The last hole before the turn, #9 is a fun and challenging layout leaving you with several options. The first thing I ask myself is, “can I clear the water to the second fairway?” If the answer is “yes”– go for it! From the second fairway you’ll be able to clear the mound to the green with a 5-wood or bounce a low iron off its top. If the answer is “no”, you’ll have to lie back on to the shelf of the first fairway. From here, a wood will usually clear the troublesome mound that is protecting the green. Here’s a tip – if the pin is on the right side of the green, an approach shot can actually bounce between the trees that reside on top of the mound. I told you it was fun.

Sobe really asks himself very constructive questions. I usually think things like “how am I going to screw up this one?” or “how did Sobe do that?” Anyway, bravo, champ. That’s good advice! But I have learned to come to grips with the “shelf shot” and once you do, it’s really not so bad. Learning shot placement is a critical fundamental that many duffers lack. In this case, I suggest thumbing a driver with backspin – it’ll get you close enough.

Here is a great driver over the top from the end of the first fairway.

A 9-wood makes this approach easier if you have a close tee box and position your drive correctly — here’s one up and over.  Here’s another great hole-out off the hill after a monster drive!

The back nine leads off with an undulating, double-dogleg par 5 that runs downhill, turns sharply left, rises and turns back right towards the green. Most often, a driver can be hit straight over the gully to the top portion of the fairway. Another method to consider is a C-3 type of shot from one turn right in the tee box. But if you determine that making the top fairway is impossible, there’s another option. Straight away from the tee box, you’ll see a peninsula at about 260 yards with a shelf on it to land. Use the top down pointer on the left of the screen to help determine what club to hit to land on it. From there, you should have no problem reaching the square-shaped green. But take note that that the green is severely uphill, so a little more club is needed.

Similar to the last hole, another duffer-friendly shot to consider if you can’t get over the gully is to lay-up on the flat mound directly in front of the tee box (right of the fairway). It’s a predictable shot every time and the mound is high enough for a clean approach to the green. You’ll sacrifice some spin since it is rough but the shot is doable.

Here’s a hole-out from the fairway after a nice drive.  And check out the backspin on this one!

Another par 5! It’s not often that Jim Z. goes back-to-back! The most common method to attack #11 is to turn right 4 or 5 times and aim for the land near the base of the mountainside. From there, you can play a 5-wood slice shot that maneuvers between the canyon walls to the green. The only other option I consider off of the tee requires a double-digit wind at about three o’clock. With this perfect scenario, you can hit an A-1 to get around the corner of the dogleg, but you must stay out of the deep rough. Even a good drive will leave you with a long way to the pin (330+ yards) but it’s reachable. Stick with my first option – a mistake will usually leave you with a favorable drop. Might as well try since the percentage of making eagle from the fairway is low anyways.

I hate to be the messenger of bad duffer news, but the shortcut approach is the only way to play #11. Aim your tee shot carefully but keep in mind that the drop spot is very forgiving. Even after a water ball you can still birdie this par 5.

Here is a hole-out shortcut-style, and here is a hole-out from the fairway after laying up.

#12 is a long par 4 that looks more like a par 3. It plays slightly downhill to a wide green that is guarded heavily in the front by pot bunkers and water behind. The green slopes severely downhill 7° so backspin is usually needed. You should have no problem hitting this one, just make sure it doesn’t land in the drink. Even Duffer should eagle this one…

Like many other holes on this @#$%@& course, #12 is easy to hit but hard to stick. Yes, I should eagle this hole but there have been times that I haven’t because my putt was long and tough. The 7° slope is nasty – fear it! Stupid Moose Landing…

Here’s an incredible 3-wood dunk!

Here’s a very short par 3 that plays roughly at 74 yards. Sounds easy, right? No dice! #13 can jump up and bite if you try for the pin every time. The difficulty of this hole lies in its green and pin placement. While it may be large, the green has a wicked 8° uphill slope and water lines the front and right sides. I do not recommend backspin unless you have a wind at your back. Play this one smart or it could be a round killer.

Hole? What hole? All I see is a fountain…

Here’s a nice near-ace.

#14 is a non-drivable par 4 that doglegs sharply to the right around a body of water. The tee shot is key to success and luckily you have two options – cut the corner of the dogleg or lay back. To cut the corner, stay lined up straight and hit an A-1 with backspin. The backspin will help keep your ball from going too far into the fairway and will leave you with a clear shot to the green. To lay back, aim your tee shot straight ahead to land just beyond the corner of the dogleg, past the tree that is positioned along the right side. The fairway feeds down towards the water there, so leave some room to trickle down without getting wet. This option leaves you with a longer approach but it’s still reachable.

