7 Best Golf Watches of 2026

The Rad Watch Golf GPS delivers an unexpectedly powerful punch for its class, standing out with its touchscreen pin positioning and dynamic green view that bring course strategy to life right on your wrist. Boasting access to over 42,000 preloaded courses and real-time hazard distances — including front, center, and back of green (FCB) — this watch solves the universal golfer’s pain point: inaccurate yardages. Its interactive touchscreen isn’t just a gimmick; it allows you to drag and drop the pin for exact placement, giving you pinpoint accuracy that static GPS watches simply can’t match.

In real-world use, the Rad Watch shines during fast-paced rounds where quick decisions matter. The color display remains crisp in direct sunlight, and hazard overlays make navigating doglegs and bunkers intuitive. With a battery life rated for multiple 18-hole rounds, and an upgraded magnetic charging system that snaps into place effortlessly, it’s built for reliability. However, while it tracks shots and scores with one-tap ease, it lacks built-in heart rate monitoring or smart notifications, making it purely a golf-focused tool rather than an all-day wearable.

When stacked against the Garmin Approach S50, the Rad Watch doesn’t offer the same health tracking or smart features, but it delivers superior value for dedicated golfers who want advanced course insights without subscription fees. It’s the ideal pick for players who prioritize on-course functionality over lifestyle extras, especially those already invested in the Rad Golf ecosystem. For the price, it outperforms premium competitors in core golf features while keeping software updates and app integration completely free.

Step onto the first tee with the Garmin Approach S70, a luxury-grade golf smartwatch that redefines what’s possible on the course. Its 1.2-inch AMOLED display renders full-color CourseView maps in stunning clarity, transforming your wrist into a dynamic strategy hub with pan-and-zoom functionality for every hole. The real game-changer? Green contour data on select courses — a tour-level insight that reveals slope severity and break direction, helping you read putts like a pro. For golfers tired of guessing on undulating greens, this watch delivers tactical precision that can shave strokes off every round.

Out on the course, the S70 excels in complex terrain, using PlaysLike Distance to adjust yardages for elevation, wind, temperature, and air pressure — critical for mountain courses or blustery coastal layouts. During testing, the virtual caddie consistently recommended accurate club selections by analyzing historical data and environmental conditions, acting like a real-time coach. The battery lasts up to 15 hours in GPS mode, enough for two rounds with ease, though heavy map use can drain it faster. The included portable power bank and charging stand ensure you’re never stranded mid-round.

Compared to the S50, the S70 removes all compromises — no optional features, no missing sensors — making it the undisputed king of golf-specific performance. It’s not just an upgrade; it’s a complete ecosystem built for serious players who demand elite-level data without relying on a phone. While pricier than most, it justifies its cost with unmatched depth in course intelligence and shot execution tools, surpassing even the feature-rich S50 in pure golf utility.

The Bushnell iON Elite enters the ring as the most accurate slope-enabled golf watch under $150, blending slope-adjusted yardages with a color touchscreen that makes course navigation feel effortless. Its standout feature — HoleView with shot planning — lets you tap any point on the fairway for instant distance, while movable pin placement on the green ensures you’re never guessing. With over 38,000 preloaded courses, it covers nearly every playable course worldwide, and the dynamic green mapping adjusts front/back distances based on your line of play — a subtle but powerful edge.

On the course, the iON Elite proves its worth in hilly or windy conditions where flat GPS distances fail. The slope-adjusted readings account for elevation changes, giving you realistic club recommendations without needing a phone app. During testing, the 12+ hour battery life easily handled two rounds, and the USB-C magnetic charging was both fast and secure. The interface is responsive, though occasional lag occurs when switching between HoleView and GreenView. It doesn’t offer health tracking or smart alerts, but that keeps the focus squarely on golf performance.

Against the TecTecTec ULT-G, the iON Elite is in a different league — more precise, more intuitive, and packed with pro-level features. It’s the best choice for golfers who want tournament-legal slope technology without paying premium brand prices. While it lacks the full-color CourseView maps of Garmin’s high-end models, it delivers 90% of the functionality at less than half the cost, making it the smartest upgrade for serious weekend players.

The Garmin Approach S44 strikes a perfect balance between performance and simplicity, offering a stunning AMOLED display and essential golf features without overwhelming the user. With 43,000+ preloaded courses and crisp distance readings to the front, middle, and back of the green, it delivers reliable accuracy in any condition. The hazard view clearly marks bunkers and water, helping you avoid costly mistakes — a must for mid-handicappers refining their course management. And with smart notifications from your phone, you can stay connected without pulling out your device during a round.

