Our GT road trip has reached its final destination, and we’re celebrating another year by going out with a bang. If you’ve ever wanted to climb Mount Everest but don’t have the time, energy, money or physical stamina to do so, well, you’re in luck.

Welcome to Nepal – and more specifically Mount Everest – for the 5^th and final GT course on 2012. Nicknamed “Holy Mother,” you’ll certainly find yourself saying that on occasion with perhaps an added word tacked on the end.

Tundra Peak is a fitting name for a course that’s more or less a journey up the world’s largest natural obstacle. Instead of a slow, gradual climb, however, we’re taking this Jim Z. design head on.

This baby is a monster, so buckle up.

The Elements

Snow makes a Golden Tee cameo for the second straight year, and in 2012 its role has been expanded a great deal. Last year we saw a decent amount of the flaky white stuff on Alpine Run, but this year we’re surrounded by it. I mean, it is Mount Everest.

For those of you that avoided Alpine or have somehow never hit it in the snow before (cough, cough LIAR), here’s how it works. If your ball even grazes it, it’ll stop dead in its tracks. This hasn’t changed and in this instance there’s more snow than ever. And snow isn’t the only winter surface in this one.

The ground that surrounds the fairways is a sort of frozen mountain surface that will stop your ball from going much further. Its effects aren’t as pronounced as ice but it’s certainly something to be aware of.

Speaking of… there’s also ice, some of which is perfectly placed, that can help and hurt you if you happen to hit it. Just a little tip: your backspin will be nullified if your ball bounces off this surface, and it will. There are a couple of shots where this will most certainly come into play, and you’ll have to account for it while deciding between lofts and clubs.

At the Top of the World

You might as well file this under “Holy #$% that’s obvious,” but Tundra Peak is being played at the top of the world. No, really. Like the very top. Because of this, you’ll be dealing with these heights in a variety of different outlets. And unlike Grand Canyon, which starts at the top of the creation and works its way down, here we’re playing our way up to the peak of Mount Everest.

Because of this, players will be forced to deal with unique shots as they move along through the round. The drop offs become much more severe, the penalties become more frequent and the stakes get higher.

In more than a few circumstances you’ll be left with putts that could be the difference between a birdie and falling off the world’s largest mountain. These are crucial, obviously, and can send your round into a tailspin if you happen to miss your line.

The same can be said about tee shots and approaches into greens. If you’re not careful, your ball will be destined to do a snowy, deadly base jump and your score will rise rather quickly. Luckily, however, you won’t have to watch your shot fall thousands of feet, ala Black Hills.  No, there’s no waiting around in this one. As soon as you fall off, we’re saving you the pain and aggravation of watching your ball 29,029 feet.

We love you all that much…

Closing Time

Our final point of emphasis in our “Hands on in 2012” is a fitting way to go out. The 17^th and 18^th holes on Tundra Peak are absolute game-changers, and while they’re not as difficult as some of the other holes in the game, they provide a majestic challenge to finish things off.

The 17^th is a par-3 with very little room to miss. The green, which is more or less sitting on a convenient piece of ice near the top of the mountain, is not quite at the very top just yet. We’ll get there in a minute. This design can be deadly and missing short or long will result in OB and likely a bogey at the very best. You are going to absolutely want a 7 and 9-wood here, so make note of that right now. It’ll make the shot into the green easier, and you’ll also be able to comfortably spin it back before it rolls off.

Escape the 17^th unscathed and you’ll reach the top of Mount Everest – one of the most superb scenes in the history of GT and one of the game’s best drivable par-4s. There will never be another hole that reaches this kind of altitude (unless we eventually go to the moon) and you’ll have to hit to the very top of the world to get your eagle.

Anything off to the right or deep on this hole will result in a penalty and a re-tee, so take note on tougher conditions. Also, be sure to explore the possibilities of using a high tee here to reach the green (seen above) with some winds. You’ll

Well, ladies and gentlemen that’s about it for now. You’ve read our take and soon enough you’ll have your hands on the game. Stay tuned to Goldentee.com for all the latest news on the release date as Ship Day fast approaches.

