Garmin Approach S1 GPS Golf Watch

I know a few people who have them and rate them. If you wear a watch normally for playing golf then they are ideal - if not then get a hand held device
 
Great for 150 to 200 yards in to green. Gives distances to front, middle and back and aids club selection - also helps you get to know just how far you really hit each club.

depressing when used to measure shots as GPS accuracy knocks at least 20 to 30 yards off estimated driving distances.:whistle:
 
Had my approach s1 for a couple of weeks and used in for 6 rounds. Must say I am very disappointed with it. The theory is great and while it is working properly it is spectacular.

The problem is it is too unreliable. For example:

1. It appears to be working fine and I am walking down the fairway towards my ball. I look at the watch and it has jumped back to the time. I press buttons and get the dreaded "No course available" message. I have to reset by turning the power off and on again. Then I have to acquire satellites and choose the course all over again. Five holes later it does it again. Have to press something or other to get the yardages back....

2. Or, I leave the 8th green and tee off on the par 5 ninth. Play my second shot and find myself almost at the 100 metre marker (I'm in Spain). The watch says 300 metres! I get my reading glasses out to read the tiny hole number sign only to find it is stuck on the previous hole. I have to use the up and down the buttons to get it back onto the right hole.

Of course my first thought is I have a defective device. So I start asking around a dozen or so of my pals who have recently bought one - only to find out they have the same problems. I am sick of hearing them say "Oh that happens to me - I just press this then this then that and it is OK again" as if that is somehow acceptable. I haven't found one who says "I just turned it on and it has worked faultlessly".

Sorry guys, but it is a piece of cr*p. When I am playing a round I want to concentrate on my shots, not be fiddling around with a recalcitrant watch when my partners are waiting for me to play. I expected more for £130 (165 Euros). At the moment it is stuck in one of the pockets of my golf bag and I'm back to guessing distances.
 
Wow - that was quick. You guys should be out playing or on the range, not huddled in front of a PC. ;)

I thought the G3 was much more expensive than that. I'll have a look at the site you mention. Problem is I had a friend buy two watches - one for me and one for a buddy of mine here in Spain. He sent them out via another visitor who we paid. I don't have the details of where or when it was bought (though I can get them I'm sure). Question is - will they take it back?
 
No limits but you need a new email address when you register and not the one the other half has registered for her shopping !
 
Had a s1 watch for almost a year now, 40 odd rounds of golf and had no issues with it, been great value so far.
 
I too have had the S1 for about 9 months now. No great problems, does what it says on the tin but will be sending it back soon as it gets condensation on the inside. No other issues though, never missed a beat.
 
What's the battery life like..?

A mate has one, played 9 with his Boss then 18 with me the next day and the battery gave up after a total of 23 holes..............
 
Never pushed mine that far but you can turn the odometer off which helps. When I play 18 I have more than half battery left. But then I dont measure every shot and I don't wear it as an everyday watch (3 weeks battery when used just as a watch seemingly). Like I said no great problems as I charge mine when I get back from golf and the night before I play. Having said that I will be returning it to the shop to get the condensation problem sorted, hopefully will get an exchange for a new one which will then go on fleabay to pay for the second hand rangefinder I recently brought.
 
I've always been sceptical about range finders and GPS until I played a competition with a friend who was using one, (they are allowed by local rules). I would have took a smooth 4 wood, thinking the flag was 200 yds away until he told me it was only 185 to the flag. A nice swing with my 4 hybrid put me 2 ft from the flag with a nice birdie on a difficult hole.

Two days later I played a new course on my own which was very hilly. Some shots I had to play blind and when I went over the hill I often found that I was in trouble or the wrong position for the next shot. I could have easily saved 8 shots against my card and 2 lost balls if I'd had more than the score card to refer to.

Following this thread and the tesco offer I will now be placing an order for the garmin G3. An added bonus is that my daughter will also receive an additional discount if she buys it for me as she works there :D
 
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