Compare Golf GPS – Part 4

This post an old post. Check out our current Best GPS Golf Rangefinders

This is PART 4 of our four-part series where we compare golf GPS top-rated models. We have divided them up into categories, so that you can compare apples to apples.

Our four categories are:

  1. Full-Featured Golf GPS (Part 1)
  2. Mid-Featured Golf GPS (Part 2)
  3. Basic Golf GPS (Part 3)
  4. GPS Golf Watches (Part 4 – You Are Here!)
GPS GOLF WATCH COMPARISONS

Golf watches can’t offer the detail of a full-featured GPS, but for many golfers, convenience seems to trump hole layouts.

The Contenders:

It seems that each golf GPS watch on the market offers something a little different, so what is best for one golfer may not be best for another. We’ll try to sort it out for you and tell you the features of our top picks.

Our Pick: Garmin Approach S3 – We really like the Garmin S3 for all the features, ease of use and style. The price is quite a bit higher than other golf watches, so if budget is an issue, keep reading to see what might suit you the best.

Check out the comparisons below.

Golf Courses The Garmin Approach S3 comes preloaded with over 28,000 golf courses worldwide. The Izzo Swami watch comes in with 25,000 courses worldwide. The Garmin S1 has 18,000+ courses in the U.S. and Canada, which is about the same as the Expresso WR62 which has all of the U.S. courses that are in the iGolf database. The WR62 also has an International version that includes Canada, the UK, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand.
Screen The Garmin S3 are has a touchscreen and the yardage to the center is a little larger than on the Garmin S1. The Expresso WR62 looks to have the largest font for distance to the center and the Izzo Swami definitely has the smallest font.
Size / Weight The Garmin S1 is the lightest at 1.8 ounces. The Swami weighs in at 2 ounces and the Garmin S3 is 2.06 ounces. The WR62 is quite a bit heavier, weighing in at 2.7 ounces. That alone could be a problem for golfers with smaller wrists. .
Battery Type Both Garmins and the Expresso have Li-ion rechargeable, while the Izzo has Li-poly rechargeable.
Battery Life The Expresso WR62 claims 14 hours with the GPS turned on! That is significantly better than any of the other watches. The Garmin S3 and S1 both claim up to 8 hours in GPS mode, while the Swami gets 6-8 hours.
Rainproof All watches are rainproof.
Shot Measuring Capability All watches are capable of measuring shot distance.
Digital Scorecard The Garmin S3 has digital scoring for one player and you can choose between stroke play and Stableford. The Izzo Swami has a one player stroke play scorecard. Neither the Expresso WR62 or the Garmin S1 have a scorecard feature.
Other Garmin Approach S3 Green ViewThe Garmin S3 stands out because it offers a visual representation of the green where you can manually position the pin, plus it has the largest number of courses preloaded. Another feature we like is the ability to add targets, so if you have a favorite layup spot on your home course, you can always have the distance to it. The only downside to the S3 is the price.

That’s where the Izzo Swami Golf Watch shines. The price is the lowest by far of any golf watch. If you don’t care about layup and hazard distances and your eyes are good enough to see the smaller fonts, Swami is a great deal.

The Garmin S1 has the benefit of having been around the longest and acquiring a large number of very positive user reviews. It’s priced is middle of the road, but its features are basic… still a tried and true, easy to use golf watch.

The Expresso WR62 has the best mix of price and features if the size and weight don’t bother you. Expresso is still new to the market, so it doesn’t have Garmin’s trusted reputation. It does, however, have an Emergency Locator feature, that could come in handy if you hike or hit it way deep into the woods!

Leave a Comment or Ask a Question!

*