Garmin Approach G20 Solar: revolutionary GPS handheld with unlimited battery life is a game changer

Matt Cooper
The Garmin Approach G20 Solar
The Garmin Approach G20 Solar

The average golfer doesn’t often get to enjoy the benefit of a caddie’s high quality insight.

It’s not so much the calming words of wisdom after a shank or the cleaning of dirty balls – it’s the accurate yardages on tap.

That’s why GPS handheld sets have been such a game changer – because the best information is now immediately available to golfers of all abilities.

No faffing about with course maps, no peering for 150 yards posts, just good numbers that make picking a club so much easier.

There’s one problem: sometimes you forget to charge the unit and it runs out of battery life midway through the back nine.

Not any more, however.

Garmin has unveiled the Approach G20 Solar and it is the first GPS golf handheld with unlimited battery life in sunny conditions.

A game-changer, it offers distances to the green on a high-contrast screen and the solar-powered battery allows you to play round after round without charging.

Let’s have a closer look.

What information does it provide?

There are yardages to the front, middle and back of the green on the 2.2 inch high-contrast screen.

The big, easy-to-read numbers means that players of all ages can read distances during play and even on bright, sunny days.

What does Garmin say?

Dan Bartel, Vice President of Global Consumer Sales, says: “We’re excited to introduce the Approach G20 Solar, our first GPS golf handheld with an innovative solar-powered display that gives golfers the ability to play longer than ever before.

“Packed with popular on-course features to help guide your approach and an easy-to-read screen, it’s the perfect companion for golfers of all skill levels.”

How does the long battery life work?

There is no need to recharge the Approach G20 Solar. The solar-powered display makes it easy to stay on the course for an extra 18 holes or even stash it in a golf bag after the round without worrying about recharging before the next tee time.

Even when playing in sub-optimal conditions, players can expect to use it for up to 36 rounds without solar charging.

What are the other key features?

You can choose from more than 43,000 preloaded courses worldwide and receive course updates wirelessly when paired with a compatible smartphone.

There is a green view facility to see the shape of the green with manual pin placements.

You can pair with Approach CT10 club tracking tags2 for automatic shot-tracking and a clearer picture of the current round.

And if you sync with the Garmin Golf™ smartphone app you’ll get wind speed and direction straight to the device.

Anything else?

Yes. It’s compact and easy to carry but can be mounted on a golf cart with the built-in magnet or to a belt with the included clip.

If it’s accidentally left behind, you can use the Find My Garmin option to see the last known location of the device through the Garmin Golf app.

And with an IPX7 water rating, it’s designed with all types of golf weather in mind, from light to steady rain, to wind and sunlight.

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