8 Year Old Aims To Be Youngest Golfer To Qualify for US Womens Open

http://www.examiner.com/golf-in-national/8-year-old-sanford-aims-to-be-youngest-golfer-to-qualify-for-u-s-women-s-open

Free Online Golf Games funny golf sign

Free Online Golf Games has come across this funny golf sign on getaway:  http://www.getaway.co.za/article/funny-signs-december-2010

Virtual Golf: The Virtual Open Golf Tournament Games

The Virtual Open Golf Championship Tournament is played on the very accurately digitised simulation of The Old Course at St Andrews and is the absolute highlight of the digital Golfing worlds year.

Scheduled to run in parallel with the real physical version of the British Golf Open championship & developed with the approval of the organisers (the prestigious Royal & Ancient Golf Club) of the actual UK Golf Open. The free online version of this ancient competition (probably the earliest established Golf competition in the world) is sure to be as eagerly followed as the real thing by the online golfing community.

Its fitting that the free online Golf game version of the oldest Championships out of the four 'majors' (annual Golf championships) played every year has been chosen to be put through the advanced technological process of digitisation. Mixing the best of the old physical game with new computer game development technology to bring a truly incredible computer game & virtual golfing experience.

The Open is the only one of the Golf 'majors' to be played in the UK and is played on The Old Course at St Andrews, usually every 5 years or so, the rest of the time you will find it being played on any one of the nine other UK Golf courses that can host The Open. The Open is not played exclusively on The Old Course but it has been very regularly since 1873. Due to its popularity and history it is the course that has been chosen for the virtual version of the UK Open.

The free online version of The Open will ultimately have 156 competitors in the actual tournament but they will need to qualify first and competition is expected to be very healthy indeed. Qualifying is now open and there is no limit to how often you can attempt to qualify so the quicker you start the more chances you will have and hence the more likely you are to end up playing in the Championship. Its possible of course you may even win one of the fantastic range of prizes on offer (unfortunately not the 5 Million pounds prize money in the real life version), not to mention the sheer enjoyment of the game and the standing you will be held in by your digital Golfing contemporaries for actually making the grade.

The game play also seems to have been improved even further, especially for the virtual open version, compared to the previous rounds I have played on The Old Course at St Andrews I have noticed a considerable difference. Whilst I did not think it was possible the game play is even more sensitive and responsive and much more difficult. The putting greens and fairways seem to have every single bump and depression accurately represented making it all the more challenging.

I have completed previous games on The Old course on par (well almost) but in my current attempts at qualifying I find myself scoring double bogeys on almost every hole and winning the bronze and tin awards for worst player. These improvements in game play have clearly resulted in a much more challenging course which should make the Virtual Open a very interesting tournament indeed.

 

PC Golf Games

New PC Golf games are released every year. As they are a popular sector of the PC gaming community, plenty of user reviews can be found online, allowing the avid PC golf gamer to make, informed decisions when they're on the lookout to buy a new PC golf game.

Many of the games available to buy are endorsed by some of the world's biggest players who are payed millions of dollars to have their names and faces emblazoned on the game. These endorsements are not just a marketing strategy as often the world class player has provided amazing insight, commentary, tips and tricks - it's like having one on one coaching with a golfing champion! New users are often amazed by the depth of knowledge provided by the voice overs and tutorials in PC Golf Games. So as well as being immensely fun to play, one may find one learns plenty at the same time.

When you first embark on a new PC Golf Game, you might first be confused and frustrated by the controls. They do need a certain degree of co-ordination in order to influence the realistic physics on the club and ball. Once you have the hang of it though, you can relax into the game and begin to enjoy the thoughtful details created by the game designers; sound effects such as birdsong and the depressing plop as your ball lands in that annoying water hazard. Not to mention the details of your avatar - depending on the game you can choose to fashion one of your own, or choose to play with one of the world's biggest golfing legends.

What differentiates one PC Golfing game better than another? This is a tough question to answer and generally boils down to personal preference. One basic make or break element is easy to learn and execute controls. Though it may take time to master well designed controls, badly designed ones will leave a gamer feeling constantly unsatisfied. Therefore you should allow a few sessions with the game in order to determine whether the controls are right for you. If, after hours of trying you find yourself still frustrated, perhaps the game is letting you down, a perfect time to blame your tools: a case of bad clubs, not a bad golfer! Apart from controls, as a gamer one must decide what is is they want from a game: high performance graphics, realistic scenery and physics, a sense of humour. Undoubtedly, with a bit of shopping around (not to mention browsing reviews on the internet), one can find the perfect fit - a PC Golf Game that ticks all your own boxes.

It's also useful to look at screen shots, video demos, and sometimes to download the free demo version of a game before you choose to buy. Above all else, these things will help you make an informed decision before purchasing one golf game over another.

Computer Golf Games

Computer Golf Games

Market research has shown that Golf is one of the most exclusive of sports. It's enthusiasts most often earn more, travel more and own more property than the average citizen. Though this lends golf a certain allure, it's cost as well as it's perceived snobbery make it a difficult sport for the average person to become involved in. Computer Golf simulations have leveled the field and golfing, like all other 'real world' sports has found a popular and lucrative niche in the computer gaming market. Anyone can play very convincing virtual golf for free on the internet while true golfing enthusiasts can spend whatever their pockets allow on special software and gaming equipment. Someone who has never enjoyed a real world round of golf may find it bizarre that such a seemingly repetitive game has thrived in the online market. The truth of the matter is that many Computer Golf gamers are not real world golfers (just like most people who play soccer or surf on their tv games do not strap on their football boots often or grab a surf board and hit the beach).

