9ironnewman:Everyone who's commented so far either has the brains of a rocking horse
Thank you. I will always take a compliment when it is offered.
But no-one said it was real golf, but you were the one to draw the comparison by saying the hazards do not exist in the real world.
Even though I have the brain of a rocking horse, or a blockhead (possibly true as I did once see Ian Dury live), as a golfer I have often seen brush and like hazards when playing on a real golf course - often with the same consequences of finding the hazard - ie a lost ball (plus a stroke and distance).
But in fairness since I have been playing this game I have suffered 2 or 3 lost balls (quite a lot OB or water hazards) so this is quite rare. The common denominator has been me - missing the ding or miscalculating wind. Once I got a bad bounced from the fairway, as happens on a links course.
If you lose a ball in real life golf, would you go straight to the pro shop and complain that the course has just stolen a ball? I doubt it very much.
But as you say, this is only a game, made by a company, and as such is designed to make money as does any business. But you have a choice of how much or how little you spend (and bear in mind many players never spend a penny via free equipment or credit offers). I have never had a grudge about the fact they make money, WGT took the risk of investment - they deserve profits for putting together a great game.
I do agree balls in real life are often cheaper, especially when you buy in bulk. The balls I use in real life are not available on here, but like real golf, I seldom lose a ball these days so usually use a new ball every round (habit). Here they just get used up till they are taken out of play.
But unless you are playing mini putt or golf on a goat track, I simply do not believe that you can play cheaper in real life than on here. Here your green fee is your ball usage - per round that is negligible even using top balls. Membership or payimg green fees, comp fees etc adds up to a hell of a lot more.
I lived in the UK for many years, and played many courses, public and private and the cost was significantly more than I pay on here. Admittedly these were mainly in the SE where the costs are probably more expensive (especially the elite private clubs) but then you have the costof travel and meals/drinks etc. In comparison this is cheap entertainment - as it is only a game after all.
I have also played golf all over the world and seldom do you find green fees less than $20.00, and if you do the quality of the course is not worth playing. Also I have never been able to pay my green fees by doing a free credit offer.
Now do you get it? You have a choice, how much you spend, whether you play or not. I see you use the Callys - a great ball for this game attributes vs cost wise.
Yes this is just a game, it is not real golf and no-one here thinks it is.