Golf Canada

  • Mobile Application
  • Smart Watch
  • Sports
2019
Launch year
Mobile App · Smart Watch
Technologies used
Reinvent the golfing experience

Context

Founded in 1895, Golf Canada now represents 320,000 golfers and 1495 member clubs. The organization’s mission is to increase participation and promote excellence in golf in Canada, while adapting to today’s challenges and issues.

Developed to fill a gap in the golfing community, the Golf Canada mobile app was launched in 2019 to provide players with easy access to an official World Handicap System (WHS) handicap. As the National Governing Body for golf in Canada, Golf Canada leveraged this position to offer a reliable and trusted source for tracking handicaps, helping players of all levels enhance their game while promoting fairness and consistency across the sport.

Initially focused on scoring, the app has now evolved to include new major features, showcasing how sports technology can grow and adapt to diverse requirements. This adaptability ensures the app can meet future demands without extensive redevelopment, optimizing resources and accelerating the introduction of new features.

Objectives

  • A new app to increase user satisfaction.
  • Redesign the experience for a more modern look and feel.


  • Make the app accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

Performance Tracking & Social Features

A focus on golfer experience

Since golf is a very technical sport, the app needed to display a lot of data and statistics based on the golfers’ performance without compromising UI and UX.

Golfer profile

Displays the golfer’s profile, number of rounds played, personal stats, and recent scores.

Advanced scoring

Displays the number of strokes per player, as well as advanced personal stats, such as tee shot accuracy, number of putts, starting club, and much more.

Home feed

Users can post photos and videos of their scores, and follow other users to discover, like and comment on their latest golf content on the app’s Home Feed.

Course Discovery Features

Golf course discovery

The complete redesign of the app was an opportunity for the design team to bring out the beauty of golf courses, with spectacular scenery, landscapes and views that players can experience.

Find a course

Locates the closest golf courses, with the option to add favorite courses.

Canadian golf course map

Map locating over 1,700 golf courses across Canada. Several filter options for golfers to refine their search.

Detailed cards

Display technical information on the course, coordinates of the course and the list of services offered.

Advanced Features & Platforms

Advanced experience enhancements

Furthermore, the app leverages multiple technologies to create a more personalized and engaging experience.

Health Data Insights

In 2024, a major new feature was added to the Golf Canada app, allowing users to access detailed health-related data that highlights the positive physical benefits of golf on their well-being. Health statistics include the number of steps, distance walked, stand time, calories burned, elevation gained, and heart rate.

This innovative integration, aligned with the 2024 "Golf is Good for You" Golf Canada's campaign, not only boosts user interaction but also emphasizes the multifaceted health benefits of golf. By making personal health metrics accessible, the app encourages golfers to engage socially, sharing experiences and fostering a health-minded community. 

Tournament Mode

The Golf Canada app tournament mode served in two major tournaments: the CPKC Women’s Open and the RBC Canadian Open. Available to all application users, this mode was designed to help golf aficionados make the most of their day at the tournament.

For both events, the mobile app offered several exclusive features, including an interactive course map, tee times, results table, a home page with event news feed and a list of activities available on site.

During these two annual events, the user base grew substantially, increasing from 29,000 in 2022 to 36,000 in 2024, marking a 25% rise in unique users.

#MyGolfYear recap

For the first time since Golf Canada launched the popular #MyGolfYear three years ago, the app now allows golfers to access a recap of their year, enabling members to celebrate and share their 2024 golf season achievements on social media. Building on the success of previous campaigns, this year’s edition includes enhanced achievements, health data, and milestones for members who have logged their scores in the Golf Canada application.

Golf Canada members get access to a snapshot of their golf season highlights and their personal #MyGolfYear can be proudly shared with friends and fellow golfers across their social media channels.

Apple Watch Support

One year after the app’s launch came the highly anticipated WatchOS-enabled version. Golfers can now see the number of yards between them and the green and enter their score directly on their wearable device.

In 2024, 14,700 players have used their Apple Watch to compile scores.

Results

25%

annual user growth

Between 2023 and 2024, the number of active users increased by 25%.

46%

sessions growth

Between 2023 and 2024, the total number of sessions grew by 46%, reaching an impressive 14 million.

5.4M

scores published

In 2024, an impressive 5.4M scores were published with health data, including 227K scores with health data, highlighting the app’s role in promoting health engagement among golfers.

4.7★

stars

The app went from 2.3 stars to 4.7 in the App Store, with more than 53k reviews.

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