Nouvelles WGT Golf

Virtual club rentals are free on World Golf Tour this Saturday and Sunday of Masters Weekend.

Try out the latest virtual equipment, all free, while you're watching all the action at Augusta this weekend.

Play the new TaylorMade R1 or R11S drivers, the RocketBallz Stage 2 woods, the Nike Covert multi-loft driver, or any of the top virtual clubs that you've had your eye on.

Rent Free Clubs

*Offer available to WGT players renting virtual clubs from 4/13/13-4/14/13, free 24-hour rental period, and clubs can be re-rented during that time.

Just added to World Golf Tour: Merion Golf Club Back 9 Challenge, as part of this year's Virtual U.S. Open.

The Back 9 at Merion is now available to play in closest-to-the-hole games on WGT. Get your first look at the back 9 holes, and play for your chance to win $500 USGAshop.com prizes.

Play Merion Back 9

The full Virtual U.S. Open 18-hole stroke play golf course on Merion will be available in May. It all leads up to the real event run by the USGA at Merion in June, which is the fifth U.S. Open at Merion.

*The Back 9 Challenge tournament is free to enter and open to WGT players in all countries, see tournament rules for details and eligibility.

WGT players can now enjoy the Back 9 at Merion Golf Club, new all-around TaylorMade Lethal Balls, increased payouts on Hole-in-One Challenges, and much more!

Merion Back 9 for Virtual U.S. Open

Following last month's release of the Front 9 Challenge, we're excited to give you your first look at the Back 9 on Merion Golf Club in a fun, closest-to-the hole challenge.

Play the new Merion Back 9 Challenge tournament for your chance at $500 USGAshop.com prizes.

And in May, the full 18 holes will be available for stroke play games as part of the 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier, hosted exclusively on World Golf Tour.

Bigger Hole-In-One Payouts

Hole-in-One Challenges just got bigger payouts and are also now available on all par-3 holes on World Golf Tour.

Based on WGT player feedback, the payouts have been increased for hole-in-ones, as well as landing the ball within 1 or 5 feet of the hole. Look for Hole-In-One Challenges on all ranked stroke play and closest-to-the-hole courses.

Improve Your Power Control with Shot Pal

Get the new WGT Shot Pal to help you improve the power control of your shots. The Shot Pal overlays on the swing meter when you're taking a shot, helping you select the precise power on every shot, similar to the popular WGT Putter Pal.

Shot Pal is available with 20 to 2,000 shots, starting at only 10 Credits, and makes a great gift for your WGT friends.

Make Your Game LETHAL

Get the new all-around top-performance ball from TaylorMade.

The TaylorMade Lethal virtual golf balls feature a unique balance of extra distance, spin, control and durability -- plus a slower WGT swing meter -- and unlock early at Level 7 for top players new to WGT.

New "Ballz-ier" Drivers

Join the pros and get the "ballz-ier" driver upgrades from TaylorMade with the RocketBallz Stage 2 clubs, featuring better performance and longer-ier distance, including...

• Rocketballz Stage 2 Driver unlocks at Level 20 and Level 40

Celebrate the Opening Day of the MLB season with WGT and get one FREE WGT Baseball virtual golf ball just for playing World Golf Tour today 4/1.

This virtual golf ball has the official WGT Baseball: MLB logo, a red vapor trail, and red baseball stitching. It makes a great gift for baseball fans too!

Play Today

And join the millions of fans now playing WGT Baseball: MLB, free on Facebook.

*Special offer available to all WGT players who log in on 4/1/13, receive one free WGT Baseball: MLB virtual vapor ball.

Play this year's Virtual U.S. Open Front 9 Challenge on World Golf Tour for a chance to win $500 USGAshop.com prizes.

Two players will each win $500 gift cards to USGAshop.com, one to the player with the top leaderboard score, and the other to a lucky sweepstakes winner chosen at random. This tournament is open to WGT players in all countries.

Play Merion Front 9

As part of the 2013 Virtual U.S. Open on WGT, the Back 9 Challenge on Merion will be coming in April, and the full 18 hole stroke play course on Merion will be available in May.

It all leads up to the real event hosted by the USGA at Merion in June, which is the fifth U.S. Open at Merion, including the famous 1950 comeback victory by Ben Hogan.

One of the most popular and fun multi-player golf games on World Golf Tour is Alternate Shot, called Alt Shot by most players. Here are some game tips to help you get started playing Alt Shot games on WGT.

ALT SHOT – Alternate Shot games are where two-person teams take turns hitting each shot until the hole is finished, much like the rotation when you’re playing a game of billiards. If you hit the first drive on a hole, then your partner will hit the next shot from where your ball landed, then you will take the next turn from where their ball landed, continuing until the hole is finished.

TEAMS – You can either organize your own Alt Shot game or join one on WGT. You will either be placed on Team Green or Team Gold. Alt Shot is best with friends, many players have a weekly virtual tee time to connect online and chat while they play.

