The part no app gets around
In the United States an official Handicap Index is issued through an Allied Golf Association. GHIN is the system those associations run. That is not a software problem anyone can out-build, it is who is allowed to certify the number. If a competition committee needs to check your Index, you need GHIN or an equivalent association membership, full stop.
So What Is Worth Replacing?
Two things, depending on which camp you fall into.
If you do not play competitions, you are paying an annual association fee to find out roughly how well you play. The World Handicap System formula is published and anybody can run it. You can work out the same number yourself, for free, in a browser, right now:
If you do play competitions, keep GHIN and change nothing about it. What you can change is what you use to actually keep score during the round, then post the adjusted gross afterwards. GHIN never needs to be open on the 7th tee for your Index to stay correct.
Side by Side
| Feature | Golf Scorecard | GHIN app |
|---|---|---|
| Official USGA Handicap Index | No, and no app other than GHIN can give you one | Yes. This is the entire point of it |
| What it costs | Free download, optional Pro subscription | Allied Golf Association membership, paid yearly |
| Before you can use it | Open it and start a round | Register, then post 54 holes before you get an Index |
| Posting scores to a handicap record | No. Nothing leaves your phone | Yes, that is what it is for |
| Live scoring during a round | One tap per player per hole | Score posting, plus GPS and course maps |
| Handicap maths shown to you | Pro. Course handicap from slope and rating | Yes, calculated for you from your record |
| Works with no signal | Yes, everything is on the device | Posting a score needs a connection |
| Platforms | iOS only | iOS and Android |
Stick with GHIN if any of this is you
- You play in anything where a committee checks your Handicap Index. There is no substitute and there is no point pretending there is.
- You want your scores on an official record that follows you between clubs.
- You are already paying association membership through your club, in which case GHIN is included and costs you nothing extra.
- You are on Android. Golf Scorecard is iOS only.
No point pretending otherwise. A scorecard app is not a GPS app and it never will be.
Keep the Card, Post It Later
A fast scorecard for the round itself, free on iOS. Works with no signal, and nothing stops you posting the score to GHIN when you get back to the car park.
