Golf.com

I Tried It: This golf GPS app is the cheat code to lower scores

Maddi MacClurg — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:35:27 +0000

We’re about halfway through summer, and for most of us, golf season is just getting good. By now, the early-season rust has worn off. Swings are feeling smoother, and your game is just starting to hit its stride — or at least, it should be.

But, if you’re like me, your game might have a few inconsistencies that are costing you on the course. The occasional double chip here, a surprising sliced tee shot out of bounds there. It makes you stop mid-round and wonder: What’s going on? And more importantly, how do I fix it?

To figure it out, you have to evaluate your own game objectively. That is no easy feat.

We all have blind spots, whether we want to admit it or not. Even seasoned players struggle to pinpoint exactly what is costing them strokes, especially when their game feels fine, but the scorecard tells a different story.

That’s where keeping stats can be a game-changer. If you can consistently track what’s happening during your rounds, patterns start to emerge. With this data, you can see where you’re losing strokes and can adjust how you practice and play.

That means lower scores and, ultimately, a lower handicap.

The problem? Tracking stats can be a tedious task — one that many of us abandon somewhere around the fourth hole.

So, I went looking for a better way. A quick search for stat-tracking apps opened up a long list of options. To narrow it down, I looked for an app that could do more than just track numbers. I wanted something that eliminated my need to bounce between apps for yardages, green overviews and stat tracking.

That led me to GolfLogix — a golf GPS app designed to help you practice and play smarter. So I decided to take it out for a full round to see if it could really help lower my scores.

Here’s what I found.

Right away, I was impressed by how intuitive the on-course features felt. The yardages were spot-on, but what really stood out was how much more information I had access to. I wasn’t just getting distances to the green. I could also see how far it was to trees, bunkers and hazards. I could now plan my shots with confidence, knowing exactly what was in play.

Revolutionary 3D features

I also tried GolfLogix’s new 3D features — like the virtual flyovers and virtual reality hole previews — which gave me a clear visual of each hole. These tools came in handy on blind shots, making me feel like a local even though it was my first time playing the course.

My favorite feature by far was the 3D Approach View. This color-coded heat map shows you exactly how your approach shots will respond to the slopes and contours of the green, and it completely changed how I thought about attacking pins.

Instead of aiming for the center of the green or guessing how shots might react, I could see where the trouble spots were. It displayed false fronts, steep run-offs and even allowed me to see how much room for error I had on tucked pin placements.

With this tool, I wasn’t guessing anymore. I had accurate, real-time yardages to any point on the green, so I could choose smarter landing areas and avoid unnecessary risks. It helped me hit more greens, and more importantly, convert what used to be scrambling bogeys into easy pars.

The 3D Approach View is one of those features that quietly saves you strokes. I didn’t realize how valuable it was until I played a round with it.

Read greens with confidence

Another feature I really came to appreciate was Putt Line.

On tricky greens where I wasn’t sure about the break, it gave me the confidence to commit to a line. All I had to do was mark the pin location and my ball position, and the app instantly gave me a detailed read. It told me how many inches to aim left or right, how far to hit it and even the elevation of the putt. It was like having a Tour caddie in my pocket.

And, if you’re a player who uses AimPoint on the greens, you can even turn on slope percentages to double-check that you’re reading the greens correctly.

Access tour-level stats

Let’s not forget the initial reason I was excited to try GolfLogix, which was for the stat tracking. So, how did it hold up?

From my first tee shot to my final putt, logging stats was surprisingly quick and easy. It only took a few seconds per hole, and I was able to track everything — fairway direction, green hits or misses, pitches, chips and even those dreaded greenside bunker shots.

After the round, I dove into the stats section to see how it all came together, and honestly, I was impressed.

The app doesn’t just dump numbers on a screen. It gives you clean, easy-to-read visuals that actually help you understand your game. I could instantly see where I was missing fairways (left, right or in the sand), how often I hit greens in regulation and how my short game was performing. And it was all laid out with graphics that make it easy to understand.

With this app, I have access to the same insights that tour pros use to work on their games. Now, I don’t have to guess what’s going wrong. I can see it clearly laid out in front of me.

Whether you’re trying to break 100 or chasing scratch, having that level of detail — and understanding it — makes a huge difference. You can try out GolfLogix today for free by clicking this link or downloading it from the App Store.

The post I Tried It: This golf GPS app is the cheat code to lower scores appeared first on Golf.

