A simple GPS golf watch with strong value at a record-low £169

Is the Garmin Approach S12 worth buying? Yes — if you want a straightforward GPS golf watch with a proven 4.6/5 rating from 887 reviews, 42,000+ preloaded courses, and current pricing at an all-time low of £169.00, it is an easy watch to recommend for golfers who care more about reliable yardages than extra lifestyle features.

First impressions

The Approach S12 is built around clarity and simplicity. Garmin has gone with a new round watch design and a high-resolution sunlight-readable display, which matters more on the course than flashy extras. At £169.00, it sits below its £179.99 RRP and is currently 6% off list price, but the bigger story is timing: the current price matches the lowest ever recorded price. That makes it far easier to justify than a watch that sits at full retail.

What does the Garmin Approach S12 actually do well?

Its main job is to give you the numbers you need quickly. The S12 provides yardages to the front, back and middle of the green, plus distances to hazards and doglegs. That is the core information most golfers use to choose a club and avoid short-siding themselves. The fact that it has more than 42,000 golf courses preloaded worldwide also removes a common frustration with cheaper GPS watches: limited course coverage.

It also keeps score on the watch itself and uploads directly to the Garmin Golf app, where you can take part in weekly leaderboards. For players who like tracking rounds without carrying a phone on every shot, that is a useful bridge between basic GPS and more data-heavy golf tech. If you want even more automatic game tracking, the S12 can pair with optional Approach CT10 club tracking sensors, sold separately. That means it can track your score and how far you hit each club, but only if you buy into Garmin’s wider ecosystem.

How does it perform on the course?

For a golfer focused on course management, the S12’s value is in speed and consistency rather than deep analytics. The sunlight-readable display is a practical feature because GPS watches are only useful if you can read them instantly in bright UK conditions. Battery life is another major plus: Garmin says it lasts up to 30 hours in GPS mode, which is more than enough for multiple rounds before charging.

What it does not offer is the deeper fitting-style data that helps you understand strike patterns, club gapping, or dispersion. There is no launch monitor functionality here, no simulator software compatibility to worry about, and no advanced shot-mapping metrics built in beyond the optional CT10 pairing. If you are trying to lower scores through data-driven practice, the S12 is a course companion first and a training tool second.

Build quality and usability

Garmin’s watch design is clean and functional, and the 44 mm case size should suit most wrists without feeling oversized. The interface is aimed at golfers who want minimal fuss: turn it on, get yardages, keep score, and move on. That simplicity is a strength, not a limitation, for many players.

The main warning is that the product is deliberately basic compared with higher-end golf watches. If you want hole maps, detailed shot tracking, or richer post-round analysis, you will likely outgrow it. The optional CT10 sensors help, but they are sold separately, so the real cost can rise if you want the fuller tracking experience.

Is it good value for money?

At £169.00, the S12 is good value because it combines Garmin’s course coverage, strong battery life, and a 4.6/5 rating from a large review base. The closest competitor provided here is the Shot Scope G6 GPS Golf Watch at £179.99 with a 4.1★ rating, so Garmin is cheaper and better reviewed on the data supplied. That does not make the S12 universally better, but it does suggest stronger buyer satisfaction and a safer purchase at the current price.

What should you take from the reviews?

The review score is strong enough to inspire confidence, and 887 reviews is a meaningful sample size. The likely pattern is clear: buyers who wanted simple, dependable GPS yardages are happy, while those expecting richer analytics or premium smartwatch features are more likely to be disappointed. That is exactly the kind of gap that creates polarised reviews for golf watches.

Final takeaway

The Garmin Approach S12 is not the most feature-packed golf watch, but it covers the essentials very well and is priced at a genuine low point. If you want reliable yardages, long battery life, and a no-nonsense watch from a trusted brand, it makes sense at £169.00. If you need advanced stats, club-fitting depth, or simulator-style data, look elsewhere.