Approach S12 - Recent Threads

RE: Watch face numbers below RND

Garmin - CF — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 20:59:13 GMT

Hi, there! I attached an article below that describes what the numbers mean while you are golfing:

If that's not really what you are asking about, please let me know in detail what you are asking about. You can also upload a picture if that is easier with the screen you need help with. You would upload it with this link:

https://supportforms.garmin.com/form/file-uploader

If you upload a picture please reply in this thread to update it and I will take a look!

Watch face numbers below RND

3283486 — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:25:40 GMT

What do the numbers mean?

Does S12 count Stableford Points

4059756 — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:02:06 GMT

The old S40 counted Stableford points. The menu structure of S12 is completely different. Now, I find only strokes and no Stableford points.

Can I put my handicap into the S12

8849972 — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 11:36:01 GMT

Is it possible to put your handicap into the S12, if so could you please advise.

many thanks.

RE: Can I put my handicap into the S12

4729268 — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:16:39 GMT

I have the same query . Does anyone know the Asher as I can’t find how to enter handicaps on the watch

Approach S12 System Software 5.10

Garmin-Brooks — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:09:36 GMT

Hello Approach S12 users,

We have fully released Software Version 5.10 for the Approach S12. This is not 100% live.

Changes since 5.00:

Fixed issue to ensure we use teebox, par and handicap data from downloaded auto course update files.
Fixed issue with front/back dots not showing on Green on main golf page.

Lightning of the screen

6014682 — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 22:23:29 GMT

I just buy m’y S12 but The screen is black in the darkness , so I can’t see what time is it at the night !

There was an Error Installing the update

2823146 — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:36:12 GMT

Unable to install updates to my Garmin S12 from my laptop

Error as above.

RE: There was an Error Installing the update

Garmin-Cody — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:45:28 GMT

My recommendation is to follow the steps outlined on our support pages linked below:

If you still have concern after following the steps outlined in the support articles above, contact Garmin Support for further solutions.

RE: S12 does not save games

Garmin-Cody — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 21:52:53 GMT

There are not any issues inherent with Garmin Golf compatible devices resulting in scorecards becoming deleted.

To prevent any issues with scorecards not transferring or syncing, the watch should be synced to the account after the round has ended through the Garmin Golf app or through corded connection syncing with Garmin Express.

In regards to the concern you mentioned here on this post, I am not sure what may have caused any missing scorecards on the other watch you mentioned. If you have questions, you may contact Garmin Support providing account information and the device being used can be verified to help assess further what may have resulted in the concern with the watch your wife is using.

S12 does not save games

1542980 — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 15:55:29 GMT

We have two S12 watches. One used by my wife (the white one), one used by me (the black one). Both do not save games anymore even when we select safe game after a round. On mine the last one saved was of May 2025. On the white watch it is April 2025. After fiddling around for hours in the apps and on the web pages today’s game was saved on mine, not on my wife’s one. When I plug them on to the PC (different ones) I see that the file save dates in the scorecards folder corresponds with what is displayed on the web page.

I do not know what exactly changed the behaviour of my watch last night. And I do not know if this is lasting. Likewise I do not know how to get the white one into cooperative mode.

Would appreciate any hints to debug and ideally fix the problems.

Thx & best regards

Hubert

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:18:51 GMT

What I cannot explain is where all my games of 2024 and a good deal of the 2025 games are gone. I do not go that often to Bali for instance and what I scored there would be of sincere interest to me.

Currently it seems that things are working as expected as I closely monitor things. But my wife has lost faith in the watch and my uncertainly cannot calm her down. We feel there is always the risk of data are being lost. And historic data are gone on both our watches.

I can only suspect there was a hidden software bug that erased all the data important to us. If that was the case, I would hope for the decency to admit "*** happened" with a disclaimer "will try it does not happen again".

Alternatively any other logical sounding explanation.

BTW: please stop to tell what I know anyway. If we make a mistake and do not save a game this is our fault. And if it happens, it happens once - and then not again for a good while.

