Garmin made S50 watch look like an actual watch, not a chunky GPS device. You can wear it to the clubhouse after your round without looking like you forgot to take off your sports gear. The silicone band feels comfortable, even after 18 holes in humid weather.
The S50 comes preloaded with over 42,000 golf courses worldwide. That means you can show up at pretty much any course, and your watch already knows the layout. The GPS accuracy is within 3 yards, which is more precise than most of us can actually hit the ball!
Let me break down the coolest features for you. The watch shows you distances to the front, middle, and back of the green automatically. No button pressing needed, it just knows where you are. When you're 250 yards out and debating between your 3-wood and hybrid, you'll see exact yardages to hazards, doglegs, and layup spots.
The Garmin Approach S50 is a premium golf GPS watch offering precise course data, a stylish design, and advanced performance tracking for serious golfers.
Let's talk about this display, because it's the feature that completely won me over. I've tested at least a dozen GPS watches over the years, and squinting at washed-out screens in bright sunlight has been my biggest gripe with nearly all of them. The S50's AMOLED touchscreen is different – legitimately different. At 390 x 390 pixels on a 30.4mm diameter screen, the resolution is crisp enough that I could read yardages from my normal address position without having to bring my wrist up to my face like I'm checking the time during a boring meeting.
The Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens has already saved me twice. Once, when I accidentally scraped it against a cart path, grabbing my ball, and again when my playing partner's wedge somehow ended up on top of my wrist during a crowded range session (don't ask). Not a scratch. The always-on display mode is perfect for those of us who hate the wrist-flick gesture thing – I leave it on during rounds and still get through 18 holes with battery to spare.
What really impressed me was the large font option. My regular foursome includes a 68-year-old named Bill who's been complaining about his rangefinder's tiny numbers for years. I let him try the S50 for a round with the large font enabled, and he ordered one that night. The screen automatically adjusts brightness based on conditions, and I've yet to encounter a situation where I couldn't read it clearly – from dawn patrol rounds to brutal 2 PM tee times in July.
Here's where GPS watches typically shine over laser rangefinders, and the S50 takes it to another level. With over 43,000 preloaded courses worldwide, I've yet to play a course that wasn't already mapped. Last month, I played a brand-new nine-holer in rural Michigan that opened two weeks prior – it was already in there. The course maps show everything you'd want: front, middle, and back of greens, plus every hazard that could ruin your scorecard.
The PlaysLike Distance feature is something I didn't think I'd care about until I played a mountain course in Colorado. That 150-yard approach shot? The watch told me it was playing 162 yards due to elevation. I clubbed up accordingly and stuck it to 8 feet. My buddy with his basic rangefinder came up 15 yards short. This feature alone has probably saved me five strokes per round on courses with significant elevation changes. The slope-adjusted yardages work seamlessly with the AutoShot tracking to give you a complete picture of how you're actually performing versus how far you think you hit each club.
PinPointer has bailed me out more times than I'd like to admit. You know those dogleg holes where you inevitably push your drive into the trees? The watch literally points an arrow toward the green when you can't see it. It's like having a caddie who always knows exactly where you're supposed to be aiming. I've stopped taking those hero shots that used to cost me double bogeys because now I know exactly where the green is and can play the smart angle back to the fairway.
The Hazard View deserves its own paragraph. Unlike basic GPS devices that just tell you there's water somewhere out there, this shows you exactly where every bunker, water hazard, and even layup zones are positioned. On my home course's notorious 13th hole (a dogleg right with water all along the right side), I now know it's 237 yards to clear the water on my preferred line. That knowledge has changed a hole I used to dread into one where I confidently pull driver.
I bought this watch for golf, period. The fitness features were just extra stuff I figured I'd never use. Fast forward three months, and I'm checking my Body Battery energy levels before deciding whether to walk or ride, monitoring my heart rate during particularly stressful putts (it spikes to 140+ on breaking three-footers, in case you're wondering), and actually paying attention to my sleep patterns because the watch keeps nagging me about them. The watch even includes yoga profiles and other workout modes that have helped improve my flexibility and core strength for better rotation in my swing. Like the premium S70 model, it tracks sleep quality and suggests rest days when your energy levels indicate you need recovery.
The wrist-based heart rate monitor runs continuously, which initially seemed like overkill for golf. Then I noticed something interesting – my heart rate data showed clear patterns. It stays pretty steady during practice rounds but goes through the roof during money games or tournaments. I've actually started using breathing exercises when I notice it climbing, and my scores have improved. Who knew?
The stress tracking feature basically confirmed what I already knew – golf is simultaneously the most relaxing and most stressful activity in my life. But seeing the data visualized in the Garmin app helped me identify triggers. Apparently, my stress levels max out not on difficult shots, but while waiting on slow groups ahead. Now I use those waiting periods for the watch's suggested breathing exercises instead of stewing in frustration.
