Welcome to 2020! There is an app for everything and golf is no exception. In fact, there are so many golfing apps out there on the Google Play Store and the App Store that it can be overwhelming and that’s why we’re here. We’ll help you choose the best golf apps for Android and iOS which includes iPhones and the Apple Watch.
You don’t have to necessarily use apps only for improving your game you can use them for enhancing the game and the whole experience of golfing.
There are apps that can be used as a GPS rangefinder, digital scorecards and stats tracker.
Some of the GPS rangefinder apps have thousands of golf courses in their databases.
Most of the apps on do list are free with the option of premium membership or subscription packages that unlock more features.
So let’s swing into it.
Why Use A Golf App
Some of you might think that using a smartphone on the course may be a distraction or even a bad idea but here are some of the reasons why you should use a golf app.
You can book tee times and discounted prices on rounds at thousands of golf courses worldwide. Book a course directly from the app and check course information and reviews. You can even get directions to courses near you.
After you have booked your golf course, a GPS app allows you to see the hole you are about to play from a different perspective, be it a 3D map or a birds view.
A golf app can help you plan when you’re playing a new golf course that you have never played before. You can get an upper hand on your opponents by getting all the info on the golf course before you step a foot on it.
You can use a golf app so you don’t have to guess distances. If you’re not sure you can pass the water with your shot you can check the map and measure the exact distance to pass it. Even a laser rangefinder won’t get it right all the time as a GPS golf app would.
And last but not least is that most of the golf apps out there are completely free and you don’t have to spend money on them if you do not choose so.
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty and find the best app on the market for each use case.
Best GPS Golf Apps
Golf GPS by SwingxSwing (free)
Golf GPS by SwingU was downloaded more than 4 and a half million times. It has more than 45 thousand reviews with an average rating of 4.7 stars. And I can see why. You can have a free account, but if wind speed and elevation are important to you, you might want to cough up measly $2 per month for more features.
For $4 per month, you’ll get one personalized lesson per month (includes scorecard analysis and prescriptive drills from the SwingU certified instructor team) and access to 500+ lessons and drills from top-100 instructors.
As you can see, most of the apps don’t focus on only one main feature but are multi-feature apps which can be a good and a bad thing.
As one of the reviewers said, and I would agree – The app is great for beginners. I paid to unlock all of the options and have been able to record scores and see where I’m going wrong. Great app and very accurate GPS.
Features:
- GPS Rangefinder for Every Course
- Digital Scorecard
- Keep Track of Your Handicap
- On-The-Course Gaming
- Enhanced Scorecard & Stats
- “Zoom-In” Distances for Greens
- Wind Speed & Elevation
- “Plays Like” Yardages
- Shot Tracking & Club Recommendations
- On-the-Course Betting Games
- Monthly Giveaway Eligibility
- One (1) personalized lesson per month (includes scorecard analysis and prescriptive drills from the SwingU certified instructor team)
- Exclusive access to 500+ lessons and drills from top-100 instructors
- Personal Swing Locker
Get it on Google Play Store or the App Store.
18 Birdies (free)
You can use this app as a GPS rangefinder, digital scorecard, and stat tracker. It also offers side games, rewards, and a lot of news about the golfing world.
18 Birdies was designed as a high-tech and detail-oriented smartphone app to aid both avid and aspiring golfers. The free version offers users a birds-eye GPS view of the course and distances to any point are just a tap away. However, the free version does not unlock the power of 18 birdies. Premium members have access to real-time course conditions (wind speed/direction, elevation, temperature etc.), personalized caddie for club recommendations, fun side games, and more.
It also supports both Apple Watch and Android Wear. You will struggle to find more features in a free app. Spring for the premium membership at $9.99 per month and you’ll get access to discounts, advanced course data and stats, live weather information, and video lessons. 18 Birdies app is available for free download from both the App Store on iOS and Google Play for Android.
It boasts a 4.9-star rating from thousands of reviews.
Features
- Measure the distance to any point on the course
- Toggle between yards and meters
- 35,000+ golf courses
- Find daily deals that are right for your budget
- Book locally or for a future golf trip
- See course ratings and reviews from golfers like you before booking
- Track scores to improve your golf game
- Maintain a history of recent golf rounds
- Set goals and measure your success
Premium
- Live Weather Map
- Blind Shot Compass
- Caddy+ Club Recommendations
- Advanced stat tracking with custom charts
- Strokes gained stats
- Complete golf round history
Best Scorecard Apps
mScorecard (free)
Record all details of your game, including strokes, putts, fairway hits, chips, sandshots, up&downs, clubs. You can keep score up-to five players per round. Scorecard View enables fast scorekeeping for all players in your group, just like a traditional scorecard. It aswell has an aerial map and GPS distances.
