There is also the added problem that because all ‘free’ apps are third party they will want you to upgrade to a premium option. This means that if your bag is in the fairway and you are in the trees you will either have the incorrect yardage, or no yardage at all if you are out of bluetooth range.
GARMIN GOLF WATCH FULL
If your watch is not on a full charge we would recommend that you use your iPhone for GPS but be sure to keep it in your pocket and not in your golf bag, as your yardages will be taken from the iPhone and not the watch. Early series Apple watches do not have GPS capability but if you have a newer version you can select it as your GPS source, but be warned, this absolutely hammers your battery. You will also need to select your GPS source. Be aware though that you will need to keep your iPhone close at all times so the watch can maintain a bluetooth connection.Īdditionally, if you want detailed course graphics and visuals on hazard locations and distances you need to get those from your iPhone, as unlike the Garmin S60 the Apple Watch does not have that capability. The free version of Hole19 does provide all of this but you must use your phone to access it.
The watch then also opens up the app and you’re good to go. To do this you open your golf app of choice on the iPhone and connect to the watch via bluetooth. With the Apple Watch you must sync with your iPhone prior to starting your round. For most other features you need to refer to your iPhone and whichever accompanying golf app you have downloaded (we would recommend Hole19). It will give you yardages to the front, middle and back of the green and it will record your score. The Apple Watch on its own provides only basic functionality on the course, irrespective of which third party app you use (and there are many). Only then can it come close to competing with the S60. That will be sufficient for many golfers who are only looking for basic yardages and little else, but if you want a more in depth experience then the Apple Watch needs to be used in tandem with an iPhone. As a stand alone device it would be equivalent to one of the lower end golf watches on the market. The Apple Watch is functional but limited when it comes to on course capability.