Golf games online exist in abundance demonstrating that the popularity of the game of golf in the digital world is similar to, if not greater than the traditional, physical game of golf. I wonder what the original players of this ancient game of golf, which has been played in Europe since at least as long ago as the middle ages, would think of its modern incarnations, both physical and virtual.
We can be thankful that we have the choice of playing both the real physical game of golf and digital simulations that are evolving to better represent, as accurately as possible given its a virtual enviroment, the real game.
When the overwhelming urge to play a round overcomes golf enthusiasts who find themselves unable to go for a real physical round of golf, then many fire up the computer to join with other digital golfers to play golf games online.
Now many different forms of online golf games are available. From traditional ‘arcade’ style games you may remember from early home computers now put on the web for old school digital golf fun to the high quality console style games for serious gaming developed to try and capture as much realism in the game play as possible.
As mentioned previously on this blog the software Flash (now owned by Adobe, previously by Macromedia and Shockwave) has contributed greatly to the accessibility (being multiplatform) and quality of game play (via its vector and rastor graphics and bi-directional streaming of both audio and video).
One of the most exciting developments in the world of golf games online is the ability to play multiplayer, across the internet and world wide web, with other real world human beings rather than on ones own or against a computer generated opponent.
Taking all things into account from game play, graphics, realism, accuracy, usability, playability and combining that with the games sheer flexibility and scope then we think the current best places to play golf games online is World Golf Tour.