Game Options

The four main game setup screens are Golf Courses, Golfers, Game, and Net Play. Two other very important setup screens are the Edit Golfer screen and the Set Skill screen, both of which are accessed from the Golfers screen.

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At the main interface screen, you will notice tabs at the top of the screen for Golf Courses, Golfers, Game and Net Play. The current Course, current Golfer/Golfers and current Game will also appear on these tabs.

Golf Courses Tab: Click on the Golf Courses tab to change golf courses or alter course playing conditions.

Golfers Tab: Click on the Golfers tab to create and edit players. On this screen, click on Create New Golfer to set up a new character, or select a name from the list of human golfers. Click on Edit Golfer to adjust the settings of the currently selected golfer. When editing or creating a golfer, make sure to click on the Skill Selection button to alter golfer skill levels.

Game Tab: Click on the Game tab to select a scoring format.

Net Play Tab: Click on the Net Play tab to set up a multiplayer game.

Click on this tab to select one of our six world-class golf courses for your next round of golf. Choose from Shoal Creek Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama; Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California; Montecastillo Golf Resort in Terez de la Frontera, Spain; Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio; Cochise at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona; or Nicklaus North in Whistler, Canada.

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On this screen, you will select your course for your next round of golf. When you select a course from the menu, background history for the course will appear.

The following options are available on this screen:

• Choose Course: Click here to choose a course to play.
• Designed By: Click here to see information about the designer of the current course.
• Course Statistics: Click here to see course statistics for the current course.
• Hole Statistics: Click here to see hole statistics for the current hole.
• Wind: Select Mild, Medium, Strong or Gusty wind conditions.
• Course Conditions: Select Soft, Normal or Hard playing conditions. (The golf ball will roll shorter distances with Soft conditions and further distances with Hard conditions.)
• Fog: Select Clear, Foggy or Random fog conditions.
• Fog Density: Select low or high Fog Density here.
• Pin Location: Select a different Pin Location here.

Click on this tab to create new golfers, to edit existing golfers, or to choose the golfers for your next round of golf. The Available Golfers are listed in a column on the left hand side. The Current Golfers are listed in a smaller box just to the right of the center of the screen.

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The following options are available on this screen:

• Add Golfer: Select a golfer from the Available Golfers list at left, then click here to add that player to the game. You can also double-click on the golfer name you are adding.
• Remove Golfer: Select a golfer from the Current Golfers list just to the right of the center screen, then click here to remove that player from the game. The removed player will now appear in the Available Golfers list at the left side of the screen. You can also double-click on the golfer to remove.
• Create New Golfer: Click here to create a new golfer. After naming your new player and selecting your player’s characteristics, click OK to add your new player to the list of Available Golfers.
• Edit Golfer: Select a golfer and then click here to edit the player characteristics of an existing golfer. To save changes, click OK.
• Delete Golfer: Click here to delete an existing golfer.
• Golfer Statistics: Select a golfer and then click here to see that golfer’s statistics.

Click on Create New Golfer or Edit Golfer to access the Edit Golfer Screen.

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The following options are available on this screen:

• Golfer Type: Choose Human to create a golfer that you will control, or click Computer to create a computer-controlled golfer.
• Tee: Choose Red, White, Blue or Black tees. Red tees are shortest and Black tees are longest.
• Swing Meter: Choose here to use the 2-click meter, the 3-click meter or the Mouse Meter.
• Gender: Choose Male or Female.
• Handed: Choose right- or left-handed.
• Set Skill: Click here to Set Skill level for your golfer.
• Choose Clubs: Click here to choose clubs for your golfer. You can choose 14 clubs maximum and are required to carry a putter.

From the Edit Golfer/Create New Golfer screen, click on Set Skill to adjust individual skill sets for your golfers. With this new feature, you can create golfers with skill sets to match your style of play.

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On this screen, players can create their own unique golfer characters with the new Set Style of Play feature, or change the basic shape of each shot with the Set Natural Shot Type feature.

Set Style of Play: On the right side of the Set Skill screen you will find the Set Style of Play box. This box indicates the level of skill that your current golfer has in five different skill areas (Full Shot Power, Full Shot Accuracy, Sand Play, Around the Green, and Putting). The higher the number in a given skill area, the more proficient your golfer will be in that skill area.

Swing Meter Speed: The number of skill points available for your golfer is determined by your golfer’s Swing Meter Speed. The faster your golfer’s Swing Meter Speed, the more points you will have to improve various skill areas for your golfer. Remember though, that with a faster swing meter speed, it is more difficult to hit the ball accurately.

