If you love golf, you may already be aware of the existence of a multitude of golf apps for your iPhone and iPad. Having a golf app installed on your Apple watch takes the benefits of these apps into wearable territory, which means that you can have access to the latest golf stats while also getting tips for improving your swing and perfecting your putt all on your wrist.

Avid golfers typically use dedicated golf watches, but the improvements in GPS signal and battery life in the Apple Watch have made it possible for golf apps to compete with fully fledged golf watches.

We’ve put together a list of the best golf apps for the Apple Watch so you can calculate your handicap, improve your swing, and check golf stats in real time.

Let’s have a look.

1. Hole 19

Price: Free, in-app purchase available

Hole 19 is a free golf app that you can use for accurate scoring, yardages, and competitions between you and your friends. This app gives players accurate distances on the course and makes it easy to keep rounds stored in a single place. Hole 19 has more than 43,000 golf courses available and sports a digital scorecard and GPS rangefinder.

Best App: Hole 19 is on our best Apple Watch Apps List.

Pros

  • Makes it easy to discover courses
  • Augmented reality on the course in the premium version
  • Live scoring to compete in real time with other golfers

Cons

  • Relentless messages about purchasing the premium version

Review Summary

Score: 9.8/10

Most of the reviews for Hole 19 are positive, with users being amazed by the level of accuracy provided by the app. On the negative side, players are often annoyed by the aggressive pushing of the premium version.

Download Hole 19


2. Golf GPS SwingU

Price: Free, in-app purchase available

Golf GPS SwingU is an app that works on just about any golf course in the world. The rangefinder function allows you to find the distance to the center of the green with ease. You can also use the satellite photos made available in the app to calculate distances. This app is free to download and use, but some functionality, such as elevation and real-time wind speed are only available in the premium version.

Pros

  • Distances to greens and hazards
  • Accurate digital scorecard
  • Numerous stats to track your improvement in the game

Cons

  • Some users report the app sometimes crashes

Review Summary

Score: 9.6/10

Users praise the design and functionality of the app, often mentioning the accurate distance calculation. On the downside, the app has some bugs on the Apple Watch and may even crash from time to time.

Download Golf GPS SwingU


Read also: How to Track Your Steps with an Apple Watch

3. Golfshot: Golf GPS + Caddie

Price: Free, in-app purchase available

Another free app for avid golf players, Golfshot: Golf GPS + Caddie boasts a fantastic augmented reality feature that makes it easy to plan your best shots. You can also get a detailed view of each course by zooming in on the satellite images. Golfshot: Golf GPS + Caddie has lots of other features, such as personalized club recommendations and 3D flyover previews of the holes.

Pros

  • Real-time distances to all targets and key hazards on over 40,000 golf courses
  • Unique augmented reality on the course
  • 3D preview of the entire course

Cons

  • Some usability issues make using the app frustrating for some users

Review Summary

Score: 9.3/10

Golfshot: Golf GPS + Caddie receives mostly stellar reviews from users, especially when it comes to the augmented reality function. However, users also report multiple usability issues and lags on the Apple Watch.

Download Golfshot: Golf GPS +Caddie


4. GolfLogix Golf GPS + Putt Line

Price: Free, in-app purchase available

GolfLogix Golf GPS + Putt Line is the perfect app for beginner and seasoned golf players alike. With this app, you get GPS distances on more than 35,000 worldwide golf courses, a scorecard for up to four players, and a yardage book with 3D images of each golf course. Other perks include access to an extensive library of Golf Digest lessons and videos.

Pros

  • GPS distance to any point
  • 3D approach maps of the green
  • Tournament mode

Cons

  • The approach and green map pop-up automatically
  • Some issues with GPS

Review Summary

Score: 9/10

Users are overall happy with the GolfLogix Golf GPS + Putt Line app, and they mostly appreciate the scorecard and 3D approach maps of the green. There are some complaints about the approach and green map popping up automatically, which slows players down.

Download GolfLogix Golf GPS + Putt Line


5. 18Birdies

Price: Free, in-app purchase available

18Birdies is one of the best choices for players who are mostly interested in an app for scoring. With this app, you can add strokes, putts, fairways hit/missed and more. The app is very well-designed and has lots of fun extra games and rewards. 18Birdies is free to use, but if you’re looking for advanced stats and club recommendations, you’ll need the premium version.

Pros

  • Accurate GPS and tracking
  • You can save all your tracked shots to review at a later time
  • Recommends clubs based on distances players enter

Cons

  • Saved shots are not displayed in the right order

Review Summary

Score: 8.7/10

Reviews for 18Birdies are mostly positive, with users loving the design of the app and accurate GPS. There are some issues with usability some players mention, including the inability to edit the beginning or ending location.

Download 18Birdies

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