Computer golf games come in many variations. Golf games also allow you to use a host of fancy controllers. Golf's popularity could be due to its combination of sportmanship and laid-back pace. Just as in real world golf, computer golf is most satisfying when approached with the intention of improving one's own technique - ie, to compete with yourself. Basic online golfing and Fantasy Golf games need no special equipment: All you need to manipulate the game is a standard keyword. On a television console version, of course the basic controller becomes your club, but more advanced golfing simulations (targeted at more fanatical gamers) will provide specialised equipment like simulation style hand-held clubs which provide a remarkably real-feel swing, resulting in your ball flying and bouncing through the on-screen course; each fairway, sandbank and water hazard rendered in eye-watering detail. In fact, first time players are often astonished by the quality of gameplay and graphics available.

You might want some in-depth criticism on your stance or swing. Maybe you are more interested in a fun, colourful game that can be played and enjoyed together as a family. Both styles of game-play, and everything in between can be found in the ever expanding Computer Golfing market for a fraction of the cost of real world club membership (and sometimes entirely for free!). We have yet to see what sort of impact these games will have on the "real thing". After all, how do we know that CEO's aren't brushing up on their swing in the office, with specialised computer golf games and then taking what they have learned out onto the course!

 

Flash Golf Games

Flash Golf Games can be played on a computer and even on your cell phone.  Flash adds complex animation, picture and sound quality to programmes, internet and games. Flash technology allows players to simulate the swing of a golf club by using a mouse, joystick or the buttons on a keyboard or keypad. Most online golfing, if they involve any type of animation at all, will require a Flash plugin - a small programme the user needs to download onto their PC or phone. If this software is not already on their gaming device, the site or application the online golfer has accessed will guide them to dowload it with ease.

Many popular golf gaming sites make use of flash technology. Because Flash is a popular and relatively easy programming tool, small time golf game developers can use Flash to enhance their gaming software. These fun and attractive games made by less well known developers are often called mini games. You can get free versions on certain websites, as well as downloadable versions. The mini games will not have the sponsorship available to larger, more established Flash Golf sites, but one can find certainly find quirky and enjoyable diversions among the myriad of Golf Mini Games available. Just keeping searching and trying out different Flash Golf games until you find one you can really get addicted to!

It is typical for a golf game that uses flash to require the user to hold down a button or key in order to maximise their swing - the longer they hold it the more powerful it becomes. The golf gamer will see their avatar (a virtual rendition of their player) pulling his or her club back to swing in perfect harmony with their key instruction. This can take a bit of getting used to. Many new golf gamers will really enjoy watching their avatar and the hard wack produced by holding down their key or button for a long time, whilst struggling with the finer co-ordination required for softer shot; needed once they are the virtual putting green. A common frustration is to overshoot those deliacte shots, it takes time to develop the precision needed to sink the ball. The velocity with which one will hit the golfball is often registered by a meter on the side of the screen, helping users refine their play strategy.

The one type of Golfing Game that often does not require Flash is Fantasy Golf, which has minimal animated play. Flash technology offers an interactive virtual golfing experience. Mini Golf, also known as Adventure Golf or Putt-Putt will often also require Flash programming in order to be played on a user's phone or computer.

Internet golf games

Internet golf games are a very popular sector of the computer golfing market. On the internet, gamers can choose from a variety of styles - from the technical to the quirky - all of which provide a fun an educational introduction to the world of golf. Gamers can choose to play solo, or join networks, sometimes involving hundreds of thousands of other gamers. There's the choice of playing a simple 18 hole game with some friends or participating in entire tournaments take place in the very best virtual golf courses. Playing virtual golf on the internet can sometimes feel even more real than actual golf as the amazing graphics allow you to intimately follow the balls trajectory, and provide you with instantaneous replays complete with scientific interpretations and statistics. The technology involved is such seemingly simple internet applications is remarkable.

Many internet golfing games are available to play free of charge and first time gamers are often surprised by the astonishing quality of the free games available. Some sites may offer a free demo version of the game, with a paid upgrade version available. For the sites where a small fee and registration process is required, this fee might enable a gamer to have the golf game conveniently downloaded to their mobile phones. Others that require payment often offer cash rewards if you win the site tournament. These sorts of incentives do not fall under the banner of "gambling", so you needn't worry. Just like a real game of golf, there is a something simultaneously relaxing and invigorating about stepping onto the virtual green to take on a couple of opponents in a winner-takes-all 18 hole challenge.

Smaller online games, sometimes known as flash or mini-games, are fun little applications, perfect for a tea-time distraction. The aim of these mini-games is often not hyperreal courses and players; They relocate the game of golf to strange and wacky locations, and allow you to be a weird and wonderful character. Some games on the net that classify themselves as golf games don't even use a ball or club at all: think Frisbee golf, shoe golf and medieval golf (where the ball is actually on the tip of an archers bow). If you think you don't like golf at all, you might still find yourself strangely addicted to these mini-games where satisfaction comes from improving your score over and over or gaining the basic thumb skills to finally beat that gloating friend of yours.

Internet golf games have risen to fame ever since their release and will most likely continue to do so. Of course, a trundle through the online putting greens available will not always bee 100% successful but you are sure to find at least half a dozen games that tickle your fancy, whether it be in depth swing analysis or a game on the moon with Pikachu you are looking for!