World Golf Tour Charity Challenge
By: Eric M. Martin |
Saturday January 19, 2008 |
 |
The world’s most photo-realistic online golf experience teams up with the PGA to earn money for charitable organizations. |
| Whoever said gaming serves no purpose is not aware of things such as this! The World Golf Tour, with its aim to make the game of golf accessible to anyone, has teamed up with the PGA and TaylorMade for the Charity Challenge. Proceeds for this virtual extravaganza will go to benefit charities such as Teach for America, Sheltering Arms, and After-School All Stars. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a site that provides fast access to everything without a lot of mucking about. World Golf Tour’s webpage allows for immediate access to World Golf Tour, donation pages for the above charities, and links to the various affiliates. Draw number one: it’s free! Draw number two: chances to win actual golf swag, such as the Burner Driver from TaylorMade. Registering to play the 9-Hole Challenge will automatically get players access to WGT’s beta e-mailing list as well as an opportunity to participate in the next closed beta. One thing I’ve personally noticed is the indescribable, and undeniable, attraction to video golf. Unlike other incarnations of popular sports today, gold seems to have the widest pull amongst various gamers. Regardless of favored genres or systems, gamers seem pliable enough to try out video game golf at least once in their life, whether it’s a local rental or a few coins dropped into a Golden Tee machine at a pub or bowling alley. The folks at WGT seem to have put their best foot forward when it comes to a gamer’s first experience with virtual golf. A glance at the website will automatically give you a look into the photo-realism that is ever present in this program. Sure, the golfer models may look cut-and-paste when displayed on an incredibly deceptive real course model, but I challenge you to find a better-looking total package anywhere else. The bushes and water add the best touch and flavor, not to mention the panoramic sky view that hangs eerily behind each plane. It’s not just fantasy courses either. WGT offers the chance for people to play on actual courses used by the PGA. These promise to be studied, accurate representations of the world’s most famous (and notorious) courses. A quick view of the sponsor’s link will reveal WGTs intentions for not only golf courses to appear in their program, but also various equipment and merchandise as well. Those with charitable hearts and an urge to golf need apply. Those interested in golf in general also need apply. The fact is, this is perhaps the most inviting experience I have ever seen in the video game world, bar none. Long after the Charity Challenge is over, World Golf Tour will be a solid presence in the gaming world from here on out. |
