The Golf Club News Post

The Golf Club Early Access Available Now on Steam For $29.99 - Post Your Impressions

01:10 PM - April 17, 2014 by Kayotick

The PC version of The Golf Club is available now on steam for $29.99, during their early access promotion. On April 24th, the game will be $34.99. Still no word on official release dates for Xbox One or PS4.

There are plenty of impressions of the beta here, thanks to bluengold34_OS, but play a few rounds for yourself and post your impressions.

Read the full press release below.

Highly Realistic Golf Simulation Game - The Golf Club - Tees off Today on Steam Early Access

HB Studios Simulation, Complete with Course Creator and Social Features, Now Available on Steam Early Access for PC

Canadian video game developer, HB Studios, today announced its next generation golf simulation, The Golf Club, is now available on Steam Early Access for PC. The Golf Club features pre-designed courses as well as a Course Creator that allows players to build brand new courses and share them online within seconds. The Golf Club Early Access is available for $29.99, discounted from $34.99 for 7 days. Scheduled to launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One soon, The Golf Club will redefine the genre across both console and PC platforms. For more information, including a host of instructional videos, please visit the official website here.

�With a heritage deeply rooted in building some of the most fun, intuitive and critically successful sport franchises on the EA Sports label, HB Studios are now excited to roll out the first phase of The Golf Club,� said Jeremy Wellard, President of HB Studios. �With integrated social features, a massive online multiplayer mode and a Course Creator that will provide players with endless challenges, avid golfers and gamers can now access The Golf Club on Steam Early Access.�

The Golf Club is designed for 1 - 4 players locally, (from single player to 4-player sofa play), or in an asynchronous online multiplayer mode that allows players to compete against �live balls� and �ghost balls� from other players. Early Access of The Golf Club comes complete with three modes: stroke play, match play and 4-ball, and no loading times between holes.

The Course Creator allows players to build an unlimited number of golf courses which can then be shared and played with friends online. New courses can be generated in a matter of seconds by selecting a theme (Rural, Alpine or Autumn), terrain features, number of holes and difficulty. Players can then enjoy a full suite of editing tools from changing the time of day to placing hazards and objects to create the ultimate golf challenge. Players can also discover new courses built by friends and the community by filtering through rank and difficulty, as well as interact with new The Golf Club members through the Message Center.

Additional social features enable players to challenge friends and attempt to beat high scores and best their own highest recorded rounds. Add to this a myriad of statistic tracking tools, notifications, challenges and much more, and you have a golf club truly worth joining. The Golf Club was developed with the Unity games development platform.

Game: The Golf ClubReader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PC / PS4 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 7 - View All

The Golf Club Videos

Member Comments

# 261 OnlookerDelay @ 05/05/14 12:16 PM

I'm a bit relieved to read that they aren't going to rush the console versions out yet. This game would be a bust on the consoles if it were to be released in the state it's currently playing on the PC, IMO. HBS has some serious tweaking with the swing mechanic, ball physics, score and stat tracking, and multiplayer status control before it's what I would consider to be "Ready for Prime Time". They're getting there, but the progress is slower than I would have expected.

Remember, it's much harder for developers to patch a console game than it is a PC game. They have to go through a costly, and time consuming certification process to deliver a patch. Server side patches are not an issue, as they can be done at the desire of the publisher, but most of what I'm seeing in the most glaring need of improvement is game code. Give 'em a little more time, I think we'll be much happier with the release version if we let them sort these critical gameplay issues out. The pitching game in TGC is playing like laser lawn darts; it doesn't feel or look anything like golf. This HAS to be fixed to where pitches roll out, like pitches are supposed to roll out, especially from the rough! If I'm within 56 yards of the pin, I'm confident that I'm going to get up and down with a laser pitch shot, 9 times out of 10. That's just way too unrealistic.

# 262 ralphieboy11 @ 05/05/14 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnlookerDelay


	I'm a bit relieved to read that they aren't going to rush the console versions out yet. This game would be a bust on the consoles if it were to be released in the state it's currently playing on the PC, IMO. HBS has some serious tweaking with the swing mechanic, ball physics, score and stat tracking, and multiplayer status control before it's what I would consider to be "Ready for Prime Time". They're getting there, but the progress is slower than I would have expected. Remember, it's much harder for developers to patch a console game than it is a PC game. They have to go through a costly, and time consuming certification process to deliver a patch. Server side patches are not an issue, as they can be done at the desire of the publisher, but most of what I'm seeing in the most glaring need of improvement is game code. Give 'em a little more time, I think we'll be much happier with the release version if we let them sort these critical gameplay issues out. The pitching game in TGC is playing like laser lawn darts; it doesn't feel or look anything like golf. This HAS to be fixed to where pitches roll out, like pitches are supposed to roll out, especially from the rough! If I'm within 56 yards of the pin, I'm confident that I'm going to get up and down with a laser pitch shot, 9 times out of 10. That's just way too unrealistic.

