Nothing is obvious on WGT...
The score posted by WGT as actually played on 12-25, a couple of hours before my rant. I can't explain the date difference, Just as I can't explain how myself and a friend,150 miles away up the coast, cannot get through a stroke play game without several freezes, "unexpected error' messages, lags, and unrealistic shot results when we both have cable connections in the 20-30 meg range and no other issues with ANY other program.
It's not about skill level, it's about professionalism in delivering a product to paying subscribers. I joined WGT in 2009 when it was all you could do to hit a green, with wiffle balls and funky clubs. Granted, the product has grown well, with many courses, formats, etc.
But the real growth has been in player participation. True, there are many who join 'free', play with starter sets, and never spend a dime. But there are many more that play because they love the game and invest many dollars in clubs, balls etc in the pursuit of comraderie, competition, and leveling up. It is these players that generate the income of WG and SHOULD be a voice in its development as a viable game.
The Handicap system is a joke, and as far removed from Royal/USGA Handicap configuration as a bookie sheet is to a NASA glide path algorithm fr the shuttle. But it is what it is, and we play by it. Ball/club costs are always a point of contention for some, there again we pay and we play. We do so because we love the game.
But the real issue is the lack of input/connection to the players supporting WGT. Not so far in the past there were no 'unexpected errors', freezes, lockups, blue screens of death, balls disappearing in obvious rough...the game was a little ugly, but it worked. Now it is much more realistic, but more bug-prone. More choices for play, more expensive. More players, more frustrating when it fails to live up to its potential. The potential is there for the game to be much better, but monetary support for maintenance and improvement is crucial to the existence of WGT.
And therein lies the solution, and the problem. When was the last time you posted a *** to the admin and got a real answer? When was the last time a new course was promoted? When was the last time you played a Skins or Match play that was uninterrupted?
There I nothing I have said that is not already known. All it takes is a collective voice to say, "fix this, change that, address this" from the payers/players that fill the pockets.
The old adage "money walks, cow dung lays on the ground and dries out" holds true. And some that posted are right...not very bright, but right...I will continue to play, because I love the game of golf, and right now, WGT is the best available. It's a shame though, because it could be so much more of a Diamond instead of a dull gem....