser for exact approach-shot yardages. You do not need both, but the combination can be very useful.
Browse our full range of golf rangefinders.
Which One Should You Buy?
- Casual golfer wanting the basics: Garmin Approach G12 or S12
- Regular golfer wanting a modern all-round watch: Garmin Approach S44 or S50
- Golfer wanting the newest practice and premium golf features: Garmin Approach S72 (pre-order)
- Golfer wanting established premium mapping and data: Garmin Approach S70
- Junior golfer: Garmin Approach J1
- Golfer using a cart or trundler: Blue Tees Ringer or Bushnell Phantom 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Do golf GPS watches need a subscription?
Garmin watches include course maps and updates without requiring an ongoing subscription for the core GPS functions. On the S72, green contour data, green reading, aerial imagery and putting analysis require a separate active Garmin Golf membership. Check course coverage for the features you want.
Are golf GPS watches accurate?
Yes. A good golf GPS watch is accurate enough for normal club selection and course management. A laser rangefinder remains more precise when you want an exact distance to the flag.
Can I wear a golf GPS watch every day?
Models such as the S44, S50, S70 and S72 are designed to work well as everyday watches. The S12 is more focused on straightforward golf GPS use.
Should I buy an S72 instead of an S70?
The S72 makes sense if you want its new swing metrics, driving range activity and latest premium features. The S70 remains capable for mapping, distances and Virtual Caddie. Existing S70 owners should upgrade for features they will use, rather than expecting longer battery life.
Is the Garmin Approach S70 worth the extra cost?
It can be for golfers who value full-colour mapping, advanced golf data, shot tracking and everyday smartwatch features. Golfers who mainly want reliable yardages will usually get better value from a simpler model.
Final Thoughts
There is no single best golf GPS watch for every golfer. The G12 and S12 cover the fundamentals brilliantly, the S44 and S50 offer a strong middle ground, the S70 remains an established premium option, and the incoming S72 adds new practice feedback and membership-based golf features.
Browse our complete range of golf GPS watches and golf GPS devices, or visit Golf 360 to compare them in person.
Happy golfing,
Scott Pickett
PGA Professional
Founder – Golf 360
Mount Maunganui
Related reading: Which Garmin golf watch should I buy? and Why buy a Garmin GPS golf watch.
