(*) RENEGADE PRESENTS (*)
(*) A ROUGH GUIDE TO SENSIBLE GOLF (*)
GENERAL TIPS :
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AIMING THE BALL :
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This isn't actually as easy as it sounds. You see, the CPU will
automatically line you up with the hole in a direct line --
irrelevant of any hazards that might by in the way. Therefore, if
you're a petulant sort of person you'll end up either eating
sand or treading water.
The solution is to pay a bit of attention to the overhead map.
More often than not you'll find that you won't be able to play
a shot directly towards the hole, but in a series of staggered
shots, skirting any nasty obstacles. Remember, you get penalised
one shot for each that ends up in the water.
SWERVING THE BALL :
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By now you're probably acquainted with the draw and fade of the
ball when you miss-time a shot. Because, if you're like me, it
probably happens quite a lot. However, you can use this rather
nifty function to great effect to swerve the ball around an
obstacle. Quite often you'll have to do this when you've hit a
poor shot and ended up in the rough. To swerve the ball, point
the cursor to the left or right of the hole you're aiming for.
Now start your shot and when you reach the red zone at the bottom
of the Welly-o-meter, stop it either early or late. So, if you've
pointed the cursor to the right of the hole, stop your down swing
early. All things being equal, the ball should perform a neat
arc in the air.
PLAYING A BUNKER SHOT :
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The important thing to remember here is that sand can decrease the
power of your shot. Therefore, always hit the ball slightly harder
than you would on the grass. The other thing to remember is that
you'll need a fairly lowly iron to clear the sand. You can try
hoofing your way out of a bunker with a two or there iron, but
you'll have to be exceptionally accurate on the welly-o-meter.
READING THE GREENS :
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If you've ever played golf for real then you'll know that putting
greens are, quite literally, sods. You can carefully line your shot
up, choose exactly the right amount of power, and take into account
the wind and green speed, but there's usually some git of a lump that
sends your ball off course at the last minute. Therefore it's wise
to carefully examine all those little arrows that adorn the green.
Believe me, you'll be tempted to simply whack the ball at the hole
and hope for the best. And you'll miss. If the arrows are pointing
towards you from the direction of the hole then you're playing uphill
and will have to hit the ball that little bit harder. Conversely,
if they're pointing away from you you'll have to hit it a bit softer
to allow for roll. If they're pointing diagonaly towarts or away
from you, then you'll have to curve the ball around the slope by
pointing the cursor at the opposite side of the hole. After a bit
of practice you'll be sinking 'em like sevvie.
AUGUSTO :
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HOLE : 13
YARDS : 381
PAR : 5
CONDITIONS : FINE
Dont't even try to reach the narrow causeway here - even if you
make it, you'll roll straight into the water at the other side.
Instead, hit the ball at about 10 o'clock using a full-strength
1 wood, then go more or less straight up, and across to reach
the green in three for an easy birdie.
CASABLANCA :
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HOLE : 6
YARDS : 195
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : DANDY
It's easy enough to go round the trees and hit the green in two for
a fine birdie, but if you switch to a 1 wood and hit it at the
maximum power, you can just about sneak over the water
( try to catch the mud to slow it down ) and run the green for a
fairly easy eagle chance.
DUSSELDORF :
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HOLE : 1
YARDS : 179
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : IDEAL
Aim slightly of the left, where the green island bulges down slightly.
Hit your 3 iron at full power and you'll just make the edge of the
grass, leaving a simple chip to the green for another birdie. Don't
use a bigger club or you'll overrun and land in the water on the
other side.
GENEVA :
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HOLE : 3
YARDS : 329
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : DAMP
There's no advantage in going the hard way up the right-hand side - just
use your 1 wood and belt the ball to the upper corner of the triangular
patch of grass on the left. From there, even somebody who thinks
Cannon Fodder II is too hard could easily chip to the green for an
soft birdie.
LADBROKE GROVE :
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HOLE : 10
YARDS : 213
PAR : 3
CONDITIONS : SOGGY
The default club here ( the 2 wood ) should just clear the water, but
you'll run into the bunker. Use the 1 wood instead, which should leave
you an easier fairway shot, or even on the green if you get a lucky
bounce on the edge of the bunker.
LAS VEGAS :
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HOLE : 7
YARDS : 410
PAR : 5
CONDITIONS : BRIGHT
You can follow the fairway here and still be on the green in three
for a birdie, but the narrow strip of grass on the right of the central
bunker is nicely placed for a big 1 wood shot to the upper edge of the
water, from where you can easily reach the green with a 2 or 3 wood
and give yourself an almost certain egale.
LYON :
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HOLE : 7
YARDS : 410
PAR : 5
CONDITIONS : MOIST
The clearing up the right hand side is a red herring - follow
the fairway with your first shot and you'll have a very good
chance of clearing the left-hand forest with your 1 wood, and
hitting the green in two for an eagle.
