Best golf scoring app for a fourball (UK mates edition)
One shared card, live leaderboard, guests welcome. The free UK scoring app built around the Saturday fourball — not just a solo scorecard.
Note: Golf Daddy the on-course scoring app (golfdaddy.app) — not the home simulator mat at golfdaddy.com.
Playing this weekend?
Put the whole fourball on one live card — guests included. Free on iPhone and Android with UK GPS on 2,500+ courses.
Why solo scorecards fall short for a fourball
Paper cards, Notes app, or "I'll score mine, you score yours" — it all falls apart when the banter depends on knowing where everyone stands. No shared live view means the leaderboard dies until the clubhouse. Format maths (Stableford points, Split 6s skins, scramble best ball) gets done wrong or late. And one player without the app kills the whole group plan.
What a fourball-first scoring app should do
- ✓One card for the group, scored hole by hole
- ✓Live leaderboard everyone can see as you play
- ✓Guests and proxy scoring (so one mate without the app doesn't wreck it)
- ✓Common social formats plus team modes (not just stroke play)
- ✓GPS yardages included so you don't need a second app
- ✓Works on iPhone and Android (Watch as a bonus)
Golf Daddy was built around this checklist.
Golf Daddy for mates: how a round works
- 1.Download Golf Daddy and start a round on a UK course (2,500+ courses on free GPS tier)
- 2.Add the fourball — including guests who don't have the app
- 3.Pick your format: Stableford, match play, stroke, Split 6s, or team modes
- 4.Score as you go; the live leaderboard updates hole by hole; chat and reactions in-card
- 5.Optional: social Handicap Index (best 8 of 20 — unofficial) updates from your play
Formats your group can run
Individual:
Stableford, Match play, Stroke play, Split 6s
Team:
Four Ball, Scramble, Texas Scramble, Shamble, Chapman
Money games (Skins, Nassau, Wolf, Vegas and Sixes) too. Rules for all of them are in our golf formats guide.
Guests who haven't got the app
Add a guest to your fourball by name — no phone number, no email, no download required. Score their round on their behalf. If they download Golf Daddy later, they can claim that score history through the app. This viral loop means one player can run the card for everyone, and mates join when they're ready.
How this compares to other apps
Solo scorecard / GPS apps
Great for personal stats and yardages; weak when the job is "score the group live." Golf Daddy includes GPS but leads with the shared fourball card.
Squabbit
Strong for tournaments, leagues, and large events; free core tournament tooling; guests and easy add players; Watch support. Excellent when you're running a proper event or multi-group day. Golf Daddy leans into the casual fourball / banter / UK free scoring lane.
Burn Up Golf
UK-focused scoring with live leaderboards and society helpers; free tier messaging. Solid group and society alternative. Golf Daddy differentiates on fourball banter focus, guest claim flow, format variety, and free UK GPS plus social handicap story.
Golf Sherpa
UK platform strong on society seasons, corporate/charity days, itineraries, and order of merit. Organiser and event-heavy. Golf Daddy is the "grab it for Saturday's fourball" install.
Choose by the job you're hiring the app for. For more app comparisons, see our Golf Daddy vs other golf apps page.
Free vs Pro
Free forever:
UK scoring, GPS on 2,500+ UK courses, social handicap, live fourball leaderboards
Pro upgrade:
42,000+ worldwide courses + AI Golf Coach
The fourball job doesn't require Pro — free tier is built for it.
Common questions
Do all four players need the app?
No. One player can score the whole fourball, including guests who don't have the app. Guests can claim their score history later if they decide to download Golf Daddy.
Does it work on Android and iPhone?
Yes. Golf Daddy works on both iPhone and Android. Apple Watch and Live Activities are available as a bonus on iPhone, but all the core scoring and handicap features work on your phone.
Is the handicap official WHS?
No. Golf Daddy calculates a social Handicap Index (best 8 of last 20) for use with friends and society golf. For an official England Golf WHS Handicap Index®, you need club membership or iGolf/MyEG. See our guide on getting a free handicap without a club for the full comparison.
Is this the same as Golf Daddy simulator?
No. Golf Daddy the scoring app (golfdaddy.app) is for live on-course scoring with GPS and handicaps. The Golf Daddy / Benchmark Golf home practice mat (golfdaddy.com) is a different product from a different company.
How does guest scoring work?
Add a guest to your fourball by name without needing their phone or email. Score their round on their behalf. If they download Golf Daddy later, they can claim that round history through the app.
Which formats can we play?
Golf Daddy supports Stableford, match play, stroke play, and Split 6s for individual scoring, plus Four Ball, Scramble, Texas Scramble, Shamble, and Chapman for team modes. Money games like Skins, Nassau, and Wolf are also available.
Want to understand handicaps better? Read our guides on how golf handicaps work and getting a free handicap without a club.
Download for this weekend's fourball
Download Golf Daddy free — live fourball leaderboards, UK GPS, and formats your group actually plays.