GolfLink Game Tracker iPhone Golf GPS App Review

GolfLink is a popular and well-thought-out site for golfers, so I wasn't surprised to find that the GolfLink Game Tracker iPhone golf GPS app is a solid performer. GolfLink rates as one of my top 5 iphone golf GPS apps, and is well worth considering if you're looking for the right app for your game.

The GolfLink Game Tracker iPhone Golf GPS app has a clear and easy-to-use interface, and an abundance of desirable features. That can't be said for all iPhone golf apps, some of which can be frustratingly difficult to navigate. Another plus for the Game Tracker; it is tightly linked with the GolfLink website and its array of services, including an automatic handicap tracker, 18,000+ course database, and personalized items including "my rounds," "my stats," "my courses" and more.

The main playing screen shows the hole number and par, distance to the pin, and the golfers in your round. It's exceptionally easy to enter scores, with no need to flip to another screen, because par is displayed with "+" and "-" symbols - just tap to get to correct score when you and your foursome complete the hole.

A screen-bottom menu lets you save or discard the round (a function that's not always easy to find on iPhone golf apps); call up the total scorecard for the round, go "home," toggle to the aerial view of the hole, or lock into power-save mode. Speaking of power-save mode, this is another nice feature not found on most other apps. Just slide to unlock out of power-save when you're ready to resume, and you pick up where you left off.

When you are using the aerial view of the hole (GolfLink states that 11,000+ courses in its database include aerial view), you get yardages from your current location, but you may also touch and drag a target symbol to to get yardages from anywhere on the hole. Very handy for determining carries. Another nice touch, the target area is magnified by a "loupe" that helps you spot course details.

A thorough statistics and graphing package will help with post-game analysis. Trackable stats include scoring type, counts, percentages, and trending; fairways (left, right, hit, missed percentages), tee-off club, greens in regulation, and putts per round. Graph types include bar, pie, and line.

When you finish your round, you may easily upload it to GolfLink, and/or post it to Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail.

GolfLink Game Tracker iPhone Golf GPS sells for $14.99, with no hidden additional fees, and free access to GolfLink, making it a solid value.

If I can fault this app for anything, it's the fact that aerial views don't cover all of the courses in the database, but GolfLink is no doubt working on that one.

Overall, this app is among the very best, and is more of a second-generation product that fixes some of the problems (such as balky navigation and lack of easy-to-use power-save) found in other products.