Amen! I've been trying to put as much stuff about the physics and pitching as I can on the HB Studios forums. I'm loving the course creator but the ball physics and knowing that I can get up and down from anywhere within 100 yards are ruining the game play for me at the moment.

# 263 Cod @ 05/05/14 01:37 PM

Phobia, I got some thoughts on your newest course, Yellow Brick Road. First, I love the environment and landscape of the course. The hills provide for some interesting decisions on some shots...I remember I had to go with a 5-wood and less power over a 4-iron due to a giant hill in front of me. The only thing I really didn't like were the greens. Only a few of them had any flat spots at all and on some of the holes, the cup itself was leaning pretty dramatically. Also, and not your fault, the greens on your course are made tougher by the fact that the uphill / downhill speeds on the greens are currently a little messed up (long thread about it at TGC official forums). Overall though, I think its a pretty decent course.

On a separate note, does anyone know how to join someone's live game when playing with a controller? I've seen the message come up a few times that someone is starting a course, but can't figure out how to click the join or dismiss button. Any help is appreciated.

# 264 Phobia @ 05/05/14 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cod


	Phobia, I got some thoughts on your newest course, Yellow Brick Road. First, I love the environment and landscape of the course. The hills provide for some interesting decisions on some shots...I remember I had to go with a 5-wood and less power over a 4-iron due to a giant hill in front of me. The only thing I really didn't like were the greens. Only a few of them had any flat spots at all and on some of the holes, the cup itself was leaning pretty dramatically. Also, and not your fault, the greens on your course are made tougher by the fact that the uphill / downhill speeds on the greens are currently a little messed up (long thread about it at TGC official forums). Overall though, I think its a pretty decent course. On a separate note, does anyone know how to join someone's live game when playing with a controller? I've seen the message come up a few times that someone is starting a course, but can't figure out how to click the join or dismiss button. Any help is appreciated.

I was complaining to my cousin yesterday I wish you could edit courses after published because I have the same gripes about the greens.

Give me other one a shot and see what you think. The Wetlands

# 265 Cod @ 05/05/14 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia


	I was complaining to my cousin yesterday I wish you could edit courses after published because I have the same gripes about the greens. Give me other one a shot and see what you think. The Wetlands

Nice course. Reminds me of some of the local public courses I played growing up in the southeast. Not sure why the game calls it medium difficulty, I felt like it was more of the easy category (minus the final hole). If you check out the activity screen on Steam (I can't access it right now), I posted a screenshot of my round on The Wetlands. I really like hole #11

# 266 Phobia @ 05/05/14 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cod


	Nice course. Reminds me of some of the local public courses I played growing up in the southeast. Not sure why the game calls it medium difficulty, I felt like it was more of the easy category (minus the final hole). If you check out the activity screen on Steam (I can't access it right now), I posted a screenshot of my round on The Wetlands. I really like hole #11

That is why I wanted you too check it out and see why on YBR I tried to make it more difficult with more green breaks. The problem is the greens don't feel authentic which can lead to some frustrating 3 or 4 putts. Yet on YBR I spent a lot more time placing every rack in the bunkers, every sign, range markers, etc.

I like the feel of The wetlands more, I just wish I spent the time to personalize it with buildings, signs, markers, wildlife, etc.

Edit: Stuck a double eagle, wow lol

# 267 greenegt @ 05/05/14 03:33 PM

Great perspective on the delay, OnlookerDelay and ralphieboy11. I think this game has potential to be a big hit and it is imperative that HBS nails the gameplay for official release. With all the good feedback coming in from the Early Access release, I'm confident they will do just that.

# 268 Cod @ 05/05/14 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia


	That is why I wanted you too check it out and see why on YBR I tried to make it more difficult with more green breaks. The problem is the greens don't feel authentic which can lead to some frustrating 3 or 4 putts. Yet on YBR I spent a lot more time placing every rack in the bunkers, every sign, range markers, etc. I like the feel of The wetlands more, I just wish I spent the time to personalize it with buildings, signs, markers, wildlife, etc.

