When it comes to distance-measuring devices I've always been a GPS guy and so when I had the chance to test the Garmin Approach G20 Solar, I was very interested to see how it performed.
To start with, it's the first handheld solar-powered golf GPS device on the market and, given it's made by Garmin, a brand that I've used for over a decade, I knew that the first thing I was guaranteed was quality of build.
I tested the G20 Solar over numerous rounds on holiday in Tenerife, as well as a few rounds at home in Oxfordshire and the first thing that struck me was the ease of use when getting started.
Arriving at the course, you simply switch it on with the top-left power button and, after selecting the 'play golf' setting, the G20 will locate the course instantly.
Packed with over 43,000 courses, you can scroll up-and-down through the various menus using the arrow buttons on the left side. Along with those two buttons, the bottom right button allows you to go back whilst the top right button acts as the 'Ok/confirmation'.
It's worth noting that, unlike some of the best Garmin golf watches, the G20 Solar isn't touch screen, which I think makes it easier to use. The slight downside is that the device doesn't provide an overhead view of the hole, only front, middle and back yardages, as well as measurements to various penalty areas and lay-ups.
To test for accuracy, I used the G20 Solar alongside my Shot Scope Pro LX rangefinder, which is one of the best rangefinders on the market and, overall, the GPS was throwing out yardages similar to that of the Pro LX, which was a good sign.
What's more, along with nailing the basics, you can go one step further and pair it with the Garmin golf app to track scores, statistics (like fairways hit, putts taken and even wind direction) and stats on your clubs like yardages.
Unfortunately, I was unable to test the club aspect as I didn't have the tags, but the tracking of scores and basic stats would certainly benefit most golfers.
We now move to the main selling point - the Solar charging element. When the device detects sunlight it will charge itself and, with a high enough battery life and plenty of sunlight, it can sustain itself and essentially provide unlimited usage.
This sounds great on paper and, when out in Tenerife where the sun shines all day, I didn't have to worry about finding a charging port. However, when back in cloudy England, it does appear that charging it is slightly more difficult.
The G20 Solar does reportedly provide up to 36 rounds without solar charging, which is far more than most of the best GPS golf devices. The only slight qualm is that, if the sun isn't shining, it can play on your mind that the device isn't charging.
However, the G20 Solar does show the battery gain throughout the day and Garmin has clearly thought about the weather being cloudy, as you can also charge it via a USB cable.
Overall, there's a lot to like about the Garmin Approach G20 Solar. Not only is it small and practical, but it provides all the basics and ease-of-use you are ever likely to need round the golf course.
The Solar element is a useful piece of technology and, given the amount of charge you get with it, it's seriously impressive. The only slight downside is that at an RRP of $299.99, you might expect more features or hole information. But if you're after a no-nonsense golf GPS device, the Approach G20 Solar delivers in spades.
