The USGA integrated GPS within the GHIN Mobile App.  This includes Course Maps that allow the user to get touch-point GPS distances to anywhere on the course and distance to the center of the green for thousands of courses worldwide.

The USGA added a new flow for users to “Play with GPS” where they can enter/post their hole-by-hole score while using GPS features & viewing the Course Map.  These features will also be made available to golfers who have gone down the “Post Score” flow when posting a hole-by-hole score or hole-by-hole score with stats.  Additionally, users can also “preview” a course or use these features outside of playing/posting.

The Standard GPS features will be available to all active users.  These features include:

• 3D Color map imagery
• Touch-point GPS distance to anywhere on the course
• Distance to center of the green

There are additional “Enhanced GPS” features available to the user via an in-app purchase.

The Enhanced GPS features that are available via an in-app purchase are:

• Distances to the front & back of green
• Shot Tracking
• Ability to set/move Hole Location
• Approach Heat Map
• Putt Break Map

Yes, the GHIN team worked in collaboration with the USGA Governance team (Rules, Equipment Standards and Handicapping) to ensure the GPS features within the GHIN Mobile App are rules compliant. 

Nearly all domestic and most international courses will have the standard GPS & Course Maps available; while most domestic courses will have the enhanced Green View features available. The GHIN team plans to prioritize mapping greens of GHIN Association courses.

ALL COLORADO COURSES WITH GPS MAPPING:

All courses below are mapped for Standard GPS, and many already have putt break maps.

If GPS & Course Maps are not available or incorrect for a particular course, please contact

ghingps@usga.org

The Course Mapping development team has a number of different proprietary methods of acquiring the green contour and mapping data for the golf courses which includes ground scanning, drones, and aerial flyovers. GHIN will need to rely on the facilities and/or golfers to let them know when renovations occur and handle the remaps on an individual basis in the quickest manner possible.

GHIN will provide the user a message letting them know that GPS is not available at the course they have selected.

The golfer will get a message when clicking on the “Green View” tab.   Within the GPS experience, the golfer can contact GHIN to request a course’s greens to be mapped.  

GHIN will provide the user a message letting them know that hole-by-hole score posting is not available as the course/tee selected does not have any par or stroke index data.  We will then direct the user to continue using the GPS & Course Map without the ability to keep or post their hole-by-hole score. 

Yes, each user will have 2 free trials.  The first trial will be used when the golfer plays their first round when going down “Play with GPS”, regardless whether it is a 9-Hole or 18-Hole round.  The 2nd trial will be a 9-Hole free trial and does not need to be for a 9-Hole round; for example, if the user is playing 18-Holes, it will expire once the user gets to their 10th Hole.  The GHIN Support team will have the ability to “reset” the user’s free trial. 

$39.99 for an annual subscription (which automatically renews).  The subscription will be tied to the golfer’s GHIN Number so can be used across devices as long as they are logged in with that GHIN Number.

There is a “Contact Us” area within the GPS experience and all inquiries are sent to the GHIN Support Team. 

If a user decides they do not want the Enhanced GPS upgrade after purchasing it, how they go about requesting a refund varies based on whether they are an iOS or Android user:

• iOS: App Store refunds are handled through Apple and require the user to request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com. There is no way for GHIN Support to grant a user a refund, it is up to Apple to decide whether they will give the user a refund after they file a request.
• Android: If it is less than 48 hours since the user made an in-app purchase, they can request a refund through Google Play; otherwise, they will need to reach out to GHIN Support.

The cancellation of an annual subscription renewal will require action from the user. 

• If they are an iOS user, this is managed within their “Apple ID Settings”. 
• If they are an Android user, this is managed within their “Google Account.”

As a fast follower, the GHIN team is working on developing a unique Mobile App experience with only access to the GPS & Course Map section for this type of user. 

There will be no ability for Minors to upgrade to Enhanced GPS; however, if a Minor’s Guardian has an Enhanced GPS upgrade, then the Minor will have access to the features.  Additionally, since the Enhanced GPS upgrade will be tied to a GHIN Number, non-Golfing Guardians will not be able to upgrade to Enhanced GPS.