Garmin Approach S1 Waterproof Golf GPS Watch

by Garmin

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 5.3 x 2.6 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0049O8TXS
• Item model number: 010-00932-00
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (148 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Color: Black

Amazon.com Product Description

Approach S1 is unlike any other golf GPS. Combining a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with a lightweight, flexible sport watch, S1 gives you distance information to the front, back and middle of greens. You can measure individual shot distances, track how far you walk on the course, and then use the alarm to get you up in the morning. Approach S1 is golf's first full-featured sports watch and golf GPS in one.

Approach S1 combines a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with a lightweight, flexible sport watch. Click to enlarge.

Lock In Yardages and Measure Distances

Approach S1 will have you dialed in like a pro by providing yardages to the front, back and middle of the green. The sunlight viewable screen features large numbering for at-a-glance visibility.

S1 also measures precise yardages for shots played from anywhere on the course. And for those that like to walk, there's the S1 odometer to tell you how far you traveled--on the course, or off.

No Downloads, No Subscriptions

Unlike many golf GPS devices on the market, S1 comes preloaded with more than 14,000 U.S. and Canadian courses--and Garmin's adding more all the time. There's no need for subscriptions, downloads or additional set up--S1 is ready to tee off out of the box. Instantly ain access to thousands of new and updated golf course maps.

Sleek Everyday Watch

S1's cool look belies the tough, rugged, waterproof design. Fitted for course playability, S1 also functions as an every day watch. There's an alarm, rechargeable lithium ion battery and S1 sets its time and time zone automatically.

What's in the Box

Approach S1, Charging/Data Clip, AC Charging Adapter, Owner's Manual

Provides yardages to the front, back and middle of the green.

Precise yardages for shots played from anywhere on the course.

Product Description

Wear the Garmin Approach S1, the first GPS wristwatch designed specifically for golf. At a glance, Approach S1 displays precise yardages to the front, back and middle of greens and comes preloaded with 14,000-plus courses.

Approach S1 is unlike any other golf GPS. Combining a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with a lightweight, flexible sport watch, S1 gives you distance information to the front, back and middle of greens for more than 14,000 preloaded U.S. and Canadian courses. You can measure individual shot distances, track how far you walk on the course, and then use the alarm to get you up in the morning. Approach S1 is golf's first full-featured sports watch and golf GPS in one.

Constantly updating based on a golfer's actual real-time location, Approach S1 can also measure individual shot distances - all while functioning as a high-quality, everyday watch. Approach S1 comes preloaded with 14,000-plus U.S. and Canadian courses so there's no need for subscriptions or downloads - simply select Start Round," choose your course and you're ready to tee off. Rugged and waterproof, Approach S1 weighs only 1.8 ounces, has an ultra-thin backlit display, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts up to eight hours in GPS mode and up to three weeks in watch mode - making it perfect for the boardroom, the bunkers and all points in between. In addition to the wide range of preloaded courses, Approach S1 features an easy-to-set alarm and automatic time and time zone detection, making it the perfect companion for travelers.

Once in golf mode, Approach S1 quickly acquires satellites and displays a list of nearby courses. Once a course is selected, three distances to each hole will always be provided - front, middle and back of the green - with those details being updated automatically and adjusted depending on the angle of approach. During the course of play, Approach S1 displays the hole

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

117 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than expected, December 26, 2010

By 

Patrick W. Mizell (Houston, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Garmin Approach S1 Waterproof Golf GPS Watch (Electronics)

Three holes into my first round with the new watch (a Christmas present to myself), it dawned on me that this is cooler than I had imagined. I predict two years from now, this is the new rangefinder technology.

For the past several years, I have been a big proponent of the laser rangefinder, arguing with my gps rangefinder friends that the laser is more accurate to the pin. After my round today, I am not sure I will ever pull my laser out again. The convenience is unbelievable. I just look down at my wrist, and I have my distance to the front middle and back. I look in the cart at the pin sheet, and subtract or add for a perfect distance. No reaching in the glove box of the cart or fumbling around for a device.

