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Excitement is building for the new release of features and courses, and here is where you can get a consolidated summary of everything happening! Check back here often as your source for all the latest that Golden Tee 2018 has to offer. Here’s the GT 2018 launch preview!
Here’s the attract mode video featuring the new logo for 2018. And to start off, why not listen to a discussion with course designer Jim Z. as he talks with us about the new courses and features! And here are some additional photos of the new courses. Here is the full 2018 trailer to get you ready!
Now, the courses! We’ve got 5 new ones as usual…click the links below to see a course overview and pictures:
Calypso Key
Mayfield
Rhineland
Royal Dubai
Safari Dunes
In addition to the 5 new courses, we’re going to get a chance to play two reimagined courses from the Golden Tee Fore era! These will come out at some point post-release so we get to focus on the 5 new courses first. Read about Mystic Hills first and watch a preview. The other course to come out will be Rattlesnake Ridge! This will be a great way for veteran players to catch up on these legacy courses and new players to get a taste of some old designs! The courses are constructed exactly the same but with new technology to bring them into the LIVE era. While some will play easier because of the new equipment and shot types available, you’ll notice some holes are much more narrow and the greens are smaller! If you’re interested to hear the new theme for GT Fore, here it is.
Also coming later in the release will be time-released tee boxes. After a certain period of time, we’ll start to notice new tee box areas in play! Not only that, but some will be very different, perhaps even changing par on the hole. One will even have you attacking the hole from a different direction!
Building on the success of Freaky Fridays, you’ll start seeing the Monday Mix-Up, another variation available for play as part of the daily contest!
Another exciting addition is a new shot type called “release”. This will function like bite in reverse, or a less-drastic version of roll. It should be great for a casual player to get a bit more aggressive and will also help others with chipping around the green too without the threat of rolling over the green!
Build-A-Bag 2.0 will be here with new features as well! First, you’ll be able to make cosmetic changes to your club, such as changing the color of the club head, shaft and grip. There will also be modifications made to the ball tracers with the Build-A-Ball feature with more colors, things that adjust based on how hard you hit the ball, a variety of new options and improvements to highlight more of the tracing itself…we’ll see what’s to come here!
The new clothing is always anticipated each year, and 2018 will continue to deliver. But once again we get to see brand new golfers in the game this year…you’ll notice new models and faces that look much more natural. You’ll even have body suits, including fat, muscle, mascot, speedo, and shirtless! And instead of being limited to one headwear item or shirt, you’ll be able to add more accessories, like that cigar or even gloves on top of what you already have. Finally, some subtle animation has been added so that you can see your golfer move around a bit pre-shot!
In addition to the always creative clothing options, there are 16 new custom putters added for 2017! Check them out here: The Tall Boy, Thigh-High, My First Putter, The Mighty, Hot Dog on a Stick, Venom, Ethel, Drip-Drop, Hot Mic, Bender, Buried Treasure, Bones, and more to come…you can find them all in the GT Caddy app.
New clubs and balls are back in 2018 as well! Regarding club sets, which were revolutionized with the Build-a-Bag option, Golden Tee has built on this feature to offer a couple of the most popular combinations as complete sets for you in 2018. First, we have the Players’ Choice for 2018, a collection of the most popular clubs for a well-rounded attack at any course. Next, there’s Play Like a Champion, a set assembled for players of all skill levels by world champion Mark Stenmark!
In addition, there are two new virtual ball options with some new features…check out the Rambler and the Vanguard! These balls will decelerate differently and not brake as much through the ground…we’ll have to check them out!
Freaky Fridays have made their way into Invitationals ahead of the 2018 release…now you can challenge your friends to some of the most popular designs featured on the Friday Daily contest throughout 2017! And with the 2018 release are more enhancements to Invitationals to make them bigger and better. You’ll have the option to play in contests with up to 100 people for up to $1,000 in prize money! It’s worth noting that the maximum entry per person will remain at $25. The other great feature is that you can set a size limit so it’s really first-come, first served…no more waiting on that last guy to join! Invite 10 and kick off when you have the first 5 accept, or whatever you choose to set up.
2018 brings a whole new in-game user interface! It’ll be similar to before but once again advanced to better fit the information you need and allow you to navigate around easier. The big news is the addition of a shot-height meter! This will help with shooting over objects, trees, whatever by showing how high your shot reached…pay attention and learn for the next time! The data has always been there, but now it’s exposed to help us know the height of our shot. Also, we’ll be able to see a display showing exactly what surface the ball is sitting on – this will be especially nice by the green/fringe/rough to know how the lie will impact your shot. Players could mostly tell this before by gauging the distance lost when changing clubs, but now this information is more clearly exposed as well.
Along with the new user interface, you’ll have a “camera lock” feature. Everyone has a favorite camera view and you’re accustomed to clicking that button after each shot. But now, you can lock in that view by holding down that button, and it’ll be set for each shot! You can still unlock it or click the buttons for different views as before, but this will be a fun feature similar to quick-shot.