8AM Golf sells GolfLogix GPS app to Foresight, Bushnell's parent company

GOLF Editors — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:09:56 +0000

GolfLogix, the pioneering golf GPS app, has a new owner.

On Monday, golf-holding company 8AM Golf announced the sale of GolfLogix to Revelyst, Inc., the parent company of Foresight Sports and Bushnell Golf, which manufacture golf launch monitors, simulators and range finders.

8AM Golf, which owns GOLF.com, acquired GolfLogix in 2014. The company was founded in 1999 and became the first golf app to introduce handheld GPS. According to a release, more than 7 million users have installed GolfLogix on smartphones and watches, making it the most downloaded app in golf.

Among its many features are mapping for 40,000 courses worldwide, a thriving golf-course database and functionality for scorekeeping and stat-tracking. The app also fosters a digital community that allows users to connect and communicate with millions of golfers across the globe.

Revelyst owns more than 30 brands that specialize in products for outdoor enthusiasts. GolfLogix, the release said, will expand Revelyst’s “product ecosystem and increases the company’s software capabilities and on-course presence.”

“I created 8AM Golf to provide a platform that allows high-quality golf-related companies to grow and prosper,” Howard Milstein, founder and chairman of 8AM Golf, said in a release. “Our goal is to nurture brands that help enhance both the game and the golfing life. We have been proud to shepherd Golflogix as it has strengthened its role as a leader in golf-related GPS technology. 8AM Golf is about creating opportunities, and we believe this transaction will foster further opportunity for GolfLogix and its groundbreaking technology.”

“GolfLogix has been a valuable member of the 8AM Golf family since 2014, and our investment in technology, coverage and reach has helped propel our app to the leadership position it holds today,” said Hoyt McGarity, CEO and president of 8AM Golf. “8AM Golf is an innovative and constantly evolving company, and we pride ourselves on maximizing the value of each of the companies in our portfolio. This latest deal fits in perfectly with our mission.”

Trey Marucci, chief strategy officer at 8AM Golf, said: “Over the past several years, GolfLogix has grown into a category leader that’s respected across the industry, and we’re proud of the role we played in that success. When we were presented with an opportunity that recognized the strength of the business and offered a compelling path forward, we felt it was the right time to pass the baton. GolfLogix is an incredibly strong fit with Foresight/Bushnell, and we’re excited to see how the combined capabilities unlock even greater potential in the years ahead.”

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7 tips for reading greens more effectively

Kellie Stenzel, Top 100 Teacher — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:07:21 +0000

I teach a number of golf schools and clinics, often working with groups of students. One of the most common questions I hear at the start of these events is, “How can I read greens better?”

With the incredible undulation and speed of the Augusta greens on display this week, it’s a timely and important topic. Here are six practical strategies you can start using right away to improve your ability to read breaks, slopes, and subtle contours on the putting surface.

1. Don’t wait until you reach the green

Start reading the green as you approach it. Often, the slope and contours are easier to see from a distance. Ask yourself, “Where would water flow if I poured it on the green?” This can help you determine the overall tilt. Also, keep in mind that most greens are designed to slope from back to front as this helps with visibility from the fairway and drainage.

2. Approach the green so you walk past the hole

Whenever possible, park the cart or choose an approach route that forces you to walk past the hole on your way to your ball. This gives you a valuable opportunity to observe slopes, elevation changes, and distances from multiple angles. It’s often difficult to get a full sense of tilt and break from just standing behind your ball.

3. Determine if the putt Is uphill, flat or downhill first

When facing mid-to-long putts, controlling distance and speed is more important than perfecting the line. Your first task should be to assess whether your putt is uphill, downhill, or flat. This will dictate your stroke length and pace.

For example, an uphill putt will require a longer backstroke to deliver more energy, while downhill putts—like those seen at Augusta—call for a shorter, more controlled stroke. Watch how players adjust their stroke size for those lightning-fast, downhill putts.

4. Look wide to read the break

When trying to determine break direction and amount, don’t just look along the putting line. Instead, look wider—about 5 feet to the left and right of your intended line. Ask yourself, “Which side is higher?” The ball will naturally break away from the higher side.

Once you identify the high side, estimate the degree of tilt. The more severe the slope and the greater the distance, the more the ball will break.

5. Divide long putts into sections

For longer putts, the green may have multiple undulations or changing slopes. Trying to read it as one continuous break can be overwhelming. Instead, divide the putt into sections—typically the first half and the second half—and read each separately.

