Approach S60
| Approach S60 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| The Garmin Approach S60 (black standard model) showing a full-color CourseView hole map with the center-of-green distance (162 yards) and a manually positioned pin — the first Approach watch with a round fēnix-style design, all-day activity tracking, and AutoShot automatic shot detection | |
| General Information | |
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Type | Color Touchscreen Golf GPS Smartwatch with Activity Tracking |
| Series | Approach Series |
| Announced | May 31, 2017 |
| Release Date | June 2017 |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Price | $399.99 (standard); $499.99 (Premium) |
| Predecessor | Approach S6 |
| Successor | Approach S62 |
| Sizes Available | One size |
| Colors | Black, White (standard); ceramic bezel with black leather band (Premium) |
| Display | |
| Size | 1.2" (30.5 mm) diameter color touchscreen |
| Type | Sunlight-readable transflective color touchscreen (glove-friendly) |
| Resolution | 240 × 240 |
| Physical | |
| Case Size | 46.5 × 46.5 × 14.5 mm |
| Weight | ~52 g (1.8 oz) with band |
| Case Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Bezel Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer (standard); scratch-resistant ceramic (Premium) |
| Lens Material | Chemically strengthened glass |
| Water Rating | 5 ATM (50 m) |
| Battery Life | |
| Smartwatch | Up to 10 days (watch / activity-tracking mode) |
| GPS Only | Up to 10 hours (golf / GPS mode) |
| Features | |
| HR Sensor | None built-in (HR zones/alerts require a compatible external monitor) |
| GPS | Yes (GPS + GLONASS) |
| Sensors | GPS, GLONASS, 3-axis compass, accelerometer |
| Storage | 40,000+ preloaded CourseView courses with free lifetime updates |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth Smart, ANT+; magnetic USB charging clip |
| Music | No (phone music control only) |
| NFC (Garmin Pay) | No (no Garmin Pay) |
| Key Features | Full-color CourseView maps; AutoShot automatic shot tracking; PlaysLike slope-adjusted distances; Touch Targeting; all-day activity tracking; QuickFit 22 mm bands |
| Related | Approach S6, Approach S62, Approach S40, Approach X40 |
The Garmin Approach S60 is a color-touchscreen golf GPS smartwatch announced by Garmin on May 31, 2017 and released in June 2017 at a suggested retail price of US $399.99 for the standard model and $499.99 for a Premium version with a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and black leather band.[1] It is the direct successor to the Approach S6 as Garmin's flagship golf watch, and the first Approach watch with a round fēnix 5-style design, interchangeable QuickFit bands, all-day activity tracking, AutoShot automatic shot detection, PlaysLike slope-adjusted distances, and Garmin Connect IQ support.[1][2]
The S60 launched alongside the new Garmin Golf app, a free service that lets players compete on weekly leaderboards, set up tournament events, and sync live scores from the watch as they play.[1] Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales Dan Bartel framed the watch's positioning at launch: "The Approach S60 is as functional of a golf watch as it is a stylish timepiece … it's the most stylish golf watch we've offered so it can easily be worn 24/7."[1]
Unlike the Approach S6 — a golf-first device with no activity tracking — the S60 was designed as an everyday smartwatch, adding step, calorie, distance and sleep tracking, smart notifications, weather, and downloadable Connect IQ content while keeping the Approach line's core on-course feature set.[1][2]
What's New
The Approach S60 keeps the Approach S6's on-course information model — full-color CourseView maps, F/M/B-of-green yardages, Green View with manual pin positioning, layup and dogleg distances, Touch Targeting, a digital scorecard with statistics, Handicap Scoring, SwingTempo/TempoTraining, and 40,000-plus preloaded courses with free updates — while substantially reworking both hardware and software.
New Hardware
The S60 introduces several hardware changes over the Approach S6:[1][2][3]
- Larger, higher-resolution display — A 1.2-inch, 240 × 240 sunlight-readable transflective color touchscreen replaces the S6's 1.0-inch 180 × 180 panel.
- Round fēnix-style design with QuickFit bands — A circular case using Garmin's 22 mm QuickFit interchangeable bands (silicone, leather, or stainless steel), cross-compatible with the fēnix 5 series. The Premium model swaps the polymer bezel for scratch-resistant ceramic with a leather band.
- ANT+ and GLONASS added — Adds ANT+ connectivity (alongside Bluetooth Smart) and GLONASS satellite support in addition to GPS.
- Activity-tracking hardware — An accelerometer enables step, distance and sleep tracking. The S60 does not include a built-in optical heart-rate sensor; heart-rate features require a paired external monitor.
