HB Studios Next-Gen golf game: The Golf Club

[XXXIV]

We had another foursome last night none other than at the Magnolia course. Talk about buttery greens, if you have a minute or two check the feeds that Vader recorded, I still have a chuckle or two.

Worth the price of the game.

[DivotMaker]

We had another foursome last night none other than at the Magnolia course. Talk about buttery greens, if you have a minute or two check the feeds that Vader recorded, I still have a chuckle or two.

Great course that humbled me earlier today at -3....

Nicely translated to TGC2....

[Wilk5280]

I'm finally back home after being through a lot of travel. Hoping the server load issues are better and I can sit down and really dig my teeth into this one. When it's working well it's a top tier game.

[Diablo25]

Put up my lowest score to date in the final round of the Society event Arctic Fury Salute. Shot a 66. I blew up in my middle two rounds. Actually took an effin 9 on a par 4 in round two (long story). The last round was very fun. Only made 1 or 2 mistakes and kept the ball in play. I like feeling the pressure of the leaderboard during play. Its definitely different than a casual round. There were a few times in this last round where I played very conservative shots to make sure I didn't let the hole get away Good stuff.

[Diablo25]

Magnolia Par 3 course is out and it's a fun, beautiful 9 holes.

[TheTruth]

Put up my lowest score to date in the final round of the Society event Arctic Fury Salute. Shot a 66. I blew up in my middle two rounds. Actually took an effin 9 on a par 4 in round two (long story). The last round was very fun. Only made 1 or 2 mistakes and kept the ball in play. I like feeling the pressure of the leaderboard during play. Its definitely different than a casual round. There were a few times in this last round where I played very conservative shots to make sure I didn't let the hole get away Good stuff.

Still digging tour clubs...haven't even tried player clubs and doubt I will. Put up a 2nd round 67 in the society tourney. Love the pressure that is there for each stroke. Bunker shots around the green with any kinda elevated lip scare me, as it should. Tempo is very important with the bunker flop shot trying to control the distance. I've seen duffs, to sailing over the hole to hitting well executed shots that spin to a stop right at the flag.

These greens do seem to still have slightly too much roll with approach shots. But I have stuck some as well. Guess it depends on the type of slope you land on? Do tour clubs have higher trajectory than player clubs? Also, some putts just feel weird coming off the face of the putter. Like it instantly reacts to the break right after contact. Don't see how that is possible especially if I have aimed the opposite direction.

[DivotMaker]

Put up my lowest score to date in the final round of the Society event Arctic Fury Salute. Shot a 66. I blew up in my middle two rounds. Actually took an effin 9 on a par 4 in round two (long story). The last round was very fun. Only made 1 or 2 mistakes and kept the ball in play. I like feeling the pressure of the leaderboard during play. Its definitely different than a casual round. There were a few times in this last round where I played very conservative shots to make sure I didn't let the hole get away Good stuff.

Still digging tour clubs...haven't even tried player clubs and doubt I will. Put up a 2nd round 67 in the society tourney. Love the pressure that is there for each stroke. Bunker shots around the green with any kinda elevated lip scare me, as it should. Tempo is very important with the bunker flop shot trying to control the distance. I've seen duffs, to sailing over the hole to hitting well executed shots that spin to a stop right at the flag.

These greens do seem to still have slightly too much roll with approach shots. But I have stuck some as well. Guess it depends on the type of slope you land on? Do tour clubs have higher trajectory than player clubs? Also, some putts just feel weird coming off the face of the putter. Like it instantly reacts to the break right after contact. Don't see how that is possible especially if I have aimed the opposite direction.

Yes, especially if you get a full swing to go Perfect/Perfect and relatively to really straight in the cone. Wedges seem to drop out of the sky when you do.

About the putting....are you noticing this when you are putting and the ball comes of the putter head right to left? If so, there is an issue where the grid is not reporting all of the break just in front of the golfer on SOME holes, not all. When you make the putt and it veers more left then you expected, the come-backer usually reveals the actual slope of the putt you just had and shows it was much more severe than the camera/grid you had before you made that putt. It will manifest itself as a slight mound and whenever you see this, hit the Y button, then scroll around behind the cup with your swing stick and get the camera low to the ground and you can then see the mound that the grid is not representing properly.