Even cooler, and more used than I anticipated, is the function that lets me measure the distance of my shot. You just hold a button and select "measure my shot" then drive or walk to the ball, and it gives the distance. I started doing it with all my shots just to get a feel for how long I was hitting the ball with each club. Pretty cool.

Less cool, but neat -- you can also measure with an odometer how far you actually walk on the course. And other things, like how far away your mother in law's house is on Christmas day, important things like that.

The watch is very comfortable and readable with large, clean numbers. I am going to start wearing it as my regular watch.

The only con that I can tell is that there are no distances to hazards, etc. I suspect that will be in the next generation.

Only one round in, but I can tell this is going to be a keeper.

Update:

After about 4 months of pretty heavy usage, there are my thoughts.

I still think it is a great product, but I use my laser in conjunction to get precise yardage. I find myself looking at the watch as I pull up to the ball for club selection, grab the right club, then shoot it with the laser to confirm and get the exact distance to the pin. The distances were not perfect when I first used it. A few holes were off by as much as 10 yards. I wrote to Garmin about my course, and my guess is that they remapped the course using google earth or something like it. The distances are much better with the latest update. On the Garmin web page, look around, there is a link to send them comments about yardages on a particular course.

The battery charger is kind of a pain. It clips onto the watch, and with mine you have to jigger it to get it to start charging. It is not that I am not getting the leads in the right place -- that is easy to see. You have to wiggle it to get the charging bars to start. The charger definitely needs improvement, or I got a bad charger.

Also, the battery charge life is not great. I played 36 holes the other day, and it did not finish the day. I don't often play 36 so it is not a big deal, but be aware that it is really just a one round charge.

But I still love it. It is comfortable to wear, very easy to read, and fun to show off to other players. I would still buy it given what I know now.

Update a year later:

Couple of thoughts to add -- first, I am wrong about the battery connector. I have been jiggling the connector waiting for the bars to start, when I finally figured out it just takes 5 seconds or so for the bars to start regardless. So no jiggling required, just be patient.

Also, just hung up with customer support, I had a problem with the map update (my computer froze in the middle of the update and I couldn't get it to update after) and I just want to add that Garmin support is awesome. None of the usual tech support bs where they empathize with my problem every time I say something. You actually get people who know about the watch and the software and very quickly tell you how to fix it. The person I spoke with was knowledgeable - he sounded like one of the software developers. I have no idea if he was, but it was a quick and pleasant experience.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Product! I love it!, January 8, 2011

By 

J. Hannides (Pacifica, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garmin Approach S1 Waterproof Golf GPS Watch (Electronics)

I love this product. I've had the Skycaddie and the Garmin larger units and
I didn't realize how much of a pleasure it would be not to have to go around
to the side of the cart to look at the yardage. Also, the readout on the watch
is a lot easier to see than the screens of the larger units. The guy
complaining about the differences in yardage must be a very accurate golfer.
For me, a few yards difference is not going to matter. Although I question
whether sprinkler heads are that accurate. I have checked the SR watch
against the hand held and usually they are the same or within a yard or two.

The downside is you don't get the detail eg, distances to hazards or
specific spots on the course that you can get with the
handheld Garmin. Another negative is that the other guys in
my foursome are always criticizing me for checking my watch
for the time.

70 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Poor Battery Life, February 24, 2011

By 

DJ - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garmin Approach S1 Waterproof Golf GPS Watch (Electronics)

I love the watch and find it works wonderfully. The interface is poor - too much button pushing - but it works and there are few reasons to push any buttons on the course. You can measure your drive or move from the hazard backward to your ball - that takes button pushing.

It finds all the golf courses without all that computer loading.

The major defect and it's major is that the batteries won't last for 36 holes. It's a one round device and you better remember to recharge it or you won't have a device for the next round.

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