Hole19 Unveils Game-Changing Winter Update with AI-Powered Coaching, Auto-Shot Tracking, and Real-Time Social Features

Hole19, one of the world's leading digital golf platforms, is the app for serious golfers seeking to take their games to the next level.

If you're looking to track your scores and data, improve your game in every department, balance performance with the social enjoyment of the sport and lower your handicap in 2026, Hole19 is for you.

The company has announced its most comprehensive update yet, introducing groundbreaking features that transform how golfers track, analyze, and share their game.

The winter release delivers four major feature sets to help golfers get more out of the game: Otto AI coaching upgrades, Auto Shot Tracking, a new Intelligence Tier, which brings professional-grade analytics to golfers without requiring any additional hardware, and LivePlay social features.

This winter update marks the beginning of an exciting roadmap for Hole19, with an even larger spring launch planned for March 2026, just as the golf season kicks into high gear.

So what exactly do these new updates entail? Here's a detailed look at what to expect...

Otto Gets Smarter: Your AI Coach Levels Up

The beloved Otto AI coach is now available worldwide and on all devices.

On top of that, it receives significant upgrades, delivering more personalized and actionable insights than ever before.

The new Otto Reports feature introduces comprehensive benchmarking capabilities, allowing golfers to measure their game against peers and their past performance, all while tracking their improvement over time.

"We’ve given Otto the ability to tell golfers how they stack up against players of their handicap level and how a specific round compares to what their normal performance is", said Anthony Douglas, CEO.

“Otto’s insights will help golfers of all levels understand what area of their game they need to work on to get better.”

Shot Tracking: Your Golf Data, Now Automatically

Hole19's new Auto Shot Tracking system uses your GPS location and club data, together with advanced course mapping to eliminate the friction from recording your round.

No more tedious input of lie, club, location, distance to pin and all the other details required for complete shot tracking - Hole19 does that automatically for you.

The innovative Play by Play feature, which is powered by golfers tracking their shots, allows players to review their rounds with unprecedented accuracy and share it with their friends or coaches for detailed analysis.

"We know golfers want to track their shots, but they don't want technology getting in the way of their enjoyment," explained Anthony.

"Auto Shot Tracking strikes the perfect balance – comprehensive data capture with minimal effort."

Intelligence Tier: Tour-Level Analytics for Every Golfer

The Intelligence tier represents a quantum leap in golf analytics accessibility.

Without requiring any sensors, tags, or additional hardware, Intelligence delivers a number of game-changing features, including...

Strokes Gained Statistics: Use Auto Shot Tracking to track all your shots and understand exactly where you're gaining or losing strokes compared to your handicap.

HCP Benchmark Comparison: Clearly visualize what areas of your game need improvement and which areas are strengths by comparing them to your handicap benchmarks and to your own past performance.

Unlimited Otto Reports: Your Coach is now available 24/7 with an all-you-can-eat buffet of insights that let you chop away at your handicap. Get as many Otto reports as you need, feast on identifying patterns and trends with your game, and bring it back to the course next time you play.

CORE Golf Bundle: You now understand what you need to get better at, so it’s time to go practice. Get access to more than 100 performance drills and 15+ practice plans available in CORE Golf (iOS only).

This new tier democratizes advanced golf analytics, previously available only to touring professionals or through expensive hardware solutions.

While Hole19 strives to give golfers more powerful analysis through its new Intelligence Tier, it has also upgraded their Premium experience with in-round tools that elevate golfers’ ability to make better decisions.

Shot Dispersion Tool: Visualize expected shot patterns based on your handicap and make better decisions on the course.

Distance to Hazards: Improve your strategic course management with precise hazard information based on advanced mapping of 22,000+ courses (and counting!) worldwide

LivePlay: Share the Journey, Not Just the Scorecard

Golf is better with friends, and LivePlay makes it easier than ever to stay connected on the course. The new Playing Now feature lets friends follow rounds in real-time and get notified when their buddies Go Live.

More game modes give golfers new options to choose from when scheduling their rounds - Better Ball is now available, both as a main game and as a side game so you can create that extra level of competition in your group. Other side games and game modes are coming to the app soon.

"LivePlay transforms solo rounds into shared experiences.", noted Anthony Douglas, CEO of Hole19.

"Whether you're following a friend's round from the office or organizing your club's weekly game, these features strengthen the social bonds that make golf special.

"We will continue adding to this experience until the season starts, we want this to be THE WAY people follow their buddies’ rounds".

Building the Foundation for a Great 2026 Season

Some of the features in this major upgrade in Hole19 are being rolled out for iOS first and for a few select markets.

As we get closer to the start of the 2026 season, golfers can expect to access all these functionalities wherever they play and across both iOS and Android devices.

50% off Hole19 Premium subscription deal:

The Hole19 app offers a Premium subscription service that provides powerful features on both your phone and watch with perfect synchronization. The base yearly premium plan is priced at £59.99 with a 14 day trial for new users.

Hole19 is currently running a limited-time 50% offer during the holiday season, where users can purchase a Hole19 Premium 1 Year Giftable Voucher for 50% off (£29.99).

The recipient can redeem the voucher anytime within 12 months.

For more information and to download the app, visit the Hole19 website.