Hole19's Biggest Update Ever Is Here — and It's About to Change How You Play

You generate data every time you step on the course. Every drive, every approach, every three-putt you'd rather forget — it's all information. The problem? Until now, most of that data just sat there, looking pretty on a screen without actually telling you what to do next.

That changes today.

We've just rolled out the biggest update in Hole19's history, and at the centre of it is something we've been working towards for a long time: the Intelligence Plan.

What Is the Intelligence Plan?

Think of it as the difference between knowing your score and understanding your game. The Intelligence Plan is a new subscription tier designed to answer the one question every golfer eventually asks: where am I actually losing shots — and what do I do about it?

It builds on everything you already know from Hole19 Premium, then adds a layer of analytical depth that used to be reserved for tour-level players and expensive coaching setups.

Here's what's inside.

Auto Shot Detection — Shot Tracking That Doesn't Slow You Down

Let's be honest, manually logging shots mid-round has always been a bit of a trade-off. You want the data, but you don't want to be standing over your phone on every fairway while your playing partners wait.

Auto Shot Detection solves that. Hole19 now automatically detects where your shots land, identifies the club you used, and logs the lie. All you do is tap once to confirm, after the hole or even after your round. Your pace of play stays intact. Your data stays complete.

And if you're an Apple Watch user, it gets even better. Confirm shots straight from your wrist as you walk to the ball. One tap, done, move on. It's the kind of seamless experience that makes you wonder how you ever tracked shots the old way.

Strokes Gained Analysis — Know Exactly Where to Focus

If you've ever wondered why your handicap seems stuck, Strokes Gained is the answer you've been missing. This industry-standard metric breaks your game down into its core areas and shows you precisely where you're gaining or losing strokes compared to other golfers.

No more guessing whether it's your putting or your approach play holding you back. The data tells you, clearly, visually, and without any confusion. So your next practice session can target what actually matters instead of whatever YouTube video you watched last.

Unlimited Otto AI Round Reports — Your Personal Coach, Post-Round

After every round, Otto, Hole19's AI companion, delivers a personalised report breaking down your strengths, your weaknesses, and exactly where to direct your effort next. Intelligence Plan members get unlimited reports, so every single round becomes a learning opportunity.

It's like having a knowledgeable caddie who watches every shot and then sits down with you at the 19th hole to talk through the round — except this one never gets tired and always brings the data to back it up.

A Completely Redesigned Performance Section

We didn't just add new features — we redesigned how you see your game. The new Performance Section brings together handicap trends, scoring evolution, game area breakdowns, strokes gained over time, and club stats with shot dispersion maps — all in one clear, visual hub.

It's not about drowning you in numbers. It's about giving you direction. One glance and you know where you stand, what's improving, and what needs work.

Handicap Benchmark Comparison — See Where You Really Stand

Ever convinced your putting is the problem, only to realise your approach play has been leaking shots all along? You're not alone. Most golfers have a gut feeling about where their game breaks down, and most of the time, that feeling is wrong.

Handicap Benchmark Comparison changes that. It takes your performance across every area of the game, driving, approach play, short game, putting, and measures it against golfers at the same handicap level. So instead of guessing where you need to improve, you can see exactly where you're falling behind your peers and where you're actually ahead of them.

Maybe your short game is already stronger than most 15-handicappers, but your driving accuracy is costing you two shots a round. That's the kind of insight that turns a vague "I need to get better" into a specific, focused plan. You stop wasting practice time on the parts of your game that are already pulling their weight, and start putting that effort where it'll genuinely shave strokes off your scorecard.

Free Lifetime CORE Golf Subscription (iOS)

Intelligence Plan members also get a lifetime subscription to CORE Golf, our iOS practice app — and it's the piece that ties everything together.

Here's the idea: Hole19 tells you where you're losing shots. CORE Golf gives you the drills to fix it. Over 100 exercises designed by a PGA Tour coach cover every part of your game, from tee shots to four-foot putts. The app builds personalized practice plans based on your weaknesses, adapts the difficulty as you improve, and tracks every session so your progress is measurable, not just a feeling.

No more showing up to the range wondering what to work on. Your data picks the plan. You just execute.

New Game Modes for Everyone

This update isn't just about the Intelligence Plan. We've also added three new game modes available to all Hole19 users:

- Better Ball

- Alternate Shot

- Scramble

Whether it's a casual weekend fourball or a club competition, you can now track your rounds the way you actually play them. No more workarounds, no more compromise.

Premium Gets Better, Too

Already on Premium? You're getting upgrades as well. The Manual Shot Tracker has been refined to be more intuitive than ever, and the overall experience across Premium features has been polished. The Intelligence Plan builds on top of Premium — but everyone benefits from this update.

Why This Matters

We built Hole19 because we believe every golfer deserves access to the kind of insight that used to require expensive tech or a personal coach. This spring update is the biggest step we've taken towards that vision.

Auto Shot Detection changes how you experience a round. Strokes Gained and Otto's AI reports change how you understand it. And the new Performance Section ties it all together into something you can actually act on.

Whether you're trying to break 80, fighting to crack 90, or just want to enjoy your game with better information at your fingertips — this update was built for you.

The spring update is rolling out now on iOS and Android, phones and watches. If you're already a Hole19 user, head to your app store and grab the latest version.

Your game has more to tell you. Now you've got the tools to listen.