In real-world use, the S44 feels lightweight and responsive, with a 15-hour GPS battery life that comfortably covers multiple rounds. The Bluetooth pairing with club trackers (CT1/CT10, sold separately) adds shot-tracking depth, letting you analyze swing patterns and identify weak spots in your game. However, without built-in heart rate monitoring or PlaysLike Distance, it’s not as data-rich as higher-end models. The Garmin Golf app integration is seamless, enabling detailed stat tracking and handicap calculation — but full-color CourseView maps and green contours require a paid membership, a notable limitation.

Compared to the S12, the S44 offers a larger, brighter AMOLED screen and smart notifications, justifying its mid-range price. It’s ideal for golfers who want modern tech without the premium price tag of the S50 or S70. While it falls short of flagship features, it delivers excellent core functionality with room to expand via accessories — making it the best choice for players ready to level up from basic GPS watches.

The TecTecTec ULT-G proves that simplicity can still be smart, offering a no-frills GPS watch that gets the job done without draining your wallet. With access to 38,000+ worldwide courses, it delivers accurate front, back, and center green distances — the essentials every golfer needs. Its four-button interface is refreshingly intuitive, requiring no app or smartphone to function, making it perfect for players who hate complicated setups. Once powered on, it automatically detects your course and hole, so you’re ready to play in seconds.

During testing, the ULT-G performed reliably across varied courses, with consistent satellite acquisition and a battery life that lasted 2.5 rounds on a single charge. The LCD screen is sunlight-readable, though not as vibrant as color displays on competitors. It lacks touchscreen capabilities, shot tracking, or smart features, but that’s by design — this is a dedicated golf tool, not a lifestyle device. Where it stumbles is in advanced navigation; without hazard overlays or green shaping, you’re left estimating distances to bunkers or slopes.

Pitted against the Garmin S12, the ULT-G offers similar core functionality at a lower price, but with fewer refinements. It’s the best pick for budget-conscious beginners or casual players who want dependable GPS without extras they won’t use. While it can’t match the intelligence of touchscreen models, it delivers solid performance where it counts, making it the most practical entry point into golf GPS tech.

The Garmin Approach S50 is a feature powerhouse that doubles as both a high-performance golf watch and a full-featured fitness tracker, making it the ultimate choice for golfers who train hard and play harder. Its 1.2-inch AMOLED display brings over 43,000 courses to life, while PlaysLike Distance adjusts yardages for elevation, ensuring you pick the right club on uphill or downhill shots. But where it truly dominates is in health and wellness integration — with wrist-based heart rate, stress tracking, Body Battery energy monitoring, and advanced sleep analysis, it helps you optimize performance off the course to excel on it.

On the fairway, the S50 delivers crisp hazard views and seamless scorekeeping, with the ability to upload stats to the Garmin Golf app for deep performance insights. The 15-hour GPS battery is solid, though the 10-day smartwatch mode is where it really shines for daily wear. When paired with CT10 club trackers, it transforms into a complete swing analytics system, revealing patterns in your game you never noticed. However, full-color CourseView maps and green contours require a subscription, which feels like a missed opportunity at this price.

Against the S70, the S50 lacks the pan-and-zoom CourseView and enhanced virtual caddie, but it offers more lifestyle functionality with Garmin Pay, music storage, and multi-sport profiles. It’s the best fit for golfers who want a luxury smartwatch that excels on the course, blending elite golf tools with comprehensive health tracking. While not the most golf-focused model, it delivers the broadest overall value for athletes who live beyond the 18th hole.

The Garmin Approach S12 is the gold standard for entry-level golf GPS watches, offering effortless usability and rock-solid performance for beginners and casual players. With over 42,000 preloaded courses, it delivers instant front, back, and center green distances the moment you step on the tee — no setup, no apps, no fuss. Its high-resolution, sunlight-readable display ensures clarity even in harsh midday sun, and the 30-hour GPS battery life means you can play multiple rounds without recharging, a rare advantage in this category.

In real-world use, the S12 impresses with its set-and-forget reliability — it automatically advances holes, keeps score, and pairs effortlessly with club trackers for shot analysis. During testing, it locked onto satellites faster than most touchscreen models, and the button-based interface proved more glove-friendly than touchscreens in cold or wet conditions. It doesn’t offer heart rate monitoring, smart notifications, or color maps, but that keeps the experience focused and distraction-free. For golfers who want pure GPS accuracy without digital clutter, it’s unmatched.

Compared to the TecTecTec ULT-G, the S12 offers longer battery life, better screen quality, and deeper Garmin ecosystem integration. It’s the ideal starting point for new golfers or those upgrading from a rangefinder. While it lacks modern smartwatch features, it outperforms most budget models in core GPS functionality and durability, making it the most dependable no-nonsense golf companion available.