For instance, if the first part breaks right to left and the second part breaks left to right, they may cancel each other out. But remember, the ball breaks more as it slows near the hole, so the final few feet are especially important.

6. Don’t ignore break on short putts

Too many golfers step up to short putts assuming they’re straight. That’s a costly mistake. Almost every putt breaks to some degree, and underestimating this can lead to frustrating misses.

Take a moment to walk behind your ball and feel the slope with your feet. This quick read can help you aim more accurately and dramatically improve your short-putt conversion.

7. Use a Green Book

Tools like the GolfLogix Green Book can help you visualize breaks more clearly—even on courses you know well. These guides provide precise mapping of slopes and contours, and I’m often surprised by how much they reveal, even on familiar greens.

Improving your green reading isn’t just about seeing the break—it’s about knowing when and how to look. Practice these habits consistently, and you’ll start seeing better lines, better speed, and more putts dropping.

You can grab a GolfLogix Green Book at the link below.

GolfLogix Green Reading Book

Order customized Green Books for your golf shop, next tournament, or club event. From the front cover to unique leather covers, we will tailor the design just for you.

Buy Now from greenbooks.com

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What makes Pinehurst No. 2’s greens so diabolical? These heat maps reveal all

Jack Hirsh — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 19:01:56 +0000

We’ve heard it all week: These Pinehurst No. 2 greens are no joke.

Donald Ross’ iconic domed greens at perhaps his finest design have fooled and flummoxed the best players in the world, with balls rolling over the greens, backing up in front of them, misreads, you name it.

“I think just with the way those greens are, when it gets really firm, and just because you don’t really have any bail-out areas, you’ve just got to take on the golf shots and see where it ends up, and if you don’t pull it off, you’re going to have a really tricky short game shot,” U.S. Open 36-hole leader Ludvig Aberg said Friday night when asked what made Pinehurst so hard.

Because of the difficult green surroundings, we’ve seen players use every club in the bag from putters to 3-woods for shots just off the putting surfaces.

Travel

Pinehurst No. 2 price: What it costs to play the iconic U.S. Open venue

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We’ve also seen balls that look like they might have settled right next to the hole, take slopes and careen away, like Sepp Straka on Friday.

When you study the slope maps of the greens, you can get a sense of why.

The NBC broadcast has done a great job this week of showcasing the effective green size at Pinehurst No. 2 and when you look at the Green Books for Pinehurst, you get an even better sense of the severeness of the slope and undulations.

By scrolling through the maps below, you’ll see how much red there is around the edges of the greens, especially the par-5 5th, one of the most severe on the course. Red indicates the steepest slopes, while white indicates the flat spots. As you’ll find, there isn’t much white!

Check out the maps for each of Pinehurst No. 2’s 18 greens below and pick up one of your own before you take on the iconic U.S. Open venue.

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This course-mapping Apple Watch app is like a caddie for your wrist

Josh Sens — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:49:39 +0000

As someone you might call “tech-allergic,” I have long looked to the golf course as a refuge from the chirps and beeps and screens that dominate the rhythms of our day-to-day. When I play the game, I prefer to unplug. So it struck me as ironic when I was asked to test a product designed for golfers who enjoy the whiz-bang extras of the modern age.

Founded in 1999 as a handheld GPS system, GolfLogix, which is owned by GOLF.com’s parent company, has evolved into one of the game’s most downloaded apps for golf statistics and analytics, offering not just personalized data but also detailed course maps to help you plot out every shot. Time was when its intel was accessible only through your cell phone. But no longer. Updates to GolfLogix have made it compatible with the Apple Watch.

As the resident Luddite in the office, I was chosen as a guinea pig.

“Give us your first impressions,” my editor said.

My first impression was that I was not the right guy for the assignment, because, well, I don’t own an Apple Watch. My wife does, though, and borrowing hers was easy enough. So was downloading GolfLogix onto it. A few swipes and clicks and I was good to go. Contained in the app’s digital database are detailed 3D maps of more than 35,000 courses, including my hometown muni in Oakland, Calif. Off I went to take my new tech for a spin.

Standing on the 1st tee of a course I’ve played more times than I can count, I had a pretty good idea what I was in for: a 540-yard, dogleg right par-5, with a cluster of bunkers at the inside bend of its elbow. My watch confirmed that. It said other things as well, providing me with info that I’d never thought to gather. Those bunkers, for instance, started at 242 yards away. To carry them required another 31 yards to a mostly flat fairway whose edges sloped slightly toward the rough.

