Smartphone Golf GPS Aps

deko43

Are the smartphone Golf GPS aps any good ? Seems to be a few available
and very cheap. Can anyone recommend any one ap over others ?

searay

I use golfshot gps on the iphone. It cost €24.99. It's good once you know what you're using and it's limitations.

They advertise that all Irish courses are covered but when you go to check some aren't mapped or mapping is inaccurate. However when you find one that isn't you can email them with the scorecard and a link to the website and they'll generally update it within a day or 2.

Once you are sure a course is mapped, its good. Glasson is mapped and I'd say its within +/- 5 yards everytime, which would be comparable to a full golfing gps.

Best way to check is to stand on the 150 yard maker on the first (or the first tee if it's straight) and if it's out, leave it in the bag. If it's working quick glance at the phone and you know your distance.

It has lots of features to record score etc and stats but I don't use them because it would take too long and slow play down.

Haven't used any others so can't compare.

BraveDonut

One of the lads in my fourball yesterday seemed to think that there may be a ruling change to allow you to use phone apps in comps, provided it only reports distance - not weather, wind, incline directions, etc.

Can anyone confirm this?

I use FreeCaddie on a Windows phone and find it great for my course

TheFarneyman

I think its on the cards!! Swing by Swing is another very good App, not sure about how many courses are mapped in Ireland though

SnowDrifts

Another vote for Swing by Swing. Its a free app on the iphone, not sure about other platforms.

It seems very accurate - I compared it with a playing partner's laser finder and it was almost identical. From what I was told, they are already legal to use in competitions as long as they do not have green slopes/wind info etc.

pistolpetes11

Swing by Swing (Golf GPS ) gets another vote here ,

Has a in app paid version for tracking your shots and a 3d flyover afterwards, think they call it the looper ad on ,

Anyway I find very good and us it a lot when I play, it takes you H/C into account for stableford scoring and brings all your stats back onto your online account.

Jagera

BraveDonut wrote: »

One of the lads in my fourball yesterday seemed to think that there may be a ruling change to allow you to use phone apps in comps, provided it only reports distance - not weather, wind, incline directions, etc.

Can anyone confirm this?

I use FreeCaddie on a Windows phone and find it great for my course

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Rules-of-Golf.aspx#/rules/?ruleNum=5.%20Distance-Measuing%20Devices%20(Rule%2014-3)

The last paragraph here says that it must ONLY measure distance. Even if another app or web browser is not used, it still breaches the charter.


At the moment, I'm reading this essentially as no smartphones. Unless you strip away the browser and any other apps which give you information such as the weather.

Dedicated golf measuring devices are still OK.


EDIT - I assume it's OK to have your phone just in your bag, for making calls. Don't know though.

Senna

If your stuck in the back of beyond like me and your course is covered by clouds on Google maps, then you can use Freecaddie on android to map your own course. Only the €9.99 version allows you to map the course yourself.
I mapped Letterkenny GC on a day with clear sky's and spend a long time allowing the gps to get a good fix on each hole.
It gives very accurate reading and matches the course markers within 5yards on a cloudy day and almost exactly on a clear day (only allowing a few seconds for a reading). When mapping, the trick is to leave the phone sitting in the centre of the green for a good 2 minutes, then hit the "mark centre" button.

Redzah

Jagera wrote: »

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Rules-of-Golf.aspx#/rules/?ruleNum=5.%20Distance-Measuing%20Devices%20(Rule%2014-3)

The last paragraph here says that it must ONLY measure distance. Even if another app or web browser is not used, it still breaches the charter.


At the moment, I'm reading this essentially as no smartphones. Unless you strip away the browser and any other apps which give you information such as the weather.

Dedicated golf measuring devices are still OK.


EDIT - I assume it's OK to have your phone just in your bag, for making calls. Don't know though.

