This past Friday I caught a quick 9 after work and I can only put it one way - I got my money's worth. I really do not consider golf to be a social activity whatsoever, but I have never met so many people during a round in my life. I sprayed shot after shot into everyone's fairway except for my own. It got so bad that yelling 'FORE' and my resulting apology to my new 'friends' became a natural part of my post-shot routine. To add insult to injury, I could not even dull my frustration nor offer my new 'buds' a compensatory beverage - the Beer Girl had the night off! By the end of the round, I was dead tired (I probably hit that ball 8,000 yards on a 3,625 yard back 9 course) and felt humiliated beyond description. This 8 Handicap player had just carded a 63 - with no penalties! This was not the way I wanted to start off my weekend at all. I needed some sort of redemption.
The best way to heighten a sagging spirit like my own - get a video game! Call me a glutton for punishment, but I picked up Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 for the Xbox 360 on my way home. I fired it up and was once again all was right with the world. Birdies were no longer just a multiplier for my eventual score on basically every hole I had just experienced two hours earlier on the real links. This brought back fond memories of the various video golf games I had experienced in my past. The following is a trip down down memory lane for all of those wishing they could actually perform as well as their virtual golfing counterpart - I give to you my favorite and most memorable video golf games of all time.
Birdie King
Released : 1982 Developer : Taito Platform : Arcade
Golf
Released : 1984 Developer : Nintendo Platform : Nintendo Famicom
Now I do admit that this arcade classic was basically my introduction to the video gaming golf world. A roller-ball type of control was used, which was as responsive to the touch as one of my early dates to the High School Homecoming Dance - then again, maybe the problem was me all along (on both fronts). I do remember absolutely hating that circling buzzard - it would knock my perfect drive into oblivion and then consume more of my hard earned quarters without any remorse as I stupidly chose to 'continue' my round.
This was the first golf video game for a console that I truly enjoyed - I was actually a person (Mario wannabe) rather than just some white block on the screen. For whatever reason, this was important to me. The introduction of the 'swing meter' was also a welcomed addition. I grant you that this is as basic as it gets when it comes to the early golf games - but it was fun! I could change clubs and saw my 'linkster' in action. I still had to figure out and estimate the yardage and the like - a small price to pay for a rewarding experience back then.
Big Event Golf
Released : 1986 Developer : Taito Platform : Arcade
Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf
Released : 1988 Developer : SNK Platform : Nintendo NES
Big Event Golf was truly the pinnacle of arcade golf during its day. The first golf game to really capture the sport IMHO (along with my quarters). Rich colors and a detailed environment truly allowed one to really feel 'on the links'. The best part though was the viewpoint - you watched the flight of the ball from behind the golfer and could see your wayward drive disappearing into the underbrush - or the lake. Wind was either a friend or a foe. I cannot say enough about this game - it is a blast with your buds. I picked one up for $50 from a neighborhood that I would never venture into again (I didn't know this at the time). After a refurbishment, we still play this game religiously to this very day.
The infamous reverse 'TV-style' game view was just among the many things that made this fast paced simulation a hit. This was one of the first home console versions to feature multiple courses (two) and four-way play. The graphics were pretty impressive compared to the competition - golfers were more 'lifelike' rather than the cartoonish and the landscape, though still flat, featured much more detail than any of its predecessors in this genre. Still probably my favorite golf game for the NES system (just beating out Jack Nicklaus' Greatest 18 Holes of Major Championship Golf).
Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf
Released : 1989 Developer : Sega Platform : Sega Genesis
Links 386: The Challenge of Golf
Released : 1990 Developer : Access Software Platform : PC
This game did not introduce a great deal to the genre, with the exception of two vital things we still see in today's games - shopping for gear and the ability to upgrade your skills. Another interesting note is that your golfer (Arnie) is HUGE - almost 1/2 the size of the screen. You have three varied courses to chose from along with multiple play formats. The background tunes are kind of catchy too (or maybe I am just rather bland).
The true advent of the game as we know it today - Links 386 definitely has a place in every virtual golfer's heart. The lush, highly detailed terrain was no longer flat - it now breathed of life right down to the the occasional belch from a nearby frog. Commentary was digitized and spot on ("Jim, I think he hit the tree") and the amount of options were unlimited. Add-on courses were also available, in attractive boxes (5.25 disks). This series set the standard.
PGA Tour Golf III
Released : 1994 Developer : Electronic Arts Platform : Sega Genesis
PGA Tour '96
Released : 1995 Developer : Electronic Arts Platform : Panasonic 3DO
As Links 386 set the standard for the more advanced hardware of a personal computer, the PGA Tour series became the yardstick for the home console. PGA Tour III was the pinnacle of this series in the 16-bit generation. This game had everything - tournament play, a massive eight courses and 54 Pros to compete against. The digitized golfers are well presented and game play is fast. I can remember tournaments being held at the local speakeasy I frequented - yes, I rocked these due to my knowledge of the '50% rule' for those 'tweener' shots.