New Software
The software adds shot tracking, elevation-adjusted distances, activity tracking, and an app platform:[1][2][4]
- AutoShot automatic shot tracking — Automatically detects and records the location and distance of each shot along the fairway for post-round analysis, replacing the S6's manual Measure Shot. (Putts and some chip shots are not tracked.)
- PlaysLike Distance — Adjusts the yardage to a target for uphill/downhill elevation change; can be disabled for tournament play.
- Hazard View — A dedicated view listing distances to hazards and course targets.
- All-day activity tracking — Steps, calories, distance, sleep, a move bar with inactivity alerts, and Move IQ, plus preloaded activity profiles for running, cycling, and swimming.
- Connect IQ — Downloadable watch faces, widgets, data fields, and apps (including the Face It custom-photo watch face).
- Garmin Golf app + smart features — Weekly leaderboards and live scoring through the new Garmin Golf app, plus weather, calendar, Find My Phone/Watch, and phone music controls.
The S60 keeps SwingTempo and TempoTraining (now using vibration rather than tones) but drops the S6's SwingStrength metric; on-wrist swing coaching beyond tempo shifted to the optional TruSwing sensor.[1][2]
Overview
The Approach S60 repositioned Garmin's flagship golf watch as a full-time smartwatch. It pairs the Approach line's color CourseView maps and on-course measurement tools with a round fēnix-style case, QuickFit bands, and all-day activity tracking, and it was the launch device for Garmin's AutoShot automatic shot-tracking and the Garmin Golf social app.[1][2] Navigation combines the touchscreen with three physical buttons on the right side; reviewers found the interface clean and intuitive, with the touchscreen working reliably even with a glove or wet hands.[5][6] As with all Approach devices, the preloaded course database is updated free for the life of the device, with no subscription.[1]
Physical Specifications
The Approach S60 ships in a single case size. The standard model comes in black or white with a silicone band and a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel; the Premium model uses a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel with a black leather band.[1][3]
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Case size | 46.5 × 46.5 × 14.5 mm |
| Weight | ~52 g (1.8 oz) with band |
| Bezel | Standard: fiber-reinforced polymer; Premium: scratch-resistant ceramic |
| Bands | 22 mm QuickFit (silicone / leather / stainless steel), fēnix 5-compatible |
| Display | 1.2" (30.5 mm) diameter color touchscreen |
| Resolution | 240 × 240 pixels |
| Display type | Sunlight-readable transflective; glove-friendly touchscreen |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM (50 m) |
| Positioning | GPS + GLONASS |
| Charging | Magnetic USB clip |
Display
The S60's 1.2-inch, 240 × 240 transflective color touchscreen is larger and sharper than the Approach S6's 1.0-inch 180 × 180 panel, and reviewers consistently praised its outdoor readability. Tom's Guide noted the screen was "perfectly clear, even in direct sunlight" and "large enough to view and interact with the widgets when wearing a glove or when drenched in sweat."[5] Golf Monthly called it "crystal clear and intuitive to use," and "easy to read even in bright sunshine."[6] The touchscreen is supplemented by three physical buttons; Golf Monthly noted that, as with any touchscreen, "the screen did occasionally need a second press to activate your selection."[6]
Golf Features
The Approach S60 is organized around three primary on-course screens — a Hole View combining F/M/B-of-green yardages with the color hole map, a Green View with manual pin positioning, and a Touch Targeting crosshair view — plus AutoShot tracking, scoring/statistics, and the swing tools.[4][6]
Course Database
The S60 ships with more than 40,000 preloaded courses worldwide (growing past 41,000), updated free for the life of the device via Garmin Express on desktop or automatic CourseView updates through the Garmin Connect / Garmin Golf mobile apps.[1][3]
CourseView Maps and Touch Targeting
CourseView renders a full-color graphical map of each hole — fairway, doglegs, bunkers, water hazards, and green outline. With Touch Targeting, the player taps any point on the map to read the precise GPS distance to that spot, and from that point to the green.[1][6]
PlaysLike Distance (New)
New on the S60, PlaysLike Distance factors the elevation change between the player and the target into the yardage — showing, for example, that a downhill shot will "play shorter" than the measured distance. Because it provides slope-adjusted distances, the feature is not legal for tournament play and can be turned off.[1][7]
Hole View, Green View and PinPointer
