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The Garmin Approach S12 is a useful shortlist option when you mainly want readable golf yardages. The Shot Scope G6 adds full-hole maps and a built-in scorecard to its listed features. Decide which information you actually want to consult during a round, then check course coverage and the exact product destination. A longer feature list is only valuable when the display and controls help you make a clear decision.
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Guide checked: 8 September 2026. This guide compares the linked manufacturer and retailer information. We have not carried out hands-on product testing. Check the exact specification and current offer before buying.
Table of Contents
Two ways to use a golf watch
| Watch | Recorded feature emphasis | Buying check |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin Approach S12 | Distances to greens, hazards and doglegs; sunlight-readable display | Exact colour, course coverage and current delivery |
| Shot Scope G6 | Full-hole maps, hazard/lay-up information and built-in scorecard | Current UK destination and included app features |
What each watch brings to the comparison
Approach S12: a yardage-led shortlist option
Garmin’s UK information describes the S12 as a sunlight-readable GPS golf watch with distances to greens, hazards and doglegs. The linked official UK variant is white. It is an older model with an active product page, so do not confuse its continued availability with a new 2026 release. Check the selected variant and delivery information when comparing an actual offer.
Shortlist it when your usual question is a distance rather than a detailed visual study of the hole. Before choosing, look at how the important information is presented and how you move between the screens you expect to use. A clear interface for your routine can be more useful than paying for functions you rarely open. This guide does not establish a measured accuracy advantage over G6.
Black Approach S12: separate Amazon UK selection
The exact Amazon UK option checked for this guide is black and described as 44mm. The official Garmin link above refers to a white variant. Match the colour and seller to your intended order; this link does not promise a current price, stock level or precise course count.
Shot Scope G6: compare it for full-hole maps
Shot Scope’s official G6 product sheet lists full-hole maps, hazard and lay-up information, a built-in scorecard and two quick-release straps. It describes app access without subscription fees. Those features make it relevant when you want more visual context than a distance alone, especially when deciding which part of an unfamiliar hole you need to inspect.
A scorecard feature is not proof of automatic shot tracking. Keep those tasks separate when comparing devices. The exact G6 UK shop page returned an access error during the initial research, while official catalogue and product-sheet evidence supported the model and features. The linked destination therefore needs a fresh browser check before you rely on a current UK buying offer.
Read the specifications for Shot Scope G6 GPS watch at Shot Scope
Decide what you need to know before a shot
Think about the questions that recur in your rounds. If you usually want a distance to the green and already understand the hole, a simple yardage view may cover most of the task. If you often play unfamiliar courses, a hole map may help you recognise where a hazard sits relative to the fairway. These are different information needs, not a universal basic-versus-advanced player distinction.
A map still needs interpretation. Identify what each symbol and distance refers to before making a plan, and avoid treating any number as an instruction to hit a particular club. Your usual carry, intended landing area and conditions remain part of the decision. We have not tested either watch’s on-course readings or measured how much time its interface takes to use.
Check the courses you actually play
Search the manufacturer’s current coverage information for your home course and a few venues you visit regularly. Confirm the correct course where a club has more than one layout. A headline number of worldwide courses is less useful than establishing that the places you need are represented and that you understand how map updates are delivered.
Before a trip, complete any required account, app or device setup while you have time and a reliable connection. Do not make the first round your first encounter with the controls. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for what can be used on the watch during play and what depends on a connected phone or app. Those details should be verified for the specific model and current software.
Handle the display and controls if possible
A specification table cannot tell you whether small text is comfortable for you to read at address or while walking. Try to view a demonstration in conditions similar to those in which you play. Check the route to the screen you need most often, how you change holes when necessary and whether recording a score is straightforward for your routine.
Fit matters as well. Compare the strap and how the watch sits under a sleeve or glove cuff, without assuming that another golfer’s preferred size is right for you. G6’s supplied strap choices are a useful contents detail, but they do not replace checking comfort. If you rarely wear a watch, consider whether a handheld device would be a more natural alternative.
Keep features, subscriptions and accuracy separate
Use the included-feature list for the exact model rather than borrowing functions from another Garmin or Shot Scope watch. Brand-wide app descriptions can mention features that do not apply equally to every device. The G6 product sheet’s no-subscription statement is part of its recorded evidence; it does not establish the terms of unrelated products or future optional services.
Similarly, mapping, scorekeeping and shot tracking are distinct functions. Write down which ones you need and verify them individually. Neither a colourful map nor a familiar brand establishes an independent accuracy ranking. If a retailer claims a measured advantage, look for the method and conditions supporting it before treating that as a reason to spend more.
Choose the information style first
Begin with S12 if simple yardage use matches your normal round. Compare G6 closely if full-hole maps and its scorecard function solve a specific need, after rechecking the UK buying destination. Then compare the selected variants, current offers, setup requirements and return terms. There are no live prices or tested battery-life figures in this comparison.
For a different approach to studying a course, see our yardage books and course-guide comparison. A paper guide, a handheld and a watch can serve different parts of the task; choose the information you will actually consult rather than collecting overlapping devices.