Best Regards
Hubert

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:17:23 GMT

Since a while it appears that raw data stored in a different folder /NewFiles

The data in there correlate with what is displayed on the web page.

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:16:33 GMT

When I look directly into the watch data store I see that old games do not seem to disappear so quickly. Here the folder /scorecards

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:15:53 GMT

What I am missing are quite a number of games in 2024 and 2025. As this picture shows.

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:15:10 GMT

Thank you for your notes.

Please let me clarify.

I have been using a Garmin golf watch since 2017. An X10 in those days.

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:13:18 GMT

Test if the system allows for a simple post with picture

RE: S12 does not save games

Garmin-Cody — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:38:44 GMT

After each round, you should sync your watch to the Garmin Golf app or through a corded sync using Garmin Express. If you let too many rounds accumulate on the watch before syncing, you can run the risk of losing a scorecard if too many have accumulated prior to the sync.

The rounds are supposed to disappear from the watch after they have been synced to the account.

If you have concerns with scorecards not showing on your account, you should contact Garmin Support so a specialist can review your account information with you.

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 07:46:18 GMT

The watch can only sync what the watch has previously saved. I have been paying close attention to double check whether the game was saved and so far there are no dropouts. Does not explain why most of 2024 and some of 2025 games have disappeared though.

RE: S12 does not save games

Garmin-Cody — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 19:46:41 GMT

You must sync your watch either by having your Approach S12 synced and connected via Bluetooth through the Garmin Golf app on your smartphone...or you must connect your watch via USB to a computer to sync using Garmin Express.

Opening the Garmin Golf app, you must select the Profile tab > My Devices > Your Approach S12 should show connected from there. Then tap the circular arrow to sync your watch.

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 07:05:49 GMT

Thanks. I stand corrected.

Still my S12 does not save games. The same applies to the one from my wife.

RE: S12 does not save games

seilogramp — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 02:13:58 GMT

[quote userid="2031568" url="~/outdoor-recreation/golf/f/approach-s12/420188/s12-does-not-save-games/1967134#1967134"]there is no such thing as a Garmin Golf App for any smartphone.[/quote]

Garmin Golf App

RE: S12 does not save games

1542980 — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:57:55 GMT

Thank you

Please note there is no such thing as a Garmin Golf App for any smartphone. Well at least not that I am aware of. All there is a Windows App called Garmin Express which does the updates and usually loads scorecards to the web page.

Then it appears that the error really lies in the Golf watch. As you can see from this picture all of 2024 and all from 2025 but one are missing.Bali, Mallorca, at home - you name it all history is missing. Similar picture on my wife's watch.

PS: I used to have a Garmin X10 (just stopped working), Garmin S12 No1 (broke), used an S5 on loan for a while, then my second S12 and later the S12 for my wife. So would think a little bit of experience with the complications on the system is there.

1drv.ms/.../EUvd1fOro91EhVxYIqtWKxkBuQasT456MDHVyfpWkJqqcA

RE: S12 does not save games

Garmin-Cody — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 16:31:49 GMT

Ensure you are syncing the S12 by opening the Garmin Golf app on your smartphone > Then tap the "Profile" tab > Select "My Devices" > You should then see the Approach S12 showing on the next menu as "Connected" and then tap the circular arrows icon on the screen to make them spin to ensure the sync is completing.

The reason you are seeing the scorecard showing when you connect to the computer is because the scorecard is not being transferred from the watch through the sync with the Garmin Golf app. Once you sync the S12 to your account using Garmin Express when the watch is wired to the computer, that will also result in the scorecard transferring from the watch to the account.

On Garmin Golf App, could not view shot maps after score card edit with no changes made.

5978646 — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:57:03 GMT

S12 with sensors and Garmin golf for android app. After finishing a round, I wanted to look at the number of putts for each hole. I went into scorecard edit, and stepped through each hole. Then I did a 'previous' on the app to get back to the summary screen without doing any edits or doing a 'SAVE'. The shot maps option was no longer available on the summary screen. Is there anything I can do on the app to get the shot map view?