Garmin has expanded its premium golf technology lineup with two new smartwatches for October 2026, introducing advanced swing analysis, improved course information and luxury construction for golfers seeking more from their wearable devices.
The Garmin Approach S72, announced October 6, is the company’s latest flagship golf-focused smartwatch, starting at $799.99 in the United States.
Just one week later, Garmin introduced its third-generation MARQ collection, including the MARQ Golfer, a luxury golf watch priced at approximately $2,800.
Both devices combine golf-specific technology with everyday fitness and smartwatch functions. However, they target different buyers, raising an important question: do golfers need to spend thousands of dollars to get the most useful technology?
Garmin Approach S72 Introduces Advanced Swing Analysis
One of the most significant additions to the Approach S72 is its new wrist-based swing measurement system.
Unlike traditional golf GPS watches that concentrate primarily on distances and scorekeeping, the S72 provides information about how a golfer moves the club.
The measurements include hand speed, backswing length, wrist rotation and other movement-related data.
Golfers can review these metrics to identify patterns during practice and examine how their swing changes over time.
Garmin has also introduced a dedicated driving-range activity that records practice sessions and allows golfers to review the information through its connected applications.
For players working on swing consistency, these features could provide useful feedback without requiring a separate wearable swing-training sensor.
However, the measurements should not be confused with the comprehensive information generated by professional launch monitors.
A wristwatch does not independently provide the full range of ball-flight and club-delivery measurements needed for a complete equipment fitting.
Its greatest potential value lies in monitoring movement patterns and supporting structured practice.
Green-Reading Technology Could Change Putting Preparation
Another notable feature of the Approach S72 involves enhanced green-reading information.
With an active Garmin Golf membership, golfers can access data describing the direction of green slopes and the average gradient on supported courses.
The feature is designed to help players understand potential putting breaks before making a stroke.
Garmin also offers additional putting analytics through its golf application.
These include information about putting-speed tendencies, directional bias and conversion rates.
The objective is to help golfers identify weaknesses in their short games and make more informed decisions during practice.
Aerial course imagery adds another layer of information, allowing users to examine holes and consider potential layup locations.
However, these enhanced services involve an additional subscription.
They are also dependent on course-data availability, meaning not every feature will work at every golf facility.
Golfers should confirm whether their regularly played courses support the premium mapping features before purchasing the watch primarily for green reading.
Approach S72 Combines Golf Features With Everyday Technology
Beyond its golf functions, the S72 incorporates several improvements intended to make it practical for everyday use.
It is available in two case sizes, 43mm and 47mm, with bright AMOLED displays.
Garmin has equipped the watches with titanium bezels, sapphire lenses and lightweight ComfortFit fabric bands.
The materials are intended to balance durability, comfort and appearance.
The S72 is also Garmin’s first dedicated golf smartwatch to include a built-in speaker and microphone for phone calls and voice commands.
The calling functionality works with a compatible connected phone.
A built-in LED flashlight offers another practical feature for everyday situations and low-light conditions.
The watch also supports health and fitness tracking, including heart rate, stress, sleep and Garmin’s Body Battery energy-monitoring system.
Golfers can review changes in heart rate during a round and explore whether those changes coincide with differences in their performance.
However, those observations should not be interpreted as proof that heart-rate variations directly cause better or worse scores.
According to Garmin, the larger S72 offers up to 20 hours of battery life in golf activity mode and up to 16 days in smartwatch mode.
Actual endurance will depend on settings, display usage and other features.
MARQ Golfer Gen 3 Brings Luxury Materials to Golf Technology
Garmin’s MARQ Golfer takes a noticeably different approach.
Introduced on October 13 as part of the third-generation MARQ collection, the watch emphasizes premium materials and design alongside advanced navigation and golf features.
The 47mm case uses Grade-5 titanium, with a sapphire crystal lens and ceramic bezel.
A distinctive 18-hole indicator around the bezel gives the watch a recognizable golf-inspired appearance.
The MARQ Golfer also includes a jacquard-woven strap designed to complement its luxury styling.
Underneath the premium exterior is an extensive collection of Garmin’s established golf technology.
The watch includes more than 43,000 preloaded golf courses, Virtual Caddie functionality and green contour information, with the latter requiring a qualifying Garmin Golf membership.
Virtual Caddie is designed to assist with club-selection decisions by using the golfer’s recorded playing information and relevant course conditions.
The feature can be valuable for players seeking a better understanding of how their shots perform, although recommendations depend on the quality and completeness of the underlying data.
