Games : Virtual golf

Golf Digest, Oct, 1999 by Marc Saltzman

With all the golf games crowding store shelves these days, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. The following guide highlights the latest desktop diversions, with a rating for each ranging from bogey (poor) to eagle (best). All of the titles are for Windows 95/98; check the individual system requirements on the box before buying.

Links LS 2000 Microsoft
www.microsoft.com/
games
Retail price: $50
Rating: Birdie

Tee off against Arnold Palmer and other pros at St. Andrews' Old Course or on five new LS courses. As with past incarnations, it's hard to beat Links' ultrarealistic ball physics and photo-realistic graphics, not to mention support for more than 25 existing add-on courses. Links LS 2000 is a little costly, but it's worth the investment for its depth and expandability.

Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge
Activision
www.activision.com/
games/jack
$50
Rating: Eagle

Play as Nicklaus or against him on six courses designed by the Golden Bear himself. A course builder allows gamers to create their own dream links, as well. Sportscasters Jim Nantz and Gary McCord provide shot-by-shot commentary. Over all, the best golf game, worth its price, with seemingly unlimited replayability.

PGA
Championship Golf 1999
Sierra Sports
www.sierrasports.
com/pgagolf
$30
Rating: Par

The '99 edition is loaded with new features, including an improved mouse-swing option, free multiplayer gaming over the Internet and an easy-to-use course editor to create your own links. Seven well-rendered courses, plus an option to download dozens more from company Web site. Shortcomings: Questionable club distances and repetitive (and often incorrect) commentary.

Tiger Woods 99 PGA Tour Golf
EA Sports
www.easports.com/
99/tiger99
$30
Rating: Birdie

Game aficionados were hoping EA Sports had enough money left after paying for Tiger's name to create a world-class product. They did. Tiger '99 features a wonderfully fast 18 holes (less than a half hour per game), beautiful ball cams, smooth multiplayer gaming over the Net and a handful of challenging courses to choose from.

Pro 18: World Tour Golf
Psygnosis
www.psygnosis.com/
pro18
$20
Rating: Bogey

Though it's fun to putt on the virtual green against pros such as Tom Lehman or Mark O'Meara, Pro 18 suffers from sophomoric graphics, poor multiplayer capability and lackluster gameplay. The course selection is pleasing, though (among them, Royal County Down and Sun City's The Lost City Golf Course).