Garmin Approach G30 GPS
Read our Garmin Approach G30 GPS review to see our thoughts on this pocket-sized device
We think this compact unit will best suit those who want all the features of the leading GPS devices in a practical pocket sized unit.
-
+
From its simple front, middle and back screen to its colour hole maps, this versatile unit can be left in your pocket or clipped to your bag, which ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of golfers.
- +
-
-
The small touchscreen made clicking some options a little fiddly, while the £269.99 retail price makes it more expensive than a lot of its rivals.
Why you can trust Golf Monthly
Read our Garmin Approach G30 GPS review to see what we thought of this pocket-sized golf GPS device
Garmin Approach G30 GPS Review
Key Technology
This compact GPS can be worn on your belt, clipped to your bag or left in your pocket. It boasts a 2.3 inch colour touchscreen with colour hole mapping and a Big Numbers Mode that displays yardages clearly. A moveable pointer also aids strategy decisions, while Green View reveals the shape of the green and lets you manually position pins to get laser rangefinder like yardages.
Garmin Approach G30 GPS Review
In terms of shelf appeal there's nothing to fault here. It has a simple power button and boasts the modern curves we're used to with today's phones and tablets. As you'd expect it is lightweight, while it also has a rubber bezel to protect its edges if it is ever dropped.
For such a small unit, this provided us with all the information we needed, all accessed via a responsive touchscreen. The colour hole map (below middle) is the default screen, displaying the key stats along with red, white and blue arcs for 100, 150 and 200 yards to the green. Tapping on this screen also allowed us to work out the distance to a preferred lay-up position.
The screen we used most during testing is probably the large front, middle and back yardage screen (below right), which was easy to use at a quick glance. From here you can touch the green icon in the bottom right corner to bring up an enlarged view of the green where you can move the flag around, but this proved quite fiddly on such a small screen.
We also liked being able to see our group's score on one screen (above left), while pop up phone notifications are a discreet, if not now common, helpful addition. The Garmin Approach G30 can also track putts and fairways hit or missed, which are summarised at the end of your round and can be synched to the Garmin Connect app via Bluetooth.
While it is clearly on the smaller side when compared to other popular GPS units, the G30's chunky bag/belt clip was really solid so we weren't worried about losing it. Its only downfall would be when paired with players with waning eyesight or large fingers, who might struggle with the touchscreen functionality.
Overall this GPS device looks good, offers great functionality and thanks to its compact size has a real USP versus rival GPS units. At £269.99 however, it does cost more than many popular GPS watches, so unless the colour hole views are important to you, you may want to shop around.
Get the top Black Friday deals right in your inbox: Sign up now!
The hottest deals and product recommendations during deals season straight to your inbox plus all the best game-changing tips, in-depth features and the latest news and insights around the game.
-
Hero Who Tried To Save Brian Harman's Son From Drowning In Coma As Open Champion Asks For Prayers Ahead Of RSM Classic
The incident occurred at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida in October while Harman was away from his family competing on the Asian Tour
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Terry Gannon Facts: 15 Things To Know About The Golf Channel Broadcaster
Terry Gannon is known for his versatility in sports broadcasting, including his work on the Golf Channel
By Mike Hall Published
-
Kay Cockerill Facts: 15 Things To Know About The Golf Channel Broadcaster
Kay Cockerill has been with the Golf Channel since its inception, but she also had a successful playing career - here are 15 things to know about her
By Mike Hall Published