Top 10 Golf Games

09. SimGolf

If you never played Sid Meier's take on the whole golf simulation theme you should go out and correct that obvious error. Now.

SimGolf is sort of the golf treatment for SimCity - what we mean by that is that the game was created to allow the players to make their own golf courses, and then play on them.

When you consider both the creator and the target audience, it should not surprise serious golf (or Sim) gamers that after the initial rush of golf goodness a lot of the players opted to start building faithful recreations of some of the greatest professional courses in the world.

The game centers around the protagonist - Gary Golf - who is a pro golfer - and immediately challenges the player to make and play courses. Featuring a complete simulation system with a built-in end game of sorts, the players basically set out to build their very own golf empire.

That process began with picking your country and then building the first elements of your first golf course. Once that was managed, you began to really get into the details, starting with designing the runs and everything that comes in between them - everything from the rough and traps to the very structure of the course, as well as its par.

Ironically - but only because it is after all a golf game - the primary focus for the game at least at first is the very same focus you find in practically EVERY simulation game - and that is money. Specifically the focus was on being very very careful not to waste any of it, since your success in building the initial course - and eventually your empire - depends on that.

We bring that up to point out and emphasize that while this is a golf game, it is a sim too and first. That is okay though, there is certainly room in the sport for that voice, and besides it gave us something to work towards and focus on other than improving our score or trying not to have tunnel vision on the par.

Once the first full 18-hole course is completed -- assuming you kept it profitable since failing to do that gets you a game over -- the golfing side starts to emerge as part of the focus. Which is really odd in a way since while you are focused on your pro golfer and their success you are ALSO focused on finding ways to make and keep the course profitable - or more profitable!

One of the coolest aspects of that was how your character and their victories often allowed you to make success an assured thing - whereas NOT playing well could be the kiss of death.

Another cool aspect of the game was its community - oh yes, there was a very strong and large one for this title! In fact the wizards that created it also helped to create an online web-based exchange system (think about what they did for TheSims series and you will get the idea) where serious players could post and exchange their creations.

In the end SimGolf is both a Sim and Golf game with enough chops and a unique enough challenge to earn it an early slot on our countdown.