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Garmin Approach S12: Tracking and features
- Shot recording
- Built in memory
- Shot distances
Using the Garmin Approach S12 is super simple and fast. Get onto the course and tap the big red side button to select start a round. This will then quickly acquire GPS and offer you a list of potential courses you might be at. When we say 'quickly', we're talking about seconds, not minutes – even on a totally new course. Unless they're overlapping you'll find the course you're on, top of the list. Tap the button to select and then pick the tee you're playing off to get started. It's that simple to use.
The menus are very easy to navigate, even with button based rather than touchscreen controls. This is thanks to years of refinement from Garmin across its range of devices that results in a minimal display of just the information you need, when you need it.
This watch might not track your game quite as automatically as Garmin's top-end golf watches, but it does track your shot distance. Once you make your drive, you set the watch to 'Measure Shot'. Then, as you make your way there, it will accurately track your distance to the ball. From a straight line shot to a dogleg, it will get the accurate line. Then you simply hit 'Reset' and it'll be ready to track again for your next shot.
One particularly helpful tool is the ability to look over the hole ahead. This shows features on the hole like water and bunkers, listed in order as you scroll up and down through the menu. This lists your distance to that feature and even allows you to see how long you need to hit your shot to make an ideal layup.
Play a shot and then you can use the Green View screen on the app to see where the pin is placed and adjust as needed. You can move the pin around on the screen using the up and down buttons. It's not as slick as the touchscreen on the S42, but it does still do the job well.
It's worth mentioning that the GPS is super accurate, able to pinpoint you as you move. While this can, potentially vary, in areas near buildings or tall trees, we didn't have any issues with GPS on the course or while acquiring satellites, which was done very quickly. For the money this is one of the best GPS golf watches for satellite acquisition out there right now.
When you get to the end of your hole you need to input how your drive was played, selecting from the options like cut left, cut right, to fairway or to green. Then you select the number of putts required as well as layups. You can then add in if you were on par, birdie or bogey and beyond.
So there is a fair amount of data entry required. While that's a faff, you'd likely be doing it on the paper card anyway, so at least this keeps all your data in the app.
Also, this means you're super accurate. For example, on the S42 and S62, when the watch's auto detection is out, you have to adjust the data manually. The S12 doesn't have that issue as you do it manually anyway. It might sound silly but in a way this feels like less hassle as you never expected it to do the work for you, nothing lost, right?
The watch also offers sunset and sunrise times so it's useful for a plan ahead look at your game even when you don't have – or don't want – your phone.
Garmin Approach S12: Garmin Golf App
- No notifications
- Clear layout of history in the app
The Garmin Golf app is a dedicated app made purely for the Garmin golf tech. As such it's layout is clear and minimal with an easy to use interface which works well across both iOS and Android phones.
This allows you to see the game but only after you've played and uploaded your data with this model. That does mean you can review the clear hole maps, ideal for checking over your game history afterwards.
There are no notifications or smart tracking features on this watch. All that means a very uninterrupted game, which is ideal for those that like a minimal distraction type of play. It's also great for battery life as you only upload data over Bluetooth when you want.
Thanks to the onboard 125MB of memory this can be uploaded after each game or after a few, when you get a chance. All that means superb battery and control over when you want to review your games.
The Garmin Golf app allows you to pair clubs with smart sensors, with the watch working with the CT10 club sensors, for deeper metrics but also lets you participate in leaderboards. This is a great way to keep even your solo game competitive with others in your group, without having to actually be playing together.
