The S62 is Garmin's flagship golf watch, and it is, in my opinion, the greatest golf watch on the market in terms of performance. The S62 replaced the extremely popular S60, which is a wonderful watch in its own right and worth considering if your budget doesn't allow for an S62 (you can still acquire an S60 for approximately £300 while supplies last). The latest model has a larger screen, higher definition graphics, a longer battery life (twice the duration when in GPS mode), and additional functions including a pulse oximeter, mobile payment, and virtual caddie.

The S62 isn't just a golf watch; it also contains a number of smart watch features, with a focus on health and fitness. There's a heart rate sensor, a step counter, and a variety of apps for cycling, running, and swimming. You receive notifications, but you can't respond to them like you can on an Apple Watch. Although it is a smart watch, it isn't all that smart!

On the golf course, though, it performs like no other. The S62 comes with a slew of intriguing extras in addition to all of the usual features. Shot tracking is available for those who enjoy the analytical side of things, and the touchscreen makes it simple to check distances for hazards and find the ideal spot on the fairway for layups. It also automatically records the distance of every shot (which makes finding balls that have strayed from the fairway a whole lot easier). What sets the S62 apart from the competition is that after five rounds with the watch, you'll be able to use the 'virtual caddy' feature, which provides club recommendations based on how far you hit each club in the club, as well as other external elements like wind and elevation. The MARQ Golfer is presently the only other Garmin watch that has this feature.

The S62 does not require pairing with a smartphone and performs very well on its own, but if you do couple it with the phone during the round, the "plays like" feature will provide you with access to wind and slope statistics. So, while a conventional GPS watch would say you have 150 yards to the pin, the reality could be quite different if you're playing uphill and into a 10mph breeze. The S62 takes this into account while calculating your score.

SPECIFICATIONS

• RRP: £479.99 / $499.99
• Courses: Over 42,000
• Battery life: 20 hours (GPS mode)
• Screen Size: 3.3cm
• Weight: 61g

REASONS TO BUY

• Clear colour display makes it easy to view
• Plays like’ distance feature factors in wind and slope
• Offers a raft of smartwatch features

REASONS TO AVOID

• Expensive (but certainly not over priced)

BUY NOW: amazon.com/dp/B083BJSYZ9

The Garmin Approach S42 is ranked second among the best Garmin golf watches. The S42 delivers the best value and performance in the Garmin golf range, owing to the fact that it can do many of the same things as the S62 while costing two hundred pounds less. The S42 is the successor of the S40, and Garmin has taken everything that was excellent about the S40 and improved it even more. The S42 differs from its predecessor in that it has a battery life of 5 hours longer in GPS mode. In other words, the newer model gives you one extra round of golf.

While the S62 is still Garmin's flagship GPS watch, the S42 has many of the same features as the S62, including smart watch applications such as step tracking, notifications, calorie and sleep monitoring, fitness profiles for various sports, and water resistance. The S62 is still the only place where you can find a heart rate monitor. The S42 is a touchscreen as well, but instead of the three buttons found on the S62, it has a single button operation mechanism that works better than you'd expect and doesn't limit functionality.

As previously mentioned, the S62 has a 'plays like' option that takes into account slope and wind speed when calculating yardages. This is against tournament rules, but unlike the Garmin Approach Z82 rangefinder, there is no visible method to prove that the S62 is switched off, therefore golfers have to rely on the honor system. Because the S42 lacks the 'plays like' feature, it is better suited to competitive golfers. The GPS locator on the S42 is significantly faster than on the S62, which is slightly older and significantly more expensive.

When you arrive at the course and select 'golf,' it instantly recognizes your location. Don't get me wrong: the S62 isn't slow, but the S42 is lightning fast. The 'last shot' function allows you to keep track of each individual shot. This is the same function that the S62 automatically displays on the home screen, but it must be be selected on this model, which can be inconvenient at times. The S42, like all Garmin golf watches, is great for post-round analysis and works with the C10 club sensors (which must be bought separately). This watch is great for individuals who don't want to spend the money on the S62 but still want a watch with a lot of features and usefulness. Overall, this watch provides the best value for money and performance.

SPECIFICATIONS

• RRP: £269.99/$299.99
• Courses: Over 42,000
• Battery life: 15 hours
• Screen size: 3cm
• Weight: 43g

REASONS TO BUY

• Stylish and lightweight
• Cutting-edge GPS delivers accurate distances
• Packed with features

REASONS TO AVOID

• Graphics not as flashy as the S62
• No virtual caddie feature

BUY NOW: amazon.com/dp/B08X1SP29P

MARQ Golfer ranks 3rd on the list of the best garmin golf watches. The MARQ Golfer combines the Fenix and Approach series from Garmin, then adds titanium and other high-end components. As a consequence, you get a feature-rich gentleman's watch that's ideal for golfers but also includes a slew of fitness and smartwatch features. The MARQ is made of high-quality materials, including a titanium case with a 46-millimeter diameter and a ceramic bezel with specially etched 1-18 golf hole markings. A domed sapphire lens and an always-on, sunlight-readable display further distinguish this as a high-end device. It doesn't look as good as an OLED panel, but it's more practical and has a significantly longer battery life.