Once you get used to #14 it’s really not so bad. While I normally don’t advocate unnecessary shot-shaping for duffers, you’re going to need the extra zip to get off the tee and around the bend here. Listen to Sobe – execute a nice A-1 tee shot and your second shot should be a real piece of cake!

Here’s an example hole-out after a nice drive.  You don’t necessarily need to cut the corner — here’s a driver hole-out after a straight drive.

Here’s one of the toughest holes of the year! #15 is a nasty, drivable par 4 that requires great speed control and touch. The fairway lies straight ahead with trees along its left side and the green is precariously positioned off to the left with a stream protecting it. The keys to #15 are avoiding the last tree near the end of the fairway and dealing with the annoying nuances of the green. You have to swing out to 3 to land on the green but everything else really depends on the wind. For the most part it’s tough to just hit the putting surface, don’t be a hero here! Like I said, speed control is a must. It’s a fine line between short and long.

I have no meaningful advice for this challenging hole, but I do have one statement to make – if your score is bad enough by now, you’ll get a great drop spot!

Here’s an ace that used the hill as a backstop.  Even a driver can get around the corner, although this one got lucky too!

Here’s a downhill 600-yard par 5 that is as straight as it gets. The key to success here is controlling the distance of your tee shot. You’ll notice that the fairway is split into two by a river – you can’t drive over the water, so forget it. You’ll also notice that the fairway is elevated towards the end, with a flat shelf at its peak. Try to land on the shelf for the perfect approach shot, it’s relatively easy to do. If you hit over the shelf, the ball can trickle down to the river, or it could stop in a precarious gulley that is tough to get out of. Simply put, don’t over hit your drive! As for the approach shot from the shelf, it’s straight ahead to a tiny, round green surrounded by a bunch of small water hazards. Use backspin and aim precisely.

I think the tee shot on this hole is tougher than the approach! Similar to #9, get used to hitting your drive with accuracy and confidence. Thumbs with backspin is usually the most effective for me. As for the approach, its bark is louder than its bite. Jim Z. put all those tiny water hazards in there to scare you! Just aim for the green stuff, my friend. The pain that is Moose Landing is almost complete.

Here is a driver hole-out from the first fairway.

The final par 3 at Moose Landing plays at approx. 155-yards and has a cool, shapely green with a gnarly down 10° slope. Almost a dozen pot bunkers guard the green’s front while water lies directly behind it. Unfortunately, there’s not much to tell you other than don’t end up in a bunker! You woud be better off in the water most of the time than in one of those deep sand pits. Don’t forget to use backspin.

Come on, Sobe. You birdie this hole ten times to my one and you have nothing to tell us? Fine. I have some advice – hit the options button, select “player quit” and tell your friends that you shot a –30.

Here’s a nice hole-out.  Check out the amazing deflection on this 9-wood hole-out!

#18 at Moose Landing is my favorite finishing hole of the year! It’s a drivable par 4 to an elevated green that is carved into a mountainside. A vertical and shapely rock face guards the entire right side of the green, while three pot bunkers protect the left. Beyond the bunkers to the left, a vertical cliff falls sharply down to – you guessed it – water! The most important aspect to consider here is the slope of the green since at left 9° it can be tough to stick! To make it happen you must play a shot that moves from left to right. This will alter the approach angle of your shot and ultimately lessen the effect of the green’s nasty break. Backspin is optional but I use it much more often than not. Good luck, everyone and I’ll see you back on goldentee.com for Golden Tee LIVE 2008!

A fitting end to an insanely tough round. No offense to Jim Z., but I hate Moose Landing. Let us never speak of it again.

Here’s a great hole-out from the front box!  A perfect shot here — bank and in.  This shot is just unbelievable.

Eighty-six courses designed mighty fine,
From 2012 back to 1989.

One was Great, while 2 were Grand,
A King dubbed three Royal with his mighty hand.

Two Eagles soared high with majestic Crests,
While a Falcon and Kiwi flew along as their guests.

A Crawdad approaches, not one you can eat,
A Scorpion and Rattlesnake slither at your feet.

A Buckhorn, A Moose, and a Kangaroo near,
But a Coyote and Grizzly should bring greater fear.

Crimson, Red, and Auburn you’ll find,
These Greens are Painted with color in mind.

One was Black while two were Blue,
Don’t forget we had Indigo too.

3 Oaks, 2 Palms, and 2 Pines dominate
While Cedar, Cypress, and Maple await.

There’s Willow, Laurel, and Timber too,
Arbor Day loves this Woodland view.

Yes, Sylvan Woods are a common theme,
Both Rustic and Mystic in their gleam.

Water all around can be quite harsh,
Bayous and Swamps kick off this marsh.

