Apple Watch | 18Birdies App General Overview

The Apple Watch is an amazing piece of technology. With the 18Birdies Apple Watch app, we bring you an easier take on the 18Birdies experience. Now you can score your round, log stats, and get distances directly from the Apple Watch!

Compatibility

Account Login & Registration

Account login and new account registration are only supported via the mobile phone app. If the watch app is not registered & logged in along with your phone app, you will receive a mobile phone login prompt.

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Set up the Apple Watch from the 18Birdies app.

1. Launch the 18Birdies App.
2. Tap Me in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Tap the "..." in the upper right corner.
4. Scroll down and tap Settings to open the App Settings.
5. Tap Connect Apple Watch.
6. Tap Set Up.
7. Scroll down to view the list of applications that are installed on your phone.
   1. If you don't see 18Birdies listed under Installed on Apple Watch, scroll down to find Available Apps.
8. Tap Install next to 18Birdies.
9. On the "My Watch" app on your iPhone, navigate to "General" to configure your Apple Watch hardware settings to optimize your watch for use with 18Birdies. Make sure that:
   1. Within "Background App Refresh", toggle the first-row and 18Birdies buttons to be ON
   2. Within "Return to Clock"->"On Screen Wake Show Last App" is set to "Within 1 hour of Last Use".
   3. Within "On Tap", set to "Wake for 70 seconds"
   4. "Workout Power Saving Mode" is turned OFF
   5. If you're having trouble starting   a round   on your Apple Watch, completely close and then restart 18Birdies on your phone then restart the "Starting a Round" process below:

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Setting up the Apple Watch in a round

1. Launch the 18Birdies app.
2. Tap Play and complete the round setup process to head into the GPS screen.
3. Tap Tools in the bottom right corner of the screen.
4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap Connect Apple Watch.
6. Tap Set Up and complete the setup process outlined above.

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Starting a Round in 18Birdies on your Apple Watch

The watch will check if you have played a round at the current course (closest to you). If yes, it will display the last round type, starting hole, and tee. If not, the app will guide you through the selection process.

1. Launch the 18Birdies app on your watch; tap on the 18Birdies icon to open the app on your Apple Watch.
   

   

2. The app will automatically display the course nearest to you. Select 'Start Round' to start your round at this course.
   Alternatively, Tap 'Change Course' to display a list of other nearby courses; tap a course to start your round.
   

   

3. Select the Round Type (18 or 9 holes) your starting hole (1-9 or 1-18), and tees.

Tournament Rounds on the Watch

The watch will check if the user has an ongoing tournament in the current golf course. You may be asked if you want to enable the tournament round; if you agree, the tournament round process will follow.

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Distances, Navigation, Scoring, and Stats

The GPS distances on your Apple Watch are based on the location of your watch, not your phone. This means that you don't have to carry your phone around on the course to get accurate distances.

• Both Bluetooth and cellular Apple Watches are compatible with this feature. However, if you have a Bluetooth-only device, you'll need to stay within 10 yards of your phone to avoid any pairing disruptions.
• Keep in mind that GPS distances on your Apple Watch may vary from those on your phone app. This is because the distances are based on the location of your watch rather than your phone. 

Getting Distances

From the Distance screen, you should see three numbers corresponding to the remaining Back, Middle, and Front distances to the green

Plays Like Distances on the watch

For 18Birdies Premium subscribers, enjoy exclusive access to Plays Like Distances on the watch. As with the phone app, the displayed distances will adjust based on wind, elevation, altitude, and weather.

If you have enabled Tournament Mode on the your phone, you will not have access to Plays Like distances, and other features that may violate rules restricting distance measure devices. Learn more here.

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Entering Scores 

Tap the blue pencil icon on the distance screen to open the watch scoring panel. Select the total number of strokes taken (score).

Entering Stats

After entering a score, you will be prompted to enter Fairway Hit, Green in Regulation, Putts, Chip Shots, Greenside Sand Shots, and Penalties. 

Entering your Stats is optional however, your stat history in the app will be more accurate if you enter these details. To skip Stats, tap the Skip icon in the upper right corner of each prompt.

Use the crown of your watch to scroll.

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Hole Summary

When you have completed scores & stats for a hole, the app will present a detailed hole summary. The hole summary includes the score & stats entered for that hole.

Use the crown of your watch to scroll.

Advancing to Next Hole

Tap Finish Hole to confirm the hole details and move to the next hole.