In the Set Style of Play box, select a Swing Meter Speed for your golfer from the pop up menu. Select a Slow, Moderate, Medium, Fast or Very Fast swing meter. Remember that the game is more difficult with a faster swing meter so you may want to try one of the slower meters to begin. Notice that as you increase the Swing Meter Speed, you will have more skill points available for your golfer. As you decrease the Swing Meter Speed, you will have less skill points available for your golfer.

Use Handicap to Set Swing Meter Speed: You can also click the Use Handicap to Set Swing Meter Speed box to have the computer determine your Swing Meter Speed for you. If you use this option, the computer will notify you when your handicap reaches a number where your Swing Meter Speed is going to change. If your Swing Meter Speed increases as a result of good scoring, you will be awarded 20 new skill points for your golfer. If your Swing Meter Speed decreases as a result of poor scoring, you will have 20 less points to distribute.

Swing Meter Speed/Skill Point List: Check the Swing Meter Speed/Skill Points list below to see the number of Skill Points available for your current Swing Meter Speed.

Swing Meter

Distributing Skill Points: Depending on what swing meter speed you selected, you should now have a number of skill points listed under Skill Points to Distribute. Underneath the number of available skill points to distribute, you will notice two columns with the headings Start and New. The Start column represents your golfer’s current skill levels. The New column is where changes and adjustments are made.

At this point, you need to determine what type of player you want your golfer to be.

If you want your golfer to hit the ball farther, then you will want to bump up the Full Shot Power number for your golfer. (Note: 20 points is the maximum number of skill points allowed in any one skill category.) To add available skill points to your Full Shot Power number, simply click the Up Arrow next to the number in your New column. For each click, one skill point will be subtracted from your Skill Points to Distribute total and added to your Full Shot Power total. You can continue adding points to your golfer’s skill levels until the Skill Points to Distribute are used up.

You may wish to change your golfer’s skill levels even though you have no new Skill Points to Distribute. To change skill levels, you will need to decrease the number of skill points in some areas, and then add those points to different skill areas.

For example, say you want to improve your golfer’s Putting skills. First, you will need to choose a skill category to take points from, say your Sand Play skills. Next to Sand Play, in the New column, click on the Down Arrow to subtract skill points from your Sand Play skill point total. For each click on the Down Arrow, one skill point will be subtracted from your Sand Play skill total and added to your Skill Points to Distribute total. Now, next to Putting in the New column, simply click the Up Arrow to increase your Putting skill point total. For each click on the Up Arrow, one skill point will be subtracted from your Skill Points to Distribute total and added to your Putting skill point total.

Once the skill points have been distributed to your satisfaction, click the OK button on the right side of the screen to continue. Your character will now be stronger in the areas where you added skill points, and weaker in areas where you subtracted skill points. Experiment with different skill sets to determine the golfer setup most suited to your playing style.

Set Natural Shot Type: On the left side of the Set Skill screen, you will find the Set Natural Shot Type box. You can use this box to adjust the default Shot Type for your golfer so that you do not need to adjust your aiming arrow on each and every shot. Remember, if you alter your Natural Shot Type, then this adjustment will appear when setting up for all full wood and full iron shots in future rounds. Natural Shot Type adjustments will not appear on short shots and putts.

For example, say you like to play a heavy left-to-right draw for most of your shots. Simply move the indicator at the top of the box to the left until the severity of the draw is satisfactory. To play a fade, move the indicator at the top of the box to the right until the severity of the fade is satisfactory.

You can also adjust the height of your natural shot by moving the indicator on the right up for a higher natural trajectory, or you can move the indicator on the right down for a lower natural trajectory.

Once the Natural Shot Type has been adjusted to your satisfaction, click the OK button on the right side of the screen to continue.

Click on this tab to select a scoring method for your next round of golf. To select a scoring format, simply click on your selection from the box on the left.

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Choose from the following scoring methods.

Stroke: Also referred to as Medal Play, this is the traditional method of scoring a match. The number of strokes taken at each hole is recorded and then totaled for 18 holes. The object is to record the lowest score for one or more rounds. If handicaps are used, the total score per round is considered the gross score. A player’s handicap is then deducted to determine the final net score.

Match: The object in this two-player game is to win the greatest number of holes from competing golfers. A hole is won by the golfer who finishes a hole in the fewest number of strokes. A player who has won three holes from his opponent after nine holes is considered to be three up through nine. A player who is up by four holes on the 11th hole is considered four up with seven remaining. A player is dormie when ahead by as many holes as there are holes left to play.

Skins: This is a match play style side game where the player with the lowest score on a hole wins a "skin." When the holes are tied, the skins are carried forward to the next hole until they are won. Two variations exist: one where one point is won for each of the 18 holes, another where point totals increase as play proceeds (i.e., first six holes = 1 pt. per hole, second six holes = 2 pts. per hole, and last 6 holes = 3 pts. per hole). Cash values per skin can be assigned in the Game settings.

