Garmin Approach G10 Golf GPS: An HONEST Review


Today, I’m going to be reviewing the Garmin Approach G10 golf GPS and talking about how it performed on the course compared to other units. I’ll also show you the cheapest place I could find the G10 for sale. In short, here’s my quick review of the Garmin Approach G10.

If you’re in the market for a new golf GPS and don’t want to spend a fortune, this could be a great option for you. It’s not crazy advanced or the most accurate, but it’s really close and is one of the better options in this price range. If you’re thinking about it, I’d give it a thumbs up for sure.

I wouldn’t expect all the features in the world if you decide to get this GPS but it’s a solid option for the price. If you want to know what our favorite golf GPS is, you can see the best golf GPS here.

My First Impressions

This is Garmin’s entry-level golf GPS that’ll clip onto your belt or bag and give you distances to hazards, layups, and the green.

I found it to be super simple to get set up and start using (more than some competitors).

It also has over 40,000 worldwide courses (all my courses were on).

What Features Does It Have?

The G10 isn’t the most advanced GPS out there and isn’t going to offer as much as something like the Shot Scope V3 (thus the cheaper price tag) but it is really good at giving you the basic info you need.

On the main screen, it’ll show you the hole #, the par, the green shape, and the distance to the front, center, and back of the green.

You can also go to the menu and find the distance to different layup spots, to hazards, and see your round summary after your game. Here’s a demo video:

How Accurate Was The GPS?

In terms of numbers, it was actually more accurate than I first thought it would be (most of the units in the same price range aren’t the best).

The distance to the front, center, and back of the green was always within about 5 yards of the course markers (not the best but it’s an inexpensive unit).

The one thing that was a bit tricky was figuring out where the layup spots were. The reason is that it didn’t show an overview of the hole, so you kind of had to guess.

How Good Was The Design?

I’m not really a fan of wearing watches so I do really like the compact design and the clip-on feature.

I do prefer the button display on these smaller GPS units compared to the touchscreen because it’s not as sensitive or laggy.

The battery life was supposed to be around 15 hours in GPS mode but I generally had to recharge it after 2 rounds (which I was fine with).

How Does It Compare To Others?

Are there similar golf GPS units (similar price) that I like more? Not really.

Are there similar golf GPS units that I like less? The Bushnell Phantom, Bushnell Ghost, IZZO Swami.

What would I recommend if you want a slight upgrade? The Garmin S42 watch is better, but it’s going to be more expensive. The SkyCaddie SX400 is our favorite handheld unit at a reasonable price point.

Garmin Approach G10 Specs

Garmin Approach G10
Size38 x 51 x 17 mm
TouchscreenNo
Screen Size1 inch
Weight28 grams
Battery15 Hours GPS Mode
Water-ResistantYes
Courses41,000+
PreloadedYes
Distance To Front, Middle, BackYes
Distance To Hazards/Doglegs/LayupYes
Shot DistanceYes
ScorecardYes
Stat TrackingYes
AutoShotNo
Manual Pin PlacementYes
PinpointerNo
Club TrackingNo

What I Like

  • It’s nice and compact.
  • There are a lot of courses already programmed in.
  • The price can’t be beaten.
  • You can see the green shape and also move the pin.

What I Don’t Like

  • It doesn’t come with fitness tracking or notifications.
  • The instructions weren’t very clear (I’ve used a lot of these so it wasn’t really an issue).
  • It’s not as fast as others when it comes to locating the course and distances.

The Breakdown

  • Performance Score: 9
  • Price Score: 10
  • Ease Of Use Score: 8
  • My Personal Score: 9

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is it readable in sunlight?

A. Yes.

Q. Can you manually select the point on the green?

A. Yes.

Q. Does it come with a scorecard?

A. Yes.

Is It Worth It?

Overall, if you’re in the market for a new golf GPS and don’t want to break the bank, the Garmin G10 could be it. It’s not overly advanced and it’s not the most accurate, but it’s really close and it’s one of the better options in this price range.

If you want a unit that does a bit more there’s the SkyCaddie SX400. It’s going to be more expensive but the features it comes with are much more advanced, so it could be a good option if you golf a lot.

Note. Even though both are solid picks, there might be units that suit your needs better. If you’re unsure what to get I’d recommend checking out the best golf GPS here.


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Jon Webber

Just an average golfer trying to take my game to the next level. Was shooting around 100 not that long ago but have now been in the 80s consistently. Best round to date was 12 over. Best 9 holes were 4 over.

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