New to golf or a weekend regular?
GolfRef is your on-course companion — look up any rule, decode the slang, and know exactly how many penalty strokes you're taking.
Never argue about a ruling again.
GolfRef is the essential reference app for American golfers — whether you're a weekend warrior, a new player trying to learn the game, or a seasoned player who just blanked on the drop procedure.
[RULES]
10 of the most common on-course situations explained in plain English — not the stuffy R&A rulebook language. OB, lost balls, penalty areas, bunkers, embedded balls, flagstick rules, and more. Every rule includes a Pro Tip so you actually remember it next time.
[SLANG DICTIONARY]
28 golf terms from Ace to Yips. Know what a Snowman is. Understand why nobody says "shank" out loud. Learn the difference between a draw and a hook, a chunk and a skull. Each term comes with a real-world example so it sticks.
[PENALTY CALCULATOR]
The fastest way to know your ruling. Pick your situation — OB, lost ball, water hazard, unplayable lie, wrong ball, bunker violation, flagstick — answer one question, and get a clear verdict: how many strokes, what to do next, and whether there's actually no penalty at all (it happens more than you think).
[WHY GOLFERS LOVE IT]
- Clean dark interface — easy to read in bright sunlight
- Works 100% offline — no signal needed on the course
- Covers the 2019 rules updates (flagstick, bunker loose impediments)
- Fast enough to use between shots without slowing down your group
Stop guessing. Stop arguing. Just open GolfRef.