We see a lot of posts in the forums about some of the more "elite" players on this site being accused of all sorts of treachery. Cheating, sand bagging, "auto-dingers" etc.
At first you look at this game and you think, "How can I be shooting the best golf I can and scoring a 64 and then some other golfers here are shooting a 54! or better!" It just seems impossible, knowing your abilities, and then taking it further and thinking what you could possibly score on a perfect day, when everything goes right...and still not be able to get to that score.
So now you're already bewildered because of the scores you have seen on this site, and if you can get past the fact that these guys are not cheating, then you focus your attention on the fact that this "realistic" golf game isn't realistic at all!
The lowest recorded score in professional golf was a 55 shot by a chap named Homero Blancas. That is an incredible score...Even if it were to be made on this game. But how is it that some players on here can do even better. Forgive my lack of research but I think the lowest score on WGT is either a 51 or a 52. For obvious reasons, that boggles the mind!
How can this happen? I think I know how...
None of us would compare ourselves in real life golf to a Luke Donald or a Lee Westwood. It's unrealistic. You might have a 12 handicap and constantly shoot around 80 or lower on a real golf course...But you know for a fact you will never shoot a 62 like Westward did at Sun City's Gary Player Country Club last weekend. This you know as a fact, and can accept it. So why compare yourself to the likes of a BolloxInbruges? You know he's a better player, so why not accept that like Westwood...you can't shoot those scores.
Secondly. A Pro golfer has to walk 18 holes, no golf carts allowed. So he has to battle fatigue while posting a score to get him on a leader board. He has to "judge" the wind...not be given the exact speed like we get given here on the game. His lie is crucial, how strong is he? And how does he address the ball with obstacles around him, we're given the same stance no matter the lie in this game, and everyone has the same strength in this game, just club type makes a difference in distance here. A pro golfer has to read his putt, he does not have the luxury of little red coloured dots telling him where the break is, like we do. We play the same courses over and over and over, they however are in a different country (jet lag involved there) and a different course every weekend. Sometimes it's freezing cold, it could be hot as hell even, maybe even a light rain could be around. Besides a difference in wind from hole to hole or course to course...we have perfect conditions all the time on this game.
Now we have to think about all those things and wonder why some people can shoot better scores in this game than a real life pro, (if you still have to think about that). We're in our favourite chair, playing a game we know, with perhaps your favourite beverage near by, completely relaxed, no crowds or pressure...clicking one button. That's all that is asked of us...the click of a button. WITHOUT all of the above physical demands I have mentioned above. It's kinda simple...just one button.
Then you get people arguing this game isnt realistic because of the scores. Remember...It's a game. A computer game...and should be considered as such. The more you try believe it should be "real" the sooner you will find yourself on the slippery slope of alternate reality. A computer game is a computer game, and real life is real life. Of course there will be differences in how things happen. One is real...one is not. The one thing we can compare about the two is this...They are both LOADS of fun!
Play YOUR game, not someone else's. There will always be someone out there better than you, acknowledging that fact will make you a better player in time.
With that small reality check over with. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, I hope you all come back from the holidays a little bit fatter, a little bit happier and of course, completely safe.
And remember, no matter what, to always have fun! :)
Tim