Sportware® Golf could be just the thing to help bring these two camps closer together. For the golf enthusiast it offers informative tutorials and hints. For the uninitiated it offers a great overview of golf as a sport.
Golf is a visually appealing and remarkably well made program. Each of the six main screens represents a different part of the golf game. From the Clubhouse to the Starter Shed, the Practice Tee to the First Tee, no detail is overlooked. Even the credits are well done. Rather than being forced down your throat, they are set up like a sponsor's tent. A simple click here and there and you can learn about the various groups involved in the production of this marvelous disc.
There are two ways to explore this disc. For those who like to carry their bags around the course, I would recommend the visual route through the program. Each screen has a number of links represented by on-screen objects. In the Pro Shop, for example, you simply click on the various racks of clubs to find out about each type. Each screen is like this, and it is nice to see how much attention was put into each.
For those who prefer a golf cart, click on the compass symbol at the bottom of the screen and you are provided with a quick access outline. Simply flow through the chart until you find where you want to go and presto, you're there.
The Starter Shed and Clubhouse are the places to go if you want to learn more about capital g Golf. Here you can access the rules and etiquette of the game or learn about golfers in the Hall of Fame. You can read about the origins of golf and review tournament histories. A must for beginner and expert alike.
The next logical step would be to approach the first tee. Here you can learn about the various types of competitions, including game and tournament formats and the rules for over two dozen different scoring variations. Now you can find out the real reason your boss continually outscores you.
Despite what your boss tells you, the heart of the game of golf is your individual performance. To improve your game you must step up to the Practice Tee. This is the heart and soul of Sportware® Golf, a detailed and in-depth tutorial for all skill levels. You can learn the rudiments of the long and short games as well as how to manage your game better.
Each skill level includes numerous guides, from the initial grip for the beginner to advanced concepts such as the swing plane or pivot theory. Improve your shots with tips on putting, chipping, driving ,and pitching. From your stance to your swing, chances are there will be something here for you.
Finally, you will be ready to go back to the Pro Shop for the Destinations guide. If you have ever had a question about a particular club or brand, chances are the Sportware® Golf Pro Shop has it. You can access detailed information on thousands of specific makes and models. There is a detailed description accompanied by a photograph and directions on where to call to find out more.
Once you are properly equipped, open up the Destinations file to consider plans for your next vacation. You can either look for specific resorts by utilizing Golf's search option, letting you look through states or actual course names, or look at the regionally planned trips. Each trip is well thought out and includes several courses, often in a number of states.
Each course is profiled, and hotel and course phone numbers are provided. Sportware® Golf is an impressive package. The attention to detail makes it fun to use, although it can be frustrating sometimes trying to figure out which items on the screen are links to other pages. But these nuisances are minor compared to the grandeur of the whole program. In golf parlance, and I have to say this, Golf is a hole in one.
Wes Breazeale is a freelance writer who speaks softly and carries a big six-iron. You can view screen shots of this program, as well as others he as reviewed, at his web page -- http://lclark.edu/~breazeal/cd-roms.html.
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