When it comes to distance-measuring devices I’ve always been a GPS guy and so when I had the chance to test the Garmin Approach G20 Solar, I was very interested to see how it performed.
To start with, it’s the first handheld solar-powered golf GPS device on the market and, given it’s made by Garmin, a brand that I’ve used for over a decade, I knew that the first thing I was guaranteed was quality of build.
(Image credit: Future)
I tested the G20 Solar over numerous rounds on holiday in Tenerife, as well as a few rounds at home in Oxfordshire and the first thing that struck me was the ease of use when getting started.
Arriving at the course, you simply switch it on with the top-left power button and, after selecting the ‘play golf’ setting, the G20 will locate the course instantly.
Packed with over 43,000 courses, you can scroll up-and-down through the various menus using the arrow buttons on the left side. Along with those two buttons, the bottom right button allows you to go back whilst the top right button acts as the ‘Ok/confirmation’.
It’s worth noting that, unlike some of the best Garmin golf watches, the G20 Solar isn’t touch screen, which I think makes it easier to use. The slight downside is that the device doesn’t provide an overhead view of the hole, only front, middle and back yardages, as well as measurements to various penalty areas and lay-ups.
The Approach G20 Solar also features a built-in magnet that attaches to a cart, and there’s even a belt clip attachment
(Image credit: Future)
To test for accuracy, I used the G20 Solar alongside my Shot Scope Pro LX rangefinder, which is one of the best rangefinders on the market and, overall, the GPS was throwing out yardages similar to that of the Pro LX, which was a good sign.
What’s more, along with nailing the basics, you can go one step further and pair it with the Garmin golf app to track scores, statistics (like fairways hit, putts taken and even wind direction) and stats on your clubs like yardages.
Unfortunately, I was unable to test the club aspect as I didn’t have the tags, but the tracking of scores and basic stats would certainly benefit most golfers.
The Garmin Golf App opens up a new world of uses
(Image credit: Future)
We now move to the main selling point – the Solar charging element. When the device detects sunlight it will charge itself and, with a high enough battery life and plenty of sunlight, it can sustain itself and essentially provide unlimited usage.
This sounds great on paper and,…
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