There are lots of smartphone apps to make your round of golf more enjoyable and though there are more apps for the Apple iPhone than for the Google Android platform, Android is catching up quickly. A popular app category uses the GPS location function to display on course yardages typically to the front, back and middle of the green plus the distance to carry hazards or for a lay up to water, etc. Pricing runs from $30 annually for sophisticated ones having essentially the same features as dedicated handheld GPS devices, to some with no charge. In the middle are apps with fewer bells and whistles than the sophisticated ones but at a much lower price ($1.99 is common).
Some require payment for every course downloaded while others include tens of thousands of courses for no additional fee. But something to keep in mind, in USGA sanctioned competitions use of any distance measuring device is dependent on a local rule allowing them and comes with a major caution. In addition to distance measuring if a smartphone also has an app to measure the slope of greens or elevation changes the penalty is disqualification; even if you aren’t using the slope and elevation apps. Plus it’s a rules violation to call a swing coach for help during the round. You can keep all of this straight plus find any rule during your round, like the correct place to take a drop, by downloading the Rules of Golf app from the USGA for $3.99.
The traveling golfer can tap apps giving access to golf course databases not only for locations but for lots of other information such as driving directions and tee times. Many are free but most charge $1 to $3 but some will even auto-dial your phone to call the course. In the game improvement category there are lots of swing tips and instructional apps plus video apps that record your swing and compare it to top touring professionals. All this swing help carries a price from free to several dollars depending on the features. Golf game apps, swinging on the small screen, can’t substitute for swinging on the course but there is one with Tiger Woods name on it and some game apps allow play against friends through services like Facebook.
On the course numerous apps track your foursome’s scores and all the betting action plus do tournament scoring. Many charge a few dollars but it can be well worthwhile for no other reason than to see where you stand with all the wagers. Another extremely useful app category is for recording the outcome of every shot for post round analysis. Stat tracking features are included in some GPS yardage and tournament apps and some of the instructional apps.
NEGM’s Smart Golf Picks
The Best Apps in Golf
|
RULES USGA Rules of Golf – Available for $3.99 in the iTunes, Android and Blackberry markets. The app features the 2010 – 2011 “Rules of Golf” and “Decisions on the Rules of Golf,” as well as “Rules of Amateur Status.” USGA.org |
TOURNAMENTS PGA Tour – Free on both the iTunes and Android markets this app features customizable live scoring, from the course and course statistics. The app complete video high lights, live play – by – play updatescovers the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and NationwideTour tee times, player points, and weather at each event. PGATour.com |
V1 Golf
Technology has made the game of golf much more enjoyable for golfers of all levels. The V1 Golf app is a must have for golfers if they want to improve their game and fine-tune their swing or compare themselves to Tour players. The V1 Golf app will help you fix your swing flaw and get you on track to turns those bogeys into birdies.
The V1 Golf app allows golfers to capture and analyze their swing right on their smart phone or mobile device. The app’s friendly user-interface and icon buttons let users get started quickly the moment they download it. Utilizing the built-in video camera on their device, golfers can easily record and playback their swing and use one of the several drawing tools to analyze it, in both vertical and landscape views. The app also allows split-screen comparison and features a model library of top tour players to compare your swing.
The V1 Golf app delivers the same video analysis technology tour players use in a mobile format so golfers can now capture and analyze their swings at the range or on the course. The V1 Golf app includes a suite of drawing tools, a library of PGA Tour player swings and game improvement drills from PGA instructors.
The app also includes video storage as well a free personal V1 locker giving golfers the ability to upload and access their mobile recorded content online. Want a professional remote lesson? Golfers can use the V1 Golf app to record and send a swing to a roster of PGA instructors for a professional swing analysis that accessed and viewed on your mobile device or PC.
The V1 Golf app was developed by the makers of the V1 Pro software, the #1 Video Analysis Software in Golf. Since its release in January 2010, the popularity of the V1 Golf app worldwide ranks it as the Top 10 best selling sports app in over 45 countries! The V1 Golf app is available on the iOS and Android platform so you can purchase it from your device’s app store and experience it on your iPad 2, iPhone (3GS/4) or Android mobile phone and tablet. Learn more by visiting www.v1golfapp.com.
Golfmoolah
Focus on the game, not the math. WIN BIG.
No need to be intimidated if someone wants to put a little hard earned cash on the line at the first tee. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a total pro. The GolfMoolah application caters to everyone from the hooker, slicer, chili dipper, broken chicken wing, even the ace who thinks their game is ready for the tour! Sure it is.
Pick the game that best suits your situation, layout the amount of action and you’re good to go. Our scorecard will keep track of everything, hassle free and without error.
