Reviewing the 18Birdies App: Potentially the Best Free Golf GPS Solution?
The 18Birdies app, developed by 18Birdies LLC, has garnered a significant following among golfers, and for good reason. Despite not being the perfect fit for every player, it proves particularly useful for those navigating unfamiliar courses.
The free version of the app offers a range of features that make it an invaluable tool for golfers. These include customizable yardages, a scorecard with automatic handicap calculation and stat tracking, community features, live scoring, and social tools.
One of the standout features of the app is its high-quality satellite imagery of golf courses. This imagery offers accurate yardages to various parts of the golf hole, making it easier for players to plan their shots, especially during a 2v2 match or when playing while riding a cart.
The premium version of the app, accessible for $19.99 per month, $99.99 per year, or $7.99 per week, offers additional features such as an AI Swing Analyzer, club tracking and recommendations, strokes gained analysis, and 3D green maps. The strokes gained analysis feature reveals tendencies in the player's golf game, providing valuable insights for improvement.
However, during competition rounds at Royal County Down, the author used the app less due to personal preference and familiarity with the course. Yet, the app was found useful during such rounds, especially when navigating an unfamiliar course.
The user experience of the 18Birdies app is top-notch, with over 2 million active monthly users and more than 200,000 five-star reviews on the Apple App Store. The app also boasts a vast database, with over 43,000 golf courses pre-loaded into it.
While the app offers a lot without even paying for the premium membership, some inconsistencies in yardage readings were experienced on the Annesley Links at Royal County Down. Nonetheless, the benefits of the app far outweigh these minor issues.
In conclusion, the 18Birdies app is recommended for any golfer, especially those playing a course for the first time or riding in a cart. It is a valuable tool that can enhance the golfing experience, offering accurate yardages, useful statistics, and a community of fellow golfers. However, it's essential to remember that personal preferences may dictate when and how the app is used during a round.