MADEIRA ISLAND :
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HOLE : 8
YARDS : 372
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : DREAMY
Aim a little to the right of the default position - you'll still
clear the lake comfortably, and you won't risk rolling into the
water or mud - as you will if you hit the ball straight up what
looks like the safer path. Aiming right will leave you a risk-free
shot to the green for yet another birdie.
MADRID :
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HOLE : 17
YARDS : 342
PAR : 5
CONDITIONS : LUSH
Aim for the right-hand corner of the third lake, and use 2 wood
( or 3 wood if your aiming's even slightly dodgy ). For the
second shot, pick the 2 wood again ( or 3 iron if you're right
at the water's edge ) and whack it full strength to clear the
last lake and almost certainly end up on the green for the chance
of an eagle.
MAUI :
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HOLE : 12
YARDS : 259
PAR : 3
CONDITIONS : FAB
Move the aiming cursor about three notches to the left of the
starting position, and do a full-power 1 wood shot to get through
the awkwardlyangled gap and hit the green for a birdie putt.
MELBOURNE :
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HOLE : 10
YARDS : 275
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : CLAMMY
A full-power shot will just sneak over the central lake, so aim
just to the right of the small upper lake and smack it with all
your might. You mightbounce off the shallow water, but you'll
make it all right.
OAKVILLE :
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HOLE : 18
YARDS : 227
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : SODDEN
It looks deceptively temping, but no matter how well you hit it,
there's no way on Earth you'll make it across those trees. Go
the easy way and you'll still be on the green in two for a birdie.
It's not a par 4 for nothing.
PITTSBURGH :
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HOLE : 1
YARDS : 412
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : PASTORAL
Aim four notches to the left of the default position, and go
at it full tilt with your 1 wood. Don't worry about the
bunker - you'll trundle to a halt just short of it, leaving
a simple little shot to the green. And then, of course, it's
birdie time again.
PUERTO RICO :
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HOLE : 1
YARDS : 374
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : HEAVENLY
Don't be tempted to gain an advantage by trying for the left-hand
fairway - those trees are placed to hurt you. A full-power 1 wood
up the right will leave you plenty of scope for a 3 wood second shot
to the green for one more birdie.
ROME :
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HOLE : 14
YARDS : 327
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : SHOWERY
It looks dodgy, but in fact you'll reach that little left-hand patch
of fairway easily with your 1 wood. However, try to hit the first
half of the red bar of your Welly-o-meter, as a maximumpower
shot may very well run on into the top lake and cost you a penalty
stroke. At last.
SAFFRON WALDEN :
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HOLE : 18
YARDS : 227
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : BLEAK
It looks deceptively tempting, but no matter how well you hit it,
there's no way on Earth you'll make it across those trees. Go the
easy and - hang on a minute. There's something funny going on around
here.
SINGAPORE :
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HOLE : 6
YARDS : 396
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : DIVINE
Not for the nervous, this one. Aim directly at the foor of the
bridge with your 1 wood and you'll roll safely onto the wooden
surface for a comfy second shot to the green and a birdie. If
you're not that confident, a fullstrength 2 wood might just get
you close enough, but it'll be trickier.
SINTRA :
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HOLE : 10
YARDS : 168
PAR : 3
CONDITIONS : GENTLE
The default 4 iron won't give you enough oomph to clear the river
here. Use the 3 iron on absolute maximum power ( if you're good ),
or the 3 wood ( which will leave you a harder second shot ) if
you're a little bit on the unreliable side.
ST ANDREAS'S :
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HOLE : 4
YARDS : 265
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : DREICH
Down, down-towards, towards and press all three punch buttons
while holding - oh no, sorry. You'll never reach the island
from the tee, so go up the fairway like any normal person. You'll
still get a birdie, so stop whining already.
SUTTON :
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HOLE : 9
YARDS : 327
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : NORTHERN
Despite appearances, you CAN actually clear this one with your
1 wood, but only if you hit the last two pixels of the power meter.
Use the default aiming and you'll leave yourself a straightforward
shot to the green for a birdie. The faint of heart can follow the
fairway, but it's a near-certain route to a par at best.
TARPON SPRINGS :
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HOLE : 1
YARDS : 352
PAR : 5
CONDITIONS : CHEERFUL
A nice easy one here. Aim for the dead centre of the big island-type
thing, and then a full blooded 1 wood shot will run conveniently
to the edge of, but no into, the horseshoe lake. Your 3 wood will
then clear the top lake for a potential eagle.
TENERIFE :
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HOLE : ?
YARDS : ???
PAR : ?
CONDITIONS : BORING
There are no intreesting holes on the Tenerife course. But there's
a hole anyway, just in case you get bored.
THOMASTOWN :
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HOLE : 3
YARDS : 219
PAR : 3
CONDITIONS : SWAMPY
Just kidding. Hit the ball in the hole that sort of thing.
TOKYO :
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HOLE : 18
YARDS : 227
PAR : 4
CONDITIONS : DEJA VU
It looks deceptively tempting, but - LOOK, JUST THAT OUT, ALRIGHT ?