I've had a read of the GUI guidance on this a few times and has also been discussed on a thread before. Conclusion i came to is Iphone is illegal due to compass capabilites, v frustrating as this offers no benefit IMO. Internet on phone is ok once it is not used unlawfully. Using phone is also ok, just unethical

pistolpetes11

I had thought the R&A allow it as long as it does not give , wind speed , gradient , temperature

Redzah

pistolpetes11 wrote: »

I had thought the R&A allow it as long as it does not give , wind speed , gradient , temperature

Unfortunately there is a Q&A on the GUI website to clarify their position on GPS and laser devices that says any device with a compass, anemometer etc. is illegal. GUI website is currently upgrading so when i figure it out i'll post the link

Refer to the 3rd FAQ towards the bottom of the page that mentions compass being illegal. Unfortunately the compass is in built into the IPhone and the compass app cannot be deleted. Therefore its illegal, i've explored this before to no avail

http://www.gui.ie/leinster/news/distance-devices-clarification.aspx

Seve OB

A guy with good contact in GUI told me a couple of months ago that the rule change will be that you can basically carry whatever device you like.....Except.....

A device which gives basic info such as distance will be grance.

A smart phone device which gives up to date info on weather will be considered an extra club in the bag.... even if you aren't using it as measuring device

SnowDrifts

stevieob wrote: »

A guy with good contact in GUI told me a couple of months ago that the rule change will be that you can basically carry whatever device you like.....Except.....

A device which gives basic info such as distance will be grance.

A smart phone device which gives up to date info on weather will be considered an extra club in the bag.... even if you aren't using it as measuring device

So considering most smart phones have weather apps- the conclusion therefore is that smart phones are illegal.

Bit silly really, considering you can check the temperature before you leave home (not that it makes a huge difference) and a smart phone is never going to be as good as throwing some grass up in the air.

Redzah

stevieob wrote: »

A guy with good contact in GUI told me a couple of months ago that the rule change will be that you can basically carry whatever device you like.....Except.....

A device which gives basic info such as distance will be grance.

A smart phone device which gives up to date info on weather will be considered an extra club in the bag.... even if you aren't using it as measuring device

Can't see that happening and its also contrary to R&A rules which says smart phones are ok to use on the course as a communication device. What u are saying means that anybody who has a smartphone in their bag even if switched off can only carrying 13 clubs, i just don't see this occurring.

searay

Redzah wrote: »

pistolpetes11 wrote: »

I had thought the R&A allow it as long as it does not give , wind speed , gradient , temperature

Unfortunately there is a Q&A on the GUI website to clarify their position on GPS and laser devices that says any device with a compass, anemometer etc. is illegal. GUI website is currently upgrading so when i figure it out i'll post the link

Refer to the 3rd FAQ towards the bottom of the page that mentions compass being illegal. Unfortunately the compass is in built into the IPhone and the compass app cannot be deleted. Therefore its illegal, i've explored this before to no avail

http://www.gui.ie/leinster/news/distance-devices-clarification.aspx

Thanks for posting the link. It all made sense to me until I saw that question 3 about the compass. It's never crossed my mind that a compass would be of use to me playing golf. Even if I knew the forecast was for a southerly wind, I'd still throw up some grass to see how the wind would effect the ball.

I haven't used the iPhone in a competition and I didn't know it had a compass!

Does this also mean it would be against the rules to carry a compass in your bag even if you didn't use it?

Redzah

searay wrote: »

Thanks for posting the link. It all made sense to me until I saw that question 3 about the compass. It's never crossed my mind that a compass would be of use to me playing golf. Even if I knew the forecast was for a southerly wind, I'd still throw up some grass to see how the wind would effect the ball.

I haven't used the iPhone in a competition and I didn't know it had a compass!

Does this also mean it would be against the rules to carry a compass in your bag even if you didn't use it?

Ya the compass provides not real benefit unless you use a device to measure wind direction prior to your round and then use the compass during the round so u know exactly which way you are faced to determine exact wind direction. A bit silly in my view as a simple throw up of the grass is the same thing.