Hole View shows the distances to the front, middle, and back of the green alongside the hole map, par, and number. Green View draws the shape of the green with surrounding hazards and lets the player drag the flagstick to the day's pin position for a precise distance — which Golf Monthly found "rivalled the laser rangefinder we had with us."[6] PinPointer provides a directional pointer to the green for blind shots, and Hazard View lists distances to sand traps, water, layups, and doglegs.[1][4]
AutoShot Game Tracking (New)
The S60 was a launch device for Garmin AutoShot, which automatically detects shots along the fairway, records their location and distance, and uploads them to Garmin Connect for post-round analysis — including per-club average distances and shot-by-shot mapping. Putts and some chip shots around the green are not tracked, and the player is prompted to tag detected shots with a club.[1] Golf Monthly found AutoShot detection "surprisingly accurate" and helpful for keeping score.[6]
Digital Scorecard, Statistics and Handicap
The S60 records hole-by-hole strokes, putts, fairways hit, and greens in regulation, supports Stroke Play and Stableford scoring plus Handicap Scoring, and syncs saved rounds to Garmin Connect and the Garmin Golf app, where live scores update as the round is played.[1][4]
Swing Analysis
The S60 carries SwingTempo (measuring the backswing-to-downswing ratio) and TempoTraining (using a 3:1 reference and vibration cues to fine-tune tempo). When paired with the optional Garmin TruSwing sensor, it also displays swing speed and club-path angles. The watch is additionally compatible with Garmin's Approach CT10 automatic club-tracking sensors.[1][8]
Activity Tracking and Smart Features
Designed for 24/7 wear, the S60 records daily steps, calories, distance, and sleep, with a move bar, inactivity alerts, and Move IQ automatic activity detection, plus preloaded profiles for running, cycling, and swimming.[1][2] It receives smart notifications (calls, texts, emails, and other alerts) from a paired phone, shows weather and calendar data, controls phone music, and includes Find My Phone / Find My Watch.[4][8] Through Garmin Connect IQ, owners can install watch faces, widgets, data fields, and apps, including the Face It custom-photo watch face.[4] The S60 has no built-in optical heart-rate sensor — heart-rate zones and alerts are available only with a paired external monitor — and it does not offer onboard music storage or Garmin Pay.[2][7]
Activity Profiles
In addition to all-day activity tracking, the S60 includes the following built-in activity profiles, organized by category. GPS is enabled for outdoor profiles and disabled for indoor variants, where the accelerometer supplies speed, distance and cadence.[8][4]
| Category | Activities |
|---|---|
| Running | Running, Indoor Running |
| Cycling | Biking, Indoor Biking |
| Swimming | Pool Swimming |
| Gym/Fitness | Indoor Rowing, Cardio (add-on) |
Additional default activities (such as cardio or rowing) can be added to the watch's activity list.[4]
Connectivity
The S60 connects over Bluetooth Smart and ANT+. Bluetooth handles phone pairing for notifications, weather, Garmin Connect / Garmin Golf sync, and Connect IQ downloads; ANT+ supports external sensors such as a heart-rate strap and the TruSwing / club-tracking accessories.[4][8] Course-database and firmware updates are delivered automatically through the mobile apps or via Garmin Express on a PC/Mac. The S60 charges with a magnetic USB clip; a fully depleted battery takes roughly four hours to recharge.[7]
Watch Features
Outside golf mode, the Approach S60 functions as an everyday smartwatch with:
- Time/date with customizable and Connect IQ watch faces (including Face It)
- Daily activity tracking (steps, calories, distance, sleep, move bar)
- Smart notifications, weather, and calendar
- Phone music controls and Find My Phone / Find My Watch
- Multi-sport activity profiles (running, cycling, swimming)
- Alarm, timer, and GPS odometer
Battery Life
| Mode | Approach S60 (2017) | Approach S6 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Watch / activity mode | Up to 10 days | Up to 20 weeks (no activity tracking) |
| GPS / golf mode | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
Garmin rates the S60 at up to 10 days in smartwatch mode (with continuous activity tracking) and up to 10 hours in GPS/golf mode.[1] Reviewers found real-world golf runtime good but short of two full back-to-back rounds for some: Tom's Guide reported the battery "never fell below 60 percent" after individual rounds and still had 6 percent left after a 36-hole day, while Golf Monthly found it "tended to last around 30 holes, or 7 hours, when playing back-to-back rounds."[5][6] The shorter overall battery life relative to the S6 reflects the larger color display and always-on activity tracking.
