There are quite a few apps for golfers in BlackBerry's App World, but many are simple scorekeepers and games. Selecting only for real golf GPS rangefinders narrows the field considerably, and I tried all of them to make the cut down to the top three Golf GPS BlackBerry apps worthy of your consideration. Keep in mind that your BlackBerry is susceptible to water damage, so protect it on wet days, or consider going with a more rugged and waterproof dedicated golf gps device. Check BlackBerry App World or manufacturer site links for BlackBerry model compatibility.
1. nRange Golf GPS ($29 per year, 30-day free trial)
nRange
nRange is a BlackBerry user's favorite, and I found the app to be accurate and easy to use, as well. nRange claims a 16,000-course database, which is substantial, but I was able to find only three courses from among a dozen in my local region. nRange will update/add courses to the database for free upon request, with users reporting quick turnaround. When you select a course, its data and maps are immediately downloaded to your BlackBerry. You may specify how much on-board memory you wish to devote to nRange. When you click to begin play, a simple diagram appears with stats for the hole, including distance to the front, center and back of the green. You may also measure shot distance, and call up an aerial image of the hole.
2. GreenFinder Golf GPS for BlackBerry ($39.99, five-course-download free trial)
GreenFinder
I found GreenFinder golf GPS for BlackBerry to be well-designed and easy to use. The display for each hole includes a "green" mode that shows the distance to the front, center, and back of the green from wherever you are on the course. Toggle to "fairway" mode, and see the distance and carry for bunkers, water hazards, etc. Simply click the space bar to start measuring shot distance. Unlike nRange, GreenFinder does not show maps or aerial views of each hole, a drawback if you like the visual guidance. GreenFinder has an easily searchable course database (search by course name, city, or state), and downloaded and installed course information very quickly in my tests. Overall, a good, no-frills rangefinder for the BlackBerry.
3. MTT Golf GPS Caddy ($9.99)
MTT Golf
MTT shoots for a wider set of features than other BlackBerry golf GPS apps, including a buddy score list, and e-mailable round summaries. However, I found its course database to be thin, and much more difficult to use than the other apps in this review. The readout includes the mandatory distance to the front, back and center of the green from wherever you are on the course, but the numerals are small and difficult to read. On the plus side, MTT Golf does not charge for access to the course database, and there is no annual subscription fee. MTT is worth considering if you do don't want to pay a subscription fee, and are willing to take the time to learn its somewhat awkward interface.
