| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Type | Clip-on golf GPS handheld |
| Series | Approach |
| Released | March 2021 |
| Price at launch | GBP 129.99 / USD 149.99 |
| Predecessor | Approach G10 |
| Successor | Not yet announced. See Release Radar. |
| Part number | 010-02555-01 |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Golf features | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
The G12 is the cheapest route into Garmin’s golf course database, and the clip is the point of it. At 25.1g it fastens to a pocket, a belt or a bag with the built-in clip or a lanyard, so the golfer reads a yardage by glancing down rather than turning a wrist mid-address, and nothing sits on the swing arm at all.
The screen is the same 175 by 175 monochrome panel as the Approach S12 watch, with a Big Numbers Mode that enlarges the front, middle and back figures for anyone who finds small type hard work in bright light. It gives the full 43,000-course database, layups and doglegs, hazards, Green View with a drag-and-drop pin, the digital scorecard and CT10 club tracking, and it runs 30 hours on a charge. Green contour data arrives with a Garmin Golf membership. For a golfer who wants accurate numbers and nothing else, it does the job for a third of the price of the AMOLED watches.
Garmin Approach G12
Clips to your bag and gives front, middle and back yardages at a glance.
RRP $134.99
£118.47, €135.97
- use code:
Get it nowOrder now – Garmin Approach G12 Also sold direct byWhat’s new versus the Approach G10
Hardware
- Larger 175 x 175 sunlight-readable monochrome display
- 45.8 x 51.3 x 12.4mm body at 25.1g
- Built-in clip and a lanyard loop
- 30 hours of GPS battery life
Software
- Big Numbers Mode for larger yardage figures
- Green View with a drag-and-drop pin position
- Stat tracking for strokes, putts, greens and fairways
- Green contour data with a Garmin Golf membership
- Strokes gained analysis, leaderboards and tournaments through the Garmin Golf app
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 23 x 23mm (0.9 x 0.9 inch) |
| Type | Sunlight-readable high-resolution monochrome |
| Resolution | 175 x 175 pixels |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 45.8 x 51.3 x 12.4mm |
| Weight | 25.1g |
| Mounting | Built-in clip and lanyard loop |
| Water rating | IPX7 |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | GPS with a high-sensitivity receiver |
| Connectivity and power | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Interface | USB |
| Battery type | Internal rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Maps | 43,000 preloaded golf courses |
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| GPS | Up to 30 hours |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Golf features
Feature explanations are covered in the relevant the5krunner Garmin features hub.
- 43,000 preloaded courses with automatic CourseView updates
- Yardages to the front, middle and back of the green, and to layups and doglegs
- Big Numbers Mode for larger yardage figures
- Hazards and course targets
- Green View with a drag-and-drop pin position
- Shot distance measurement from anywhere on the course
- Digital scorecard
- Stat tracking for strokes, putts, greens and fairways
- Approach CT10 automatic club tracking through accessories
- Green contour data with a Garmin Golf membership
- Round timer and odometer
- Tournament legal
Garmin Approach G12
Clips to your bag and gives front, middle and back yardages at a glance.
RRP $134.99
£118.47, €135.97
- use code:
Get it nowOrder now – Garmin Approach G12 Also sold direct byQuick answers
When was the Garmin Approach G12 released?
Garmin released the Approach G12 in March 2021. The launch price was GBP 129.99 or USD 149.99.
How long does the Approach G12 battery last?
Garmin rates Approach G12 for up to 30 hours in GPS mode.
Is the Approach G12 waterproof?
Approach G12 has an IPX7 water rating.
How does the Approach G12 attach?
Approach G12 has a built-in clip and a lanyard loop, so it fastens to a pocket, a belt or a bag. It weighs 25.1g and measures 45.8 x 51.3 x 12.4mm.
How big is the Approach G12 screen?
Approach G12 has a 23 x 23mm sunlight-readable monochrome display at 175 x 175 pixels, with a Big Numbers Mode for larger yardage figures.
How many golf courses does the Approach G12 have?
Approach G12 has 43,000 preloaded golf courses with automatic CourseView updates. Green contour data requires a Garmin Golf membership.
Further reading
- Garmin Approach G20 Solar specifications
- Garmin Approach S12 specifications
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin products
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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