Best Tally Counter for Golf Scorecard
Golf scoring is a solved problem — apps like 18Birdies and TheGrint offer GPS rangefinders, official handicap tracking, and 40,000+ course databases. A simple tally counter can't match that. But if you just want a quick free stroke counter with no sign-up, a web-based counter works in a pinch. Here's how the options compare honestly.
What makes a great golf scorecard app?
Golf scoring is about tracking strokes per hole and comparing against par over 18 holes:
- GPS course maps — distances to hazards, greens, and pin positions.
- Handicap tracking — official USGA handicap management.
- Hole-by-hole stats — fairway accuracy, GIR, putting stats per hole.
- Multiple named counters — one per hole for basic stroke tracking.
- Goal/target setting — set par as the target for each hole to track over/under.
- Statistics dashboard — total strokes, average per hole, over/under par trend.
- Offline (PWA) — courses don't always have cell service.
- Historical tracking — compare rounds over time.
Golf scorecard features — compared
We compared dedicated golf apps (18Birdies, TheGrint) against a general-purpose tally counter (DTC) to show where each tool excels and where it falls short.
| Feature | 18birdies.com | digitaltallycounter.com | keepthescore.com | thegrint.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key Features for Golf | ||||
| Multiple counters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-save (browser) | — | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Statistics dashboard | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✓ |
| Rename / label counters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PWA / offline mode | — | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Historical trends | ✓ | Paid | — | ✓ |
| Daily averages & totals | ✓ | Paid | — | ✓ |
| Goal / target setting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scoring Features | ||||
| Match/game timer | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Period/half/quarter tracking | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Foul/penalty counter | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Team name customization | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Live scoreboard display mode | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Two-team scoring layout | — | ✓ | — | — |
The verdict
18Birdies
GPS rangefinder, 40,000+ course database, handicap tracking, shot distances, AI swing analysis, Apple Watch support, and live leaderboards. The gold standard for digital golf scorecards. Free tier available.
Visit 18Birdies →DigitalTallyCounter.com
If you don't need GPS or handicap tracking and just want a quick stroke counter, DTC works: create 18 named counters, set par targets, and tap strokes. No signup, no download, free. But it's a generic counter — not a golf app.
Open DigitalTallyCounter.com →Dedicated golf apps vs. a simple counter
18Birdies and TheGrint are purpose-built golf apps with GPS maps, official USGA handicap systems, shot tracking, and smartwatch companions. They're in a different league from a tally counter. If you play regularly, a dedicated golf app is the obvious choice. A tally counter like DigitalTallyCounter.com only makes sense for casual rounds where you just want a quick stroke total — no account, no app download, open-and-go.
When a simple counter actually works for golf
If you're playing a casual round with friends and don't care about handicaps, GIR stats, or course maps — you can create 18 counters in DTC, label them by hole, set par targets, and track total strokes. The statistics view shows your over/under trend. It's not sophisticated, but it works offline and takes 30 seconds to set up. For anything beyond casual rounds, use a real golf app.
Need just a quick stroke counter?
No GPS or handicap — just 18 named counters with par targets. Free, no signup.
Open DigitalTallyCounter.com