Finish your round

When you've completed all holes, you'll be prompted to confirm your total score. To view more details about the round, tap Check on Phone

If your scorecard is incomplete, we'll prompt you to complete the scorecard, enter a total score, delete the round, or finish the round anyway (incomplete).

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Track your golf shot in 18Birdies using the watch

The same Track Shot system you love from the 18Birdies mobile app – is now on your watch!

To track your golf shot directly from the watch, tap the Track Shot icon in the bottom left corner of the GPS distance screen.

You will see your shot distance automatically start to track. Tap Save Shot to stop tracking and confirm the details for the shot. 

Tap Club to change the club you used for the shot, then use the crown of your watch to scroll & find the club you used. Select from your full club list of from Recommended Clubs.

When you've finished tracking your shot, you can return to the app on your phone to review start/end points, as well as shot details. Learn more about Track Shot here.

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Strokes Gained

As an 18Birdies Premium Member, you can now use your Apple Watch with our strokes gained scoring mode!
To edit strokes gained shots after you have entered them on your Apple Watch, you must use your phone

Once your round has started, long-press the watch screen to display more round options. Then select ‘Strokes Gained’ scoring method.You can also select Strokes Gained scoring on the phone after the round has been set up.

2. Once you start the round and are on the 1st tee box, tap ‘Add Shot 1’ to mark where you will hit your first shot from.

3. Next confirm your distance to the hole, select your lie and club. Then walk or ride to your ball.

4. Once you get to your ball, tap “Add Shot 2” and follow the previous steps to confirm your distance, lie  and  club.

5. After reaching the green, select “Green” as your lie.

1. Adjust the Dist. to Hole to change the length of your putt.
2. If you miss the putt, tap ‘Add Another Putt’ to record the putt and start another putt.
3. Repeat steps 5A-5B above until you finish the hole. Then tap “Finish Hole”
4.  When you finish the hole, you can swipe to the  right hand  screen and see a Hole 1 shot summary screen. If you need to edit any shots, you can do so from your phone.

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Trouble Syncing or Connecting

If you lose cellular or Bluetooth connection during the round

At the end of your round, your scores will be saved on your watch. Once your watch is within cellular range and connection is restored, it will automatically sync your scores to your phone. You can then view your scores and statistics on your phone through the 18Birdies app.

General Troubleshooting

If your Apple Watch and iPhone device are compatible with the specification mentioned above, our first suggestion is to try logging out of the app on your phone and then log back in.

How To Log Out

1. Open the app and tap Me on the bottom menu bar.
2. Tap the three white dots in the upper right corner
3. Scroll down and tap App Settings
4. Scroll down and tap Log Out.

You should then be taken to the sign-in screen.

Log Back In

1. On the sign-in screen, tap 'Already have an account? Log In'
2. Tap Log in with Email.
   If your account does not have an email linked, use the phone verification method.
   
3. Enter the email your account is registered to and the corresponding password
4. Tap Log In.

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Account Login & Registration

Account login and new account registration are only supported via the mobile phone app. If the watch app is not registered & logged in along with your phone app, you will receive a mobile phone login prompt.

Get Your Handicap

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Activity & Health Tracking on the Apple Watch with 18Birdies

18Birdies will track certain activities (steps, calories, standing time) while using the app with your Apple Watch. You should see the tracked activity in the Fitness app. 

At this time, the activity data that is tracked with the 18Birdies app is not tracked as a golf workout. 

To turn on/off the Apple Health Kit completely:

1. Start a round to enter the GPS screen on the watch.
2. Long press (Press firmly) to bring up the options menu.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Make sure the Watch Health Kit toggle is turned to the 'Off' position.

Need to Know Info

• Depending on the SKU (wifi-only or cellular + wifi), you will need to keep your phone within 10 yards of your Apple Watch to maintain the data stream for optimal performance - A back or bag pocket will work!
• As you enter scores and stats on your Apple Watch, your phone will update in parallel.
• Currently, 18Birdies for Apple Watch doesn't have a "Complication". If you would like to see one, please let us know at support@18birdies.com.

How to turn off stat tracking (Track Stats) on the Apple Watch

You can turn off the stat tracking from the Settings screen using the toggle button. To remove the stat-entry prompts so you'll only be prompted to enter your score, please try this:

1. Start a round to enter the GPS screen on the watch.
2. Long press (Press firmly) to bring up the options menu.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Ensure the Track Stats toggle is turned to the 'Off' position. The Track Stats toggle is in the "On" position in the screenshot below. The toggle button should be grey to disable stat tracking on the watch.

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