Honest comparison · Updated May 2026
The fantasy golf pool app that actually works.
Looking for an alternative to Golf Champs? GolfKings is the no-real-money fantasy golf pool app for friends. Same pick-four-golfers format. Live scoring that doesn't break mid-tournament. An editorial News tab. Push notifications that respect your inbox. Free on iPhone and Android.
Side by side
GolfKings vs Golf Champs. The honest version.
Both apps use the same idea: pick four golfers from each week's PGA Tour field, combined world rank has to hit a target, lowest score wins. After that, they diverge.
Sources: Golf Champs is published on the Apple App Store and Google Play; ratings and recent reviews verified there in May 2026.
Why we built it
We got tired of running our Sunday pool on a spreadsheet.
GolfKings was built by a couple of golf nuts after one too many disputes about who picked whom, whose Excel sheet had the latest scores, and who still owed whom for the Masters pool. The app is what we wished existed — clean leaderboards, push when something matters, no Venmo, no real-money compliance theatre, and a News tab actually worth opening between tournaments.
We're not trying to be the lottery. Golf Champs already does that, and the App Store reviews suggest it isn't going especially well. We're trying to be the pool app you'd hand your dad, your group chat, or your club captain — and have it just work for the four days a week the PGA Tour does.
Frequently asked
Common questions about GolfKings & Golf Champs
Is GolfKings a Golf Champs alternative?
Yes. Same pick-four-PGA-Tour-golfers format, same combined-rank scoring, same private + public pool structure. The headline differences: GolfKings has no real-money prizes, has live scoring that doesn't break mid-event, and ships an editorial News tab. Both are free on iPhone and Android.
What do I do if Golf Champs isn't working?
Most recent App Store reviews of Golf Champs flag scoring freezes during active tournaments. If your pool has stalled and the next round is hours away, you can install GolfKings, re-create the pool with a join code, and your group can pick again before Thursday's first tee. There's no cross-app pool import, but each weekly pool is a fresh start anyway — the season standings are tracked per app.
Does GolfKings have real-money play?
No. No wagers, no entry fees, no payouts, no card on file. We have no in-app purchases at all on launch. Bragging rights only. It's how the app stays rated 4+ on the App Store and avoids the messy compliance Golf Champs has to navigate for its prize-draw mechanic.
Can I run a private pool with friends overseas?
Yes — both private (invite by 6-character join code) and public pools support members across countries and time zones. The PGA Tour schedule is global by default. Tee times appear in each user's local time inside the app.
How does the auto-substitution work when a golfer withdraws?
If one of your four golfers withdraws before Thursday's first tee shot, the app automatically uses the worst made-cut score of the day in that slot for rounds 3 and 4. For round 1 and 2 withdrawals, the slot stays empty and you carry the point hit. You can swap picks freely until lock-in; once locked, the team is locked.
Is GolfKings just for South African players?
No. The app was built in South Africa, the brand voice has a touch of the UK/SA dryness, and our beta cohort is South African — but the pools span the PGA Tour calendar globally. We're available on the iOS and Google Play stores worldwide. If you're looking for a fantasy golf pool app, GolfKings works for you regardless of where you tee off.
One thing left — tee it up.
Free on iPhone and Android. No subscriptions. No advertising. Sign in with your email, share a join code with your group chat, lock in before Thursday's first tee shot.