Early thoughts on TGC vs PG

[Smudge_si]

Can't wait to try out the PG version of Augusta i think the TGC one is great and it's one the favourites to play when I have friends over, I'm sure the PG one will be the same.

When I started planning or dreaming about having a simulator at home there was really no affordable options for me and software/course selection was much less limited and now It's funny to think we are comparing two great Augusta recreations as to which is better. Good times for us 🏠⛳️👍

[fortysixandtwo]

I have both but only played a few holes on the PG version. I like them both for different reasons but tend to use PG more because of ease of setup..playing certain holes, game modes, etc.
What I'm curious about is why the fps is low on PG's Augusta in general. TGC is notorious for needing a great graphics card to run smooth, but I'm getting 60fps with TGC and a 980ti. PG Augusta is getting lower fps. All the other PG courses run high FPS though...
I'll double check my fps but some spots were in the 20-30 range with an i7 and gtx980ti

[Godfather]

I've played a few rounds now of each and here are my thoughts. I'm running a GTX 750ti, which is on the lower end of the TGC recommendations and it runs both fine at 720p on high settings. I am including E6 in my review as well as I have the most experience with it as I awaited the release of the others.

Courses:
TGC has the leg up currently, but PG has many that I've downloaded and added to my list so I think with time all the famous courses will be available on both. E6 obviously way behind here with just Wade Hampton in the demo version and no word on full release.

Options:
I like that I can select just a few holes on E6 and not play a whole round. Other than that, pretty similar to me. Multiple tees are not an option with TGC and that can be frustrating for many users.

Graphics:
I'm sure some have preferences, but for me they're all comparable and I really have no favorite yet.

Menus, Between Shots, Etc:
I like how E6 just flows. PG flows as well. TGC makes me click a button to advance to the next hole and I haven't found a way to change this - so either it's just really bad here or the menu options are not clear. Either way, TGC is the worst here.

Post Shot Details:
E6 is clear and simple - my favorite - has all launch details and distance remaining to the hole very clearly shown. PG is maddening if you don't have a separate monitor. You don't get ball speed, launch angle, or spin information. With a second monitor, you can display it, but from my understanding this makes the graphics card work harder. I will hook up my iPad eventually, but why not just have it in the game!? TGC is poorly laid out and has unnecessary clutter - do I really need to see metric info, too? Worst of all is it is missing distance remaining - really TGC!? By the way, shot delay is about the same for all and not noticeably different. Order here: E6 wins hands down, TGC 2nd, PG 3rd. If you're running another monitor anyway, PG goes to 2nd, TGC to 3rd.

Online Tournaments:
TGC and PG both have tours. TGC may be bigger presently, but I haven't gotten out of Q school yet in either to comment further. E6 has nothing (demo).

Aiming Control:
E6 is 1st and PG is 2nd here with interactive mini-maps that allow you to see yardage and click your aiming point on the mini-map. E6 is better because of elevation info to your chosen target and from there to the hole. The TGC mini-map isn't very useful, but I hear it will allow interactive aiming in a future release... fingers crossed... but currently TGC is a distant 3rd.

Ball Cam Flight:
Got used to E6 and like it. PG and TGC are fine, too, if a little close to the ball making full wedges a bit tougher reference-wise as they come down.

Full Shot Physics:
I'm fine with all 3 when hitting fairway or rough. Shots to the green, however, I find E6 to be the best. I get the most realistic spin. PG and TGC seem to run out too much. I'm playing tour-level balls and should have no issues holding a green with a full wedge from the fairway - too much backspin is more likely in real life vs PG and TGC where it runs out too much.

Chip Shots:
TGC is the worst. The 1000 RPM spin thing is well known and will hopefully be fixed soon. Fingers crossed, but hoping for updates on obvious problems is annoying. You are essentially hitting lob shots that run like you chipped it with a 5-iron. Ridiculous. PG is good. E6 is a little better to me when you're far enough away - get too close (like inside 15-20 ft) and E6 demo can't read the chip shot and won't let you putt, which is obviously frustrating and can result in having to take a mulligan or chipping intentionally too far. Still, I find TGC the most annoying despite that.

Putting:
E6 is my favorite because I can set it to auto-aim for me and fly through a round when I want without ever using the mouse or keyboard on the green. Also, perhaps I've become used to the speed and break since I've played it the most. TGC greens are slow as others have mentioned, but it seems to read decently when you push or pull a putt (or aim for break with that method). PG doesn't seem to read pushes or pulls - everything goes to where you set your aim in my experience. PG is a bit of a pain to aim as the arrows do weird things sometimes so you're aiming with a mouse. Also, the greens are fast (default to 10 stimp can be changed, but commenting off of default) and are very hard to judge. Lag putting is very tough as it seems touchy even from within 15 ft. I've had a couple 4 putt holes on PG in only about 3 rounds. Maybe I'll figure it out eventually, but I found E6 easier to gauge from the start.

Overall:
I like the idea of online tournaments and course variety so E6 is just not an option now even though I prefer it in many ways. I still haven't come to a conclusion on which I prefer between TGC and PG as they both are good, but with some serious faults. Perhaps I'll follow-up on this after I get through Q school and do a tournament in each.

[Ironstrokes]

Yea I agree, haven't played pg yet, but with the others sims your comments were pretty much spot on and good to hear the positives and negatives of pg as I'm still considering if I'm gonna get it or not. Not a fan on the putts not reading a push or a pull on pg though, didn't know that happened. That was a big thing that got me excited for tgc when I first played it and how accurate the putting was (other than being a little slow)

[Fieldygolf]

Please can you advise how you add another monitor for shot data in of. I am planning on projecting game and then having tv for shot data if this is possible. Are the settings in the game? Thanks in advance

[Godfather]

Since the TGC update and having played each some more, I'd like to update some points.

Aiming control:
TGC is now better than PG since you have an interactive mini-map and also the scout cam.

Chipping:
TGC is now right up there since the 1000 RPM issue has been fixed. Very happy with it so far.

Putting:
TGC putting speed is now adjustable and is now faster by default. I'll have to recalibrate my stroke, but this is a great addition.

Overall:
TGC is now my favorite. I really like the commentary. The rival ghosts are awesome. Gameplay since the update is great. Tournaments are fun and since using this forum already, having the results easily accessible is cool. Cons: the handicap system may annoy me if it's working differently than the USGA system. TGC seems darker than the others so I'm hoping for an adjustment for that since I often play with lots of natural light. Lastly, if TGC adds an auto-advance from the scorecard to the next hole, I'll be even happier. Still, TGC is awesome and had I known my computer (i5 4590s and GTX 750ti on 720p) could run TGC as well as it does, I may not have purchased PG in the first place.