The Database Is the Product
Hole19 covers around 50,000 courses across more than 200 countries. That is the largest international coverage of anything in the category, and it is why it is the app people recommend for golf trips. Land anywhere, search the course, get yardages on the first tee.
It is also the part that costs the most to maintain, which is why there is a Premium tier at all. You are helping pay for 50,000 courses whether you play 50,000 courses or two.
Most golfers play two. The average club member plays the same layout most weeks, knows the yardage off the 4th without checking, and opens the app for exactly one reason: to write down what they just took.
Side by Side
| Feature | Golf Scorecard | Hole19 |
|---|---|---|
| Course database | None. You enter the course once and edit par yourself | Around 50,000 courses in 200+ countries |
| GPS yardages | None | Front, middle and back on every hole |
| Apple Watch | No | Yes |
| Hole-by-hole scoring | Yes, one tap per player per hole | Yes |
| 18-hole rounds | Free | Free |
| 9-hole rounds and 4 players | Pro | Free |
| Handicap and net scoring | Pro. Course handicap from slope and rating | Yes |
| Setup before a round | Type the course name and par once, then reuse it | Search the database and pick your tees |
| Works with no signal | Yes, everything is on the device | Course data and GPS want a connection |
| Cost | Free download, optional Pro subscription | Free tier, Premium in the region of $30 to $70 a year |
| Platforms | iOS only | iOS and Android |
Subscription prices quoted here were checked in August 2026 and move around with promotions and regional pricing. Check the App Store listing before you commit to anything.
Stick with Hole19 if any of this is you
- You play new courses often, or travel to golf. The database is the whole reason it exists.
- You use GPS yardages on every approach and would miss them immediately.
- You score from an Apple Watch rather than pulling your phone out.
- 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.
What a Scoring-Only App Feels Like
You set the course name and the par for each hole the first time. After that you start a round in a couple of taps and score with one button per player per hole. Colour-coded holes so you can read the card at a glance, gross and net totals, and it works out the winner at the end.
It never asks for your location, so it does not care that the 12th is in a valley with no bars of signal. Everything is on the phone. For the difference between the two scoring formats you are likely playing, see match play vs stroke play.
Less App, Same Card
Free to download on iOS. No account, no course download, no signal required.