The MARQ Golfer therefore combines familiar advanced golf tools with premium watchmaking-inspired construction rather than simply offering a more expensive version of the Approach S72.
Satellite Connectivity Sets the New MARQ Apart
One of the most significant changes across Garmin’s third-generation MARQ collection is the introduction of inReach connectivity.
Compatible services allow users to send messages, share location information and access emergency communication features through supported satellite or LTE connections.
These capabilities are designed to provide additional communication options during travel and outdoor activities.
The MARQ Golfer also features a built-in speaker, microphone, LED flashlight and worldwide mapping with address search.
Garmin advertises up to 18 days of smartwatch battery life across the new MARQ collection.
However, its connected services come with important limitations.
inReach functionality requires an active subscription, and network coverage and service availability differ by region.
Satellite communication is also subject to operating conditions and product-specific restrictions.
These features may be particularly interesting to golfers who frequently travel, hike or participate in other outdoor activities.
For someone whose primary interest is golf course distances and shot tracking, however, they may offer relatively little additional value.
Garmin S72 vs. MARQ Golfer: Which Offers Better Value?
The price difference between the two new watches is substantial.
The Approach S72 starts at $799.99, while the MARQ Golfer Gen 3 carries a reported U.S. retail price of approximately $2,800.
That makes the luxury MARQ around $2,000 more expensive than the entry-level S72.
However, the difference is not simply a reflection of additional golf performance tools.
The MARQ includes more premium materials, exclusive design features, wider outdoor navigation capabilities and satellite-connected services.
The S72, meanwhile, focuses more directly on golf-specific analysis, including its new swing measurements and putting information.
For golfers interested primarily in improving their games, the Approach S72 may offer the more practical combination of features and price.
The MARQ Golfer could appeal to buyers who also value luxury styling, premium materials and advanced outdoor connectivity.
Neither watch should be expected to automatically reduce a player’s handicap.
Their value depends on how consistently the user applies the information and whether the features address genuine needs.
Golfers Should Consider Subscription Costs and Competition Rules
Before purchasing either watch, golfers should examine the features included in the initial price.
Garmin Golf membership is required for certain premium services, including enhanced green-contour information.
The MARQ’s inReach communication capabilities involve a separate subscription.
Those ongoing costs can affect the overall value of the device over several years.
There is also an important distinction between recreational golf and competition.
Under Rule 4.3 of the Rules of Golf, players are generally permitted to use approved distance-measuring equipment, subject to competition restrictions.
However, using technology to measure certain playing conditions or obtain prohibited assistance with club selection and putting lines can breach the rules.
The green-reading functions offered by sophisticated smartwatches should therefore be assessed carefully before use in a competitive round.
Tournament players should consult the competition’s conditions and disable functions that are not permitted.
Is Garmin’s New Golf Smartwatch the Ultimate Choice?
Garmin’s October 2026 launches demonstrate how sophisticated golf wearables have become.
The Approach S72 moves beyond conventional GPS distances by introducing swing-measurement tools, putting analytics and more comprehensive everyday smartwatch features.
The MARQ Golfer Gen 3 takes a different path, combining luxury construction with golf technology and advanced outdoor connectivity.
For most golfers deciding between the two, the central consideration is whether they prioritize game-improvement information or a premium multifunction watch.
Those who already own an Approach S70 may also want to examine the new features carefully before upgrading.
Independent early reviews suggest that the S72’s swing metrics and putting tools offer meaningful additions, but the core distance and course-mapping experience remains familiar.
The latest Garmin watches are impressive examples of connected golf technology, but neither has been established as objectively the best choice for every golfer.
Final Thoughts
Garmin has strengthened its golf smartwatch lineup with two different approaches to premium technology.
The Approach S72, starting at $799.99, introduces dedicated swing analysis, enhanced short-game information and useful everyday features.
The MARQ Golfer Gen 3, priced around $2,800, offers a more luxurious design alongside extensive golf and outdoor capabilities.
For serious recreational golfers focused on performance analysis, the S72 presents a potentially compelling option.
For buyers who want a premium timepiece capable of handling golf, travel and other outdoor activities, the MARQ provides a different proposition.
Ultimately, the most useful smartwatch is not necessarily the most expensive model. It is the one whose features golfers understand, use regularly and find valuable during their rounds.
Sources: Garmin’s October 6 Approach S72 announcement; Garmin’s October 13 MARQ Gen 3 announcement; independent October 2026 hands-on evaluations; and the Rules of Golf governing electronic devices.