After reading many of the positive reviews online regarding the Approach G6, Garmin's newest golf GPS, I found myselft having very high expectations for this new device. I had to give it a try as I was in the market for a new golf GPS to use along with my current laser rangefinder.
The Garmin Approach G6 is one of those products that so significantly surpassed my expectations, that I had to write a review on it. For a number of years I have mostly used a Bushnell laser rangefinder, however for convenience sake I continue to keep testing almost every new golf GPS unit which comes along hoping I will discover the Holy Grail of golf yardages in an easy-to-use GPS product.
In the past 10 years and ever since golf gps devices hit the market, I've tried every model of SkyCaddie ever made, including the latest SkyCaddie SGXw. I have also experimented with the Golf Buddy Platinum and a Bushnell GPS watch, but nothing at all comes close to the Garmin G6…nothing! All the others found their way to eBay or Craig's List at a great loss of money!
One of the best features of the G6 is its simplicity. The basic front, middle and back yardages are always provided, but when you would like the yardage from you to a water hazard, sand trap, or any hazzard, simply touch the point on the touchscreen display which is very responsive and so simple to use I still cannot believe it. If you need a layup distance, you can simply move the cursor to the distance you would like, or simply just glance at the display screen to see that they are also automatically displayed at 100, 150, 200 and 250 yard arcs from the center of the green.
Whenever you want, you are able to push a couple of buttons (more simplicity) on the Garmin G6 to see an enhanced view of the green, or press it once more to go back to the hole view. That may seem to be a minor issue, but so many other competitive units make this activity more challenging.
If you are a stat freak the Garmin G6 delivers there also. The G6 can store all the basic stats including putts, fairways hit, greens in regulation, and score. It also has a feature that can easily measure shot distances and store that info to calculate average club distances which are viewable during the round. Club averages are updated throughout the round as more data is entered and is helpful in you club selection.
My final point regarding the Garmin G6 is easily the most important…to me anyway. The display screen is always very VISIBLE - even in the middle of the day in brilliant sunlight. Actually, due to the way the display screen is manufactured, it's substantially more visible in the sunlight. I had mine set for the backlight to go off after 15 seconds, yet each and every time I glanced at it on the course, the screen was very bright and easily readable. I assumed there was a problem with it and the backlight was remaining on, but in fact, the backlight was actually turning off as designed, but having it on actually made no difference. The display screen was as easy to view with the backlight on or off. On an overcast or cloudy day, the backlight is needed and makes a noticeable difference.
If you are undecided about, or in the market for a new golf GPS unit, please do yourself a favor and give the Garmin G6 a try. If you do not like it you can return it for a refund or exchange, but I'm confident that won't happen. And do not forget, it has over 27,000 courses pre-loaded and there are no membershp fees at all. You can also update the courses easily online with it hooked up to your computer via the provided USB cable.
The Garmin Approach G6 comes in at a reasonable price point, and with no additional fees it remains very competitively priced. Its size, color screen, full hole graphics, and ability to determine distances to any point on the course make it a compelling value, and will undoubtedly make this a popular device.
This it one of the better golf GPS devices I have used. It has so many courses available never had a problem dialing in a course.
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