As with any GPS product, distance to a certain geographical location is important. This is especially true when using a Garmin golf watch to determine yardage. If you are experiencing inaccuracies, it is important to understand what can affect yardage readings.

Inaccuracies should be compared against course markers. Course markers generally measure to the center of the green, not the hole. This is important to remember because it can mean the difference of 20 to 30 yards on some shots. The golf watch will measure to the center of green by default.

Common Cause of Inaccuracy

The most common cause of inaccurate distance readings is that unit settings are set incorrectly to either metric or yards. If your local course measures distance in metric, but your watch is set to yards, the distance will consistently be off.

Setting Golf Distance on an Approach Watch

These watches have a distance unit setting for golf separate from the general distance unit setting.

Approach S62

Hold
Select Settings
Select System
Select Units
Select Golf Distance
Select Yards or Meters

Approach S40 and S42

Press and hold the Button
Select Settings
Select Units
Select Golf Distance
Select Yards or Meters

Setting Distance Units on an Approach Watch Without Separate Activity Distance Units

These watches only have a general distance unit setting. The units will need to be set to yards for the activity and step distances to display in miles. If the golf distance units are set to meters, the activity and step distances will display in kilometers.

Approach S20

Press OK
Select Settings
Select Units
Select Yards or Meters

Approach S60

Hold
Select Settings
Select System
Select Units
Select Distance
Select Yards or Meters

Approach X40

Press the Device Key
Select
Select System
Select Units
Yards or Meters

Setting Distance Units on an Approach Watch That Does Not Have Activity Features

These watches do not record activities or track steps, so they only have a golf distance setting.

Approach S1 and S2

Hold OK/Menu
Select Setup
Select Units
Select Yards or Meters

Approach S3, S4, S5, and S6

From the time, touch
Select Setup
Select Units
Select Yards or Meters

Approach S10

Press OK
Select Settings
Select Units
Select Yards or Meters

Approach S12

Press OK
Select Golf Settings
Select Golf Distance
Select Yards or Meters

Approach X10

Press the Device Key
Select
Select Units
Select Yards or Meters

Other Possible Causes of Inaccuracy

Golf Course Remodels

Some inaccuracies can be the result of golf course remodeling and other situations where our Garmin course database will be in need of an update. To help notify us about an upcoming or needed update please fill out a Golf Course Report Form or if yardage inaccuracies exist with a specific hole or course under the following conditions:

Present on one or more holes but not the entire course.
Occurs with one course but not others.

As with any consumer grade product GPS inaccuracies will exist. Therefore, a yardage discrepancy of 5 yards or less is more than acceptable and would not be considered an issue.