ORDER – The players that tee off first for their team will tee off on the odd-numbered holes (1, 3, 5…), and their partner will tee off on the even-numbered holes (2, 4, 6…). You will hit from the tee box that matches your tier. For example, if you’re an Amateur, then you’ll tee off from the front tee box, but your Legend partner would tee off from the back tee box. This helps keep the match fair.

BALL – When it’s your turn to hit, you will use the golf ball that’s currently equipped in your inventory, and your partner will be using their own ball as well, so your ball only accumulates hits from the shots that you take.

SCORING – Alt Shot has the same scoring rules as Match Play games, with the lowest score on each hole winning, and ties don't carry to the next hole like with Skins games. And since you don't post a full score, Alt Shot games do not count against your scoring average.

CHALLENGES – You currently cannot play Alt Shot games for WGT Credits, like you can in Match Play, Skins and CTTH Challenge games, but let us know if you'd like to see that added in the future.

DISCONNECTIONS – Similar to Match Play games, each team gets three total disconnections before they forfeit the game, as follows...

• 1st disconnection per team = No penalty
• 2nd disconnection per team = That team loses the hole
• 3rd disconnection per team = That team loses the match

For more game tips from the WGT community, be sure to visit the Forum.

This is your chance to get the newest virtual driver to hit World Golf Tour, the TaylorMade R1 driver.

Enter the free WGT R1 Challenge tournament and post your best score for your chance to win. The top score per tier each wins a free virtual R1 driver.

Play Free Tournament

The R1 is a great all-around driver with more distance and forgiveness from the new clubhead and the specially-tuned shaft. This virtual driver even outperforms drivers available to more advanced WGT players, and is available to players at all levels...

• TaylorMade R1 10 degree Driver (Level 11+) with Aldila 55-gram shaft
• TaylorMade R1 9 degree TP Driver (Level 48+) with Aldila 65-gram shaft
• TaylorMade R1 8 degree Super TP Driver (Level 98+) with OBAN Kiyoshi White 65-gram shaft

*This tournament is open to WGT players in all countries and runs now thru 3/31/13.

Putting is a challenging part of golf to master, and virtual putting on World Golf Tour is no different.

We've put together some putting tips from top players to help you read the green and improve your virtual putting game.

PUTTING TUTORIAL - For a good general overview, check out the WGT Putting Tutorial video in the game or on YouTube here. 

GRID COLOR - Pay attention to the colors of the putting grid. The brighter the color is, the more significant the change in elevation.

• Black areas are flat
• Blue areas slope uphill 
• Red areas slope downhill

MOVING DOTS ON THE GRID - The moving white dots along the lines on your putting grid tell you the direction of the slopes on the green. 

• The faster the dots are moving, the bigger the break is, so the ball will roll faster over those areas.

POINTER MEASUREMENTS - The pointer also tells you how much uphill or downhill slope the putt has, so you can adjust your power.

GRID SQUARES - Each square on the grid represents 2 feet x 2 feet. 

PUTTER PAL - Many WGT players swear by the Putter Pal that displays below the swing meter with 10%, 25%, 50% and 75% marks to help you select the precise power on every putt. 

TAKE NOTES - Just like when you're playing the real golf course, if the green, breaks, putt, etc. didn't do what you expected, take notes for what to do differently and improve next time.

Here are some good WGT Forum posts by WGT players for additional tips:

• Putting Tip: Distance Control for beginners to cover the basics by nivlac
• StoneCold's Putting Clinic for more intermediate/advanced players by StoneColdKiller, 2012 Virtual U.S. Open Champion

For more putting and game tips from the WGT community, be sure to visit the Forum.

WGT NATION, get one FREE green vapor virtual golf ball just for playing World Golf Tour today, St. Patrick's Day.

We want to thank you for being a NATION member, so enjoy this free gift that we hope brings the extra distance, and spin brings you a little luck of the Irish.

Play Today

WGT NATION is a free program for top WGT players. Learn more and see if you're eligible here, and contact us anytime with questions on our Contact Page.

*Special offer available to WGT NATION members who log in on 3/17/13, receive one free WGT Tour GI-SD Vapor Ball.

The hottest driver on the PGA Tour, the TaylorMade R1, is now available to play on World Golf Tour.

The R1 is a great all-around driver with more distance and forgiveness from the new clubhead and the specially-tuned shaft.

These virtual drivers will outperform other drivers available to more advanced WGT players and are available for players at all levels...

• TaylorMade R1 10 degree Driver (Level 11+) with Aldila 55-gram shaft
• TaylorMade R1 9 degree TP Driver (Level 48+) with Aldila 65-gram shaft
• TaylorMade R1 8 degree Super TP Driver (Level 98+) with OBAN Kiyoshi White 65-gram shaft

You can also play in the new WGT R1 Challenge golf tournament on WGT for your chance to win a free R1 Virtual Driver.

Post your best score in this unlimited-play closest-to-the-hole tournament on Wolf Creek and the best score in each tier will get a free virtual driver. See rules for details.