Noodledude:
How many have played REAL golf and had the following issues often?
1.) Huge divot right off of the green in the short rough?
2.) Cant drive a ball even 235 yards on a regular basis?
3.) Cant reach the green in regulation due to distance?
4.) The ball wont stop for you when you put backspin on it...if you know how?
5.) Cant hit the ball out of the rough on fairways?
6.) Cant hit the ball more than an inch if its in deep rough?
7.) The wind SUDDENLY changes in the opposite direction on EVERY SINGLE WHOLE?
I ask that if you shoot over 100-110 not to answer these. If however you average under lets say...oh 90 or so, you should not be encountering any of these. NONE. Please be honest about this, it is for your benefit on this games website and will help them to help you have a more accurate experience.
I do play real golf ... and spent a meager fortune learning how to play the game. I'm now a scratch golfer from the reds (actually a plus handicap). I usually spend $50 a month on real golf balls too (and that's the 4 sleeve price)! If I'm playing skins, best ball, Nassau or scramble, I will play from the whites so my handicap doesn't hurt my partners.
To answer your questions, I will assume you are talking about "starting out", not now (10+ years later and $$$$ spent).
#1 Yes, I've put huge divots next to the green when I first started playing golf ... the ball didn't go real far, nor did it go in the direction I wanted, but I did put a sizable divot in the approach on more than one occasion.
#2, I still can't drive a ball 235 yards on a regular basis. I have to employ much more intelligent course management and know how to work my mid irons and hybrids to reach the green in regulation.
#3 - for me is long par 3's mostly. I prefer to lay up and shoot for par. No need sending a long shot off the green and into trouble when a layup and wedge to the pin will do the trick.
#4 - when I started playing, I had used equipment, and my wedges were completely worn out. So were most of the other clubs' grooves. I also didn't have a clue how to put backspin on a ball, so yeah, none of my shots to the green ever stopped, unless I did something unusual ... and then I couldn't repeat it, because I had no clue what I had done.
#5 - confused ... rough on fairways. Isn't that why they say, "keep it in the short grass"? now for hitting out of the rough, in the beginning I didn't know the difference of "with the grain" and "against the grain". That took a while to learn. So, yeah, I left quite a few shots in the rough when I started playing real golf. Here, there isn't a difference ... rough is rough, and if you attempt to "chip" from the rough in this game, it won't go anywhere. Switch to pitching in this game if your in any rough at all (unless you're right on the edge of the rough and your close to your target).
#6 - see #5
#7 - I haven't experienced that, except for when they follow the ball and do a reverse camera view. Of course, on reverse angle, the wind is going to change a full 180 degrees!
Now, to summarize, while this isn't "real golf", it's a pretty good simulation. The starter equipment you get and the unlimited balls are just like real life ... worn-out hand-me-down clubs and the $20 for 96 bag-o-balls you get for practice. As you improve in the real game, you make a huge investment by getting fitted for clubs and purchasing new irons, wedges, hybrids, woods and driver. You talk to a pro, check swing speed and get the balls that fit your swing. Then you start losing more expensive balls in the rough, in the water and in people's back yards, until you get better. Even now, I'll hit an errant shot and lose a ball ... it's usually when I'm trying to work the ball and the ball simply quits on the job you attempted to employ it to do. Now here, you purchase better equipment to improve your game. The lower level equipment will keep you in the higher-handicap range, while the higher-level equipment will greatly improve your game.
My advice ... play the game for fun until you get to the mid 30 levels ... then look to upgrade your equipment. Check out the Match Play and Alt Shot games and make some friends. Enjoy it ... it is a great internet game!
Kat