This £300 solar-powered golf GPS could be revolutionary, but is it worth the cost?

Key features

• Solar powered battery lasts more than 30 rounds
• Bright HD black and white screen shows precise hardages to hazards, doglegs and greens
• Removable clip attaches to belt loops and bags
• Magnetised back snaps on easily to a cart

Since starting with the GolfMagic team a few months ago, I've very quickly begun to gravitate towards products that do the simple things well rather than overwhelming the user with gadgets and gizmos. Basically, if it helps me focus more on my golf rather than constantly adjusting settings on a rangefinder, re-arranging equipment in my bag or staring at my smartphone, I'll probably like it.

If you're of a similar mindset, the idea of a set-and-forget golf GPS that you never have to charge will likely pique your interest. This is where the new, solar-powered Garmin G20 comes in, and for those not inclined towards rangefinders, phone apps or GPS watches, the G20 represents an interesting proposition for the minimalist golfer. 

But coming as it does with an eyebrow-raising £299 price tag, is the Approach G20 it worth it? We took it out on the course to find out.

Features and performance

At a fundamental level, the Garmin G20 is a pretty basic sort of device. It's also incredibly easy to use and set up. It fits neatly into the palm of your hand, is magnetised to attach to a cart, comes included with a slide-in mount that allows you to easily clip it onto a belt loop or the accessory loop on your golf bag. I generally opted for the latter, as this allows you to literally set it and forget safe in the knowledge it'll always be charging when you're out on the course.

The overall build of the G20 isn't exactly what we'd call spartan, but it is simple. It has a simple black and white high definition screen, three buttons for power, navigating the menus and setting up rounds, and, well, that's about it. You can toggle a couple of additional things once you've paired it with the Garmin app on your phone (which you have to do to track things like scores and stats), but once it's set up and your round is started, it's about as simple and functional as a golf GPS comes.

The format of readout is similar to what you'll find in Garmin's entry-level watches like the S12, with a simple display showing yardages to hazards, doglegs, greens, as well as a rudimentary green map on each hole. It loads incredibly quickly and, thanks to Garmin's unrivalled network of GPS satellites, shows just about the most precise yardages you'll get short of pulling out an actual rangefinder. The screen is also more than bright enough to use in full sunlight or glarey conditions.

All of this goes, of course, without mentioning the G20's gargantuan battery life, which instantly sets a new benchmark other brands simply won't be able to achieve unless they introduce solar power themselves. The G20 apparently lasts up to 36 rounds on a full charge of its battery, and while charging is naturally impacted if you're playing in heavy cloud or rain, it's unlikely you'll ever go 36 full rounds without the chance to expose the G20 to proper sunlight. If things somehow get that desperate, you can also charge it with a USB-C cable.

Should you buy the Approach G20 Solar?

This is a tricky question to answer, and largely boils down to the type of experience you value when implementing additional tech into your golf game. 

On one hand, the Garmin G20 instantly stands out as the most practical, functional golf GPS on the market, combining a near-endless battery with incredible ease of use and the precise yardages you'd expect from one of the brand's entry-level golf watches. 

On the other hand, the G20 is a £300 black and white GPS that, thanks almost entirely to the way it's charged, provides a near-identical user experience as a Garmin S12 watch for almost triple the price. 

It's also worth mentioning that, at the time of writing, you can also get the colour-screen G30 handheld GPS for half the G20's RRP, and even score the Approach G80 for exactly the same price—a model that while being more conventionally powered, has both a much more detailed display and an integrated launch monitor.

As such, I suspect more than a few will be put off by the price tag (although Garmin is no stranger to offering its products at a decent discount), but if money is no object and you value high-quality tech that's simple and functional, the Approach G20 Solar is a thoroughly charming bit of kit.

Find out more at Garmin's website.