GolfMoolah is one of the leading iPhone golf apps and considered to be overall one of the best golf apps and golf betting games available online. www.golfmoolah.com
Golf Massachusetts – App
Never look for a golf course phone number again. Never get lost looking for a golf course again. Know exactly what courses are near you, wherever you are.
Download Golf Massachusetts App @ the iTunes Stores
PUTTING
AimPoint - This app is an interactive application that compliments your AimPoint Green Reading education. It has an interactive version of the AimChart as well as video tips and instructor listings. The AimPoint app is not a substitute for actual on-course instruction, so we highly recommend visiting a Certified Instructor to get the maximum value out of AimPoint techniques and to learn how to fully use the AimCharts for any putt. The AimPoint app is an electronic version of the AimChart, showing expected break amounts in both English and Metric values as well as breaks on all three primary green shapes. It allows you to use green speeds of 8 thru 14, and grades of 0.5% to 4.0%. App owners can also watch video tips by AimPoint Senior Instructors as well as some of the games greatest short game instructors as well as find the closest AimPoint instructors to you or list all instructors by state. Learning Aim-Point techniques in a hands-on environment is critical to becoming an expert green reader. Available for $29.99 in iTunes. AimPointGolf.com
TRAVEL
Golf’s Greatest Destinations - Most golfers have a bucket list — places they want to go to play golf and explore. The problem is there are so many courses, so many destinations, so many deals out there, it’s hard to know where to go for your particular abilities and interests. Heavy hitters like trips with pals, conquering new tracks like Pinehurst or Scottsdale. Couples want both golf and romance such as found at The Boulders (AZ) or Williamsburg (VA). Others want to improve their game by combing golf and instruction which they can find at the PGA Village or Innisbrook in Florida. Women like to play golf courses which won’t beat them up and stay someplace fun like Kiawah Island (SC) with good places to eat and extras like shopping and spas. This app pulls everything together giving you details on more than 100 great courses. You find out how to get there, where to eat and drink including restaurants only an insider would know. Each destination suggests other cool things to do like taking a zipline tour in Branson or getting a chocolate massage in Hershey. You’ll find the best places to stay for all budgets and kinds of trips from buddy getaways to women’s weekends. New destinations are added every month and are free. ($2.95 at iTunes Store).
WEATHER & FITTING
Srixon Golf WeatherFIT - The application provides accurate 4-day weather forecasts for golf courses around the USA. In addition, the app uses the weather forecast to help you decide how to properly fit your Srixon ZSTAR driver and Srixon golf ball for maximum performance in the weather on those specific days of play. The Z-STAR WeatherFIT app is the first iphone™/ipad™ application that helps golfers adjust their driver settings to the specific weather and course conditions they are playing to maximize their driver performance. Golfers can select any course they are playing and the app will analyze their current driver settings and the weather forecast on the chosen golf course and will then recommend specific adjustments that the player should make to the driver’s face angle and weight settings to optimize performance during that round. Additionally, the WeatherFIT app will use the weather conditions to recommend which color golf ball (Tour Yellow or Pure White) the golfer should use that day for maximum visibility on the course. The STAR Fitting aspect of the app is specific to the new Srixon ZSTAR adjustable driver which has 84 different possible configurations. This application allows you to properly adjust your driver to maximize distance, ball flight and feel. Finally it includes tips and instruction from Srixon staffers on how to hit different shots on the course. Srixon.com/weatherfitapp
GPS
OptimalClub GPS - Here’s why OptimalClub is the best investment in your golf game! It offers a clear golf club selection picture on golf course aerial images. Carry and carry+roll distances are available for each club. The enhanced and interactive rangefinder provides distance feedback to any spot. Better focus on where you want to hit the ball to and which club to use. OptimalClub simplifies the golf game. Get to know club distances better and how to adapt to changing weather and course conditions. Can OptimalClub run on the iPad? Yes! The app works great as a tool to develop golf course strategy with a coach golf team. Instantly see wind conditions on challenging holes where par is a great score or any holes to score low on with birdies and eagles. Are OptimalClub distances accurate? Yes! Map-assisted GPS provides an accurate distance picture. It eliminates guessing in-between front, center, or back of green GPS distances. Other apps may require up to a minute or longer to get an accurate GPS reading. OptimalClub offers a way to get distances using the map in seconds! www.optimalclub.com
About Ed Travis
Ed Travis is a well known golf journalist and writes the monthly Player's Perspective column appearing in New England Golf Monthly. He carries a 1-handicap and with his wife lives on a water hazard in suburban Orlando.