They need to get this fixed, otherwise folks are going to think the putting mechanic is broken. IMO, putting is sublime in this game as well as TOUR clubs....

[FifaInspected]

have a few rounds under my belt. My biggest gripe is the fact that it's hard to read the hud items a lot of the time. Any sky, mountain etc, that has any white to it washes out the text. Even the aiming cursor can all but vanish at times. I tried adjusting the hud to "bring items closer to the center" and that setting didn't do anything as I didn't see a difference. Also tried moving the distance info from near the pin to the hud. Still really hard at times. It would be nice to be able to select a different color for the text. Why not put that information in an area that will never be sky??

Digging the game though. Had issues with the putter not coming back smoothly which made short putts really impossible at times. Fixed it by turning off all the graphics options.

[Gangrel]

About the putting....are you noticing this when you are putting and the ball comes of the putter head right to left? If so, there is an issue where the grid is not reporting all of the break just in front of the golfer on SOME holes, not all. When you make the putt and it veers more left then you expected, the come-backer usually reveals the actual slope of the putt you just had and shows it was much more severe than the camera/grid you had before you made that putt. It will manifest itself as a slight mound and whenever you see this, hit the Y button, then scroll around behind the cup with your swing stick and get the camera low to the ground and you can then see the mound that the grid is not representing properly.

They need to get this fixed, otherwise folks are going to think the putting mechanic is broken. IMO, putting is sublime in this game as well as TOUR clubs....

I will have to check this out. I know it was one of my (and yours) complaints in the first game, so I was thinking it was still here. I'm a fairly average real life golfer, but the way stuff rolled off in the first game was unnatural to me for sure. I'll take your advice and see if i'm running into the same situation as you describe.


I also hope I can finally get into the society, as i was having a field day with the servers on the weekend........

[sportdan30]

I'm ready to play some tournaments, but admittedly I'm a novice at this game. I'm still playing the Easy courses with Standard Clubs. Can someone explain the differences between the Standard, Player, and Tour clubs selection? I'm assuming the Standard Clubs provide more control but limited distance?

[TCrouch]

Seems to be it, in my experience. The standard clubs had me hitting 250, 260 with no wind. It seems the Player clubs had me hitting 275 to 290 regularly, but it's a lot easier to shank a shot, and tempo issues are magnified.

I haven't even tried tour clubs, as I still tend to be all over the place on putts (mostly pace, and figuring out what's 10 feet, what's 20 feet, 40 feet, etc.). I haven't found a consistent baseline there, but in my opinion, going to Player clubs and not having to un-learn bad habits is the way to go.

You're going to struggle with all of them, honestly. Might as well not create a tiered struggle, where you come to grips with the Standard clubs, and then go nuts trying to move up. One could say the same thing about the Tour clubs, I guess, but I'm not sure I'll ever go that far. Player clubs give me quite a bit of struggle just attempting to stay near par. It mimics my real game eerily close. I can hit it relatively straight, but chips and putts? I'll lose all my strokes there.

[pk500]

I'm ready to play some tournaments, but admittedly I'm a novice at this game. I'm still playing the Easy courses with Standard Clubs. Can someone explain the differences between the Standard, Pro, and Tour clubs selection? I'm assuming the Standard Clubs provide more control but limited distance?

Exactly. It's pretty damn hard to botch a drive or fairway wood or iron with the Standard clubs once you get the hang of the swing rhythm. But you will sacrifice distance.

Still, there's absolutely NO shame in using Standard clubs as you're learning the game -- especially if you didn't own TGC 1 -- or if those are the clubs that deliver the most enjoyment to you even if you're an experienced player. It's supposed to be fun.

My oldest son and I have graduated from Standard to Player clubs and are digging them. My swing just isn't refined enough to control the Tour clubs yet. So Player provides the ideal mix of challenge and fun for now.

[sportdan30]

Thanks for the info guys. So, while I am enjoying the game quite a bit, I'm assuming that I'll be at a pretty significant disadvantage once I move up to the the Medium and Hard courses with longer greens. I'll give the Pro clubs a go this evening with the understanding it'll be a higher risk but higher reward.