Signing off,

-ak

In the year 2000, Granville, Vermont had a population of 303 people. Eleven years later it has certainly increased in size and is now the proud owner of its very own virtual golf course.

You know that exclusive country club that your dad talks about at dinner? The one that he says sucks, the membership’s WAY too expensive, and that only rich, d-bag doctors play there? Then finally, one of those rich, d-bag doctors invites him to play and he does a celebratory kitchen dance because he’s been DYING to play it all these years.

Auburn Glen is that country club, although no d-bags are allowed. Take note, folks.

And so we continue on our whirlwind adventure, which is suddenly nearing a halt. Here are some items of note when it comes to Auburn Glen as the 2012 ship date fast approaches.

Hooray.

A Taste of Traditional Golf

The majority of the courses featured in Golden Tee 2012 are extravagant in setting to say the least, and while Auburn Glen no doubt has characteristics that make it unique from any GT gem ever created, it’s also closer to a “traditional” golf course than any of the five new creations.

Translation: this is not the course to wear your favorite pair of jorts or an ol’ school football jersey. This is a virtual club and they won’t tolerate that kind of dress code destruction. No D-Bags, remember?

The Glen has almost a fall-like feel to it. The trees are all colors, the setting is warm, but somehow a pullover seems like the proper wardrobe choice here. You’ll get your fill of green – whether it’s the trees avoiding the fall season switch, the rough situated all over the course, or the fairways that you’ll want to stay on – green is everywhere, and make sure you take note of that last part. Trust me on that.

On the surface, this course reminds me a bit of the 2010 monster that was Southern Oaks. Not necessarily in the way the course sets up but in look and feel.  Don’t let that comment scare you if you weren’t a fan of SA. While Auburn has it’s fair share of challenges, I don’t believe it’s quite on that difficulty level.

It’s a Trap(s)!

Now would be a good time to update your buddy-hitting-out-of-the-sand joke arsenal.

Auburn Glen is absolutely jam-packed with sand traps, most of which can come into play if you’re not careful. While many of the greens are surrounded with ‘em, it’s the fairway bunkers that can pack a punch, especially on par-5s and long par-4s. In these instances, missing the fairway means your giving up at least one stroke and potentially depending on your recovery.

While there’s no doubt a great deal amount of traps on the course, the depth of some of these bad boys is also impressive. The back nine in particular features a couple of deep, deep, deep bunkers – not quite pot bunkers we’ve seen in the past – but some intimidating possibilities if you happen to find them.

These greenside bunkers come equipped with elevation, and to stay out of them I must pass along some advice. Tackle this course with a full arsenal with fairway woods. The 7-wood in particular on this course will be your best tool to avoid these bunkers and you’ll likely want it for tougher winds and pin placements.

The Barns and the Bridges

Although you wouldn’t consider hole 7 or hole 14 the typical spot for trademark holes on a golf course, Auburn Glen isn’t just any other golf course. Holes 7 and 14 are similar because a) they are both drivable par-4s and b) each features a barn like obstacle in the center of the hole that will make getting eagle a challenge from round to round.

This obstacle that is featured on both holes is a covered bridge that resembles a barn. On hole 7, this barn is situated horizontally guarding the green, and  on hole 14 it’s situated on the left side with its opening facing towards you.

There will be a variety of different ways to tackle these holes depending on the winds, tee boxes and pin placements, but these holes also come with plenty of risk. There is water that is VERY much in play, as well as trees that can send your ball into the hazard. And then there’s the bridges themselves that serve as the true cog in the entire design.

My suggestion: Experiment with fairway woods and tee it up high if you’re at all concerned about getting there. Don’t be afraid to try some “unique” strategies on this one. I’ve already said too much…

One more course to go! Check back here next week as we climb the final mountain. Literally.

-ak

We’ve traded in our GT RV for a good ol’ fashion airplane and traded in our normal golfing attire for a pair of Golden Tee board shirts. No, wait, a thong. Yea, a Golden Tee thong.