By tilting your phone to landscape anytime during a round, mScorecard automatically displays a scorecard for the whole group. You can drill down to each player and see their shot details hole-by-hole.
Most of the other golf apps on this list will have a scoreboard attached to them as well but mScorecard is, in my opinion, the most complete free golf scorecard on the market.
It boasts a 4.5-star rating on the App Store and Google Play Store.
Features
- Track strokes and putts along with fairway hits, greens in regulation, up-and-downs, sand saves and penalties for up to five players per round. Enter scores and shot details in a matter of seconds per hole.
- Store full game histories and advanced round statistics on your phone along with an unlimited number of courses, players and rounds. Or post them on our server for detailed analysis.
- Use GPS to view your distance to the green at all times.
- Calculate and track your handicap index automatically based on played rounds. mScorecard™ supports multiple handicap systems in different countries.
- Analyze rounds and statistics to manage and improve your game.
- Wager and play popular side games, including Skins, Nassau, Match Play, Stroke Play, Stableford, Greenies, Longest Drive, Birdies, Eagles.
- Share scorecards and stats with your friends via e-mail and Facebook
Best Golf Rules Apps
The R&A Rules of Golf (free)
The Official App for the 2019 Rules of Golf includes nearly 30 diagrams and how-to videos that help to explain the Rules and gives guidance for many common situations. Other features include:
- Improved Search Functionality
- A Visual Search – to help you quickly find the Rule you need
- Rules of Golf Quiz
- A Rules Essentials Section which includes animated videos of the Top 10 Rules
- The App is now available in more than 10 languages
The R&A was only formed in 2004 but takes its name from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and is committed to supporting and promoting golf worldwide. This straightforward app is packed with rules, definitions, tips on etiquette, and even has a quiz to test your knowledge.
USGA Official Rules of Golf (free) Android iOS
The USGA’s official app for the Rules of Golf, which is always kept up to date with the latest Rules content.
There are rules in any sport, and where there are rules, there are arguments. Fortunately, the US Golf Association (USGA) has a constantly updated rulebook you can download to keep in your pocket. It’s fully interactive, too, with clearly shot videos and detailed explanations.
It boasts a 4-star rating from on the App Store.
App features include:
• Every Rule, Definition and Interpretation available instantly
• Rules videos, FAQs, topic overviews, and quizzes
• Powerful search tool to quickly locate information on any Rules topic
• Simple, fast, and intuitive navigation
• Quick hyperlinking to all definitions, Rule number references, and related Rules documents
Best Tee Time Golf Apps
GolfNow: Tee Time Deals (free)
Trusted by over 3 million golfers, the GolfNow App is the best way to book amazing deals on tee times at thousands of golf courses. Free golf GPS and golf rangefinder, scorekeeping and post-game analysis included.
You can book directly in the app, check course information and reviews, and get directions to courses near you. It also supports the Apple Watch and Android Wear. There is also a VIP membership option that offers a few perks and rewards, but it costs $200 for the year.
The list of courses isn’t comprehensive, leading to some oddities, like the fact you can book tee times on 7,000 courses, but use some of the app’s features on 30,000.
It boasts a 4.9-star rating from tens of thousands of reviews.
Features
- Tee times available at over 7,000+ golf courses worldwide
- Search Hot Deal tee times to find incredible savings and discounts on our best prices on tee times. Includes weather protection.
- Book tee times instantly 24/7– No calling or waiting.
- Thousands of reviews from actual golfers to help you find the best golf courses
- Thousands of detailed course information available to help you choose the right golf course for you
- Use your device GPS or search by area to quickly find golf courses near home or on the road
- Enhanced search capabilities and filters let golfers easily find tee times when and where they wan
- Get directions to golf courses near you using the all-new improved GolfNow map view
Get it on Google Play Store and the App Store
Supreme Golf (free)
Supreme Golf offers the world’s largest tee time booking site. They offer more tee times for sale at more golf courses in more countries than anyone else.
Supreme Golf makes it easy for golfers to compare tee times and prices from thousands of golf courses, online tee time retailers and deal sites at a glance. Search over one million tee times at almost 41,000 golf courses, compare the price and amenities each tee time provider is offering and choose the one that best fits your schedule and budget.
It boasts a 4.9-star rating on Google Play Store and a 4.7-star rating on the App Store.
Best Live Tournament Score App
Golf Live 24 (free)
Fast and accurate leaderboard from more than 400 golf tournaments. Live scores, results, scorecards.
Features
- fast and accurate live golf scores and results
- round results, player scorecards
- full tablet version
Golf Live 24 app is part of the Livesport company, that currently provides live scoring services for over 60 million users worldwide.
Get it on the Google Play Store and the App Store.
Best App For Swing Analysis
Zepp Golf Swing Analyzer (free)
If you want to record your strokes and improve your golf swing, the Zepp Golf Swing Analyzer is for you.