See the rules suggest that a smartphone can be used for communication purposes on the course so under this an iphone (which has a compass) can be used for communication purposes but not as a DMD because of the compass. Its a bit of a grey area but the GUI have stated to watch this space in relation to a list of allowable DMD's but have not published anything yet in relation to this (about a year since they said this).

Basically what can be determined from the legislation is;

a. Iphone can be used as a communication device on the course
b. Iphone cannot be used as a DMD (as it has an in built compass)

SnowDrifts

Certainly a grey area -

> Your allowed to use the iphone as a communications device even though it has a compass albeit, your not using it.

> Your not allowed to use the iphone as a DMD device because it has a compass albeit, your not using it.

It will be interesting to see if there are any club disputes over this issue when a member wins a competition using his iphone as a DMD. I have used mine in competition and I know many others who have done the same. I would have continued to think they were legal if I had not read this thread. But what about everyone else?..

Webbs

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Certainly a grey area -

> Your allowed to use the iphone as a communications device even though it has a compass albeit, your not using it.

> Your not allowed to use the iphone as a DMD device because it has a compass albeit, your not using it.

It will be interesting to see if there are any club disputes over this issue when a member wins a competition using his iphone as a DMD. I have used mine in competition and I know many others who have done the same. I would have continued to think they were legal if I had not read this thread. But what about everyone else?..

Its not really a grey area the rules are pretty clear - use your smartphone to measure a distance and your disqualified, hopefully you didnt win anything using it .
As for clubs there shouldnt be a dispute, if any other rule (say 15 clubs in a bag) was broken there wouldnt be a quibble as to the sanctions taken so why this one?

SnowDrifts

Webbs wrote: »

Its not really a grey area the rules are pretty clear - use your smartphone to measure a distance and your disqualified, hopefully you didnt win anything using it .
As for clubs there shouldnt be a dispute, if any other rule (say 15 clubs in a bag) was broken there wouldnt be a quibble as to the sanctions taken so why this one?

Not all smartphones have a compass. Still pretty clear?

Webbs

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Not all smartphones have a compass. Still pretty clear?

]Yes still pretty clear as they can all be used to gauge conditions of play (compass for wind direction, temperature etc).

The rules basically state, when the distance measuring application is being used, there must be no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used."

Banned apps or features (including web capability) under the rules include weather, compass, club selection, green-reading, slope-measuring...

I agree its crazy as I can use my Garmin GPS for distance and my nokia web enabled phone to email work but cant use a device that does both, hopefully changes will be made as knowing the temp and direction/windspeed at a weather station 10miles away isnt really going to help anyone on the golf course!

GinjaNinja

just got clarification from commette in Hollywood lakes.

Iphone is iffy due to weather app and compass as already said.

But if you have a phone, say an android one, you can remove said applicaitons and render the device conforming.

I love free open source platforms. anywho.

now its time to pick the application carefully, Freecaddie is my choice. free & simple & conforming.

hope this help other people. On the whole iphones are non-conforming. other smart phones with ability to remove applications are conforming.

Jagera

GinjaNinja wrote: »

But if you have a phone, say an android one, you can remove said applicaitons and render the device conforming.

What about your browser?

BraveDonut

How do you prove to anyone what apps you do or don't have? You can install/uninstall apps before, during or after a round.

I personally think that you should be allowed to use a DMD on a phone on the understanding that it is the only source of information that you are using. And that you do this in the spirit of the game - i.e. not cheating!

I only want a free DMD rather than having to spend €250 on something that basically does the same job.

But, you know that it will open up the whole question of playing in the spirit of the game based on some of the other threads on cheating that have been posted here.

Redzah

BraveDonut wrote: »

How do you prove to anyone what apps you do or don't have? You can install/uninstall apps before, during or after a round.

I personally think that you should be allowed to use a DMD on a phone on the understanding that it is the only source of information that you are using. And that you do this in the spirit of the game - i.e. not cheating!

I only want a free DMD rather than having to spend €250 on something that basically does the same job.

