GOLFER Steve McGuinness is hoping to make players very “appy” after inventing an application to turn iPhones into golf clubs.

The 29-year-old former pro has made use of the gyroscope in the popular touchscreen mobile phone to help putters improve that vital final shot.

Now the 59p game has been accepted by manufacturer Apple for download from its iTunes website and went online on Thursday.

Mr McGuinness, the club professional at Studley Wood Golf Club, in Horton-cum-Studley, said he hopes the app will reverse a decline in newcomers to the sport.

He said: “When I looked into golf apps I realised there was nothing that was interactive and ‘out there’ like my idea.”

The former Wheatley Park High School pupil teamed up with Manchester developer Tecmark and spent a year researching and developing the complex technical requirements for the app.

Players aim their putt using arrows on the phone’s touchscreen and then hold the phone in front of them like it was a golf club and ‘swing’ to play the shot.

Mr McGuinness, who took up the game aged 16, said: “It is amazing to see the game come together and my idea actually go live. I’m very proud of it.

“The app is already proving hugely popular and we’re aiming it at golfers initially, but the great thing about the app is it will hopefully encourage non-golfers to play and get into the sport too. Many people have iPhones now so it made sense for us to develop the app, based on a sport that is close to my heart.

“I hope that the new app’s virtual game will encourage people to take an interest in the sport and provide a much-needed boost to golf clubs around the UK.”

Mr McGuinness was asked to train as a professional by the club when he was 18 through the Professional Golfers’ Association.

By 21 he was a PGA member and competing in tournaments around the world.

Mr McGuinness, who lives in Worminghall near Thame, said: “I have been teaching golf around 10 years and still I get a great buzz from it.”