Garmin's Ground Breaking S1 Approach Watch
Sometimes in life less equals more and that certainly seems to be the case with the Garmin S1 Approach watch. This golf GPS watch is easy to use, practical and has no download fees to worry about.
I recently wrote an article on what ratings owners gave golf GPS’s in the £0-£199 price range, and the Garmin approach S1 watch came out on top beating all the handheld Golf GPS’s. Read on and discover more in this Garmin S1 Approach watch review.
What owners don’t like about the Garmin S1 Approach
- Low battery charge life
- Sometimes doesn’t automatically start the next hole
- Doesn’t show hazards
The main disadvantage golfers find using the S1 is the amount of battery life available. Most owners agree the S1 is good for one round of golf, and if you’re lucky you may get 36 holes in. If you regularly play 36 holes you may want to consider another option, unless you have a handheld device you can bring with you for backup.
Another complaint that some reviewers had was the S1 sometimes doesn’t automatically change to next hole after you finished the previous; this is usually due to the tee off box being close the previous green. This problem can easily be overcome by manually pushing the up or down button to let the device know you have moved on (it takes seconds). The only other feature some owners would change if they could is no distances to hazards are shown on this unit. If you want this feature don’t spend your dosh on the Garmin S1.
What owners love about the Garmin Approach S1 watch
- No download fees
- 5400 European courses available
- Easy to use
- Convenience
- Fantastic for walking the course
- Odometer
- Measures shot distance
- Good accuracy
- Highly visible screen
- Comfortable to wear
One of the great benefits of owning a S1 watch is the convenience of the product; all you need to do is switch it on when you arrive, select the course, the S1 will automatically find the nearest courses within 30 mile radius, and you are ready to go. The device gives you the distances to the front, middle and back of the green. All you have to do is look at your watch before you play your shot and you are given the information you need; no reaching for your handheld device, scrolling through the multitude of features or pointing your rangefinder towards the pin. It’s fantastic for walking the course as you have nothing extra to carry. Some people claim it’s due to this simplicity they now check yardages on shorter distances (something they don’t do with a handheld device), which has helped most of them improve their all round game.
Every owner agrees this watch is very comfortable to wear and the information display is easily viewed; even in bright sunny conditions, and it has a back light that is more than adequate in low light situations.
Finally, the Garmin S1 Approach watch is subscription free. That’s correct; no download fees, annual subscription or upgrade fees to worry about. There are currently around 5400 European courses to choose from and this number is constantly rising. You can check which courses are available here.
At the present time the best price you can pick a Garmin S1 for is around £150-£170.If you are looking for a no-frills Golf GPS the Garmin S1 Approach could be just what you’re looking for.
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