Golden Tee 2012 is here!  Check out the 2012 Courses category for more on each course, but this article will focus on what’s new in the upcoming release! First, we know that we now have a third option for ball spin.  We know how to use backspin and roll, but now we’ve been given a [...]

You’ll be using a vast array of clubs on this hole depending on your tee box placement and the wind!  This green is always drivable, and you’ll usually use backspin to hold the green. The biggest danger here is the water if you go long, and it is pretty easy to miss long here too!  [...]

If the wind is NOT blowing left and/or straight out, you’ll try to curve the ball around the mountain to the right and land on the green patch that surrounds it.   The farther around you go, the better approach shot you’ll have, because a driver can be very tough especially with a left pin. [...]

There are several different angles into this green, but almost all of them will be a straight shot towards a particular target on the green.  The green slopes severely down towards the water, so it can make your decision whether or not to use backspin quite difficult.  Usually, if you’re hitting a driver, you want [...]

Here’s another Yin Yang green, but it’s much more difficult.  As you’ve probably already noticed, the fringe separating the green from the mud will NOT stop the ball — it’s sloped towards the mud.  Actually, it’s like there’s no fringe at all, because if you get too close, that ball is sucked down into the [...]

Find a spot in the rough or the fairway that seems like the best angle towards the flag with the wind conditions.  The approach shot can be tough here, so take a bit of time to strategize your tee shot. I’ve heard that pros are driving this hole on occasion!  One instance involved a B2 [...]

Here’s one of the coolest holes in the game, offering you a chance at eagle if you can somehow land your tee shot on top of The Great Wall!  Difficulty depends on the tee box and wind.  Sometimes a straight-forward 5-wood does the job no problem, but other times you’ll have to find the right [...]

This hole is always considered driveable, but sometimes from the back box it can be really tough if you don’t have the right equipment! HOLE-OUT FROM THE FRONT-LEFT BOX HOLE-OUT FROM THE MIDDLE-RIGHT BOX

A good effort off the tee is required to reach the green on your second shot.  A big A1 is usually best, but you can sometimes cut the corner just as effectively with a straight B2 shot.  Here’s a nice holed-out driver from 301.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that this is a downhill shot, so you may think about clubbing down once off the tee.  If the wind is in your face, try laying off the backspin and just landing on the front of the green, where your ball will trickle down to the middle.  Backspin can [...]

I usually lay back behind the sand and water, allowing me to come into the green with anything from a 5-wood to a 3-wood.  It’s about the same distance right of the sand, too, or if you’re brave you can cut over all of it for a shorter approach! EXAMPLE HOLE-OUT FROM LAYING BACK EXAMPLE [...]

There’s no need to try to clear the river here.  Lay back and stick your approach shot close.  Here’s an example hole-out from laying up a ways back, and here’s one from under 200, still behind the water.

From the front box, you’ll usually have a 3-wood to 5-wood that can be pretty straight at the flag.  Here’s a 3-wood with a bit of curve holed out from the front box. From the middle box, you’ll usually curve a 3-wood around the corner, usually with backspin to hold the green.  Here’s an example. [...]

As with hole #4, you should bypass the obvious shortcut circle you see.  Instead, rotate right a couple times and play a big C3 with roll down the fairway.  The approach can be long at times, but you should always be able to get there in two, and you’ve taken the risk out of the [...]

3 tee boxes and 3 potential greens present a whole array of possibilities!  The Yin Yang-shaped greens are quite difficult when the pin is tucked back into the tip, so you’ll often have to be quite accurate if you want an easy birdie putt. FRONT LEFT BOX TO FRONT LEFT GREEN MIDDLE BOX TO BACK [...]

There’s nothing wrong with laying back off the tee — it’s just as easy to birdie from here.  Here’s an example hole-out from 212, well behind the water. If you’re comfortable with a bit of a longer approach shot because it would line you up with the wind, you can blast it straight farther down [...]

From the front box and middle boxes, this hole is always driveable.  Here’s an example 5-wood hole-out from the front, and here’s a driver hole-out from the middle. From the back box, it depends — it might not be driveable for you.  If you’re playing the balls that give you extra distance off the tee, [...]

The square landing spot is not where you should be aiming.  If you’ve got the red distance balls, just pound your driver straight ahead into the rough — you’ll still be able to get on in 2 easily. Otherwise, you can play an A1 or C3 into other parts of the rough.  The rough in [...]

The only thing to warn against here is if the pin is tucked in by one of the edges of the star.  If so, make sure you err towards the center of the green so you don’t have to putt through rough towards the pin!  If you have a shorter putt, say 20-feet or less, [...]

A very long par 4, but not too difficult with the flat green — make sure to leave yourself a putt. EXAMPLE HOLE-OUT

Some guys are driving this hole with a tailwind using a low-loft driver and the red D2 distance balls!  Even if you can’t drive it, you can consider a big A1 or C3 with roll off the tee to get pretty close to the green.  If you have good chipping skills you might be able [...]