To qualify my following comments.... Let me first say I enjoyed Oakmont and will miss the opportunity to play the same on this platform. I mean no disrespect to any of the post contributors..... However, should the verbage hit a little close to home, or the shoe fits.....please feel free to take it personally and carry on with your rage as normal...
I find it rather amusing to read all the speculation regarding the "agreement" cancellation between WGT and Oakmont. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I have yet to see a bonafide letter of communication between WGT and Oakmont and the said agreement....or lack of. I have, on the other hand, seen all the wild ass speculation from the member "Master Negotiators" and "Insider Intellectuals" regarding the topic. This being said...... Who are you blaming today..... Oakmont or WGT? Furthermore...... I have yet to locate the paragraph in the WGT Terms of Use where it is stated that Oakmont (and any other course or game for that matter) is a guaranteed item on WGT...... Tell ya what.... I'll ante up 100,000 credits to the first "member" that produces the actual bonafide WGT/Oakmont Agreement and the said paragraph that WGT guarantee's Oakmon'ts availability for play........
Moving along to those who feel as if WGT "owe's" them something. Let's put this in perspective....... On WGT you can play the game for free (assuming you have a preference to slap around house eggs with starter sticks). Why would anyone assume they are "owed" anything different? Why is it there is a sense of entitlement for tenure? One can purchase upgraded clubs, balls, etc...... and use accordingly; however, when those balls expire you got your money's worth. Now, should WGT arbitrarily decide to replace your (purchased and paid for clubs) with something inferior you have a complaint....anything else, not so much. Bottom line is...... if you spend credits or cash for equipment...... you get what you pay for, nothing more or nothing less.
Love the posting of Oakmont's address for the letters. What is to be accomplished here? Obviously there is no information on previously mentioned agreement... shall we chastise Oakmont without knowing any details? Same applies to the posting the GM's phone number.......let's bombard him with demeaning voice mails (similar to the usual member / member banter experienced here in this forum). LMFAO.... I can hear the Oakmont comments now...." Geez, listen to these idiots." "Wow, glad we didn't renew. had we known these people are this crazy, we would have got out a long time ago." Hell, let's even invite the Oakmont principles to vist the WGT forum, where they can read all the " WGT favorable" comments the members post daily ....surely all these positive comments will encourage Oakmont to return to the table and renew <-----lmao
Now let's take a look at "WHY" a golf course would care to to engage in the Virtual Golf Experience. Now, before we go down this road, I'm sure some idiot is already thinking and ready to post "For Exposure". LMFAO... Really? Oakmont needs "exposure'? That's akin to asking Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones to play for "exposure" rather than currency.....
Perhaps a golf course wants to capitalize on the merchandising of their logo products (the money makers---- Balls, Shirts, Hats and Visors, Green Fees....) Considering the amount of participation from wgt members purchasing such products is astronomical I can see this as being a HUGE reason to be involved. Oakmont will certainly have a great financial loss from all the WGT members that won't be making the trip to Pennsylvania and purchasing the goods. Better yet, WGT members wont be purchasing the items from the Virtual WGT Pro Shop or clicking on the nonexistent direct link to Oakmont's Pro Shop......
Perhaps a golf course would enjoy participating in a virtual experience where their course can be played, enjoyed, as a "BIG Event" (Open) Championship. That sounds fantastic....until the course realizes that 50% of previous VUSO winners have been declared as cheats and their accounts have been disabled...... that's gotta leave a great taste in the mouth.
Perhaps a golf course has a great desire to partner with an organization that proclaims a "realistic golf experience"....... where cheats run rampant, players adorn tuxedos, the "clash" takes top billing, fairways are littered with fore caddies carrying tape measures and virtual rulers, golden and magical putters are awarded , golf carts are all equipped with a "swing meter boost button", premium "meow" balls are available in the pro shop, multi's and re-starts are all hopped up on that ball speed boost -level up bug juice, and shooting a 54 may or might not make the cut...... I mean really folks....this is a realistic as it gets, I can't understand why golf courses are not standing in line to get some of this action......
Perhaps................... we should be thankful we had the opportunity and privilege to play and experience Oakmont. There should be no hard feelings, letters, phone calls....etc. Perhaps they simply did not see "gimmick golf" in their future.....and ya gotta respect that decision.........