But, you know that it will open up the whole question of playing in the spirit of the game based on some of the other threads on cheating that have been posted here.

The compass is in built and cannot be uninstalled from the iPhone so therefore it's illegal.

I agree that they should adopt the same honesty system that is inherent in the game of golf and let people use it under an honesty system but as it stands iPhone is illegal and it appears other smartphones may be ok if they don't have an in built compass. Internet is ok to have under the rules of communication device so it appears like its only compass ad possibly weather app to me which renders it illegal.

GinjaNinja

Jagera wrote: »

What about your browser?

the browser in it self is conforming. it is allowable on phones that are not and are not dmd devices, what website you use is down to you as a person cheating or not cheating. the same way if you use no comforming grooves on yuor wedge or extra 2" on a 48" driver .

Webbs

GinjaNinja wrote: »

the browser in it self is conforming. it is allowable on phones that are not and are not dmd devices, what website you use is down to you as a person cheating or not cheating. the same way if you use no comforming grooves on yuor wedge or extra 2" on a 48" driver .

so if you have a smartphone with web capability, no relevant apps installed and using as a DMD, Hollywood lakes says its ok to use?

It was my understanding that any phone used as a DMD and has web capabilities was non conforming maybe i am wrong?

Its all v confusing and has to be sorted out by the R&A etc soon

GinjaNinja

from the browser perspective Hollywood lakes view it like email/text/phone.
with that in mind, re-read the below.

So as long as other non-conforming apps are removed and the dmd app only measures distance, it's fine.

Q. What about multi-functional devices, such as a mobile phone, with a distance measuring application?

A. On the course, subject to any club or course regulations, a multi-functional device may be used to phone, text or email – provided the purpose is not a breach of the Rules, e.g. you are not asking for advice.

When an application that measures distance has been downloaded to the device, the application must be restricted to providing only distance information in order to conform to the Local Rule. If there are any other features or applications on the phone that gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play, such as a temperature gauge, compass or anemometer, this would render the device non-conforming regardless of whether these other features or applications are used or not.


Best bet for you is to contact your local competition/rules committee in writing, stating the links to the gui above and asking guidance. R&A leave alot of this to local Rules and dont want to kill a market for big companies like skycaddie(lets face it most people have smartphones) so they wont declare out right one way or the other.

Senna

If your that bad a golf that you need a compass to find your ball, the least of your worries is a phone:D

serious

Mycaddie pro on iPhone is great and free

Redzah

serious wrote: »

Mycaddie pro on iPhone is great and free

and illegal

BenEadir

Why is a compass such a big deal? If you know the time of day and can see where the sun is located in the sky you'll have a fair idea of where N, S E & W are!! You don't need your phone to determine that info!!

Also, you wouldn't necessarily need a smart phone to be in breach of the weather info rule. What if you get a text from a friend who telling you the latest weather info for the area? Are you in breach then? (I know you shouldn't be checking your phone for messages etc but just to make a point) What if you don't have a phone but your friend hears the latest weather forecast, drives to your course and shouts it out to you? You're still receiving the info, are you still in breach?

Just being devils advocate here

Ben

Redzah

BenThere wrote: »

Why is a compass such a big deal? If you know the time of day and can see where the sun is located in the sky you'll have a fair idea of where N, S E & W are!! You don't need your phone to determine that info!!

Also, you wouldn't necessarily need a smart phone to be in breach of the weather info rule. What if you get a text from a friend who telling you the latest weather info for the area? Are you in breach then? (I know you shouldn't be checking your phone for messages etc but just to make a point) What if you don't have a phone but your friend hears the latest weather forecast, drives to your course and shouts it out to you? You're still receiving the info, are you still in breach?

Just being devils advocate here


Ben

I agree with u on all, its a stupid rule and should be amended. But as long as its there Iphone should not be used even though i have a GPS iphone app myself which is frustrating

searay

Below is a link to the joint statement made by the USGA and R&A on the subject.

http://www.usga.org/news.aspx?id=54238

The 2 organisations need to make their guidance clearer. I think the point about "the compass" being a problem has crept in as a result of different people's interpretations of the rules and the above statement.