From my round on The Wetlands:

# 269 Garrett67 @ 05/05/14 03:44 PM

That course is beautiful Phobia !

Don't look at my score though lol

I did just come within a foot of acing hole 4 though. I thought I had it.

# 270 Phobia @ 05/05/14 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett67


	That course is beautiful Phobia ! Don't look at my score though lol I did just come within a foot of acing hole 4 though. I thought I had it.

Thanks man, not the most refined since it was my first go at the creator but I find it fun to play.

I want to see video of you sticking the par 5 at 11 in 2 COD LOL

# 271 Garrett67 @ 05/05/14 04:13 PM

I'm at +5 as I sit on the 18th tee. I'm a little scared of this hole but I'm going for it.
(I actually made par on the 18th)

Going to play this one many times.

Thanks for taking your time on this one.

# 272 Garrett67 @ 05/05/14 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia


	I want to see video of you sticking the par 5 at 11 in 2 COD LOL

?

So close!

# 273 Phobia @ 05/05/14 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett67


	? So close!

Oh you were playing Yellow Brick Road! I thought you were talking about The Wetlands. Yea 18 is extremely difficult on that course. Bunker protecting front of green, then huge drop off on back of green. The safe shot is to hit the kicker on the right of bunker to kick ball onto green. Yet if you get lucky with just the right wind you should be able to make a go at the hole.

Damn you came close to getting the hole in one there, they robbed ya lol

The comment you quoted of mine was to Cod for his double eagle on #11.

# 274 BBallcoach @ 05/05/14 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveMN


	Worth it for me. The sheer number of user-generated courses is fantastic, and creating you own course is a lot of fun, once you get over the learning curve. My beefs with the game at this stage are simple: driving is too easy and putting is too hard. Maybe I'm dense, but I just can't seem to get into any sort of putting rhythm. I miss more 3 foot putts than I care to admit. Loving the game though, and I'm sure it's only going to get better.

Thank you! Looks like a purchase for me on Friday

# 275 Cod @ 05/05/14 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia


	Thanks man, not the most refined since it was my first go at the creator but I find it fun to play. I want to see video of you sticking the par 5 at 11 in 2 COD LOL

Well, if I knew how to access replays in the game I would have lol...my ignorance I guess since I don't have video of my hole in one from another course either...just screenshots. If anyone wants to share how, I'm all ears. Also, some good open source capture software would be nice.

Anyways, it was a 231ft 5-wood shot that landed just short of the green and rolled all the way home.

# 276 Matt10 @ 05/06/14 01:01 AM

Awesome stuff guys - so, is the ball trail able to be taken off or not? Has anyone tried any type of editing on the pc version? Like graphic files, etc.

# 277 ubernoob @ 05/06/14 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cod


	Well, if I knew how to access replays in the game I would have lol...my ignorance I guess since I don't have video of my hole in one from another course either...just screenshots. If anyone wants to share how, I'm all ears. Also, some good open source capture software would be nice. .

OBS can switch from stream mode to capture mode.

It's what I use both for streaming (all the time) and for capturing (very rarely, but it does work well.)

Just flip the switch here to File Output Mode instead of Streaming.

Spoiler

# 278 bcruise @ 05/06/14 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubernoob


	OBS can switch from stream mode to capture mode. It's what I use both for streaming (all the time) and for capturing (very rarely, but it does work well.) Just flip the switch here to File Output Mode instead of Streaming. Spoiler

Since we went on this subject, I've thought about streaming myself playing this. But I don't know what twitch's policy is on games like this. Technically it's not released yet, but it is available to anyone who wants it. Any ideas about that?

# 279 jrdsvtk @ 05/06/14 08:23 AM

Published my first course last night: Columbus Public

This is my first trip into the creator so it isn't quite the masterpiece. It does have that public course feel with fairways running side by side most of the way. The greens are tough, almost too tough but I'll get more proficient as I go with course creating.

Give it a try, give some feedback if you wish. if not, that's ok too

# 280 Cod @ 05/06/14 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubernoob


	OBS can switch from stream mode to capture mode. It's what I use both for streaming (all the time) and for capturing (very rarely, but it does work well.) Just flip the switch here to File Output Mode instead of Streaming. Spoiler

Thanks for sharing. I'll check it out tonight. With that said, is there any way to view replays while playing a course?

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