Garmin launches Approach S12 golfing smartwatch

• GPS helps players to gain precise yardage and performance
• Comes with 42,000 preloaded courses, 30 hour battery life

GARMIN Malaysia has announced a new addition to its Approach series of GPS golf products.

The Approach S12 smartwatch claims to be equipped with 42,000 preloaded courses, on top of promising “exemplary” battery life and connectivity to Garmin’s club tracking sensor, it said in a statement.

The smartwatch also works with Garmin’s golf app, which allows users to more easily upload screenshots and review their performance stats, it added.

On the design front, the Approach S12 features interchangeable quick-release bands. It introduces a round watch design with a 1.3-inch sunlight-readable, high-resolution display, which can be configured with a new "Big Numbers" display mode to make it easier to read yardage numbers during golfing sessions.

When paired with the Garmin Golf app on a compatible smartphone, the Approach S12 wirelessly updates a player’s most frequently played golf courses for up-to-date course information. Garmin claims that the battery lasts up to 30 hours in GPS mode.

“With the new Approach S12, Garmin has brought the best of our technology to the forefront,” said Scoppen Lin, director of Garmin Asia. “The smartwatch is designed to assist new golfers to efficiently improve their game while staying connected within the golfing community”.

The Approach S12 uses its built-in high sensitivity GPS that zeroes in on a player’s location, allow them to gain precise yardages to the front, middle, and back of the green, hazards, doglegs, layups and more, Garmin claimed.

Golfers can also pair the smartwatch with the optional Approach CT10 club sensors for automatic club tracking to see how far players hit each club, it added.

The Approach S12 GPS golf watch comes in Black, Granite Blue and White. It is available now at a retail pricing of US$225 (RM930) on Lazada, Shopee, AECO e-store and at all Garmin branded stores, including authorised resellers and MST Golf.