Golf has moved on so much in recent years and the technology we see in equipment, clothing and shoes has translated into the apps we can now access to accompany our golf. Not long ago, the best golf rangefinders and best golf watches were a luxury item. Nowadays, you can get course yardages straight to your smartphone for free, with GPS apps becoming incredibly popular!
Put simply, there are lots of them on the App Store and, in this guide, we have selected a handful of our favorites. Like the millions of apps on the App Store, some of these are free and some are paid for. What we do know is that they are accurate and genuinely helpful out on course. What's more, we've also included some of our favorite golf games on iOS devices, as well as some great utility apps such as the PGA Tour app and the official England Golf app for those living in the UK.
Best Golf Apps For iPhone
Price: Free
Established in 1911, Golf Monthly is the world's oldest golf magazine and one of the leading multi-platform golf media brands. Now, with our app, you can stay up-to-date with all of our content! Whether it is from our prestigious magazine, or our ever-expanding online presence, this app has you covered.
Consisting of course reviews, gear, interviews with those on the Tour, and instruction tips from professionals and coaches alike, our app provides access to it all. What's more, you can also buy our latest magazine issues in digital version, along with issues from our archive.
Price: Free
Golf’s first Artificial Intelligence platform, the Arccos Caddie app syncs with Arccos Caddie sensors to automatically track your shots while delivering Smart Distance club averages and game insights. The system also includes an A.I. powered GPS rangefinder and caddie advice for any hole on earth to help golfers of all skill levels make smarter decisions, improve faster and shoot lower scores.
You'll need a set of Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors to use this app but, once they are paired up, you should quickly see how much A.I. and data can help you work on your golf game and see where you can improve.
Price: Free
You've tried lessons, podcasts, books, YouTube, and self-teaching. It's now time to work on the most important factor that has more impact than any swing mechanic - your mind.
Learn how your mind, and the ability to control it, leads to more consistent golf as used by Major winning PGA Tour players from the man who coaches them, Karl Morris. With practical lessons and the completion of a personal golf journal, the app aims to help the mental side of your game immediately.
Price: Free
This app provides England Golf members and iGolf subscribers access to their full World Handicap System profile, friends' activity and relevant golfing notifications.
Amongst MyEG's features is the ability to monitor and view your handicap index, see scores counting towards that index, and also follow your friends with peer review of golfing score history. You can also set up the app to receive notifications such as handicap updates, friends' activity and general updates and offers from England Golf.
Price: Free
The R&A app provides an official interpretation of the Rules of Golf from the game’s ruling body. It offers clear answers to any practical problem that you could possibly encounter whilst out on the course, as well as videos of familiar situations.
This app is free and is one of the best golf apps for iPhone because it includes everything from what happens when two balls are lost in a lateral water hazard to if your opponent has played your ball by mistake.
Price: $7
This app allows you to track your ball flight just like you see on the TV, with the company claiming it’s the the "fastest growing sports app in 20 countries around the world," and is used by the likes of the PGA and DP World Tour, as well as LIV Golf.
Amongst the many features are a fully automatic tracker on your ball, swing comparison and a new distance pop-up feature. It provides total distance information once the ball has landed and the tracer reaches the desired landing spot.
Price: Free
The official PGA Tour app provides schedules, live leaderboard, video highlights from tournaments and player stats. If you're unfamiliar with a certain course, the app also offers a course profile with images of each given hole.
What's more, you can swipe through the round and select any individual hole and, finally, you can keep tabs on your favorite player by highlighting them and accessing their scorecard from any of the rounds.
Price: Free
This can only be used with Toptracer-enabled driving ranges which, if you haven’t experienced them before, makes practicing so much more enjoyable.
Not only do you get ball-tracking technology in this app, but it allows you to tackle a variety of courses and gives your game a thorough work-out without it feeling like hard work. Allowing you to also keep statistics with each club, the worldwide and club leaderboard can give your practice a competitive element as well.
Price: Free
If you do have a Shotscope device then this app is a great accompaniment as it allows you to upload your performance data via your phone and view your stats wherever you are.
The process is simple. All you do is download the app, login, connect and upload your performance data. You don't need your phone to track your game, just play and enjoy your data in the palm of your hand after you're finished.
How we test golf apps
When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. Product reviews on golf applications are carried out by all members of the Golf Monthly team. All of our writers are able to efficiently test the vast majority of the biggest product releases while conveying the pros and cons of each item eloquently. Getting into specifics, we test golf applications outdoors on premium golf courses with premium devices to get a thorough understanding on what features each application offers.
Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews, so it is important to acknowledge that no manufacturer can buy a good review. This is because our team tells it how it is. To learn more about our testing methodology, see our guide on how Golf Monthly tests products.
What to consider when downloading a golf app
Golf apps come in all different types, so it can be hard to figure out which app you need to help you improve your performance on the course. We've set out a few things to consider when downloading a golf app.
Price
A lot of golf apps can cost money and some even operate via a subscription payments system. Some don't come cheap either, so it's always wise to check on the price of the application you're downloading and whether the features it can provide you are of sound quality.
Pairing with hardware
You may often want to link a certain app up to a piece of hardware you have, like a launch monitor or a GPS Watch. It's always wise to check the compatibility of that device to the application you're downloading before you go ahead and download the app. Its also important to make sure that you know what hardware you need to buy before you download an app to use it correctly.
Data and battery usage
Some apps can chew through a lot of your data and battery life on the course. That can often be a pain if you need to use your phone after your round or don't always have a lot of data to play with. For that reason, it's good to check with each app how much data and battery life they use before you download them.
Course coverage
If you're looking for an app that will provide you with GPS views of the course and hole you are playing, then make sure to check how many golf courses that app covers and whether it covers golf courses in your country. While some apps profess to give GPS locations on thousands of courses around the world, they can sometimes miss a few out. So be sure to check the coverage of the GPS on the app and its reliability.
For more information on golf GPS technology and equipment, take a look at our guides on the best golf launch monitors, best portable launch monitors, or best budget rangefinders.
FAQs
Can I calculate my handicap using a golf app?
There are a variety of applications that you can use to calculate your handicap with. For a more reliable handicap reading though, it's best to consult a club professional who can calculate it for you.
Are you allowed to use your phone during a round of golf?
Yes! The PGA Tour of America recently brought in new laws that allow players to use their mobile phones during their rounds.
Do professional golfers use golf apps?
Yes, many use them in practice to help them analyze their swing, the distance they are hitting the golf ball and generally how they can improve their game. They tend to use them alongside hardwear like golf launch monitors and gps apps to provide them with precise game-improvement data about their game.
