We could all do with a bit of help out on the course and while there some fantastic GPS devices on the market, they can be quite expensive.
There are dozens of free apps available which will use the GPS location from your phone along with course maps to give you yardages to the green, hazards and more. Some of the apps have other features like scorecards and round statistics.
Many can be synced with watches so you can leave your phone in your golf bag. But, remember they will be giving a yardage from your phone and not your wrist. Not ideal if you’ve left your bag some distance away from where you are playing your shot.
Another thing to consider is the fact these apps can drain the battery on your phone. But if you’ve got an electric trolley with a charging port, and even better if it has a device holder too, that’s a pretty solid and cost-effective combination.
Now we’ve got the introductions out of the way, let’s take a look at the best free GPS mobile apps available today…
VPAR Golf GPS, Scoring & Stats
The VPAR app allows you to choose from over 30,000 courses worldwide, view GPS data and share online for friends to follow your rounds. Despite, it’s GPS capabilities the main the attraction of the VPAR app is the chance to be able to set up set up matches against friends and view a live leaderboard.
Having a leaderboard, like you would seen on TV for a professional tournament, makes a casual game of golf that bit more interactive, and dare I say fun. The app also accommodates different formats of golf, such as matchplay and stableford as well as stroke play. Ideal for those who are playing in larger groups.
VPAR also helps you to work n your golf game, with the plenty of performance stats available to analyse.
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Features include:
• GPS & Course Planners
• Digital scorecards
• Live leaderboards
• Matchplay, Strokeplay and Stableford formats.
• Performance stats
• Scorecard archive
• Venue Search; info, weather, contacts, reviews.
More Information: VPAR website
Motocaddy
You may have a Motocaddy golf trolley, but did you know about their GPS app? We are often raving about their electric trolleys, they are certainly some of the most recognisable in the industry, this time its their app.
Built to work in unison with the S5 Connect trolley but works a treat just as an app in its own right. At your fingertips you have access to GPS data for over 40,000 different golf courses.
The data on offer includes front, middle and back yardages to greens for approach play, hazard information and other key distances. Everything a golfer would need to help with club selection and shot type choices.
The app also helps you to improve your game, a positive for a lot of golfers out there in being able to track your stats and see areas where you need to improve. This comes after the latest update, implementing lifesaving AED & CPR features, only available in the UK and Ireland. Hugely impressive additions.
Although you don’t need a Motocaddy trolley to use this completely free GPS app, it just pair with any Motocaddy ‘CONNECT’ trolley model via bluetooth.
Features include:
- Distances at a glance to the front, center, and back of the green
- Overhead course map view
- Allows you to view the distance to any point on each hole
- Measure the distance of any shot
- Automatic course recognition and hole advancement
- Round timer for pace-of-play
- Power save mode preserves battery and reduces data usage
More Information: Motocaddy website
Golfshot GPS
Used by over five million golfers in 169 countries, you and many others, are in good hands using the Golfshot GPS app.
Real-time distances to the green, hazards and targets on over 45,000 courses worldwide along with scoring and shot tracking, detailed statistics, entire course flyover previews and club recommendations. It would probably be easier to tell you what it doesn’t have.
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Apple Watch users are even more spoilt, as you will be able to track every shot with your watch. This will give you further, valuable insights into your game, for those looking to improve and get that handicap down.
This GPS app gets even more high tech. Another big feature is its Golfscape AR which gives you a complete 360° view of the hole and course your playing. Yeah, you read that right, you’ll be able to plan your way around a course more accurately. No need for the course layout on the back on the scorecard anymore.
Features include:
- Scoring with Stroke Play and Stableford
- Statistics based on your playing history
- 3D video previews of your entire course
- Track your shot distance, direction and club used
- Save time and money on thousands of GolfNow tee times
- Share your rounds and send tee time invites to friends
More Information: Golfshot website
Hole 19
With nearly four million users, there’s no shortage of popularity. It’s also one of the most complete gps apps and all for the grand total of absolutely nothing.
Precision is always key for a golf GPS app and this offers that for all the key distances. Everything from yardage to the putter surface, whether the hazards are in play off the tee and the rest in between.
All this data is available for over 42,000 courses, which are all mapped. It’s all available without an internet connection as well, so no need to keep an eye out on your data usage.
For extra convenience, it also syncs with your Apple watch so you can leave your phone in your golf bag. As well as a GPS rangefinder this app offers a scorecard, shot tracer and statistics tracking.
Features include:
- Plan and book your round using course ratings and reviews with tee times and deals available
- Share your progress with an active community of golf enthusiasts
- Apple Watch compatibility
- Live scoring
- Monthly challenges
More Information: Hole19 website
Golfpad GPS
Over 40,000 golf courses are available to view in fly-over detail. Course planning has never been be easy or data driven.
As far as GPS distance offerings are concerned there are yardages available for the front, middle and back of the green. Shot selection is a lot less stressful when you know your distances and the Golfpad GPS app certainly helps with that.
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Features include:
- Instant distance to middle/front/back of the green, or any point on course
- Scorecard for 1-4 golfers. Track strokes, putts, penalties, sand and fairways for every player
- Measure the length of your shots. Use it for drives or every shot on a hole. Review shots on the map and share with friends
- Free aerial course map. Tap to measure distance to bunkers, water or any other point on golf course
- Full playing history. Review and edit scorecards for past golf rounds at any time
- Track your progress with detailed statistics, including scoring, putts, accuracy, penalties, fairways, sand, GIR and distance walked
More Information: Golfpad website
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