Like a lot of gizmos these days, GolfLogix gives you distances to every target and hazard, measured faithfully by GPS. But the app doesn’t work strictly by the numbers. It paints vivid pictures, too, showing every hole from various perspectives, including aerial images that capture slope and elevation across every inch of the course. These images are particularly impressive on the greens, where color-coded heat maps, marked arrows, tell you how much and which way the ground is moving. You can even rotate the image so the map of the green aligns with your perspective, and then draw a line that shows precisely how your putt will break.

As I see it, information of this kind is not critically important when you’re playing your home course. But it doesn’t hurt. And it sure comes in handy when you’re pegging it on unfamiliar grounds, where there’s almost no such thing as TMI.

More compelling to me still, though, was a different kind of data. For as much as it tells you about the course you’re playing, GolfLogix also educates you about yourself. In addition to allowing you to tally up your stats (fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts, etc.), the app has a “shot tracker” function, which does just what its name suggests. Activate it after any shot, and it shows precisely how far you hit it. Over time, this feedback gives you a faithful portrait of how you actually play the game, not how you think you play it.

Features

Here's what goes into the making of a GolfLogix green book

By: GOLF Editors

It leaves no room for self-delusion. Like a lot of golfers, I’m guilty of that. Somehow, I’ve convinced myself that I can fly my 7-iron 165 yards. I cannot; 155 yards is more like it. Nor do my best drives carry beyond 240, as I’ve led myself to believe. One round with GolfLogix on my wrist confronted me with these cold, hard truths. There was no ignoring them. From this point on, I plan to use those lessons to refine my club selection and course strategy. Who knows? I might even shoot lower scores.

In golf, as in other areas of life, technology can backfire. Innovations that promise to simplify the game for us can wind up complicating it instead. Time and again I’ve seen this from tech-happy playing partners as they fumble with their phones, searching for this or that piece of info on an app that may or may not pay dividends. The most common result I’ve noticed is slower pace of play.

With the app on an Apple Watch, I dealt with none of that. Gathering info was as quick and easy as checking the time. Navigating was straightforward, too. Switching from one hole to the next, or from one function to another, requires nothing more than the swipe of a finger.

My GolfLogix test run cost me nothing. When you download the app, you get two free trial rounds. After that, you can continue using the app for free, with access to basic features, such as 3D course maps, score and stat tracking, and the opportunity to compete with friends. The other option is an annual membership ($59.99), which provides unlimited access to all the upgraded features, including slope and elevation-adjusted distances, putting alignment and 3D approach views to pinpoint the best place to land your ball.

Old habits die hard, and I still value golf as a tech-free escape. But after playing a round with an all-knowing caddie on my wrist, I appreciate the value of having such a brainy sidekick. Now, if only I can convince my wife to give me her Apple Watch.

You can download GolfLogix for your Apple Watch in the App Store.

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

Marley Sims — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 21:30:30 +0000

Take advantage of the technology you’re already carrying in the palm of your hand. Using these handy apps, the next time you’re on the golf course you can keep track of everyone’s score, handicap, make bets and, most importantly, improve the quality of your rounds.

Launch monitors and rangefinders can cost hundreds of dollars, but most of the apps on this list are free or require only a small subscription fee. If you don’t mind taking out your phone to write your score or find your distance, these apps are ideal options for you.

7 golf apps that require no extra equipment

All of these apps are available on the Apple, Google Play and Android stores, take no additional golf equipment to use and most are completely free to use. Time to start having more fun on the course, conveniently powered by the smartphone you’re carrying anyway.

Skins App

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Highlights

Tracks bets and friendly match play
Offers national social interaction
Chance to win monthly prizes and money

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

Birdie Apps

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Highlights

GPS distances
Can use offline
Keep up to 4 players’ scores

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

Chirp Fantasy Golf

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Highlights

Tracks fantasy golf
Offers social interaction
Chance to win actual prizes

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

GolfLogix

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Highlights

Intuitive user interface
Satellite imagery overlays
Additional wellness features included

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

The Official Rules of Golf

USGA

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Highlights

Complete and undisputed rules of golf
Easily readable and well-indexed
Image and video rules demonstrations

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

Leaderboard Golf, Inc.

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Highlights

Play on-course betting games with friends
Scorekeeping for groups and individuals
GPS with moveable targets and front, middle, and back green yardages

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

Fairgame Golf

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Friendly golf betting

Price

$0 – FREE

Highlights

Tracks bets and friendly match play
Offers national social interaction
Chance to win monthly prizes and money