The Golf Club

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Gaming Age
    Sep 9, 2014
    42
    As it is now, especially without a trial for fans to judge for themselves, the game is too hit or miss for me to say that spending $35 is a wise option here.

Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
24
#24 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 70 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 70
  3. Negative: 20 out of 70
  1. SnazzyD
    Aug 26, 2014
    10
    The golf game I've been waiting 20 years for. Amazing course creation tools, cross platform uploading/sharing, decent graphics, very solidThe golf game I've been waiting 20 years for. Amazing course creation tools, cross platform uploading/sharing, decent graphics, very solid physics and NONE of the annoying "extras" from the Tiger Woods game. Just golf as it should be...peaceful, relaxing, contemplative, infinite replayability. They have a few issues to work out but the 8 or 9 I'd give it right now has to be a 10 to balance out the moronic 0 scores you'll see on here - the Internet for you, ladies and gents.… Full Review »
  2. Hi_Im_Game
    Aug 27, 2014
    8
    Felt compelled to write a review after seeing all the negative ones. This game is a solid golf game with a lot of different golf courses withFelt compelled to write a review after seeing all the negative ones. This game is a solid golf game with a lot of different golf courses with varying difficulties. It also has a very calm atmosphere that makes it relaxing to play after a long day. Commentary is a nice refresher because it is just some random guy giving you tips or critiquing your on your game, almost like you are playing with someone in real life. I have run into screen tearing issues and reduced FPS especially when having three other AI "playing" along side you. Once you turn them off, I have not had issues since. The general game is solid and I really enjoy the putting aspect of the game which takes a little practice to get a hang of (couple of rounds should do it). Overall, there is such a large potential of courses to play based on the community being able to create courses and constant updates from the developers that this game has the potential for a long life. I have yet to try course editor or multiplayer (I don't, however, like the idea of asynchronous mutliplayer which I hope they fix that at some point once the game becomes more optimized). If this game gets synchronous multiplayer with 4 people, I would change my review to a 10. I was skeptical at first whether or not to buy this game based on the so-called "critic" reviews but I am really happy I did. The game is not perfect by any means but every single round of golf I have played so far has been enjoyable. If you want to level up your character, get the best gear, optimize your golfer to look exactly like you want, play PGA tour events or challenges, etc, then this game is not for you. If you want to play a golf game on equal footing with everyone else in the world and challenge yourself to get the best scores on large amount of different golf courses then give this game a try.… Full Review »
  3. Bootsy
    Aug 27, 2014
    8
    Oh what a difference 1080p and a frame rate that can sustain 30 fps makes with The Golf Club! The PS4 version of The Golf Club comes a lotOh what a difference 1080p and a frame rate that can sustain 30 fps makes with The Golf Club! The PS4 version of The Golf Club comes a lot closer than its rival next-gen console to living up to the stated objective (Ref. Gamepur, March 11, 2014) of 1080p at frame rates nearing 60 fps for each. The PS4 iteration of The Golf Club not only looks like a different class of product while sitting still, it does a solid job of maintaining 30 fps with vsync enabled. The screen tearing with vsync off is going to be distracting to most gamers and enabling vsync is a must for getting rid of at least 90% of it. You can leave vsync off and reap the benefits of frame rates that will creep into the lower 40s - and it is perceptible - if the screen tearing doesn't bother you. There is an improvement that I can feel and see in the swing interface/golfer animation when vsync is off and the setting is one that the game engine can render at ~40 fps; however, it's solid enough at 30 fps to get the job done without screen tearing.

    The PS4's ability to sustain 30 fps keeps makes the swing interface feel a lot more responsive and intuitively rewarding. One of The Golf Club's biggest shortcomings is the lack of feel with the pitching, chipping, and flop shot swing mechanics. There just didn't seem to be enough gradients in the control range that the controller could hit with any scaling that felt congruent with the senses in the PC (medium spec gaming PC @ 30 fps) and XB1 versions. The PS4 version's interfaces with these shot types comes a lot closer to hitting mark in giving the gamer a more natural feel with these, but still needs improvement to attain what is achievable.

    The 1080p environment allows for more natural and organic looking grass textures, more detailed blades in the rough, and richer sand textures. The golfer and golf club lines are smoother and mostly free of jagginess. There is just a hint of the flicker the 720p lines produce when animated. It may sound insignificant, but the simple fact that the ball is displayed with higher resolution allows it to have a more intricately shaded, and spherical appearance. When coupled with the fact that this now more 3-D looking ball is being animated with some texture, it appears to be rolling smoothly across the green surface at 30 fps, as opposed to a 2-D circular blip that's being painted in stages in 720p, and often sub 30 fps frame rates on its XB1 counterpart.

    The Greg Norman Course Designer is a big part of the package and is ultimately what will give The Golf Club competitive leverage over golf games to come, who don't have a course creation utility. It's powerful enough to generate what I consider to be commercial grade quality courses, but there's a learning curve associated with being able to generate distinctive courses that other gamers will want to play over and over. The PC version still has a clear advantage in this area, but it's had the benefit of being incrementally updated through Early Access on Steam.

    Yes, the gameplay options are limited, there's no career mode, and the turn-based multiplayer isn't being executed in real time. There's about a 6 to 10 second delay between the time your opponent hits their shot and you see the shot carried out on your screen. If you're in voice chat with your competitor, it creates a lot of awkward confusion and usually their vocal reaction to the shot is a spoiler. Without voice chat nothing is given away in terms of a spoiler, but you're still aware of the server delay. This alone will add 20 to 25 minutes to the time required to play a two player round in turn based play. Simultaneous play is an option and it will flow a lot smoother. It hides some of the server delay because you're not having to wait for your opponents shot to be depicted and finished... there's no fast-forward or skip to finish button while watching opponent's shots.

    The sound effects in the game are as good as I've heard for ball striking. You can easily hear the difference between a squarely hit shot and one that's been "toed". I personally like the commentary in the game. It's casual and not meant to be taken as a professional TV broadcaster covering a golf event, he's an ordinary guy who gives you advice and comments on your shots as if he were another amateur playing the round with you. He'll also chide and compliment you accordingly. It can get a little repetitive, but a new zinger gets tossed in frequently enough to keep it interesting.

    The Golf Club has enough simulation value to appeal to golfers who want no help, but if you pick your courses right, the casual more arcade oriented golfer can find some fun in the game. The difference between what's classified as an "Easy" course and a "Medium" course is a blurry line. Over time, you'll develop a list of favorite courses that the game will remember for you.

    The Golf Club is a steal at $35 and will provide lasting play value.    … Full Review »
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