On the course, it has nearly identical functionality to the S62, with the exception that it is not touchscreen. The true beauty of the MARQ Golfer, however, is that it may be worn off the course as well. It's fashionable enough to go out to dinner, has all of the features you'd expect from a wristwatch – such as notifications – and is functional enough to suit all of your health and fitness demands. It has everything you'd expect from a smartwatch and more, and the five-button layout makes it quite easy to use (after you've figured out what each button does, that is). Three Approach CT10 club tracking sensors are included with the MARQ Golfer for sophisticated tracking capabilities, including location, distance, and club type.

If the price does not deter you, this is the golf watch for you since it combines practically all of the S62's on-course capabilities with a fashionable, premium design that you will never want to take off. If you're thinking about buying one, read my complete review of the Garmin MARQ golfer first to make sure you know what you're getting. If you're still undecided about which premium Garmin watch to choose, we've put together a quick comparison of the Garmin MARQ and the Approach S62.

SPECIFICATIONS

• RRP: £1,699.99/$1,850
• Courses: Over 42,000
• Battery life: 28 hours
• Size: 3.4cm
• Weight: 88g

REASONS TO BUY

• Great screen
• All the same features as the Approach S62
• Huge list of non-golf features
• Genuinely premium feel

REASONS TO AVOID

• Genuinely premium price
• Not touchscreen

BUY NOW: pricerunner.com/pl/1438-5218278/Wearables/Garmin-Marq-Golfer-Compare-Prices

Garmin Approach S12 ranks 4th on the list of the best garmin golf watches. If you don't want to fiddle with your watch and just want it to tell you what you need to know, the S12 is the watch for you. It has a simple black and white screen with basic pictures and no touchscreen, thus everything is operated by four buttons. You get yardages for the front, middle, and back, and you may move the pin around to get a more precise figure. The green graphics on the S42 have dots on them to represent where the front, middle, and back yardages are taken from. The process of entering scores is similar to that of the other, more expensive Garmin watches. You'll need to input your score, number of putts, whether you hit the fairway or missed left or right, and whether you had any penalties on the hole.

A shot tracker is available, however it functions differently from the more expensive Garmin watches. The S62 displays the distance traveled by your shot without you having to do anything, but the S42 displays this information if you browse through the menu and pick 'last shot.' When you start moving, the S12 must be manually engaged from the location where you hit the shot, and it will begin calculating the yards. This isn't ideal if you're not used to having to do so, but it's something that golfers who haven't used a GPS watch before will rapidly get used to.

SPECIFICATIONS

• RRP: £179.99 / $199.99
• Courses: Over 42,000
• Battery life: 30 hours
• Size: 2.3cm
• Weight: 34g

REASONS TO BUY

• Very easy to use
• Big Numbers mode ideal for golfers who don't have great eyesight

REASONS TO AVOID

• Limited off course functionality

BUY NOW: amazon.com/dp/B08X1L2CDK

Garmin Approach G12 ranks 5th on the list of the best garmin golf watches. On the course, not all golfers enjoy wearing a watch. Some people find it repulsive and believe it interferes with their swing. If that describes you, the G12 is a good option. This handy little gadget functions as a GPS pocket watch in all except name. You may attach it to your belt or golf bag, or simply keep it in your pocket because it's so small you'll forget it's there.

It comes pre-loaded with over 42,000 courses and is C10 sensor compatible, as do all Garmin GPS devices. It offers most of the same capabilities as the S12 and has a four-button setup that makes it quick and easy to use on the course. Greens are displayed in their genuine shape, and yardages to the front, center, and back of the green are shown, as well as distances to any hazards encountered along the way. When you sync your smartphone to your Garmin account during or after your round, you can keep track of your score and all of your metrics will be saved to your Garmin account.

SPECIFICATIONS

• RRP: $199.99
• Courses: Over 42,000
• Battery life: 30 hours
• Size: 2.3cm
• Weight: 25g

REASONS TO BUY

• Can be clipped to belt or golf bag
• Simple to use
• Big Numbers mode ideal for golfers who don't have great eyesight

REASONS TO AVOID

• Easy to lose

BUY NOW: garmin.com/en-CA/p/739416