The Ocean will see if you have what it takes,
Try dodging the Sea, 3 Creeks, and 3 Lakes!

Dropping Anchor in any of 5 Coves is no safe Haven,
5 Springs and a Falls – your balls need a savin’!

Let’s not forget the 2 courses with Coral,
And 3 Bays will have you and your game in a quarrel.

Aspen and Alpine, it’s getting hilly,
Tundra and Glacier, it’s downright chilly.

A Mountain, a Summit, and 2 Peaks ahead,
A Mound and 3 Hills is where you’ll be led.

Two Stones, a Wall, and a Side make a Monument,
A Rock and a Sapphire help complete your repent.

Canyons are common; there have been three,
There was also a Gorge as deep as can be.

Oh it can be Tropical or even Tahiti,
Where you’ll find Sunny, Shadow, or Misty.

Hungry for a bite to eat?
Coconut and Cu-Cumber makes a great treat!

Cactus and Saguaro fill the 2 Sands,
The Savannah is Dusty to challenge your hands.

A trip to the UK may enter your mind,
Where Balmoral Castle and Waterford shine.

From Bannockburn to the Shire to the Moor,
And two Links courses are never a bore.

If Southern Lands are where you take your gear,
Heather, Bonnie, and Bella will cheer!

Some of us will be Suerte enough to have a Vista
Of the Horizon, even Toscana, where your gal first kissed ya.

Meadows Rolling through the Heartland,
A Grove and 2 Acres make the scenery grand.

Five spacious Valleys where the going gets rough,
While a Glen and a Hollow show off their stuff.

Around 3 Bends, 4 Ridges, and Flats,
All could make permanent habitats.

To the Park and its Bridge, including the Trail,
A Farm and 2 Ranches may leave you pale.

So Run Long, preferably not with Sword’s,
3 Pointes may have you Whispering swear words.

From Alpine to Woodland and all in-between,
Oh what might we see in 2013?

CLICK HERE to view the complete Golden Tee Course History!

This edition contains 29 Golden Tee Fore! courses.  Check out this video for a preview of this edition!

You won’t find the two 9-hole courses from Golden Tee Fore! in this edition, but you will find the rest of the 25 courses from the Golden Tee Fore! versions from the original release in 2000 up through Golden Tee Fore! 2005.  You’ll also find amateur versions of Eagles Peak, Blue Horizon, Kings Canyon and Bluestone to complete this 29-course set!

This section contains an overview of all the 2006 Golden Tee Live courses, including tips and tricks for each 2006 course!

In 2008, Golden Tee started releasing non-LIVE versions of the game for non-commercial purchase, so that anyone who really wanted a version of the game to buy for their home could play the same courses that you see out at the bar!

Golden Tee 2008 Unplugged
 

Golden Tee 2009 Unplugged
 

Golden Tee 2010 Unplugged
 

Golden Tee 2011 Unplugged
 

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 third tool to help us master approach shots into the green, and that’s BITE.  Bite essentially causes your ball to stop and settle once it hits the ground.  This can be incredibly useful on tough, hard-sloping greens where backspin and roll would otherwise not give you a chance to stick it close.  Click here to read more about bite.

Next, we know there will be new club sets.  We’ve already seen the “Thor” and “Peregrine” sets featured in the previews, and there are surely more to come.  It will be a while before we know what clubs are featured in these sets and what clubs are best to use for each of the new courses!

The next piece of info dropped is that the penalties for going water or OB off the tee when trying to reach the green, especially on par 4s, will be just like real golf — you’ll be put back on the tee!  It will make you think twice before being aggressive, or it will at least cause you to bail out to a safe spot.

GTF has paired up with a generous member of the GT community to bring you a demo video of all 90 holes in Golden Tee 2012!  Check out the hole-by-hole posts for each course to see a demo of each hole.  Huge spoiler!

And as if 5 new courses weren’t enough, Golden Tee has announced that all 35 Live courses, going back to the 2006 edition, will be available for you to play every time you start up a new game!  In prior years, the vendor chose which classic courses were available for play, and you only got 5 of them.  Now you get them all!  To many, you’ll get to experience some of the older courses for the first time, which is very exciting!

Enjoy one of the few flat holes on this course!  Lay up anywhere and bring it in for birdie.  Here’s an example hole-out.

VIDEO DEMO

With a great tee box and wind, you can get within chipping distance off the tee here, so keep that in mind for a better chance of a hole-out!  A C3 from the front left of the box is ideal.

You can also ram a medium-teed driver with roll straight ahead and hope to catch a ramp — check out this roll!

Otherwise, lay back with your drive so you have 180-200 yards on your approach shot — this allows you to loft a 7-wood or 9-wood onto the green for your approach.  Here’s an example hole-out.