[DivotMaker]

About the putting....are you noticing this when you are putting and the ball comes of the putter head right to left? If so, there is an issue where the grid is not reporting all of the break just in front of the golfer on SOME holes, not all. When you make the putt and it veers more left then you expected, the come-backer usually reveals the actual slope of the putt you just had and shows it was much more severe than the camera/grid you had before you made that putt. It will manifest itself as a slight mound and whenever you see this, hit the Y button, then scroll around behind the cup with your swing stick and get the camera low to the ground and you can then see the mound that the grid is not representing properly.

They need to get this fixed, otherwise folks are going to think the putting mechanic is broken. IMO, putting is sublime in this game as well as TOUR clubs....

I will have to check this out. I know it was one of my (and yours) complaints in the first game, so I was thinking it was still here. I'm a fairly average real life golfer, but the way stuff rolled off in the first game was unnatural to me for sure. I'll take your advice and see if i'm running into the same situation as you describe.


I also hope I can finally get into the society, as i was having a field day with the servers on the weekend........

This issue is not the same as TGC1 where the ball came off the putterhead left or right more severely than seemed real. This is strictly in front of a right handed golfer at about noon to 3 o'clock so to speak and only affects putts in that area that break right to left.

[DivotMaker]

Thanks for the info guys. So, while I am enjoying the game quite a bit, I'm assuming that I'll be at a pretty significant disadvantage once I move up to the the Medium and Hard courses with longer greens. I'll give the Pro clubs a go this evening with the understanding it'll be a higher risk but higher reward.

When swinging the clubs regardless of which type, visualize controlling your golfer like he was Freddie Couples or Ernie Els to really get the feel of the tempo.

Make sure you start your downswing before your golfer's club gets to the top (there is a tiny lag where the club continues on while you are transitioning to the downswing).

It is all about smooth transitions and rhythmic pace throughout the swing.

Also try not to accelerate through impact. This is one aspect I wished they had added as it is almost counter intuitive not to accelerate through the shot.

When you stripe a drive or metal wood, the corresponding sound the clubhead makes is very satisfying and different than slightly non-striped shots.

[10spro]

Thanks for the info guys. So, while I am enjoying the game quite a bit, I'm assuming that I'll be at a pretty significant disadvantage once I move up to the the Medium and Hard courses with longer greens. I'll give the Pro clubs a go this evening with the understanding it'll be a higher risk but higher reward.

The risk is definitely higher when you play player and tour clubs. But when you get that sweet birdie it doesn't really matter how to got there isn't it? Try to find the tempo that fits you on a consistent basis. I am using player currently because it mimics very well my real game. I can hit perhaps 8-9 straight drives down the fairway and go off, hook, slice on the remaining holes. I love the short game in this version, much more realistic than TGC although there are shots that just bites you in the arse. For example when you are in the sand and try to flop it 10 yards between your sand position and the flag and you're staring at a rather haunting lip.

Or when you're at the lip and try to punch it into the greens and the ball just moved a foot down. Those are particularly difficult tough shots to make as it is in real life and the game carries that experience fairly.

But again, go with the clubs that gives you the most consistent swing and rhythm. After all, it's drive for show and putt for dough...

[J_Cauthen]

I created an 18 hole, 1 day tournament in the PS4 and PC, DSP societies for today. I had to set it at one of the official courses (Upland G.C., I believe it was?) because for some reason, only official courses would display, at least when I got home from work this morning.

I would like to get an idea of what the consensus is on the number of days for completing a 72 hole tournament? We had four this past week, and I wasn't able to complete the PS4 version tournament, but then again, I had to work Friday through Sunday night, 12 hours a night also.

I was thinking it would be cool to have three, 18 hole dailies on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with the 72 hole tournament running Thursday through Sunday. Ultimately though, it would be better to go with what's going to work best for the majority, so your thoughts on this gang?

[FifaInspected]

I created an 18 hole, 1 day tournament in the PS4 and PC, DSP societies for today. I had to set it at one of the official courses (Upland G.C., I believe it was?) because for some reason, only official courses would display, at least when I got home from work this morning.

I would like to get an idea of what the consensus is on the number of days for completing a 72 hole tournament? We had four this past week, and I wasn't able to complete the PS4 version tournament, but then again, I had to work Friday through Sunday night, 12 hours a night also.

I was thinking it would be cool to have three, 18 hole dailies on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with the 72 hole tournament running Thursday through Sunday. Ultimately though, it would be better to go with what's going to work best for the majority, so your thoughts on this gang?