Thank goodness for 32-bit systems - courses are no longer flat!! Courses took a little longer to load, but the wait was well worth it. The undulating fairways and landscapes really blew you away - hearing the realistic sounding crowd cheer you was also a nice perk. The commentator is kind of funny to be honest - always speaking in a hushed voice and usually adding something that does nothing to help out your psyche ("This... for the bogie... to go 8 over"). Still a classic and ground breaking golf simulation for the home console system.
Now this is the one game I have not personally experienced on this list, but I would be remiss to exclude it. This is probably the most expensive golf video game that is out there for the home console. It reminds me very much of the early Golden Tee arcade games, specifically the camera angle that follows the flight of the golf ball after being struck. From what I have gathered the few people that I do know that have this game, they all say it is a blast and definitely the highlight of arcade-style golf games. I will have to save up for this ($200+).
OK - I admit this up front - this is the weakest entry on this list by far. T&E Software had previously released some real clunkers in this genre (Pebble Beach, Wicked 18, etc.) and I was not eagerly anticipating this game at all. Others had been rele3ased, but for whatever reason I could not (and still don't) embrace the analog stick swing control - I hate it! Swing Away Golf was the only alternative that I had since they still utilized the old-school 3-click swing, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the anime-style cartoon golfers, this game is very deep and a load of fun.
XavixPORT Golf
Released : 2004 Developer : SSD Company LTD. Platform : XaviXPORT
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010
Released : 2009 Developer : Electronic Arts Platform : Xbox 360
This is not a well known title at all, nor is this video game console. Graphics are on par somewhere between a Neo Geo and a 3DO - not that great to be honest for a system being released in 2004. However, what merits its inclusion is the controller - an actually golf club! That is right, before the Nintendo Wii, the XaviXPORT was the first game console to entirely embrace motion sensing technology. The game is fair at best in all honesty, but swinging that club makes it a blast! Simple, easy play is its forte - time to get off the couch!
All I have to say is that I am happy to be reacquainted with an old friend - the 3-click meter in a next-gen golf game. Making it's reappearance in Tiger Woods 2008, this release in the most successful golf franchise of all-time is why I keep coming back. Luscious visuals, easy to use controls, this has it all for me. There are some things that still need to be tweaked here and there, but you will not find this old-school gamer complaining at all. This truly displays all of the innovations that have occurred within this genre.
There are many golf games\series that just missed inclusion but all are great games in their own right, most notably Hot Shots Golf and Golden Tee among others. I admit that this gamer is 100% biased to games utilizing the 3-Click swing method - that is why they call me Tripe O-G at work - I am definitely old-school, Let's here your thoughts, experiences and top golf games!
Hmm, the only 'golf' game I own is Kirby's Dream Course (which isn't listed here, for a very good reason probably...). Nice write-up above, although personally 'traditional' golf games have never caught my full attention before...
I remember playing PGA Tour I and II back on the Genny.
It was the only video game my Dad and I could play together. I think he enjoyed it because he messed up his knee several years before the game came out and hadn't been on a course since. So I think it gave him some kind of connection back to golf for awhile.
Glad everyone found it a good read. Me too Phoenix - I used to play the same two games with my father back then, in addition to Crash & Burn for the 3DO.
@gamepopper101: This is covered by Links 386 (same series). I thought about expanding a bit on this, but I really didn't have the space (Microsoft purchased Links from Access Software and went on to continue the Links series).
As much as I like the 3-click, the Wii version of Tiger Woods 10 with the Wii MotionPlus is fantastic. If you play on the advanced, it will play like you are really swinging. It's still easier than real golf, but the challenge is there.
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This past Friday I caught a quick 9 after work and I can only put it one way - I got my money's worth. I really do not consider golf to be a social activity whatsoever, but I have never met so many people during a round in my life. I sprayed shot after shot into everyone's fairway except for my own. It got so bad that yelling 'FORE' and my resulting apology to my new 'friends' became a natural part of my post-shot routine. To add insult to injury, I could not even dull my frustration nor offer my new 'buds' a compensatory beverage - the Beer Girl had the night off! By the end of the round, I was dead tired (I probably hit that ball 8,000 yards on a 3,625 yard back 9 course) and felt humiliated beyond description. This 8 Handicap player had just carded a 63 - with no penalties! This was not the way I wanted to start off my weekend at all. I needed some sort of redemption. 