VIDEO DEMO

It’s a ways downhill, so compensate a bit extra for the elevation and wind.  Here’s an example hole-out.

VIDEO DEMO

The safest play is to the layup patch out to the right.  It’s usually a 4-5-wood to get there, almost always high-teed for extra elevation and distance.  There’s some snow short, so you absolutely must carry it there — bank off the ice on the back if you need to.  That should leave you with another 5-wood approach shot — here’s a hole-out from there.

Sometimes that shot is frustrating and you come up short in the snow, costing a stroke.  Another option, if you figure out the shot, is to play out to the snow/ice towards the green.  From where this shot is lined up in the picture, hit an A1 driver (high-teed in this case) — watch it rattle around in the ice.  This one left 112 yards in for an easy eagle!  And here’s a high-teed straight driver that bounced over the mountain to the same spot.  Or, there’s another spot out here between the mountains where you can plop a 9-wood onto the green — check out this example hole-out!  Also look for the Yeti walking around in this area!  Here’s another failed shot that ended up plunking the Yeti — he doesn’t sound too happy!

Another more difficult grassy patch to hit is to the left of the fairway, but if you’re feeling confident and it gives you a better approach shot with the wind, then it’s an option — here’s a tough hole-out from there.  And this 5-wood actually got up over the mountain on the approach!

Finally, you can lay up in the fairway short of the sand.  You’ll still be able to curve an approach shot into the green from here with a 7-wood.  This one found the cup with a 5-wood.

VIDEO DEMO

If you’re towards the back middle of the box, a high-teed 3-wood can take aim directly at a center pin and clear the mountain!  Keep this in mind as you line up your shot, because you may not have to curve it around.

Otherwise, you’ll need to be accurate enough to curve your ball around to the green — you’ll often use the icy hill as a downslope to the green.  Here’s a nice high-teed 3-wood cut around the corner, taking advantage of the icy hill!  And here’s a high-teed 4-wood that got a perfect bounce.  A medium-teed 3-wood also gets around the corner as long as you take it out right far enough!  With a really tough setup, here’s a driver around the side that finds the cup.

VIDEO DEMO

Just lay back short of the sand for your approach shot — here’s an example hole-out.  Even if you do carry into the sand, you should still be able to loft a shot into the green.  And here’s a hole-out after a long drive out to the second part of the fairway.

VIDEO DEMO

Similar to hole #3 but a different distance.  Again, it’s a ways downhill, so compensate a bit extra for the elevation and wind.  Here’s an example hole-out.

VIDEO DEMO

You’ll always be aiming out left for the green patch in the mountains.  It’s a bit uphill, so you’ll need a little extra loft and distance — something like a high-teed 3-wood may work well.  If you are a bit short, though, you can often bounce up the ice and onto the patch, so aim for the front center of it!  Here’s a 5-wood hole-out from the shortcut patch to the left.  Loft shouldn’t be an issue on your approach from here — this driver made it up and over, and in.

VIDEO DEMO

It’s all about distance control here — you’ll be shooting straight at this green with backspin or bite.  Here’s a great 4-wood dunk to a front pin, and here’s a perfect 3-wood hole-out to a back pin.

VIDEO DEMO

It doesn’t matter much which way you choose here, so let the wind decide for you — pick whatever side gives you the easiest approach shot with or against the wind.  A high tee may help your distance to be safe.  Here’s a hole-out from the left fairway, and here’s a hole-out from the right fairway.  With a great tee and wind combination, you actually might be able to get this one close enough to the green for a short chip, so keep that in mind too!

VIDEO DEMO

With a great tee box and strong tailwind, you may be able to high-tee this one to the green!

Otherwise, just lay up a ways short of the icy divide to give yourself a 7-wood or 9-wood loft shot up the hill on your approach.  Here’s an example hole-out.

VIDEO DEMO

Use your loft and carry over the ice to the green.  With a back-right pin, the icy mound can serve as a nice backstop!  You can also use the ice to help bounce forward if you end up short, although this one got lucky!

Don’t have a high-lofted club?  Just run it into the mountain and let gravity and ice do the work!

VIDEO DEMO

The safest play, and only play in my opinion, is to take your shot straight over the mountains ahead to get to the second part of the fairway — use a high tee if it will help you carry far enough.

You can still lay back left for a longer approach shot — here’s a hole-out from there.

VIDEO DEMO

Take a high-teed 3-wood straight over the snow mound on the left, aiming to land in the sliver of fairway heading down.  If you’re on point, you’ll roll on down to safety for your approach.  Here’s a hole-out after a mammoth drive.

If you do head right or try a cut shot that catches the hill, it just might ramp over!

VIDEO DEMO