Beyond golf, the watch includes profiles for basically every activity imaginable. I've used the strength training mode in the gym, the running mode for my halfhearted attempts at cardio, and even the swimming mode when I jumped in the pool after a particularly hot round (yes, the 5 ATM water resistance held up fine). The 4GB of internal memory stores weeks of data, so you can track trends over time without constantly syncing to your phone.
Every GPS watch claims great battery life, then dies on the 14th hole. The S50 is the initial one that actually delivers what it promises. In GPS mode with the always-on display active (my preferred setup for golf), I consistently get 15+ hours. That's enough for the slowest round imaginable, with plenty left over. In smartwatch mode with gesture wake-up, I'm charging this thing maybe once a week.
The proprietary Garmin charging cable is my only real complaint here. It's yet another cable to keep track of, and at $29 to replace if you lose it, you'd better not lose it. I've taken to keeping one at home and one in my golf bag, because forgetting the cable on a golf trip would be devastating. The actual charging is quick, though – about an hour from dead to full.
At 43 x 43 x 11.4 mm, this watch hits the sweet spot between being large enough to read easily and small enough not to interfere with your swing. The quick-release 20mm band system means you can swap straps in seconds. I use the included nylon ComfortFit strap for rounds (it doesn't get gross when you sweat), and I bought a leather band for wearing it as a regular watch.
The anodized aluminum bezel gives it a premium feel without the weight penalty of stainless steel. After three months of daily wear and plenty of accidental bumps, it still looks new. The touchscreen is responsive even with sweaty fingers or in light rain, though I did have one round in a downpour where it got a bit finicky.
The Garmin Golf app deserves a mention because it's where all this data becomes truly useful. Every round syncs automatically, showing not just scores but distances for every shot, putts per hole, and even club averages over time. I uncovered that my 7-iron distance has been consistently 5 yards shorter than I thought, which explained a lot of missed greens.
The Garmin Approach S50 is a premium golf GPS watch offering precise course data, a stylish design, and advanced performance tracking for serious golfers.
Yes, you can wear your Garmin Approach S50 while swimming or showering. It's rated 5 ATM water-resistant, meaning it'll handle surface swimming, rain, and showers without problems. The watch withstands water pressure up to 50 meters deep. However, don't use it for diving or high-speed water sports. While it's shower-safe, prolonged exposure to hot water and soaps might degrade the seals over time, so occasional inspection is recommended.
You'll get up to 15 hours of battery life with GPS tracking enabled on your Garmin Approach S50. This runtime covers multiple rounds of golf without needing a recharge. Your actual battery duration depends on settings like display brightness, always-on mode, and active sensors. You can extend GPS battery life by reducing screen timeout, using static watch faces, and turning off unnecessary features like Bluetooth and continuous heart rate monitoring.
The watch face isn't scratch-resistant, so you'll likely need a screen protector for daily wear. While the display glass is strong, it's vulnerable to scratches from regular use, especially contact with abrasive surfaces. You can choose from a range of third-party protectors in TPU, hydrogel, or PET materials that offer different levels of scratch protection. Without one, you'll probably notice minor scratches appearing after a few months of wearing your watch.
Yes, you can use all features without any limitations as a left-handed golfer. The watch works perfectly on either wrist with full touchscreen and button functionality. You'll access the same GPS yardages, course maps, green views, and hazard information regardless of your dominant hand. Shot tracking, health monitoring, and all golf metrics function similarly for left-handed players. There's no need for special settings or adjustments - just wear it and play.
Yes, you'll have full functionality on international golf courses. The S50 comes preloaded with over 43,000 courses worldwide, and you'll get the same accurate GPS distances, hazard information, and full-color CourseView maps anywhere you play. When you're traveling, the watch automatically detects nearby courses regardless of country. You can sync scores and stats through the Garmin Golf app internationally, and automatic course updates work globally when connected to your smartphone.
So, what's the bottom line? The Garmin Approach S50 converted me from a die-hard rangefinder guy to someone who now reaches for his GPS watch initially. If you play golf at least once a week and value having accurate distances to everything (not just the flag), this watch will improve your course management and likely lower your scores. The fitness tracking features are gravy – nice to have but not why you're buying this.
This isn't for the golfer who plays five times a year or someone looking for a do-everything smartwatch that happens to have golf features. But if you're serious about your game, play different courses regularly, and want every possible advantage within the rules, the S50 delivers more useful information than any other device I've tested. Yes, it's expensive. But considering I've already saved more than its cost by winning a few more Nassaus thanks to better club selection, I'd call it money well spent.