Use the free Zepp Golf app’s innovative video recognition technology to automatically capture and edit your swing videos on the range or the course, so you can see yourself like never before. Create and share amazing highlight videos, with special effects that include ball tracer technology, infographics, and voice-overs that bring your videos to life. When you’re back in the clubhouse, post your best rounds and highlights to the Zepp community while you compete to climb the leaderboard.
With the iOS version, you can get extra information from your Apple Watch on tempo, hand path, and hand speed, but for the full range of metrics, you’ll need to spring for the Zepp sensor at $150.
FREE App Features
- Automatic swing video recording and editing
- Highlight video creation
- Scorecard
- Social community and leaderboards
- Smart Coach Training System
FREE Apple Watch Features
- Primary real-time swing metrics
- Track your swings on the course and the driving range
Zepp Golf Sensor Features
- Complete real-time swing metrics
- Instant Swing Evaluations
- Personalized Smart Coach Training Plans based on your swing data
- Track your swings on the course and the driving range
The app boasts around 4.3-star rating on both Google Play Store and App Store.
Best 3D Maps App
TAG Heuer Golf – Scorecard, GPS & 3D Maps (free)
Before it was acquired by the famous watch maker, this app was called FunGolf GPS.
In contrast to the typical 2D bird’s eye cartoon or satellite view found on even the best apps, the Tag Heuer GPS app delivers a more detailed rendering with 3D qualities and true depth. With your Apple Watch or TAG Heuer Modular 45 watch, you can use the app to view detailed images of the golf course you’re playing, as if you were viewing from a helicopter hovering above the fairway.
Features
With TAG Heuer Golf, you can:
- Enjoy exclusive 3D maps of more than 39,000 golf courses around the world
- See distance to the green and hazards
- Measure your shot distance with impressive accuracy
- Save your scores and get pro-level insights to improve your game
- Select the right club with our real-time club recommendation feature
- Enjoy a feature-rich watch experience on your TAG Heuer Modular 45 or Apple Watch
With your TAG Heuer Modular 45, you can:
- Enjoy interactive 2D course maps on your wrist
- See distance to the green and hazards
- Instantly save scores (up to 4 players) and follow the leaderboard
- Measure your shot distance with impressive accuracy
- Visualize statistics on your phone in real-time
Get it on Google Play Store and the App Store.
Best Golf Apps for Apple Watch Owners
Finally, you can put your Apple Watch to good use. Read on to learn how the best golf apps for your Apple Watch and Android Wear watches can help you find everything from golf tips to full-on golf lessons, so you can learn how to hit a driver, improve your golf swing, get better at chipping, and perfect your putt.
18 Birdies (free)
We already covered this one above. 18Birdies Apple Watch app is an easier take on the 18Birdies experience. Now you can score your round, log stats and get distances directly from the watch!
Read more about the app above.
Golf Pad ($19.99)
This app provides detailed statistics for putts, accuracy, penalties, instant distance, scoring for up to 4 players, club tracking, aerial maps, and more. Besides, it has a full-featured GPS range finder app. You can also share your scorecard across various social media networks. But, the con is that you have to purchase a subscription of $19.99 for Apple Watch support.
Hole19 ($4.99)
Use Hole19 Golf GPS for Smartwatch on your Wear OS and iOS to get GPS distances when you’re out on the golf course. This app is highly accurate and provides a view distance of over 95% of courses around the world. You can track your and the partner’s score side by side. Once downloaded, Hole 19 gives you access to over 1 million active users of this app to communicate, compete, and make friends.
GolfNow: Tee Time Deals (free)
Already mentioned above that if you’ve got the latest and greatest gear, you can also use the GPS and scoring functions as well as in-depth statistics, course information, a scorecard for up to 4 players, etc. on your Apple Watch or Android Wear device. Just launch the app on your iPhone or Android smartphone that your watch is paired with when you hit the course.
Fun Golf/ Tag Heuer Golf (free)
Tag Heuer Golf, which was previously known as Fun Golf, is a premium app for Apple Watch. You get exclusive 3D maps for over 39,000 golf courses around the world.
In the Apple Watch, you can view the course’s 2D visualization. Moreover, it gives real-time statistics directly to your watch. To run this app on your Apple Watch, it requires watchOS 5. You also get 4 player scoring format and can be saved instantly. Besides, you can also opt for annual or monthly premium subscription.
Conclusion
The above list compiles the best golf apps on Google Play Store and the App Store. There are a lot of golf apps on the market and choosing the best one might be tiresome. So this list provides you with the best apps to improve your game, track stats, write scores, book courses and so much more. You can test each of the apps and use whichever suits the best for you.
As you probably already noticed, most of the golf apps are multi-functional and are not just focusing on one field of expertise and they are actually pretty good at most of them. Choose the one that’s the most appealing to you and go for it. See you on the golf course!