I think it would be very difficult for a commitee to stand over disqualifying a competitor for using an iphone or simlar smartphone gps app using the rules in the rulebook and this statement as a basis for doing so.

Lets hope the 2 organisations get their act together on this soon.

charlieIRL

TheFarneyman wrote: »

I think its on the cards!! Swing by Swing is another very good App, not sure about how many courses are mapped in Ireland though

before christmas i double checked the distances in the heritage gc with the ones on swing by swing and they were out up to 10yards in places. now that doesn't make much of a difference to me but might be to someone who is bang on with their distances.

Redzah

searay wrote: »

Below is a link to the joint statement made by the USGA and R&A on the subject.

http://www.usga.org/news.aspx?id=54238

The 2 organisations need to make their guidance clearer. I think the point about "the compass" being a problem has crept in as a result of different people's interpretations of the rules and the above statement.

I think it would be very difficult for a commitee to stand over disqualifying a competitor for using an iphone or simlar smartphone gps app using the rules in the rulebook and this statement as a basis for doing so.

Lets hope the 2 organisations get their act together on this soon.

Problem is the GUI has released a Q&A on this which clearly states the compass as being illegal. The GUI are the irish body which interprets the R&A rules and applies them to the local club comps. Therefore, it would be easy for a committee to disqualify somebody for using the iphone based on this. I don't agree with it and it needs to be amended but the GUI have issued their stance on it and thats all that matters at present

bridestream

The regulators are confusing everyone with their stance.
Many clubs have a map of their course on the scorecard with an 'N' symbol indicating North.
Simply draw a line - North to South - through the 'N' symbol and another bisecting this line at 90 degrees. Now you have North, South, East & West.
The scorecard is now a compass!
The R&A has a Rules App for use on smart phones so you can check on a rule while playing golf. Surely another contradiction.
Weather that appears on a smartphone is taken from the nearest weather station which might be 50km or more away from the golf course you are on!
The R&A and the USGA are doing a great job confusing thousands of golfers world wide.
By the way I will not ask my playing partners if they have a compass device on their Smart phone if I see them referring to it for distance purposes.

lowelife

searay wrote: »

Below is a link to the joint statement made by the USGA and R&A on the subject.

http://www.usga.org/news.aspx?id=54238

The 2 organisations need to make their guidance clearer. I think the point about "the compass" being a problem has crept in as a result of different people's interpretations of the rules and the above statement.

I think it would be very difficult for a commitee to stand over disqualifying a competitor for using an iphone or simlar smartphone gps app using the rules in the rulebook and this statement as a basis for doing so.

Lets hope the 2 organisations get their act together on this soon.

This is pretty the best explaination I have seen on this matter anywhere

This link nails it good and proper in my eyes....not to get GUI to agree and we have an answer

http://www.usga.org/uploadedFiles/USGAHome/equipment/DMD%20flowchartv1-3.pdf

GreeBo

bridestream wrote: »

The regulators are confusing everyone with their stance.
Many clubs have a map of their course on the scorecard with an 'N' symbol indicating North.
Simply draw a line - North to South - through the 'N' symbol and another bisecting this line at 90 degrees. Now you have North, South, East & West.
The scorecard is now a compass!
The R&A has a Rules App for use on smart phones so you can check on a rule while playing golf. Surely another contradiction.
Weather that appears on a smartphone is taken from the nearest weather station which might be 50km or more away from the golf course you are on!
The R&A and the USGA are doing a great job confusing thousands of golfers world wide.
By the way I will not ask my playing partners if they have a compass device on their Smart phone if I see them referring to it for distance purposes.

