The gift of better golf
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Accessories
Isn’t it a funny thing to consider how old the game of golf is and how much it has changed?
With records of the game of golf dating back to 15th century Scotland, it’s fair to say that golf has evolved over the centuries with extensive reinvention and technological changes. Can you imagine what those early golfers from hundreds of years ago would think if they could see all our modern shot-tracking data and technology in action?
Even having steel-shafted golf clubs is a relatively new invention considering the timeline of golf, coming into mass production in the 1930s. But what about all the fancy gadgets that we often take for granted nowadays?
Golf GPS devices, like the Garmin Z82 Rangefinder, are perhaps the most recent category to be added to the list of unique equipment designed to make golf easier. Garmin first introduced cutting-edge GPS devices to the aviation industry back in the 80s, and since the early 21st century have reigned as the market leader for golf GPS products.
Having the correct yardage reading on hand has long been a staple necessity in the world of golf. Before all our modern tech, golfers typically played by feel having to get a sense of ‘feel’ from nearby yardage markers.
Pioneers of the sport throughout the 20th century implemented more sophisticated processes for keeping distance readings. Deane Beman and Jack Nicklaus are regularly cited as being among the first golfers to popularize dependable notebooks with detailed illustrations. Beman even used to make his caddies walk the course before his tournaments to get reliable, up-to-date readings.
Players today can get their hands on green reading books that give detailed accounts of the features of each green, including the speeds of various slopes. There’s a lot of controversy around these books on tour as it’s argued that pro golfers get too much help and it’s taking away from the skill of the game.
Thankfully, technology has changed over the past few decades, so you won’t be needing to walk any holes before playing them. Garmin has a fantastic range of different golf GPS devices to suit every kind of golfer.
If you’ve never had a golf GPS device before and you want to dip your toes into upgrading the kit in your golf bag, the Garmin Approach G12 GPS device is an excellent introduction into getting reliable yardage readings. The small tablet has a screen that presents the yardages in an easy-to-read font, and it can give you readings to the front, middle, and back of the green.
The device not only gives you GPS accurate distances to the front, middle, and back of each green, but the Green View mode allows you to manually position the flag to give you a better perspective over your target. With automatic hole selection, you’ll always be ready to go as you make your way around the course, and with 30 hours of battery life you’ll be well equipped for a weekend of golf.
It doesn’t come easier than having all this state-of-the-art tech strapped to your wrist! Garmin are at the top of their game when it comes to producing high-quality wearables, and you’ll have everything you could need for an excellent round of golf with the Garmin Approach S12 GPS watch.
Simple, straightforward, and a lot of fun, this user-friendly offering from Garmin has a handy 1.3” high-resolution screen that clearly displays digits and letters in a bold font. With 42,000 pre-loaded courses, there’s no effort required when it comes to setting up the course you’re currently playing. The watch is water-resistant and also gives you up to 30 hours of performance when on GPS mode.
If you’re looking for a watch that gives you a fantastic picture as well as all the core distance-reading tech, you’ll find it in the Garmin Approach S42 GPS Watch. The watch has a detailed high-resolution touchscreen that allows you to see greens in vivid colour. With integrated game and stats tracking, you’ll always be clued up on your current performance.
The Approach S42 is also a fantastic watch if you live an active lifestyle, it comes packed with additional features like a step counter, as well as sport and sleep functionalities.
Garmin’s premium golf GPS watch offering, the Approach S70 has both exceptional looks and features. The 1.4” AMOLED display looks gorgeous and displays fairways, greens, trees, and hazards in exceptionally fine detail.
The Enhanced PlaysLike Distance feature will really transform your approach to the golf course. This handy function factors whether your ball is travelling uphill or downhill to give you a super accurate yardage reading. There’s even a virtual caddie feature that shows your shot dispersion data and suggest which club to use. The Approach S70 is the pinnacle of high-tech golf watch performance.
Garmin knows this that every kind of golfer will benefit from using the Approach S70, so you can also get all of these great features in the Approach S70s. This watch has a slightly smaller strap, making it perfect for ladies, juniors, and players with smaller wrists.
You may be a skilled golfer that can shape their shots just how they like and want to know every slope and hazard on a hole before you play it. If you like to be prepared, you’ll have everything you could need in one of Garmin’s Rangefinder golf GPS devices.
The Approach Z82 Laser Rangefinder comes equipped with Green view and Hazard view to give you an excellent perspective over the entire hole. With the Playslike mode, you’ll have the wind factored into every shot so you get a better idea of how strong an influence it has on your ball.
What’s really special about this Laser Rangefinder is how reassuring it is to use. You’ll get a small vibrational jolt when the device has locked on to the flagstick, letting you know that you definitely have the right target in your sights and not a tree behind the green.
With all this wonderful golfing tech available to us, why would you want to play without it? If you’re still uncertain about how the latest golf GPS devices will benefit your game, our team in the pro shop would be happy to answer any questions you may have.