Finally, for the casual player, there are a couple of great new features. First, you’ll have the ability to smoothly turn to better line up a shot. Clicking left or right once turns the old way, but if you hold either, you’ll have a smooth scroll between steps! So for that left-2 wind, just turn a pinch right and hit it straight. There will also be the concept of a “starter pack” offered to showcase some of the game’s advanced equipment and features and give players a taste of what they’re missing with the online mode!
Of course, there are certain things we won’t be getting this year (no chipping on the greens, no driving range) that have been common requests from the community, but once again Golden Tee has unleashed a plethora of new features to get us excited for late September!
Here are some early screenshots of the course! Here is the official preview of the new 2017 Sakamoto, Japan course.
“For the first time in its storied history, the game you love has touched down in Japan. The village of Sakamoto offers up an array of inquisitive obstacles. Some of these, like the detailed bridges, finely manicured sand traps and magnificent dojos were built by men. Others, such as the tall bamboo trees that sway by tee boxes, will serve as a more natural test. Get past these, and you’ll be greeted with some of the more shapely greens we’ve ever crafted.”
Here is a 6-hole demo from the Golden Tee Lounge!
Here is a YouTube demo of all 18 holes from the beta version!
GT Par is consistently -29 on this course.
This post contains tips, tricks, and information related to the 2017 Golden Tee course Teal Gardens! Check out the hole-by-hole breakdowns and example hole-outs as I partner up with the Golden Tee community to give you the edge you need to beat your friends!
The most popular club/ball combo on this course will also be discussed.
From the front box, you can drive up or near the sand with a big drive to give a chip at an early eagle.
From the front of the middle box, here’s an A1-Turbo shot that carries onto the green and almost drops! With this shot removed from the game, you likely cannot drive the green anymore, so just look at the pin placement and lay up to the left or right side to give the best approach.
From the fairway, this approach bounced off the pin and spun back in the cup.
Given the setup, you may also opt to blast out to the rough right of the water…here’s a nice early hole-out from there.
From all boxes, a high-teed wood with perhaps a bit of cut can go over/around the left straight at the green…anywhere from an 8-wood to a 5-wood depending on the setup. There are also cut shot options that offer a chance to use backspin, but the tricky green and steep sandy drop-off make this a tough early eagle.
From the front box, this 6-wood cut around to a front pin. And this 5-wood cut around to a back pin. From the back of this box, a high-teed 6-wood can go over the left side to a back pin! This high-teed 8-wood cut over the trees to a front pin.
From the back of the second box, this high-teed 5-wood went straight over to dunk in a front pin! Even a medium-teed 5-wood can clear the center gap between the trees so you can use backspin if needed.
NOTE — this hole changed from the beta version.
From the right box, here’s a hybrid into a tough pin.
From the center box, here’s an ace to a back pin.
Fun trivia — the message in the sand behind the green translates to “hazard”. Naturally.
Your best landing area, given a front or perhaps middle tee, is the center of the three shortcut pods in the water. It’s an offset shot but is the easiest to hit and clears the way for your approach. Here’s a 3-wood hole-out from the center of there.
From the back tees you can’t get there, so aim for the smaller single pod straight ahead off the fairway. This gives you a decent angle into the pin. Here’s a driver hole-out from there.
Another option to avoid the risk of the water is the far end of the right fairway…it takes away more of the water risk if you can high-tee a driver out there, but you’ll have a more challenging curve shot into the green.
Five tee boxes here and a difficult green sloped towards the water make this another tough early eagle. You might need a small cut over the left edge of the trees or you may high tee a wood straight at it.
From the 2nd box, this 5-wood curves around to a front pin.
From the 3rd tee box, here’s a great 4-wood pretty straight over the top to a back pin.
From the back box, this driver went over the top corner to a back pin.
From the middle box, here’s a dunk to a center pin.
From the back box, here’s a 6-wood ace to a front pin.
This should be a pretty easy eagle most of the time…a good layup spot with all tee boxes is the center fairway area between the circular water and sand pods. It’s a long wood from here into an uphill green but it’s a pretty easy approach.
Here’s a 5-wood dunk to a front pin.
From the center box, take aim at the green…your wood will have plenty of loft. Here’s a 5-wood ace to a front pin. And here’s a 3-wood with backspin. This 6-wood also had enough to clear and spin back to a front pin.
Be careful with a front pin, as you’ll still want to make sure you hit far enough to clear the gong…this can inhibit you being too aggressive since you can’t as easily drop a shot into the front of the green. Check out this 4-wood with some cut that fell too early but got amazing deflections to find the hole!
From the left box, it’s usually best to cut around the left side with backspin over the water to hold the green. Here’s a great 4-wood cut around the left side to a right pin. This driver took a straighter approach but still avoided the building on its way around left to find a right pin! If you try to cut around the right side, you may not have enough loft to clear the gong guarding the approach! If that’s the case, why not bounce UNDER it like this incredible shot!
The safe play here with all tee boxes is to club down to the highest-lofted wood you can play with a high-tee and still make the center landing pod straight ahead. With this strategy you’ll always have enough loft to clear the trees and you’ll be rewarded with an open approach shot. Here’s a 6-wood dunk from there.
Left and right are options too, but you’ll want to be careful with your drive to leave an open approach instead of having to curve around the trees. From the left fairway, here’s a 3-wood hole-out.