I've yet to see a smartphone without a compass or gyroscope, rendering them all non-conforming? I'm not sure why you think this statement would make it difficult for a club to DQ someone for using one.
The article clearly states that you can use a phone as a communication device (e.g. to access the rules, etc) so again not sure why you think this is an issue?

charlieIRL

I just had a look through my phone there and it doesn't have a compass app on it (Samsung Galaxy S2) but they are easliy downloaded.

it does however have a north point in the maps / navigation apps, which are pre-loaded on the phone.

GreeBo

charlieIRL wrote: »

I just had a look through my phone there and it doesn't have a compass app on it (Samsung Galaxy S2) but they are easliy downloaded.

it does however have a north point in the maps / navigation apps, which are pre-loaded on the phone.

The compass app is just a display for the hardware compass.

The S2 contains:
Accelerometer, Light, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope sensor.

charlieIRL

GreeBo wrote: »

The compass app is just a display for the hardware compass.

The S2 contains:
Accelerometer, Light, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope sensor.

good job i don't use it playing golf so!!!

bridestream

Hi GreeBo

You stated as follows - 'I'm not sure why you think this statement would make it difficult for a club to DQ someone for using one'.
I did not say this.

Anyway here is the 2012 version according to the R&A/USGA.

Full article on this link - http://gps.about.com/od/sportsandfitness/a/USGA-iPhone-GPS-Ban.htm

In the latest version of the Rules of Golf, rules surrounding electronic devices, particularly smartphones, have tightened considerably. The big change to be aware of in the 2012 Rules of Golf is the statement that even if you don't use an app such as a weather app, simply having it on your phone is cause for disqualification if you use your phone golf app during a round.

Here is the specific wording of the 2012 Rules of Golf on Distance-Measuring Devices (Rule 14-3)multi-functional device, such as a smartphone or PDA, may be used as a distance measuring device provided it contains a distance measuring application that meets all of the above limitations (i.e., it must measure distance only). 
In addition, when the distance measuring application is being used, there must be no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used."

Banned apps under the rules include weather, compass, club selection, green-reading, slope-measuring...

*********************************************

If I am playing in an inter club competition with a GUI referee present I will not at any stage have my iPhone in sight - just in case. And the referees decision is final even if it is proven wrong after the match is concluded. I will stick to my trusty conforming DMD - no problem.

I believe it is incumbent on all clubs to post a notice to the effect any use of a smart phone will mean automatically DQ!

Meanwhile it is essential the R&A/USGA came into the 21st century and allowed smart phones for use as DMD because otherwise confusion will reign all over the world.

SnowDrifts

bridestream wrote: »

I believe it is incumbent on all clubs to post a notice to the effect any use of a smart phone will mean automatically DQ!

Do you mean any use of a smartphone in general or using it as a DMD? Using it in general is fine.

bridestream

The key wording is -

"
In addition, when the distance measuring application is being used, there must be no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used."

Seamus

charlieIRL

bridestream wrote: »

The key wording is -

"
In addition, when the distance measuring application is being used, there must be no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used."

Seamus

that rules out all phones then so.

Quick observation regarding the accuracy of a phone too - when we were playing the society event in the PGA one of the lads from the other society was using his iPhone as a DMD (we didn't say anything on the day as it was society) anyway, myself and Keano had 2 sky caddies and his phone was miles off compared to ours.

bridestream

CharlieIRL states - 'myself and Keano had 2 sky caddies and his phone was miles off compared to ours'.
I tried out the Golfshot app - before I found out it is illegal to use on my iPhone - and compared distances with two of my friends using the GPS kits.
I also was able to compare with my Laser DMD and like you it (Golfshot app) was out by 12/14 yds.
My advice is don't bother with smartphone apps - because they are IMHO illegal to use - and use either the GPS kits or a laser DMD that conforms i.e. measures distance ONLY.
Seamus

charlieIRL

12/14 yards of a difference will probably only make a difference to a low handicapper as with most of the rest of us - hitting a yardage consistently is still hard enough achieve.

DMD's are cheap enough now and at least you know where you stand with them