Been playing this for quite some time now. Can shoot well under par on St. Andrews and Kiawah and the front 9 on Bethpage. Playing with purchased clubs and balls. The fact of the matter is that unless you are extremely lucky with clubs that you are "allowed" to purchase, you can't post solid numbers on the other courses.
Clubs don't go the yardage stated (and yes that is with wind calculated into the swing), putting spin on the ball does minimal good and delicate chips don't even get to the green due to some bug.
Hole 14 (I think this is the one on Bethpage) is not even par-able typically unless you have 20 mph wind behind you and drive the ball to a point where you can hit a wedge. Otherwise, it's impossible. If i have a 7 iron in my hand every day of the week from 165 uphill I will at least reach the green in a real outside golf day. In this game, you barely make it over the bunker and have to pray your chip, flop or regular hit goes as far as it tells you it will (yes...rough taken into equation).
It's a great game, in theory, but too many "unrealistic" things for me to pass along to people to try out let alone get addicted.
It's also not realistic when folks can fire 52's to 59's all day, everyday. If you are going to make it unrealistic and impossible for folks like me that play a lot, but can't cash out due to the **** that is this game in reference to not being able to purchase proper equipment due to level status, than at least make it impossible for those who seem to fire 15 under par on the worlds most difficult courses.