What's in a Garmin Approach^® R50 Room Package? Every Part, and What It Costs to Add Each One (UK)

A Garmin Approach® R50 room package is the launch monitor plus everything that turns it into a working simulator: a SimSpace enclosure with its impact screen, a Tee Turf hitting mat, a BenQ short-throw projector and the floor case it sits in. The HDMI cable, side netting (except on SIM 0) and the Garmin Golf membership for courses are extra.

This is the question I answer most on WhatsApp about the R50: "what actually comes in the box, and what will I still need to buy?" Below is the full parts list for our Garmin Approach® R50 simulator package, what each part does, what is deliberately left out, and where to see the live price of every part if you would rather add them one at a time. I have kept prices off this page on purpose: they move, and every part below links to its own page with today's figure.

The five parts in the box

Every size of the package carries the same five parts. Only the enclosure changes between sizes.

1. The SimSpace enclosure and impact screen

The enclosure is an aluminium push-connect frame with black velour side and ceiling panels and a 4K impact screen across the front. The screen is the surface you hit into and the surface the picture lands on. "4K" here describes a finer weave, not a resolution, so the picture looks smooth from the mat. SimSpace's assembly sheet puts the build at under 45 minutes in six steps, and the screen fixes to the inner frame with velcro from one corner and bungee toggles round the poles. You choose one of seven sizes, covered further down.

2. The Garmin Approach^® R50

The Garmin Approach® R50 is the part that measures the shot and runs the simulator. It sits on the floor beside the ball, reads ball and club data with three cameras, and plays Garmin's driving range and Home Tee Hero courses on its own 10-inch touchscreen. Garmin packs it with a carry case, the AC adapter and power cord and 250 clubface stickers, which the R50 uses to read club data. Because the simulator runs on the unit, the package needs no PC.

3. The SimSpace Tee Turf hitting mat

The Tee Turf mat is 1.5 × 1.5 m with the hitting area in the middle, so a left-hander and a right-hander can share it without turning it. It has its own rubber backing, so it does not need a separate base underneath. You can hit off the turf or push a real tee into it.

4. The BenQ AH500ST short-throw projector

The BenQ AH500ST is a 1080p short-throw projector with a throw ratio of 0.499, which means it fills the screen from about two metres away and sits in front of you, so your shadow never lands on the picture. The R50's HDMI output tops out at 1080p, according to Garmin's manual, so a 1080p projector is the right match. A 4K projector would only upscale the same picture.

5. The floor case

The projector lives in the SimSpace floor projector case, a vented steel box with an artificial grass top. It sits on the floor in front of the mat, with clear turf between the two, and its sloped top sends low shots on towards the screen rather than into the lens. It also means nothing is drilled into your ceiling.

What is not in the box

Four things are not included, and it is better to know now than on delivery day.

• The HDMI cable. Garmin's R50 owner's manual says a standard HDMI cable is not included, and neither is one in our package. You need a cable rated for at least 1080p that reaches from the R50 to the projector. Our 10 m HDMI 2.1 cable covers most rooms.
• Side netting. On SIM 1 to SIM 6 the SimSpace side netting is an add-on. The 1 m-deep SIM 0 bay comes with its own.
• Course play. The driving range and practice modes are free. Home Tee Hero course play, with Garmin's library of more than 43,000 courses, needs a Garmin Golf membership, which you buy from Garmin through the R50's profile settings.
• Flooring for the bay. The mat covers 1.5 × 1.5 m. The rest of the bay floor needs to be rubber or artificial grass, because a ball coming off the screen onto laminate, tile or bare concrete rebounds towards you. Our golf simulator flooring guide covers the options.

A PC is not on the list because the R50 does not need one. You only add a Windows PC if you later want third-party software such as GSPro.

What each part costs to add on its own

If you already own some of the parts, or want to build the room in stages, every part is sold separately. The table links each one to its own page, where the price shown is always the live one.

The package page shows the live price of the whole room for every size. Add up the parts you would actually buy, including the HDMI cable, and compare the two totals on the day. If you plan to end up with the full room anyway, I recommend pricing it as a whole before you decide to build it in stages.

Choosing the enclosure size

The size is the only real decision in the package. All seven are listed on the package page with the live price for each; the inside dimensions are below as width × height × depth.

Whichever size you pick, the room needs to be at least 3.0 m wide, 2.7 m high and 4.2 m long (4.3 m for SIM 5 and SIM 6). Allow about 30 cm more width than the bay, 10 cm more height, and 30 cm clear behind the screen. Our R50 room requirements guide goes through each measurement, and our Sim Buyer Docs page on which package suits your budget and room compares the R50 room with the other launch monitors.

Add-ons worth a look

None of these are needed to start playing. They are the ones I recommend people consider once the room is planned:

• SimSpace bumper pack: pads for the enclosure's base bar, which takes the occasional thinned shot.
• Foam backing screen: a layer behind the impact screen that softens the ball and adds protection where the wall is close.
• Bevelled wall foam tiles: for the side and back walls around the bay, against ricochets and for sound.
• Enclosure-mounted projector arm: holds the projector overhead from the frame instead of the floor case, for ceilings over 3 m.

Comparing R50 packages from different UK shops? Check first whether the projector and its mount are in the box, because many enclosure packages leave them out; our comparison of UK Garmin Approach® R50 packages lines them up, and our guide to what is included in golf simulator packages covers the other launch monitors.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Garmin Approach^® R50 package include a projector?

Yes. Ours includes the BenQ AH500ST short-throw projector and the SimSpace floor case it sits in. Many R50 enclosure packages sold in the UK do not, so check that line first when you compare.

Do I need a computer with the Approach^® R50 package?

No. The R50 runs Garmin's simulator on its own screen and sends the picture to the projector over one HDMI cable. You only need a Windows PC for third-party software such as GSPro.

Is the HDMI cable included?

No. Garmin does not include one with the R50 and it is not in the package. Get a cable rated for at least 1080p that is long enough to reach the projector.

Can I add the parts later instead of buying the package?

Yes. Every part is sold on its own and the table above links to each one, so you can start with the R50 and add the enclosure, mat and projector when you are ready. Check the live prices on the day to see which route costs less for you.

My recommendation: if your room meets the 3.0 × 2.7 × 4.2 m minimum, the package is the simplest way to get a working R50 simulator, because the projector and its floor case are already matched to the screen. Pick the size from your room's width and ceiling, add an HDMI cable, and decide on side netting or wall tiles once you have seen the room.

Planning a Garmin Approach® R50 setup? Book your free Approach® R50 Discovery Consultation. Tell our sim experts about your space on WhatsApp. We’ll capture your requirements, book a quick call and show you the right R50 setup, with a free 3D design if you’re building a room.