Garmin Approach G5 Touchscreen Golf GPS (Old Version) by Garmin
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin Approach G5 Touchscreen Golf GPS (Old Version)
Digital camera Review: GArmin Golf GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
Works well but sometimes doesn't link up to the satelite. Tinkering helps and an instruction booklet would have been nice.Digital camera Review: GPS vs. Rangefinder vs. iPhone app
Summary: 3 Stars
I didn't plan this comparison, just turned out that way. After reading a lot of reviews here and elsewhere, I decided on the Garmin Approach as the best Golf GPS device but I also wanted to try a rangefinder and picked up the Leupold GX-II, based on similar reviews. Leupold GX-II Digital Golf Rangefinder
Overall, I find the GPS easier to use for most of what I want in these devices. The Garmin has all the courses I play available and there is no annual fee. (The purchase price is high, but all the course maps are included.) So, if you want to know distance to a trap, to clear a hazard, to get to the middle of the green, that is all there for you with the Garmin at a glance. No need to stop, sight the target (and check a few times to make sure the rangefinder is picking up the exact target you are looking for). So, more convenient and faster for sure. Obviously, the one thing that the rangefinder does better is distance to the pin. With the Garmin (or any GPS), you are guessing where the pin is on the green and estimating distance based on the information you get on front and center of the green. You can move the flag to the location on the green where you think it is, but that is an estimate. For me, that's good enough. If I am off by 5 yards, that is a lot more accurate than my shot is likely to be. But the Leupold does a great job of picking out the flag (at least inside 225 yards) so if you want accuracy to the flag, it is better. It also will adjust real distance based on slope to the green, altitude and temperature and suggest a club based on what you enter for your normal distances for a few irons. Note that this feature is illegal in tournament play or in rounds that you use to determine your handicap. But it does help you get a feel for how much you need to compensate for that long downhill to the island green, which is 213 yards, but will play like 165. And, if you're willing to stop and sight your targets, hazards, etc., you do get that improved accuracy. So, convenience - GPS, absolute accuracy - Rangefinder. And I do think these 2 devices work great on the course.
However, during my 3rd round with the Garmin, the battery died and locked up the device after new batteries were put in. This was on a Saturday. Garmin support is not available over the weekend. When I got them on Monday, they promised to send a new unit out that day, 2nd day, so I would have it for my next round. Unfortunately, someone screwed something up, so it wasn't shipped until after I emailed a few days later, so I started looking at other options for my next round and found Golfshot, a $30 iPhone application. Seemed to have similar functionality to the Garmin, similar number of courses available, and no subscription. I downloaded it and tried it and it was great. Everything the Garmin did plus a bunch of scoring options so you can track clubs used off the tee, fairways hit, greens in regulation, number of putts, sand saves and penalty shots. (The Garmin only allows basic scoring.) Golfshot also shows you a list of the likely interesting distances on every hole (front and back of bunkers and hazards, front, back and center of green) as well as an aerial view. The only drawback is the GPS sucks iPhone battery. They suggest turning off wifi, 3G and bluetooth (which you don't need on the course) and also to turn off auto-lock so you get continuous information. The other good suggestion is get an auxiliary battery like External Battery for Iphone, Iphone 3g, Iphone 3gs, T-mobile G1, Ipod, Sidekick, Blackberry, Nokia, 5400 Mah. And this will get you through the round with plenty of battery left.
So, if you have an iPhone, Golfshot is highly recommended. For $100 you get the app and the extra iPhone battery. If you have no iPhone, for convenience, the Garmin is good, the Leupold for absolute accuracy. Any of these will help your game.
Digital camera Review: Garman Approach G5
Summary: 4 Stars
Does a great job of showing yardage to sand traps, creeks and greens. You can even move the flag to better represent the current pin placement. Preloaded courses cover all the places I play. NO FEES. Can be hard to see in bright sun and seems to go thru batteries pretty fast. Goes to the next hole automatically.Digital camera Review: Garmin
Summary: 4 Stars
Garmin is a great GPS and there is not a monthly fee. However the course yardage was too small for my eyes.Digital camera Review: Garmin Approach G5
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one fantastic product. It now has over 10,000 courses. I recently asked that a new course be added and with the new free update that course was added. I also received an e-mail from Garmin telling me that the course was added.
It is very accurate anywhere on the course even under trees. When you turn the unit on and it locks on to the satellite's it brings up the course you are at as your fitst option.
A great feature allows you to move the flag stick on the green to the location where it is placed that day. The unit also can provide you with the distance of your shots from the tee to the green. From where you are located you can touch the screen and see exactly how far your next shot has to be to avoid a hazard. All of this can be accomplished without using any buttons. Just use the touch screen to select what feature you want to use.