Want a GPS for golf? All you need is a smartphone and GolfLogix

HOUSTON – Golf is complicated enough without having to fool with gadgets while you’re on the course. So when it comes to distance-measuring equipment I’ve always felt that the simpler, the better.

Perhaps that’s why I have been slow to try out GolfLogix, a smartphone application that turns your phone into a GPS device and so much more. Honestly, it sounded too complicated to me, and I also didn’t want to run my battery down while on the course.

But this past weekend, I finally pulled the trigger and decided to give it a try at BraeBurn Country Club. It took me a few holes to get the hang of it, but once I did, I was surprised by the ease of use and helpful information it provided. I also found out that if you use the screen saver button on the top of the iPhone, you can easily make it through a round with plenty of better power to spare. In fact, I would say the least impressive part is getting yardages, though that wasn’t bad either.

The best part was being able to record my statistics – such as putts, length of putts, greens in regulation, driving distance, fairway percentage, etc. -? then being able to see the results in graphs and charts. You can also record all your rounds, calculate your handicap and even figure out how many calories you burn. It also lets you rate the course, which goes into the overall database.

The application works with dozens of phones, including iPhones, BlackBerrys and Droids. Through an account at GolfLogix.com, you can sync your rounds with the website and access all your personal statistics. That part is really cool.

You can download the application for free and start using it, but the Champion upgrade allows you to hook up with Golf Digest and enjoy more features for about $20 a year.

What did I find out in my unimpressive performance today? I took 34 putts, only hit 28 percent of my fairways, 29 percent of my greens and scrambled successfully to par or better on 23 percent of my opportunities. Don’t ask me about my score. (It kept track of that, too.)

To be honest I might have been more enthralled with the process of keeping these stats than playing golf, but I’m pretty sure as I do this more, it will become more automatic. IN any event, I know what I need to work on: everything.

My son, perhaps, had the best observation of all, when he said, “It’s amazing what you can do with a phone these days.”

Very true. Amazing.