Imagine golfing on some of the finest courses without spending a dime for airfare, lodging or any of the other golf vacation expenses! Better yet, picture the ability to design your own killer course, and challenge yourself to the max!

Microsoft has put together a fantastic, user friendly UI. Everyone, from novice to expert gamers, will enjoy this golfing experience right out of the box! If you are new to golf sims, you will want to utilize the well thought–out tutorials and the practice facilities. They give you a leg up on the competition and allow you to gain the necessary experience quickly. If you are already familiar with golf sims, you will quickly recognize many of the game’s controls and settings and begin play immediately.

Getting Started
Novice and expert players alike will want to take a peek at the lessons offered in this package. If you are new, plan to spend a little more time here, as you will pick up tips that make your golf game more accurate (read: more enjoyable!). And think twice if you feel you do not need the lessons. We all have particular quirks when it comes to our swing patterns. Links 2001’s lessons may even have just the thing to improve your swing!

The main menu has several selections: Quick Start, Play Golf, Players, Videos and Online Play. The Quick Start menu option allows you to begin quickly — you only need to select your course and players. Play Golf gives you much more control over your playing experience. Here you can make selections that customize every part of your game. The Players menu item takes you to an area wherein you create new golfers or edit existing ones. The Videos menu option is very cool, offering you an overview of the many pre–designed courses that Links 2001 offers for your enjoyment.

A quick aside: A friend of mine has had the pleasure of playing the St. Andrews course, and when he saw the course as re–created in Links 2001, he was amazed by its realism. He remarked several times how certain objects (buildings, bunkers, etc.) were accurately positioned and portrayed. When a sim can provide you with this level of realism, your gaming experience is greatly enhanced!

The final main menu option is Online Play, which utilizes MSN Gaming Zone, LAN or Internet connections to play real–time with other golfers in match play or a tournament. Playing a match online against human opponents can be extremely addictive! Set a tee–time with a friend or join a game online. Be prepared to have the time of your life, your golfing experience will be second to none! You better think up an excuse in advance for your boss when you’re caught bleary-eyed some morning — unless of course he was your opponent from the night before!

Configuration
You use Select Options on the main menu to configure the game settings. Links 2001 gives you the ultimate selection of setting options for your golfing experience, and the various settings allow you to create such unbelievably realistic simulations that you might forget you are playing a game! Configuration options include game, graphic and multiplayer settings, course and player stats, sound, system info, verify score, MOP (Mode of Play) designer, course manager and player animations. The first three "settings" options plus the sound and system info are general configuration settings. The stats settings allow you to view or reset the stats for a specific course or player. Verify score allows you to check a player’s score for tournament quality validation. In the MOP designer you can create new rules or edit existing rules for playing specific games, such as two player Nassau, two player match play, skins and so on. Course manager allows edits of the pre–built courses. Player animation enables you to select the amount of animation that each player displays during a round. Using less animation is not as taxing on the processor.

Practice or Play?
Once all the configuration settings are complete, it is now time to decide whether to practice or play. As in the real world, initial warm–up practice will enable you to play a better round of golf. Many of us head straight for the course and play with our limited schedules, and you may do the same here. However, keep in mind that in the beginning your time is well spent practicing, since it will assist you in familiarizing yourself with the UI, as well as tweaking the player settings to optimize your equipment and swing choices.

Swing types include Easy, Classic or PowerStroke. Classic is the default swing, and gamers who have used previous golfing sims will be familiar with this swing type and adjust easily. Meanwhile, golfing sims have a similar swing pattern as the PowerStroke, which experienced gamers may be accustomed to. The PowerStroke will give these expert gamers an edge with "more power". Your control is lessened with this swing type so be judicious with it. Beginners are advised to use the Easy swing type, as it is the easiest to master. No matter which swing type you choose, be patient. Also, set your mulligans to unlimited and use them. I guarantee that after hundreds of hooks and slices, you will begin to find your groove and reduce the number of mulligans used to only a few per round.

Another hint: DO try the different swing types, but DON’T continue to switch. Find one that suits your playing style and stick with it. You will find your groove, I promise! The myriad of indicators (wind, slope, lie, etc.) on the screen can be annoying or useful, depending on your perspective. I found that all of them could be used to increase my chances of success. Focus on your objective, not on the many "assistant windows" on the screen, and you will do fine. Some of the available pop–up windows are helpful, while some are not. Check to see if the window(s) that bother you can be opened and closed as needed.

This is a VERY FLEXIBLE game so have fun with it. It may take awhile to master all the additional settings and styles. You can enjoy it using the factory default settings and never have to change a thing. This golfing sim’s advantage is that it has the capacity to grow with you as your abilities increase, which keeps its re–play value high.

Now you are ready to play a few rounds. Relax and get comfortable. Soon you will be hitting masterful drives, chipping onto the green and making birdies and eagles with ease!

Tournament Time
Many duffers (novice golfers) will shy away from tournaments, not knowing all the rules. Links 2001 can serve as your tutor. The MOD designer gives you the rules for each type of game and tournament. When you get the urge, go to the MOD designer and read up on them. You might find a game you enjoy so much, that you decide to play in a real tournament!

Course Design
The course designer is awesome. This is the same designer that the developers at Microsoft used to create the fantastic courses you play in the game. The designer is powerful and packed with features, yet simple enough so anyone can use it. Persistence and patience will provide you with the course of your dreams or possibly the re–creation of a favorite course you have played in the past. In your design, you may decide to place certain objects (or creatures) to simulate the ambiance of a particular venue. You may also add your own sound effects and/or objects, enhancing the familiarity of a neighborhood course design. A friend of mine chose to include the sound of buzzing gnats around a particular hole of one of his favorite courses.

Final Overview
This is one awesome golfing sim! Links 2001 alone is a super game, but coupled with the course designer, it’s an avid golfer’s dream! The only limits are those that you place on yourself. Fore!