Garmin® Approach® S1 launches as first golf GPS watch, showing key distances for vast database of preloaded courses
Garmin, the global leader* in satellite navigation, today announced Approach S1, the first Garmin GPS wristwatch designed specifically for golf. The new Approach S1 works out where you are on the course using its inbuilt GPS receiver and displays precise yardages to the front, back and middle of greens ensuring you keep to time, on track and on par. It also comes preloaded with nearly 5000 European golf courses across Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
“With the Approach S1 golf GPS watch, Garmin has once again created an entirely new category for fitness and outdoor recreation,” said Clive Taylor, Director of Product and Marketing. “Golfers who want their data and their device as streamlined as possible will find Approach S1 a sleek and simple hands-free solution to taking the guesswork out of their game.”
Constantly updating based on a golfer’s actual real-time location, Approach S1 can also measure individual shot distances – all while functioning as a high-quality, everyday watch. Approach S1 comes preloaded with nearly 5000 European courses so there’s no need for subscriptions or downloads – simply select “Start Round,” choose your course and you’re ready to tee off.
Rugged and waterproof, Approach S1 weighs only 1.8 ounces, has an ultra-thin backlit display, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts up to eight hours in GPS mode and up to three weeks in watch mode – making it perfect for the boardroom, the bunkers and all points in between. In addition to the wide range of preloaded courses, Approach S1 features an easy-to-set alarm and automatic time and time zone detection, making it the perfect companion for travellers.
Once in golf mode, Approach S1 quickly acquires satellites and displays a list of nearby courses. Once a course is selected, three distances to each hole will always be provided – front, middle and back of the green – with those details being updated automatically and adjusted depending on the angle of approach. During the course of play, Approach S1 displays the hole number and par, and it automatically transitions from one hole to the next.
Once golfers begin a round in golf mode, they can easily transition between time of day and distances to green, and they can access the menu to measure the distance of their last shot to improve their game or shore up bragging rights. Acting as a GPS-enabled odometer, Approach S1 helps golfers track the total ground they’ve covered on foot during each round (or even on a walk over lunch) so that they can see the true health benefits of leaving the cart in the clubhouse.
Golfers can go to www.garmin.co.uk/approach to check if their course is among those available for the Approach S1. At www.garmin.co.uk/approach, golfers can also learn more about Garmin’s Approach G5 and Approach G3 touchscreen handhelds that feature preloaded course coverage and detailed vector mapping unlike anything used before on a golf course.
Approach S1 represents the latest breakthrough from Garmin, which has spent more than 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.co.uk, www.garmin.blogs.com/uk and http://twitter.com/garminuk.
RRP Price: £179 / €199
*According to Canalys report for sat nav sales made in 2009.
About Garmin
The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information visit Garmin's media centre at http://garmin.blogs.com/ukpr. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
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This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company’s future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2009 filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 000-31983). A copy of Garmin’s Form 10-K can be downloaded at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
