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Comparison

Golf GPS watch vs Apple Watch with a golf app

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In short

A dedicated golf watch is built for golf: long GPS battery, buttons that work with a glove, maps preloaded and often no subscription. An Apple Watch with a golf app can show similar distances and is a better everyday smartwatch, but GPS use drains its battery faster and many golf apps charge for premium features. Golfers who play a lot usually prefer a dedicated watch.

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

Our verdict

Stick with your Apple Watch and a golf app if you play occasionally and value one device for everything. Choose a dedicated golf watch such as the Garmin Approach S12 for long battery and simplicity, or the Shot Scope V5 for built-in shot tracking with no subscription, if you play weekly and want a device that just works on the course.

If you already wear an Apple Watch, adding a golf app looks like an easy way to get distances without buying another device. It can work well, but there are trade-offs in battery life, screen readability, course maps and ongoing app costs. This comparison sets two dedicated golf watches, a Garmin and a Shot Scope, against the general case of an Apple Watch with a golf app, using listing facts for the golf watches and widely known points for the Apple Watch.

How each approach works

A dedicated golf watch stores course maps on the device and uses its own GPS to show distances. It is designed around golf, with features such as front, middle and back of the green, hazard distances and scorekeeping, and it pairs with the maker's app for stats.

An Apple Watch uses a third-party golf app from the App Store. The app downloads course data and uses the watch's GPS. Features depend entirely on the app: some show basic distances for free, others add hole maps, shot tracking or green detail with a paid subscription. Apple's own apps do not include golf course maps.

Listing facts for two golf watches

Our GPS watch guide covers more models, including AMOLED watches such as the Garmin Approach S44.

FeatureGarmin Approach S12Shot Scope V5
Courses42,000+ preloadedFull hole maps worldwide
GPS batteryUp to 30 hours2 days (listing)
Display1.3 inch, sunlight readable1.2 inch, 240 x 240
ControlsButtonsButtons
ExtrasScore upload to Garmin Golf appShot tracking, 100+ stats
SubscriptionNot statedNo subscription fees
Dedicated golf watches (from listings)

Battery over 18 holes

A round of golf plus warm-up and travel can run to five or six hours. Dedicated golf watches list GPS battery figures well beyond that: up to 30 hours for the Garmin Approach S12 and up to 15 hours for the S44. Apple states all-day battery for typical use on its watches, but continuous GPS in a golf app uses power much faster than everyday use. Many golfers find an Apple Watch needs charging straight after a round, and an older battery may struggle to finish 18 holes. Check your app's guidance and your watch's battery health.

Screen, controls and weather

Golf watches often use transflective or sunlight-readable screens designed for bright outdoor use, plus physical buttons that work with a glove or wet hands. The Apple Watch has a bright, sharp screen and touch control, which is excellent indoors but can be fiddly in rain or with a glove. Both are water resistant for normal golf use.

Costs and subscriptions

Many golf watches include course maps and core features for the life of the watch. Some sell optional memberships: Garmin's S44 listing states that full colour CourseView, green contours and PlaysLike Distance need a Garmin Golf membership. Shot Scope's V5 listing states no subscription fees. Golf apps for Apple Watch vary; many have a free tier and a paid tier. Over several seasons, an app subscription can add up. Our subscription explainer explains the options.

Compare golf watches and their subscriptions →

Course maps and updates

Course data quality matters as much as the device. Dedicated golf watch makers maintain their own map libraries, preloaded on the watch and updated through their apps or desktop software, and the course counts are stated in their listings: 42,000+ for the Garmin S12, for example. With an Apple Watch, the map comes from whichever golf app you choose, and coverage of smaller UK clubs varies between apps. Before relying on an app, check that your home course and the courses you visit most are included and accurate.

Updates are handled differently too. A golf watch updates when you sync it with its app or software; a phone app usually downloads the course when you start the round, which needs a mobile signal in the car park. On rural courses with weak coverage, downloading before you leave home avoids problems. Our guide to updating Garmin courses shows the process for one major brand.

Who should choose which

  • Occasional golfer who already owns an Apple Watch: try a golf app first.
  • Weekly golfer who wants reliability: a dedicated golf watch.
  • Golfer who wants shot tracking without fees: a Shot Scope watch.
  • Golfer who wants one smart device for life and golf: Apple Watch or a Garmin S44 with notifications.

Note:Turn off any slope or plays-like feature in a golf app during competition rounds, as required by Rule 4.3.

Frequently asked questions

Will an Apple Watch last 18 holes with a golf app? Often, on a newer watch with a healthy battery, but GPS drains it much faster than daily use. Charge fully before the round.

Are golf apps allowed in competitions? Yes, for distance and direction, under Rule 4.3. Features that adjust for slope or give club advice must be off.

Do golf watches need a phone? Most work on the course without a phone. The phone is used to sync scores, stats and updates.

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