Source-backed fit guide
Grassy vs. Hole19: Which Golf GPS Experience Fits You?
Hole19 presents a mature multi-platform round companion with free GPS, yardages, scoring, and community features, plus advanced tools in Premium. Grassy combines Course GPS Beta with course ranking, discovery, and friend activity on iPhone.
Grassy Course GPS is currently in beta, and Grassy is currently on iPhone. Course eligibility and advanced map detail vary.
Grassy is best for
iPhone golfers who want plays-like planning, supported-course terrain detail, scoring, personal course rankings, and friend-led discovery together without a GPS subscription.
Hole19 is best for
Golfers who want a mature GPS and scorecard across iOS, Android, Apple Watch, and Wear OS, including support for previously downloaded courses offline.
Where Hole19 stands out
Strengths from its official product page
These are the product’s own current claims, summarized without a hands-on or pricing judgment.
Hole19
Hole19 says its free plan includes GPS distances, a draggable two-part target measurement, a digital scorecard, and community features.
Hole19
Its free Flyover provides an aerial course preview; this guide does not treat that preview as a green-contour map or true 3D terrain.
Hole19
Its official materials support iOS, Android, Apple Watch, and Wear OS workflows.
Hole19
Previously downloaded courses can remain available offline, which can matter where service is limited.
Hole19
Free GPS includes a draggable two-part target measurement for layups and hazards. Labeled hazard distances, Plays Like distances, club recommendations, in-round distance arcs, and watch maps and scoring are listed in Premium.
Side by side
How the product focus differs
| Priority | Grassy | Hole19 |
|---|---|---|
| Core identity | Course ranking, social discovery, scoring, and Course GPS Beta in one iPhone app. | Multi-platform GPS, scorecard, and golf community built around the round. |
| Basic round tools | Live front, middle, and back yardages and scoring are included for everyone. Course GPS is in beta, and course eligibility varies. | Free GPS includes yardages, a scorecard, and a draggable two-part target measurement showing target and target-to-green distance. |
| Plays-like planning | Plays-like guidance uses available wind, elevation, temperature, and altitude and is included for everyone. | The free map can measure both legs of a layup or hazard target. Hole19 lists labeled hazard distances, Plays Like distances, club recommendations, and in-round arcs in Premium. |
| Devices | Grassy currently requires an iPhone with iOS 18.0 or later. | Official materials cover iOS, Android, Apple Watch, and Wear OS. |
| Course context | Rank courses, follow friends, revisit lists, and discover where to play before carrying that context into the round. | Community and round tracking sit alongside Hole19’s GPS and scorecard experience. |
| Advanced map detail | Supported courses can include 3D hole terrain and LiDAR Green Books for everyone. | Hole19 provides a free aerial Flyover course preview and lists advanced in-round planning tools in Premium. This guide makes no green-contour or true 3D terrain claim for Hole19. |
The decision
Which one fits?
Choose Hole19 when multi-platform access, wearable workflows, or downloaded-course offline use is central. Choose Grassy when you play on iPhone and want the GPS round connected to course rankings, discovery, and friends, with every current planning tool included for everyone. Course GPS is in beta.
Keep comparing
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Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Does Hole19 include basic GPS and scoring for free?
Yes. Hole19’s current materials list GPS distances, a digital scorecard, community features, and a draggable two-part target measurement in the free experience. Labeled hazard distances and other advanced guidance sit in Premium.
Does Grassy require a GPS subscription?
No. Grassy includes Course GPS Beta tools for everyone, including plays-like guidance and club suggestions. Supported-course 3D terrain and LiDAR Green Books are included as well. Course eligibility and map detail vary.
Which app supports more device types?
Hole19 is the broader fit based on its official iOS, Android, Apple Watch, and Wear OS support. Grassy currently requires an iPhone with iOS 18.0 or later.
Official sources