Played the PS4 Daily tournament. I like the idea. After that round however I feel pretty lost in regards to putting. I'm starting to believe the game is more differtent from the original that what I had originally thought

[J_Cauthen]

Played the PS4 Daily tournament. I like the idea. After that round however I feel pretty lost in regards to putting. I'm starting to believe the game is more differtent from the original that what I had originally thought

It is a LOT different from TGC 1, IMO... but I'd also say for the better Putting is a bit tougher in TGC 2. I'm seeing some stutter in the putting stroke on the console versions, particularly right at the start of the backstroke. If I see it, I stop my stroke and restart. You'll eventually get a smoother stroke animation, and you've got to go more by your animation in TGC 2 to modulate your putt strength.

I'll be playing the PS4 DSP Society Daily later on this evening. Any of you guys up for being on around 10 PM EDT? Oh, and Mark (MERACE), I still don't see your name on the member list, yet I'm 100% certain I approved your membership request.

[J_Cauthen]

I've got some good news about a new course and some bad news. The good news is my favorite TGC 2 course from the beta, Dunholme Manor has now been published. The bad news is that the course creator, Han, has changed the time of day setting, and the sun is at what appears to be a late morning angle and it's washing out so much of the courses wonderful flora, fauna, and textures that it almost looks like a different course.

It's still a majestic course and a very difficult challenge, particularly off the black tees where it plays at ~7,600 yards. I just shot an 83 there on the XBox One version, but I had no business trying to play that course with Tour clubs at my current skill level. It also puts a bit of a performance hit on the XBox One in a few places, but it's not chronic enough to spoil the experience as a whole.

I'm going to hit Han up and see if he'd be willing to publish another version of the course with the beta lighting conditions. This course deserves to be seen in its full spendor!

[TheTruth]

I've got some good news about a new course and some bad news. The good news is my favorite TGC 2 course from the beta, Dunholme Manor has now been published. The bad news is that the course creator, Han, has changed the time of day setting, and the sun is at what appears to be a late morning angle and it's washing out so much of the courses wonderful flora, fauna, and textures that it almost looks like a different course.

It's still a majestic course and a very difficult challenge, particularly off the black tees where it plays at ~7,600 yards. I just shot an 83 there on the XBox One version, but I had no business trying to play that course with Tour clubs at my current skill level. It also puts a bit of a performance hit on the XBox One in a few places, but it's not chronic enough to spoil the experience as a whole.

I'm going to hit Han up and see if he'd be willing to publish another version of the course with the beta lighting conditions. This course deserves to be seen in its full spendor!

Thanks for the recommendation. I will play your ghost this evening. Is there a way to tell what clubs people are using when searching for ghosts to play? Or in tournaments in general? You would think there would be a filter in place.

[J_Cauthen]

Thanks for the recommendation. I will play your ghost this evening.

You'll either laugh your ass off at my hijinks, or ask for the course marshals to escort me off the course! It was a pathetic outing that would have been even worse had I not drained 3 bogey putts of 25 feet, or more. I think I hit 3 fairways and 5 greens in that round

Is there a way to tell what clubs people are using when searching for ghosts to play? Or in tournaments in general? You would think there would be a filter in place.

No, unfortunately you can't. I think it's something that is needed. I'd say it will be coming in an update.

[Diablo25]

Saw this at HB's site....Multiplayer tutorials for TGC2.

http://thegolfclubgame.com/2017/07/02/t ... tutorials/

[MERACE]

Oh, and Mark (MERACE), I still don't see your name on the member list, yet I'm 100% certain I approved your membership request.

I have not been able to play the game on my PS4 lately so the next time I do I will hit the join Society button.


-MERACE

[J_Cauthen]

Today's Dailies for the PS4 and PC DSP Societies are at Mein-Notchurs Municipal GC. This course had perhaps the best lighting in the beta, and is a quasi, highland/parkland style course. I hope your enjoy it!

Meanwhile, Royal Ethalwind is kicking my butt in the XBox One DSP tournament. I couldn't find a fairway with a search warrant in the XBox One version right now... maybe I need to swallow my pride and step back down to Player clubs on the XB1 . It's still a ton of fun though! It's nice to see a full page of players on the leaderboard, with "pluses" out to the left of 92% of those player's scores!