FSX Courses

[p3eps]

Is there any way of previewing courses before taking the plunge and buying?
On the Foresight page I can get a 1 hole flyover, but it would appear that's it. I've bought several courses that I've played once or twice and will probably never play again because I don't think they're that great.

Any recommendations? I fancy a new one, but not sure what to get - and don't want to waste more money on something that's not very good!

[BWJones]

Could someone share their experiences about the new Pebble courses?

[mmlincon]

Foresight did a great job on the Pebble courses, the best I've seen from them. Very polished. Audio is well done which has been hit or miss on other courses. I've played all three multiple time and really enjoy them. I've kind of scrutinized the layout as parts are not as I remembered but watching recent videos the representation is very accurate. It's been over 10 years since I played out there so I'm not surprised I remember wrong. They missed the aiming rock on #8 which is surprising but other than that they are excellently done.

[CBearsSB]

How about comparing to TGC Pebble Beach? Thanks.

[mmlincon]

Hmmm, don't know if that can be done. One is simulation software and the other is a game. For me I was never a big fan of TGC's Pebble. I preferred JNPG, but between the three I'd take FSX anyday. The more I use FSX the more I like it. Don't get me wrong TGC and JNPG are very good for what they are but they both have big issues with the short game that drove me nuts. This isn't so much with which looks better as so much as which plays better. At the end of the day it comes down to personal preference. If you are happy with TGC or JNPG then great. Once I added a healthy list of courses for FSX I haven't touched TGC, JNPG or E6. FSX still need some work but it's getting there. If these Del Monte Forest courses are a sign of what's to come for Foresight, I'm very excited.

[Baller]

Yeah, I don’t have any of them yet for FSX, since I just got FSX, but not a fan of the TGC one at all. Not realistic at all. The Protee version was much better, but still not great. I’m looking forward to getting the FSX one when it makes sense.

[p3eps]

I totally agree with you there. I haven’t used anything other than FSX for about 15 months now.
People get too caught up in the graphics. There is no denying that FSX is graphically inferior to the rest. I see people commenting “I’m not paying $2500 for something that looks like that”, but what they don’t realise is that graphics aren’t the be all and end all.
For me, FSX offers a much more realistic experience, and I’d rather put up with the lacking graphics for the better game play!
Each to their own I guess.

[JDhunt]

This conversation is very interesting to me. I thought I was sure that i would either get TGC or JNPG in a couple months when I install my simulator, but realism is more important to me than graphics too. I would much rather have the ball react as realistically as possible and sacrifice some looks. I also like the looks of the skills challenge on FSX. I'm sure that playing rounds will be fun, but my reason for a GC2 is to improve my game. Now I'm up in the air on what to buy. If I purchase a new GC2 from Foresight, will there be a possibility for a price discount on FSX?

[Baller]

As a new FSX user, I have the say that I LOVE the Skills Challenge. I also love how FSX allows you to move the target line to match your offset on your screen so your target is really your target.

There is room for improvement in the software interface and I hope they improve the customizability of the skills challenge part, but I think it’s great so far.

[p3eps]

TGC lets you alter your target line for offset screens too.

[mthunt]

I have all of them and my personal preference is TGC. A lot of people say accuracy can't be right because the courses are user created. I don't get that. I user created my own course and it's super accurate. I've been to pebble, augusta, bethoage ect. They are seem really accurate to me. Must be as above. User preference. By the way, I paid 2 grand for my TGC.

[p3eps]

By the way, I paid 2 grand for my TGC.

Me too... although technically I paid it for ProTee and got TGC free. I was pretty gutted when they started selling it separately at half the price a few months later!

[mthunt]

Same. Bought ProTee.

[mmlincon]

I think we are talking about two different kinds of accuracy. One is course rendition accuracy and the other is playing ( ball physics, etc. ) accuracy.

[Mxwoodman]

Me too... although technically I paid it for ProTee and got TGC free. I was pretty gutted when they started selling it separately at half the price a few months later!

Ha ha have all three but started FS1, then TGC ($2000 for ProTee and TGC for free), then JNPG, then traded in the FR1 for FSX there all good

But I like pebble the best on FSX and I've been using FSX the most since I'm still recovering from a shoulder injury and can't play any sim tours.

I also need the offset and TGC and FSX work great for me, JNPG not so much the last time I tried it, but I think they might be working on making it better

I'll wait for TGC2 to come out and hopefully by then I'll be able to play some sim tours

[Jwheels9876]

What makes FSX so good compared to TGC or JNPG? I have issues with the short game on both. Is it any better on FSX? I've watched a ton of videos on FSX and it's so hard to get past the look of it vs the price they charge for the software and courses.

[mthunt]

What makes FSX so good compared to TGC or JNPG? I have issues with the short game on both. Is it any better on FSX? I've watched a ton of videos on FSX and it's so hard to get past the look of it vs the price they charge for the software and courses.

It has to be personal preference. I don’t exerpience what mm is referring to.

[mmlincon]

So, have the velco greens in TGC been fixed? Playing a running chip shot and having it check up in a foot drove me nuts.

[wbond]

In the two years playing TGC i've yet to encounter a course that has velcro greens and I have never had a chip shot that checks up in a foot, EVER. Is this hardware related maybe? I use skytrak so there are issues with short game there, maybe that's masking it? There are many times that the weekly tour courses have responses about how firm and how far the greens run out. I don't ever recall anyone saying the greens are holding too much in any of the weekly events.

So, have the velco greens in TGC been fixed? Playing a running chip shot and having it check up in a foot drove me nuts.

[mmlincon]

I never noticed an issue will full shots into the greens it was pitch and chip shots that drove me nuts. Could be hardware related or the conversion of the numbers. Plenty of folks complain about it. I think some like it. Some went to JNPG because of it but they have a similar issue although not as bad. All I know is on FSX I don't find myself scratching my head wondering why a shot did something weird. Well, except for putting, I swear the hole is the size of a quarter but I'm getting better at it. Speed must be perfect!

[Jwheels9876]

In the two years playing TGC i've yet to encounter a course that has velcro greens and I have never had a chip shot that checks up in a foot, EVER. Is this hardware related maybe? I use skytrak so there are issues with short game there, maybe that's masking it? There are many times that the weekly tour courses have responses about how firm and how far the greens run out. I don't ever recall anyone saying the greens are holding too much in any of the weekly events.

Compared to some of the other options out there, they are very sticky. Most people are used to them I suppose that's why when the odd course that has concrete greens comes along people complain.