Editions
| Edition | Bezel / band | Colors | Launch price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Polymer bezel, silicone band | Black, White | $399.99 |
| Premium | Scratch-resistant ceramic bezel, black leather band | Ceramic/leather | $499.99 |
Both editions share identical features, display, and battery life; the Premium differs only in bezel material and band.[1][7]
Comparison with the Approach S6 (Predecessor)
The S60 succeeded the Approach S6 (2014) as Garmin's flagship golf watch, moving to a larger round display, adding AutoShot, PlaysLike, activity tracking, Connect IQ, ANT+, and QuickFit bands, while dropping the S6's SwingStrength metric.
| Feature | Approach S60 (2017) | Approach S6 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch MSRP (US) | $399.99 (Premium $499.99) | $399.99 |
| Display | 1.2" color touchscreen, 240 × 240 | 1.0" color touchscreen, 180 × 180 |
| Bands | 22 mm QuickFit (interchangeable) | Fixed silicone |
| Color CourseView maps + Touch Targeting | ✓ | ✓ |
| AutoShot automatic shot tracking | ✓ | ✗ (manual Measure Shot) |
| PlaysLike slope-adjusted distance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hazard View | ✓ | Partial (layup/dogleg) |
| SwingTempo / TempoTraining | ✓ | ✓ |
| SwingStrength | ✗ | ✓ |
| TruSwing compatible | ✓ | ✗ |
| All-day activity tracking (steps/sleep) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Connect IQ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth + ANT+ | Bluetooth only |
| Positioning | GPS + GLONASS | GPS |
| Garmin Golf app (leaderboards/live scoring) | ✓ | ✗ |
| GPS battery (rated) | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Watch battery (rated) | Up to 10 days (with activity tracking) | Up to 20 weeks (no activity tracking) |
Reception
The Approach S60 was well received, with reviewers praising its display, course information, styling, and breadth of features, while flagging the high price and a battery that could fall short of 36-hole days.
- Tom's Guide called it "a pricey but invaluable aid for tech-minded golfers," praising the bright screen, long battery life, and accurate course maps, and noting the clean design "looks great both during fitness activities and as a basic everyday smartwatch."[5]
- Golf Monthly concluded it "has to be considered one of the best GPS watches on the market," highlighting that "this is one of the best looking GPS watches we've ever tested and its colour touchscreen is crystal clear and intuitive to use." Its criticisms were that "there are arguably too many features on this watch to use during one round" and that, at close to £400, they "hoped the battery life would get us through 36 holes between charges."[6]
- Wareable described it as a "supercharged golf watch" with a fēnix 5-like design, while calling the omission of a heart-rate sensor "an odd choice."[2]
Common themes across reviews were the standout display and AutoShot tracking, the appeal of an everyday-wearable golf watch, and the recurring caveats of price and limited back-to-back-round battery life.[5][6][2]
Legacy
The Approach S60 reset Garmin's golf-watch template: a round, fashion-oriented smartwatch with QuickFit bands and full activity tracking, launched together with AutoShot automatic shot tracking and the Garmin Golf social app — features that carried through the rest of the Approach S-series. It remained the flagship until the Approach S62 (2020) added a Virtual Caddie, wind data, and a wrist heart-rate sensor. Its design language and feature set also shaped the mid-range Approach S40 (2019), which brought the round touchscreen styling to a lower price point.
See Also
- Approach S6 — Predecessor (color-touchscreen flagship, 2014)
- Approach S62 — Flagship successor (2020) with Virtual Caddie and wrist HR
- Approach S40 — Later mid-range round-touchscreen Approach watch (2019)
- Approach Series — Full Approach lineup
- Garmin Connect — Web portal / app for scorecard, statistics, and AutoShot data
External Links
- Garmin Newsroom press release (May 31, 2017)
- Approach S60 owner's manual (PDF)
- Tom's Guide — Garmin Approach S60 review
- Golf Monthly — Garmin Approach S60 GPS Watch review
- Wareable — Garmin Approach S60
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 "Garmin introduces the Approach S60, a golf watch with modern style". Garmin Newsroom. May 31, 2017. Retrieved June 2026
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 "Garmin Approach S60 is a supercharged golf watch". Wareable. Retrieved June 2026
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Garmin Approach S60 GPS Golf Watch Review". Out of Bounds Golf. Retrieved June 2026
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 "Approach S60 Owner's Manual". Garmin. Retrieved June 2026
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Sean Captain."Garmin Approach S60 Review". Tom's Guide. Retrieved June 2026
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 Jake O'Reilly."Garmin Approach S60 GPS Watch Review". Golf Monthly. November 16, 2017. Retrieved June 2026
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Garmin Approach S60 — specifications". mySatNav. Retrieved June 2026
