While the Golden Tee 2010 Trailer and teaser story certainly preps you for the latest installment this fall, it doesn’t capture some of the true odds and ends that the players will be looking for once the finally get their paws on an updated trackball. Things like rain, specific clubs, and even really hot musicians that you’ll be able to listen to while you play. Did I just say that out loud?
Enter Adam Kramer, IT marketing associate, average dude, and passionate but incredibly average GT player.
After a few weeks of playing around with Golden Tee 2010, I couldn’t be more excited. This game really rocks, and while you’ve certainly read up on all the features, there’s a good chance that you’ll learn a few tidbits if you put up with my sarcasm and get through my top ten list below. If anything, there’s NEW photos!
Ladies and gentlemen, MY top ten things that I’m looking forward to in GT 2010!
10. H20 2.0
Okay, this is an interesting one to start with, but let me explain. Duffer and I have been playing a lot of the older LIVE courses on the Showpiece in HD, and the difference in the textures and graphics is unbelievable. We both were amazed to see the difference between the water on a course like Heather Pointe (I won this game for the record – zing!) versus that of Tahiti Cove. It’s only been a few years, but damn have things improved over time! Hopefully you don’t hit the baby blue beauty too often, but even if you do, you’ll agree that a penalty stroke has never looked so good!
9. Gorilla Masks, Andy Haas, and Dumb and Dumber Attire
If that title didn’t get your attention, I just don’t know what will. Call me lame, (and yes, you’re probably spot on), but the new clothing and goofy apparel is nearly as exciting as new courses. I mean where the hell else can you have your golfer appears as a world champion, playing in a gorilla mask, sporting a baby blue tuxedo ala Dumb and Dumber? And you though that my ninth point was going to be ridiculous. Who looks ridiculous now?!
8. The X-22s
If you like fairway woods, you’re going to love this new set of clubs in GT 2010. 3-wood, check. 4-wood, check. 5-wood, check. 7-wood, check. 9-wood, check. That’s right folks; five fairway woods! After playing around with the set for a round or two, I really enjoyed playing these clubs! With such high loft in your bag, I just felt like everything was ripping by the hole. Fans of the Big Bertha bag, get ready for more!
7. Noush Skaugen
Last year, the Hit List debuted in Golden Tee 2009 with the likes of DMB and a handful of up-and-coming bands that played music while you played. This year, the Hit List is back and better than ever! European sensation and Twitter GIANT Noush Skaugen makes her debut in Golden Tee along with some other very cool and diverse bands that offer up lots of different sounds. Who needs Dave, when you have Noush!
Helloooooooo Ms. Skaugen.
6. Rain 2.0
In the past, rain has certainly played a roll in GT, especially in terms of distance and shots into the green. Rain 2.0, however, will impact your shots in GT more than ever. The physics have been tightened and your shots will now be altered more accurately by wet surfaces. I could tell a difference after one rain-affected shot, and it really does change strategy and club selection. I’ve never been good on an off-track, but in 2010, I feel things are finally ready to turn around. Hopefully.
5. My First Canyon Course
GT for me began back in 2007, and in that sense I’m still very much a noob. I still haven’t seen many of Jim. Z’s dynamite designs, and have never played Kings Canyon or the infamous Rattle Snake Ridge (two infamous GT canyon-centric courses). My history with a canyon course begins in 2010 with Monument Valley, and let me be the first to say that this course really ROCKS – rocks, get it! Too much? Anyways, it feels great to hit that perfect A-1 through two tall rocks, and feels equally as bad to have your bad shots come ricocheting at you! Regardless of the outcome, I’m really digging my first taste of canyon Tee.
4. Jim and Peter
Ahhhhh…. New Commentary in GT 2010. This was just announced on Goldentee.com earlier this week, and I’ve had the joy of hearing some of it first hand. First, I imagine many of you are just happy to hear that you won’t be hearing the same lines you have been for a few years running. Even better, the new commentary is just flat out fantastic, and some of the gems of 2010 have been tucked away so you won’t be hearing the same lines every time you tee off. No, this won’t lengthen your drives or increase your YouTube Golden Tee Great Shots dramatically, but it sounds damn good!
3. “You want me on that wall, you need me on that wall!”
Just to be clear, Jack Nicholson is not in GT 2010, so you can relax all you “A Few Good Men” fans. The Great Wall of China is, however, in Golden Tee 2010, and let me start by saying it’s not simply just there for show. While Rustic Ridge has long been my favorite looking course, I believe when it’s all said and done, The Great Wall will take it’s place. The greens are very Zen-like, there are actual Terracotta statues that come into play, and then there is the Great Wall. While you’ll see the Great Wall in the background throughout the early part of your round, on the back nine you’ll get an up close and personal encounter with the structure you can see from space. Oh you’ll absolutely love it…
2. Your Very Own, Personalized Shot Indicator
Here’s a feature that the average player and the hardcore trackballer are going to absolutely love. Now, the shot indicator (aka one of the best and most utilized tools in GT) adjusts to not only your clubs but also your golf ball of choice and the conditions. Gone are the days where your ball will sail over the cup because you forget to look at your distance while hitting in the rain. You’ll see adjustments to yardages every shot you take, as the game will now take into account the environment and equipment! This certainly won’t get the hype that some of the features in 2010 will get, but as a player I can honestly tell you that this will pay off HUGE in the long run.
And the number one item on my list is………………………..
1. Southern Oaks
While this may not be the flashiest new feature coming in, this is a first in Golden Tee that may change the way you play. Ready for this one? A course in GT with no shortcuts! That’s right. This is the closest thing to real golf you’re going to find, and I can honestly say I love every bit of it. Sure the shortcuts and interesting odds and ends of each course are fun, but this truly is golf! Par-5s are tough to reach in two, each shot has distinguished strategy, and the course even looks a prestigious country club! While many would choose something more elaborate as their top choice, I am so excited about this one that I had to have it on top. Hopefully you’ll feel the same way once you get a look at this GT masterpiece.
Hope you enjoyed my list. By now my credibility as a player is surely gone but hopefully you learned a thing or two! GT 2010 here we come…
I saw Kinzler play for the first time back at the Midwest Regional event in 2007. I wasn’t working at IT, and this was my first taste of really good GT. I watched Graig play in a game during practice; just waiting to see his personal best finally show up after the game. Nerdy? Yup. Weird? Maybe a little. Did I find what I was looking for? You betcha.
