Garmin International, Inc. · Simulator Software
Garmin Home Tee Hero
Garmin Home Tee Hero is Garmin's own golf simulator for the Approach R10 and Approach R50 launch monitors. It turns a launch monitor into a full course simulator, with virtual rounds on real course layouts you can play at home or at the range.
Play from a library of more than 43,000 courses worldwide, including 15 enhanced courses with higher resolution graphics, fuller tree coverage, and greens that better capture real slopes and contours. Environments range from desert and grassland to tropical settings, and shot physics and green friction are tuned to feel like real golf rather than an arcade round.
Two ways to run it, depending on the unit. On the Approach R10 it is a standalone app on your iPhone or Android phone, paired over Bluetooth. On the Approach R50 it is built in, so it runs on the unit's own touchscreen with no phone needed, and it can drive a projector or TV over HDMI.
Beyond full rounds, Home Tee Hero includes on-course practice, weekly tournaments against golfers worldwide, and local multiplayer for up to 4 players. A Garmin Golf membership is required to play virtual rounds. Basic launch monitor practice and shot data do not need the membership.
Who it is for: Garmin R10 and R50 owners who want the simplest path to simulator golf, with no gaming PC, no separate software purchase, and a course library that covers just about every course they will ever play.
Pricing:
- Course library
- More than 43,000 preloaded courses worldwide
- Enhanced courses
- 15 courses with high resolution graphics and fuller tree coverage
- On-course practice
- Drop in anywhere on any course and repeat shots from the same spot
- Weekly tournaments
- Play the weekly tournament course as often as you like to climb the leaderboard
- Local multiplayer
- Virtual rounds with up to 4 players
- R10 setup
- Standalone app on iPhone or Android, paired to the R10 over Bluetooth
- R50 setup
- Built in on the R50 touchscreen, no phone needed, HDMI out to a projector or TV
- Membership required
- An active Garmin Golf membership is required for virtual rounds
- Launch monitors only
- Works with Approach R10 and Approach R50 only, no other launch monitors
- No PC needed
- No gaming PC required, the phone app or the R50 runs the simulator
- Graphics upgrade
- Jan 2026 update brought R50 level graphics to the R10 app
- Shot data without membership
- Basic practice and shot data work without a membership
Details last reviewed on Oct 25, 2026. We may earn a commission — it never affects our guides.
Will it run on my PC?
Phone app or built-in R50, no gaming PC
The requirements are phone requirements, not PC requirements. If your phone runs the app, you can run Home Tee Hero. The R50 needs nothing extra at all.
System requirements
Official specs from Garmin International, Inc.. Check their site for the latest before buying hardware.
- Operating system
- Minimum: iOS 18 or Android 10
- Recommended: Latest iOS or Android version
- Processor
- Minimum: iPhone or iPad with A12 chip or better, Android phone with Google Play support
- Recommended: Newer phone for the enhanced courses
- App store
- Minimum: Native Google Play support on Android, Android Go edition not supported
- Recommended: No higher spec published by Garmin
- Device
- Minimum: Compatible smartphone paired to an Approach R10, or an Approach R50
- Recommended: No higher spec published by Garmin
- Connection
- Minimum: Bluetooth pairing for the R10, HDMI optional on the R50 for a big screen
- Recommended: No higher spec published by Garmin
- Apps
- Minimum: Garmin Golf app plus the Home Tee Hero app installed
- Recommended: No higher spec published by Garmin
Works with
Compatible simulators
Launch monitors that connect to Garmin Home Tee Hero. Some need a paid connector or a membership from the maker.
Golfer's guide
Garmin Home Tee Hero questions & answers
Straight answers to what golfers ask about Garmin Home Tee Hero, from course downloads to keyboard shortcuts.
Courses
3 answersHow many courses can I play in Home Tee Hero?
More than 43,000 preloaded courses worldwide, covering home courses, bucket list venues, and trip practice rounds.
What are the enhanced courses?
15 courses rebuilt with high resolution graphics, fuller tree coverage, and greens that better capture real slopes and contours. Garmin publishes the count but not a named list, so this page does not name them.
Can I play my own home course?
With more than 43,000 courses in the library, most real courses are included. Search the course list in the app to confirm a specific course.
Controls & shortcuts
2 answersHow do I control the game?
On the phone app you play with touch controls, and on the R50 you use its built-in touchscreen. There is no PC version, so Garmin publishes no keyboard shortcut list.
Can I skip through holes?
On the R50 you can skip through holes freely. On the R10, use the on-course practice mode to jump to a specific hole.
Setup & connection
4 answersHow do I set up Home Tee Hero with an Approach R10?
Install the Garmin Golf app and the standalone Home Tee Hero app on a compatible iPhone or Android phone, pair the R10 over Bluetooth, then open Home Tee Hero from the Garmin Golf app.
How do I set up Home Tee Hero with an Approach R50?
Nothing to install. Home Tee Hero is pre-installed on the R50, so play it from the unit's touchscreen with no phone needed.
Can I play on a projector or TV?
With the R10, mirror your phone screen to a smart TV. With the R50, use its HDMI output to a projector or TV, or its extended display feature.
What do I need besides the launch monitor?
For the R10, a compatible smartphone and an active Garmin Golf membership. For the R50, only the membership, since the software is built in.
Gameplay & modes
3 answersWhat modes are included besides full rounds?
On-course practice, weekly tournaments, and local multiplayer. Practice lets you drop in anywhere on any course and repeat shots from the same spot.
How does local multiplayer work?
Up to 4 players can share a virtual round on the same device setup.
Can I practice a single tricky hole?
Yes. The on-course practice mode lets you skip to a specific hole and take as many shots as needed from the same spot.
Pricing & license
3 answersWhat does Home Tee Hero cost?
The app itself is free to download. Playing virtual rounds requires a Garmin Golf membership at 99.99 per year, or 9.99 per month.
Do I need anything besides the subscription to connect my launch monitor?
No extra per-device fee. The membership plus your Approach R10 or Approach R50 is the whole requirement. The launch monitor itself is bought separately.
Does basic practice need the membership?
No. Shot data and basic launch monitor practice work without a membership. The membership gates virtual rounds, the course library, and weekly tournaments.
Online play
2 answersWhat are the weekly tournaments?
A global tournament on a set course each week. You can play the tournament course as many times as you like to climb the leaderboard.
Can I play online head to head against friends?
Garmin publishes no online head to head mode. Online competition is the weekly tournament leaderboard, and multiplayer rounds are local, with up to 4 players.
Troubleshooting
3 answersWhy will the app not connect to my R10?
Confirm Bluetooth is on, the R10 is paired in the Garmin Golf app, and both the Garmin Golf app and the Home Tee Hero app are installed and up to date. Then reopen Home Tee Hero from the Garmin Golf app.
Why does the app show as incompatible on my phone?
Check the requirements: iOS 18 or later with an A12 chip or better, or Android 10 or later with native Google Play support. Android Go edition phones are listed as incompatible.
Does Home Tee Hero need a gaming PC?
No. It runs on your phone with an R10, or built in on the R50. Third party simulator software for Garmin units, such as GSPro, is a separate purchase with its own PC requirements.
