My Experience with the FREE Hole19 Golf App paired with my Apple Watch

Hi Golf Mad Family,

I’ve been using the FREE version of the Hole19 app paired with my Apple Watch on and off for quite a few years. I’ve only been using the free version but have been super impressed with it. I recently uploaded a video review on the www.youtube.com/@golfmaddad79 YouTube Channel, so I wanted to also put into words my experience with the app. Here’s my overview of how I use it, what I think the pros and cons are, and whether I should upgrade to the premium features in the software. But also it could make a great golf gift for the golf mad person in your life but also a golf gift for yourself that could possible help you play better and smarter golf.

 

To start with, it is a simple download of the app and also onto my Apple Watch. You start the round on the phone. Find the course you are playing and you have numerous options, which tees you are playing from, use GPS only, scoring and much more then simply hit ‘Play Golf’.

 

The app on the Apple watch will also sync then and be able to see the yardages to the front, middle and back of the green. This is the free version, so there is more to choose from in the premium, but for me, when I’m just out here having fun, the free version works great.

On the watch, I can select which hole I’m starting on. The great thing with the app on the phone is that you can use this to view the holes you are playing, view distances to potential hazards etc.

 

In terms of the phone app, I can plot my way around the course and see where the trouble is. While the premium version offers more features, I mainly use it for carry distances. I usually use a rangefinder, but having the app on my wrist speeds up play and is useful for blind shots or when we find ourselves out of position on the golf course and have no line of sight.

Despite being the free version, I can still collect data such as putts, up and downs, penalties, and fairways hit. This is impressive for a free app. Additionally, I can preview the course before I start, which is great for planning my strategy the night before.

While out on the course, I compared the distances provided by the app to my rangefinder and found them to be quite accurate. For example, on a hole with a ditch around 270-280 yards away, the app gave me accurate yardages, and the GPS on my watch tracked my movements well. This can be especially useful if you’re out of position and need to know where to hit your next shot.

One downside of the free version is that you can’t input scores on the watch; you have to use the phone for that. This can be a bit inconvenient, especially when I am filming or using the phone for other purposes. Upgrading to the premium version would solve this issue, but for me, it’s not a major hassle to take the phone out between holes.

When I finish a round, the app provides plenty of data if I’ve input it during the round. This includes driving accuracy, greens in regulation, scoring by par, and more. It even gives you a handicap, although it’s not an official one.

To sum up, the free version of the Hole19 app offers plenty of features for golfers who just want to track their distances and basic stats. However, the premium version provides additional tools such as auto hole change, shot tracking, match play, club recommendations, augmented reality, and no ads. If you’re looking for detailed data and a more streamlined experience, the premium version might be worth considering.

I hope you found this review helpful. I’ll definitely keep using the Hole19 app.

 

Happy Golfing,

Golf Mad Dad