Organizer guide
What each tournament platform costs, what the free version includes, and which one fits a league, club event, charity outing or buddies trip.
Running a golf tournament used to mean spreadsheets, paper scorecards and an hour of math in the clubhouse before anyone got paid out. Tournament software now handles registration, tee times, live scoring and results, and several platforms offer a free plan.
"Free" covers very different pricing models. Some tools are free up to a field size, some are free but charge a fee on every payment, and some are free only for certain organizations. This guide compares five options on cost, limits and features. Pricing was taken from each company's own website or App Store listing on October 8, 2026.
| Platform | Cost | Free plan limits | Online registration | Live scoring | Leagues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf Pad Events | Free; Pro $499/yr | Unlimited single-day events, up to 100 golfers each | Yes, free | Yes, app or browser | Pro |
| Squabbit | Free (optional tips) | App-based; setup and scoring run in the phone app | Event link from the app | Yes, in app | In app |
| GolfStatus | No upfront cost; fee on payments | Built for fundraisers; $299/event if not processing payments | Yes | Yes | Not stated |
| Golf Genius | From $1,425/yr + $200 onboarding | No free plan listed | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Priced on request |
| Unknown Golf | Custom quote for clubs and groups | No published free organizer plan | Payments in app | Yes, in app | Season standings |
Golf Pad Events covers the full event, from sign-up to final results. The free plan includes unlimited single-day events with up to 100 golfers each, a customizable event page with the schedule, standings and payouts, online registration, automatic tee-time scheduling with drag-and-drop changes, and emails to golfers sent from the event.
On the day, golfers keep score in the free Golf Pad app, either individually or with one scorer per group, and the live leaderboard updates as they play, including a big-screen view for the clubhouse. Golfers who don't want the app can score in a browser, and paper scorecards can be entered afterward. Winners and payouts are calculated from the scores, and the event page stays up as a permanent record.
Supported formats include stroke play, Stableford, Modified Stableford, Best Ball, Scramble, Chapman and Alternate Shot, gross or net. The free plan allows two competitions and unlimited side games per event. More than 6,000 tournaments have been run on the platform.
Golf Pad Events Pro costs $499 a year ($41.58 a month billed annually) or $99 a month. It adds multi-day tournaments of up to four rounds, leagues across a season, automatic flights, unlimited field size, entry fees collected through the organizer's own PayPal account, printed scorecards, schedules and cart signs with QR codes for live scoring, sponsor placement, and priority support with a video setup session.
Coming soon: Golf Pad Events Agent lets organizers run events by asking an AI assistant such as ChatGPT or Claude to set up registration, arrange tee times, check standings and send emails. It is in early access and works with the free plan.
Best for
Limits
Squabbit is a free iPhone and Android scoring app, sold in the App Store by an individual developer, with optional in-app tips. It is built around the phone: events are created, managed and scored inside the app, and its App Store listing does not describe a browser-based organizer console, automatic tee-time scheduling, emailing the field or a scheduled setup session. It works well when a small group just needs a shared scorecard and leaderboard, but organizers running a registered event with a full field, tee times and golfers who don't use the app will need to handle much of that outside Squabbit.
Best for
Limits
GolfStatus focuses on fundraising events. It has no upfront, subscription or per-user cost and earns revenue from a transaction fee on payments processed through its tournament websites, which organizers can ask registrants to cover. Events that don't process payments through GolfStatus pay $299 per event for live scoring. Optional add-ons include invoicing and discount codes ($199 per event) and sponsorship products such as pin flags and hole-in-one contests.
Best for
Limits
Golf Genius Tournament Management is designed for private clubs, public courses and resorts. Its pricing page lists the Club plan at $1,425 a year plus a $200 onboarding fee and Club Premium at $4,275 a year plus a $500 onboarding fee, for US facilities up to 36 holes. One-time events, leagues and larger facilities are priced on request.
Best for
Limits
Unknown Golf combines a player app with an event platform for clubs and groups. Organizer features listed on its website include a configurable leaderboard, TV leaderboards for the clubhouse, printed cart signs, scorecards and tee sheets, personalized day-of-event messages with QR codes, season-long standings, simulator score support, and in-app registration payments. It also manages Calcutta auctions and pari-mutuel pools, with live odds and payout summaries.
Unknown Golf does not publish organizer pricing; clubs and groups request a custom quote. The player app is free, with an optional Unknown+ membership listed in the App Store at $49.99 a year or $9.99 a month.
Best for
Limits
| If you are running... | Consider |
|---|---|
| A club, group or corporate event up to 100 golfers | Golf Pad Events (free) |
| A season-long league or multi-day championship | Golf Pad Events Pro |
| A charity fundraiser selling sponsorships online | GolfStatus |
| A full club calendar with a dedicated staff | Golf Genius |
| A club game with a Calcutta or betting pool | Unknown Golf |
| A casual buddies trip where everyone uses the same app | Squabbit |
What is the best free golf tournament software?
Golf Pad Events is free for unlimited single-day tournaments with up to 100 golfers. The free plan includes an event page with online registration, automatic tee times, live scoring in the free Golf Pad app or a web browser, live leaderboards including a big-screen view, two competitions plus unlimited side games, and automatic winners and payouts.
Is Golf Pad Events really free?
Yes. Single-day events with up to 100 golfers are free, with no limit on the number of events. Golf Pad Events Pro costs $499 a year (or $99 a month) and adds multi-day tournaments, leagues across a season, automatic flights, unlimited field size, entry fees through PayPal, printed scorecards and cart signs, and sponsor placement.
Do golfers need to download an app to play in a Golf Pad event?
No. Golfers can register, view the event page, tee times and standings, and enter scores in a web browser. The free Golf Pad app makes live scoring faster, and paper scorecards can be entered after the round.
Which formats does Golf Pad Events support?
Stroke play, Stableford, Modified Stableford, Best Ball, Scramble, Chapman and Alternate Shot, played gross or net, with side games.
Can I run a golf league with free software?
Golf Pad Events runs leagues across a season, with schedules, rosters and standings that carry from event to event, on the Pro plan ($499 a year). Free app-based options such as Squabbit can track league scores, but setup and management happen inside a phone app rather than an organizer console.
How much does Golf Genius tournament software cost?
Golf Genius lists its Tournament Management Club plan at $1,425 a year plus a $200 onboarding fee, and Club Premium at $4,275 a year plus a $500 onboarding fee, for US facilities up to 36 holes. One-time events and leagues are priced on request.
Is GolfStatus free?
GolfStatus has no upfront or subscription cost. It charges a transaction fee on payments processed through its tournament websites, which registrants can be asked to cover. Events that do not process payments through GolfStatus pay $299 per event for live scoring.
Can I run a golf tournament from ChatGPT or Claude?
Golf Pad Events Agent, currently in early access, lets organizers set up events, register golfers, arrange tee times, publish standings and send emails by asking an AI assistant such as ChatGPT or Claude. It works with the free Golf Pad Events plan.
Subscribe for early access to promotions, feature announcements & more.
