7 golf apps you only need a smartphone to use: GPS tracking, wagering and more

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Named after the golf betting game we all know and love… Skins. You know, where you bet money to win the hole and the winner gets the whole pot? This app takes friendly betting on the course to a whole new level.

And with the Skins App, not only can you keep up with your betting game, but it also provides a list of betting games along with their rules and allows for each player in the match to keep up with the game from the palm of their hand.

Simply download the game on your phone to begin playing with your friends. You’ll need to first make a profile that lists your handicap and your home course, and it only takes about 30 seconds to get started.

It uses GPS to locate nearby players and courses, guides you through wagers, and simplifies scorekeeping for the group. You can even invite friends who aren’t with you to watch your round unfold. This app is revolutionizing friendly golf betting.

Capabilities: Friendly betting, list of betting games + instructions, peer/player interaction | Subscription fee: No | Additional equipment: No

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Use the BirdieApps Golf GPS app to find your distances and see the layout of the course you’re playing. It works in offline mode, meaning once a course is downloaded to the app, you can go to the most remote golf courses in the world, where no internet or cell phone services are available, and still use the Golf GPS App! The App remains 100% functional. Very convenient if you want to conserve data.

You can use this app for free, but you can also purchase in-app upgrades to access additional features.

Capabilities: GPS | Use off-line | Subscription fee: No | Additional equipment: No | Also Apple Watch compatible

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Follow pro golf and gamble with fake money, or “Chirp bucks.” Beat the odds and run up your score to accumulate the most Chirp bucks for a chance to win real prizes. You can win anything from new golf equipment to even the golf trip of your dreams.

This app is super easy to use, and it’s something you and your friends can keep track of together. If you’re feeling lucky, what are you waiting for? Go snag some prizes.

Capabilities: Fantasy golf tracking, fake money betting, real-world prize-winning | Subscription fee: No | Additional equipment: No

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With GolfLogix, it’s like having a pro caddy and advanced GPS rangefinder in your pocket. Master every hole with precision distances, taking into account elevation changes, so you always hit the right club. Unleash your full golfing potential with unrivaled 3D visualizations and real-time performance analysis, tailored to your unique skills and style.

The GolfLogix app provides accurate GPS shot tracking with slope ratings, 3D flyovers of every hole, club tracking with distance ranging, green putt line reading, scorekeeping, and satellite imaging of golf holes.

Capabilities: Visual hole data, shot tracking saved to the Cloud, satellite imaging | Subscription fee: $59 per year | Additional equipment: No

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There will be no questions or arguments on the golf course when you’re using the official app of the United States Golf Association. The Official Rules of Golf app offers complete written rules enhanced with diagrams, images, and videos where necessary. For this app, it’s the rules and nothing but the rules. It’s not the USGA’s responsibility to teach you how to play golf. They just establish how all of us are to play it correctly.

Capabilities: Complete rules, images and videos to demonstrate rules | Subscription fee: No | Additional equipment: No

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Leaderboard is the digital home your golf game, no matter how you play. The platform supports group games, wagering, non-competitive scorekeeping, playing with GPS, and posting after your round. All rounds build on your unique history, stats, and personal records on Leaderboard. Leaderboard also integrates with the USGA for handicap data, so golfers can play and post to their Handicap Index without opening another app.

Capabilities: Play with friends, GPS, Scorekeeping | Subscription fee: No, but in-app purchases are available | Additional equipment: No

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Create a social profile to connect with friends everywhere across the country and easily find a digital golf community. You can play game modes, track your stats, place wagers and even find new places to play. And each time you let the app track your score, you’ll accumulate a handicap so you can seamlessly find and play more golfers of your skill level.

Capabilities: Play with friends, Handicap, Scorekeeping | Subscription fee: FREE | Additional equipment: No