With the numerous amount of golf games out there, you are probably wondering if this one is any different; well it is. The best way to describe this golf game is that it is arcade-ish, probably because it is based on an arcade game. While this is a good alternative to people that do not want to face all the confusing interfaces of other golf games, some drawbacks it carries bring this game down to being just a good golf game rather than one of the best.

Graphics: 18 / 20

The graphics are drop dead gorgeous, with the exception of the 640x480 resolution (Although 640x480 is not too shabby, just loses a lot of the detail). The 800x600 and the 1024x768 resolutions for this game are a sight comparable to Links LS. The 3 courses take us to 3 different settings: the wooded creeks of the Pine Creek, the sandy beach of the Coral Ridge, and the mountains of the Red Sands. This is enhanced with many touches such as the palm trees in the Coral Ridge and the cacti in the Red Sands. There are even the occasional run-ins with bears, moose, and the gardener. The redraw is also extremely fast. The only lacking touch is moving animations (Those stationary ducks do get annoying), but that is rarely found in a golf game anyway. The overall impression it gives is a sharp photorealistic setting to play in.

Sound: 13 / 15

The sound effects are what you would expect from a golf game: bristling wind, water waves, etc. The play by play, done by two people, Peter Jacobsen and an unknown lad with a British accent is amusing. One shot may treat you to Peter Jacobsen's whispering comment of telling you the putt is for a birdie, displaying seriousness, then out of no where comes the unknown lad saying "Get the sand bucket" in a heavy British accent, if you overshoot it into the bunker. There is also the motivational speech Peter Jacobsen throws in after a bad course, and the "You're on fire!" after a well done course. Sometimes, even the crowd may comment on the shot your just made. Although it might tend to be just a little on the repetitive side after a long game, it isn't to the point that it becomes an annoyance.

Gameplay: 23 / 30

Well, this is a mixed bag. The game physics overall are realistic enough. The TrackSwing (the swing where the movement of your mouse determines the power and direction) is easy to control, although people looking for the 2-3 click swings can look elsewhere since this game doesn't offer any alternative to the TrackSwing. The difference between the TrackSwing and other similar swings, such as the Actua Swing in Actua Golf 2, is that it is very simple to use. There is only 2 things to watch for when swinging with your mouse: the amount of speed you move your mouse forward, and the direction you swing in. To pull a backspin shot, all you have to do is hold the right button instead of the left one. There are, however, things lacking that keep this from being one of the best golf games. The first, mentioned earlier, is the lack of options, like changing the swing method, the amount of holes you play (locked at 18), etc. There are only two ways to play the game, stroke play and skins. Playing against a computer opponent is found in the Shadow Player Games. There are 7 predefined opponents to load, which means the games' stroke and final score are always the same. It's just playing against a game that has been played before. In my opinion, this brings down the single player play drastically. It adds up to if you can beat their final score, you win.

Fun Factor: 13 / 20

There is only one factor that brings the fun factor of this game down. The lack of a real computer opponent really hurts a sports game. It's like playing Tetris and knowing the moves of your opponents and the final score. This eliminates a lot of the excitement to the game, that feeling of anticipation to see your opponent miss a shot in order for you to make a great one to win the game. Basically if you wanna beat the hardest opponent, all you have to do is play better than a -21 on Pine Creek. This of course only affects single player games. The internet feature for multiplayer is well done. It's played through Golf Tee Net, where people can find others hosting games, and join in. There is not much noticable lag either. The game itself is fun and easy to play as the courses are challenging and well designed (I have no idea if it is based on a real course). Click Swing or die people, however, can die if they pick up this one.

Multiplayer Play: 5 / 5

It supports LAN, internet, modem and direct link for multiplayer play from 1 to 4 people.

Overall Impression: 8 / 10

It's an easy golf game to get into and fun to play. It's a godsend for the people that love golf, but are turned away by the complexity of other golf games. The only major drawback is the lack of a real computer opponent which takes away that excitement of playing sports (The anticipation for a computer opponent's miss, the putt that must be made, etc.).