There’s a tee box on both sides of this island green. From the elevated box, here’s a 9-iron ace into a cross-wind.
From the lower box, here’s a 9-iron ace to a back pin.
A high-teed driver to the left or right neck (or beyond to the fairway) gives you the most reasonable approach…your choice will depend on the wind and pin placement as always. Here’s a 3-wood holeout from the left neck.
While it certainly helps to drive out past the neck to either second fairway, straight ahead short of the water is fine too — here’s a driver hole-out from there.
This can be a challenging par 3 since this uniquely-shaped green is surrounded by hazards. While distance control is paramount, you’ll also need to be accurate to have a clear putt at the pin. Do your best to stay safe — here’s where tools like bite and high tees are handy to give the best chance to stick and stay put.
From the back box, here’s a great 5-wood cut into a center pin.
I don’t know if I condone this hole being drivable, but someone did it — check out this giant high-teed driver from the back box that bounces on!
From the center box, this high-teed 3-wood almost hung on for a DE putt. And this high-teed turbo driver almost found the hole!
Without the turbo, this high-teed 3W made its way through the trees and bounced onto the green for the DE putt! And this high-teed driver shot straight at the trees left of the green also found its way through! Finally, this high-loft, high-teed driver did carry around to the green and find the hole for the ace!
Otherwise, the far-right fairway is a nice place to be, but it can also be an unnecessary risk. The shortcut circle straight ahead over the trees is easy to land and will give you an open approach shot.
You can also lay out left and potentially avoid a tee if you leave enough loft…here’s a 7-wood hole-out straight over the trees.
With the right tee boxes, the safest shot off the tee that gives you a nice approach shot is out to the right fairway just short of the sand circle. It’s usually a driver that you can stick to give yourself a middle wood into the green. Here’s a 3-wood hole-out from there.
The center pod straight ahead is a good option that offers a longer wood into the green. Sometimes even a driver will clear — check out this driver over the bridge that finds the cup! This driver cut around the side with some hot backspin to grab the hole.
Finally, there’s the layup spot out left that also offers a good approach if that’s your best option off the tee.
From the front box, here’s a nice ace to a back pin.
From the center box, here’s a dunk to a left pin! And here’s another ace to a left pin.
From the back box, this 7-wood finds a front pin.
A big risk/reward hole towards the end of your round that will challenge your ability to put the ball through a tight space or hope to get lucky!
From the front box, the 5-hybrid is the club to use in most cases…it fits nicely through either side of the box between the bell and the wood pillars. A 5 or 6-iron or low-teed 7-iron is also an option that works. And the 9-wood is an interesting club here too that affords an option to go around the right into the green. You’ll need to have different distance options given the wind and pin placement.
This 5-iron goes through the right side and cuts over to a left pin. With a headwind, this 8-wood went straight over the top with backspin to find the hole!
From the back of the front box, this 6-iron just cut around the right side and found a back-left pin! And this 8-wood went around the right as well with an amazing hop up into the hole.
From the back box, a 4-5 hybrid can cut through the gap and other clubs can clear over the top. The high-teed 8-wood is an option here too to go over the top, especially with a headwind. With a tailwind, this high-teed 6-iron finds a front pin. And this high-teed 7-iron easily cleared to find a center pin.
Ideally you get a setup where you can take something like a high-teed 5-wood right over the top at the green. This takes away the cut shot and only forces you to manage the wind and distance, although that’s no small task on this tough closing hole.
From the right-front box, this high-teed 3-wood with a small cut around the right amazingly hangs on to drop into a back pin! Here’s a great 4-wood cut around to a back pin. And this high-teed 6-wood went over the right corner to find a back pin. Finally, this high-teed 8-wood went straight over the top and carried to a back pin.
From the right-back box, this high-teed 3-wood went over the left corner and found a right pin! This high-teed 5-wood went straight over for the ace.
Here are some early screenshots of the course! Here is the official preview of the new 2017 Maldives course.
“On the other side of the world, tucked between continents and encased by the Indian Ocean, sits Sandy Reef. Golden Tee has found a new tropical home in the Maldives, and the views are breathtaking. Oh, we’ve done tropical courses in the past, you say? Certainly. But never quite like this. The vibrant blue waters, twisting palm trees and infinity beaches are easy on the eyes and soul. Just because it’s one of the flattest places on earth, don’t think you’re off the hook. Those beautiful views can come at a cost.”
Here is a 6-hole demo from the Golden Tee Lounge!
Here is a YouTube demo of all 18 holes from the beta version!
GT Par can range from -29 to -31 on this course, as #14 and #15 are sometimes drivable.
This post contains tips, tricks, and information related to the 2017 Golden Tee course Sandy Reef! Check out the hole-by-hole breakdowns and example hole-outs as I partner up with the Golden Tee community to give you the edge you need to beat your friends!
The most popular club/ball combo on this course will also be discussed.
From the front box, you may be able to drive the green…check out this huge turbo A1 drive that blew past it!
Here’s a nice hole-out to start the round.
Here’s a straight-on ace to a back pin.