Bingo Bango Bongo: This is a popular side game to Stroke Play. The golfers compete for three points which are awarded on each hole: first on the green; closest to the cup when all are on the green; and first in the cup. Stakes are often assigned to each point. The player with the most points after 18 holes is the winner.

Stableford: The scoring in Stableford competitions is made by points awarded in relation to a fixed score at each hole. The Rules for stroke play apply, except for the scoring methodology (eight points for a double eagle, five points for eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, minus one for bogie and minus three for double bogie or worse). The winner is the competitor who scores the highest number of points. The scorecard shows the gross score totaled, plus the points earned for that score or many statistics.

Practice: Much the same as Stroke Play. You can keep track of your score if you want to, but there are differences from regular Stroke Play. First, mulligans are the default choice after each shot. Second, you can move the ball to any spot you want on any hole. Third, you can take any shot you want, on any hole, in any order. Choose the Course Overhead to navigate to the hole of your choice. The course is reserved for your exclusive use. Practice all you want!

Sudden Death (Stroke Play): This is a sudden-death tournament, where the highest scoring golfer is dropped from each hole. If there is a tie for the highest score, all golfers move to the next hole. The last player remaining is the winner.

Best Score Competition (Handicap): This is a match played against the top ten rounds recorded on the course of your choice. It tracks your score versus the top rounds with live updates as you play. The top scores are updated as you complete each game. Net scores are based on the golfer’s handicap.

Best Score Competition: This is a match played against the top ten rounds recorded on the course of your choice. It tracks your score versus the top rounds with live updates as you play. The top scores are updated as you complete each game. The player’s gross score is used to calculate results; handicaps are not considered.

Handicap Flight: Play in a 40 person tournament against the players in your group and against background players whose scores are generated by the golfer AI system. In the handicap flight, play against competitors whose handicap is within 2 strokes of yours (plus or minus inclusive).

Open Tournament: Play in a 40 person tournament against the players in your group and against background players whose scores are generated by the golfer AI (Artificial Intelligence) system. In the Open division, you play against competitors whose handicap is between 0 and 4.

Season Play: Season Play provides a means for you to hone your skills by working your way through a series of tournaments. To begin Season Play, click on the Set Up Season Play button. This will bring up the Create New Season window. Existing tournaments appear in the Tournament Schedule window. Double-click on a tournament to start or continue the tournament.

Various options for each format will appear to the right of this box. These options include:

• Gimmes: Check the box to allow gimmes. Gimmes are short easy putts that are "given" to the golfer. You can adjust the length of gimmes allowed per round by clicking the up or down arrows. Remember, rounds with gimmes allowed will not be counted towards your golfer’s handicap or many statistics.
• Mulligans: Check the box to allow mulligans. Mulligans are used after a very poor shot as a do-over. You can adjust the number of mulligans by clicking the up or down arrows. Remember, rounds with mulligans allowed will not be counted towards your golfer’s handicap.
• Holes to Play: Select "All 18," "Front 9," or "Back 9.
• Max Score: Select the maximum strokes allowed per hole here.
• Ready Golf: With Ready Golf enabled, Network games will be completed much faster. All players tee off when they wish, and then all shot animations appear consecutively. With this feature, players do not need to watch every player set up every single shot.
• Allow Conceded Holes: Click here to allow conceded holes for some game formats. When a player has obviously lost a hole, they can concede the hole to move on to the next hole quickly.
• Adjust AI Opponents Based on Course Rating: Click here to have AI opponents' skill levels be affected by course rating. With tougher courses, AI characters will not score as well; with easier courses AI characters will score better.
• Some other game specific options include: Go to Next Hole Once Hole is Won; Sudden Death Playoff if Tied, and Quit Round Once Winner is Decided. With certain game formats you can start a tournament or choose an existing tournament. You can choose the Course, Tee, Golfers, Rounds and Cut Conditions for your tournament.

Click on the Net Play screen to play a Multiplayer game. Connected players will appear in the box at right. The following options are available here:

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• Find Golfers on Matching Server: Click here to start a game or find a game on the Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone.
• Host a Game: Click here to host a Multiplayer game.
• Join as Golfer: Click here to join and play a Multiplayer game.
• Join as Gallery Spectator: Click here to join a game as a spectator.
• Disconnect: Click here to disconnect from your current game.
• Allow Gallery Spectators: Click here to enable/disable this feature.
• Send: Type in your chat message and click the Send button to send your message to the selected players. Note: You can chat before starting a game. This will help when you are deciding on game format and course to play.