Welcome to paradise and more specifically Royal Cove in Half Moon Bay, Antigua. Water is a plenty, (more on that in a bit), the scenery is gorgeous, and you’ll now be able to patrol the water, beach and dense jungle marsh even when there’s a foot of snow outside your local bar.

This particular paradise, however, comes with a bit of an edge. Old ruins, pirate remains and other items separate this gem from past tropical courses you might have played in the past. It’s a “bring your machete” type of paradise and you’ll want to stay on the short stuff. Easier said than done as you’ll see below.

By now, you know the drill. Here are a few interesting aspects of Royal Cove you can expect to see later this month… Boy, I love the sound of that

Water. Everywhere.

We’re in paradise, which means we’re privileged to scenic views on just about every hole. And while you’ll want to stop and enjoy the view every now and then, the beauty of this course also creates an 18-hole challenge.

The tropical blue waters surround you just about everywhere. While there are a handful of setups that are tucked inland, for the most part you can find the hazard on each and every shot. Some will be more dangerous than others, A LOT more, but the water is prevalent. Believe me.

More important perhaps than the addition to water is the new drops in Golden Tee 2012. We touched on this while exploring the Grand Canyon, and Royal Cove certainly deserves this disclaimer as well. Go in the aqua off the tee while trying to reach a drivable par-4 or par-5 (See Below) and you’ll have to hit a similar shot all over again.

The water is beautiful but also deadly. You’ve been warned.

Shot Shapin’ Paradise

While the journey on the Grand Canyon starts at the top and ends at the bottom, Royal Cove’s 18-hole path is more of a windy road that impacts you hole-to-hole and shot-to-shot. Simply put, you’re going to have to be accurate off the tee if you want to set yourself up for success with your next shot.

Although you can likely hit every fairway with ease, your positioning on these fairways is crucial. Pin placement, obstacles and wind will all play a major roll in how you want to set yourself up. If you don’t end up where you want to be, you’ll make life very challenging and the next shot much more difficult then it needs to be.

This advice would work on all Golden Tee courses but seemed very prevalent while testing my luck on ol’ Royal. The placement of trees and overhanging branches/leaves, the positioning of smaller bodies of water strategically placed in the fairway, and the intriguing shapes of the majority of the holes really will test you. Play smart, study up the hole before you play it each time, and play safe if you’re not comfortable with a certain look.

The Par-5 17th

For the second consecutive year, Golden Tee LIVE has a drivable par-5. There’s no question that these designs are a fan favorite, because frankly who doesn’t love having the opportunity to go -4 on one hole? Hitting the elusive super albatross isn’t exactly an easy accomplishment, but in GT 2012 the possibility is there.

Without getting too deep into a hole description, you’ll have to avoid trees, stay away from the water and hopefully land safely on the green with a C-3-type shot. It certainly can be done, and I’ve already mustered up a handful of double eagles in limited rounds on the course. And if I can do it, so can you.

The true problem, however, gets back to the point we made above and something I’ll probably beat you over the head with until the game ships. If you go in the water, you’ll no longer get that favorable birdie drop as you did on Laurel Park 18. Nope, you’ll basically have to re-tee and getting par will be a feat.

Great spot for a great hole. This baby will certainly decide close games and be a beast in match play.

Tune back in next week for our look at Auburn Glen and the fourth course on 2012. We’ll leave you with a live look at paradise as we depart.

Cheers,

-ak

Meet Jerry.

Jerry is a Golden Tee player who just hit a handful of impressive Golden Tee shots and putts while playing and has decided to celebrate this joyous occasion.

The following ensued.

While his moves are surprisingly impressive and fluid (beer does wonders, y’all), it makes us wonder about other Golden Tee celebrations out there. Oh, do tell.

Consider this your open thread to share your Golden Tee celebrations. What do you to do when you hit that 80-foot plus against your buddy? What’s your absurd, over-the-top reaction to a hole out?

Tiger Woods has his fist pumps, sure, but he doesn’t have moves like many of you out there. I’m curious to see where this one might take us and what your emotion responses are made of.

And go…