Desert Golfing in IOS

Infinity in your pocket

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

95/100

Desert Golfing is a masterpiece of minimalism. It is a game that asks the question: 'What is the absolute bare minimum required for a compelling experience?' and then provides an answer that you can play for years. There are no menus, no music, and no 'undo' button. There is only a ball, a hole, and an endless desert. If you make a mistake, that stroke is added to your permanent total, forever.

This creates a bizarrely zen yet high-stakes atmosphere. Because the game never ends—thousands of holes are procedurally generated—it becomes a backdrop to your life. You might play five holes while waiting for a bus, or a hundred during a long flight. The physics are perfect, the sound of the ball hitting the sand is iconic, and the gradual color shifts of the sky are beautiful. It’s not just a game; it’s a lifestyle choice. It’s brilliant.

Reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

I usually hate 'minimalist' games because they’re usually just lazy. But Desert Golfing is different. It’s honest. It doesn't pretend to be anything other than a ball and a hole. It’s frustrating, it’s endless, and it’s completely devoid of the usual dopamine-loop garbage mobile games are infected with. It’s almost too simple—there’s no music, no variety—but as a 40-year-old with no time for fluff, I appreciate the directness. It’s not 'fun' in the traditional sense; it’s a task. And I like tasks.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Infinite replayability
  • Zero monetization clutter
  • Perfect pick-up-and-play
  • Visually repetitive
  • Total lack of features
  • Can feel meaningless

Technical Report

Performance: Perfect performance; uses almost no system resources.

Accessibility:
  • One-handed play

Audience Fit

Buy if: You want a meditative, distraction-free experience for your phone.

Skip if: You need flashy graphics or a sense of progression to stay engaged.

Similar Games:
  • Golf Peaks
  • Getting Over It
  • Alto's Adventure

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old veteran gamer
  • Hardware: iPhone 13 mini
  • Playtime: 20 hours
  • Status: Currently at Hole 4,502

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 1.22Tue Dec 05 2017

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Tweaking the aimer widget

Menu bar hidden on iPhone X

App preview videos

Chinese localization


To see a world in a bunker of sand

And a heaven in a wild cactus,

Hold infinity in the pocket of your shorts,

And eternity in Desert Golfing.


Requires iOS 9.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

To see a world in a bunker of sand

And a heaven in a wild cactus,

Hold infinity in the pocket of your shorts,

And eternity in Desert Golfing.


Ratings & Reviews

4.6 out of 5 with 644 Counts
Age Rating 4+

Screenshots

Desert Golfing screenshot 1Desert Golfing screenshot 2Desert Golfing screenshot 3Desert Golfing screenshot 4Desert Golfing screenshot 5Desert Golfing screenshot 6Desert Golfing screenshot 7Desert Golfing screenshot 8Desert Golfing screenshot 9Desert Golfing screenshot 10

Desert Golfing is an exercise in minimalist game design. There are no options, no restarts, and no music. Players navigate a ball through an seemingly infinite desert, one hole at a time. The simple drag-to-shoot controls are easy to learn but difficult to master as the terrain becomes more complex with cacti, rocks, and water hazards. Your total stroke count is tracked across thousands of holes, making it a persistent, lifelong challenge.

Features

1

Thousands of unique, persistent levels

2

Minimalist, distraction-free design

3

Realistic sand and ball physics

4

Small file size and offline play

Tips

Promotion Videos

Desert Golfing: Holes 1-101 - YouTube

Related Videos

Recommended Links

Blinkbatrabbit Games

Developer's site for Justin Smith's projects.

Official

News on this game

19 relaxing video games to help you destress

We've curated a selection of our favorite chill titles, ones that purposefully deemphasize fail states, grinding, intense violence and other aggressive urges.

Engadget - Sat Mar 01 2025

It takes nearly an hour to scroll through 10,000 holes in Desert Golfing [Correction]

Desert Golfing is a mobile game based on the hellish idea of hacking your way across a nearly endless sandtrap. It has 10,000 "holes" laid...

Polygon - Sat Nov 29 2014

Desert Golfing, One Of The Best Games On Mobile, Asks If There's Golf On Mars With A Sequel

But this game's not a saddening bore / And you can play it ten times or more / You add spin on the ball, it's cool / And it's coming to...

GameSpot - Wed Jul 29 2020

Former Coyotes’ captain Kucher sets his sights on earning spot on PGA tour

Kucher, 22, says his goal, now that he's dedicated all of his efforts into his golf game, is to try and earn a spot on the PGA tour over the next several years.

Times Chronicle - Thu Oct 29 2015

Outer Wilds Leads the 17th Annual Independent Games Festival Awards

TeamOuter Wilds' space exploration game Outer Wilds led the 17th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) awards tonight, taking out two of...

IGN Southeast Asia - Wed Apr 29 2015

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Wins Game of the Year at GDC Awards

The 15th annual Game Developers Choice Awards and the 2015 Independent Games Festival were held tonight in San Francisco as part of this...

GameSpot - Wed Apr 29 2015

Gameplays

Q&A

The game features thousands of holes, and many players have reached hole 10,000 and beyond.

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