WGT Golf News

The top request from WGT players is more great golf courses, so we’re excited to announce that Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is coming to World Golf Tour Fall 2014, joining the 18 other championship courses including Pebble Beach and St Andrews.

Bandon Dunes is located on the stunning Oregon coast and has been one of the top-rated golf destinations in the world – including being ranked by GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest as the No. 1 Golf Resort in the U.S. In the latest Golf Digest Public Course Rankings, the four 18-hole courses at Bandon Dunes are ranked #3, #6, #12 and #16 (plus a 13-hole par-3 course, Bandon Preserve). It’s an amazing achievement, and for that reason Bandon Dunes is a "bucket list" trip for any serious golfer.

Bandon Dunes has decided to create a 9-hole, par-3 course based on players' favorite par-3’s at the Resort. So they’re letting players vote on which of their favorite holes will be included. The 9 par-3 holes that get the most votes will be launched in early 2014 on WGT as a full stroke play course, free of charge.

You can check out all of Bandon’s par-3 holes online here...

• Bandon Dunes  
• Pacific Dunes
• Bandon Trails
• Old Macdonald
• Bandon Preserve

When you’re ready to VOTE for your favorite holes, visit the Bandon Dunes Survey here. 

And while you wait for the virtual golf course, Bandon Dunes delivers a true links golf experience with outstanding customer service, just contact them directly.

WGT previews the Back 9 at Merion Golf Club, host of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, which is available to play free online on World Golf Tour.

Players at the 2013 U.S. Open will start the Back 9 with a short par-4, making Hole 10 a potential eagle or birdie. However, it requires a right-to-left draw down the tree-lined fairway, with deep fescue rough on the left side, so a lay-up and short iron is a safer choice.

Try it yourself! Play Merion Hole 10 free without sign-up on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 9 Preview

Merion Golf Club is one of America's top ranked and historical golf courses, and now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Hole 9 at Merion is a challenging par-3 played downhill to a kidney-shaped green. Club selection is key here, with the water hazard in front and bunker to the left. Expect to see more bogeys than birdies from the field on this one.

You can play Merion Hole 9 yourself on WGT, try it free here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 8 Preview

What do top players think about Merion? We asked mrenn29, who is the 2011 Virtual U.S. Open Champion, and currently sits in second place in this year's Qualifier. Here’s what he had to say about Merion...

Well it's that time of year again where all of us get to enjoy and get familiar with a new U.S. Open course on WGT. Merion isn't the longest course, but it sure has its bite in certain areas.

It sort of reminds me of a cross between Oakmont and Congressional. The scenery is similar to Congressional while the greens are high in difficulty like Oakmont. The greens at Merion have a lot of slope and if you are not careful, double bogey with championship green speeds is definitely in the equation even for the top players.

The course offers a lot of birdie opportunities but also some holes where making par is a great score. I think this year it's going to come down to the hot putter and the right winds. Obviously being able to reach the #2 par 5 in two, and the #10 par 4 from the tee is gonna depend on the right wind direction, but being able to make those crucial putts around the greens is where I believe the tournament will be won.

Good luck qualifying everyone and "hit em straight!"

VUSO Highlight of the Week

See mrenn29 play (and ace!) Hole 13 on Merion in this VUSO video replay.

Remember, you can play the Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier as many times as you want to try and post your best score, so keep shooting!

Play Tournament

Merion Golf Club is the host of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Played correctly, Hole 8 at Merion is a good birdie opportunity, but miss the green and bogey is more likely. Choose to use anything from a fairway metal to a long iron to reach the S-shaped drive zone, but be sure to play the shorter approach shot carefully to avoid deep rough and bunkers that surround the small green. Finish strong by reading the contoured putting surface that slopes from back left to front right.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 8 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 7 Preview

Don't miss your chance at a grand prize dream trip to next year's U.S. Open.

Just play the free 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier on WGT at Merion for your chance. Both the Virtual U.S. Open champion and one lucky sweepstakes winner will each get a grand prize, a trip for two people to the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. In addition, everyone who plays will automatically receive a free Lexus virtual avatar and a Lexus virtual golf ball as special gifts from Lexus.

Play Virtual U.S. Open

*The 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier tournament is free to enter, runs thru 6/30/13, and is open to WGT players in all countries. See tournament rules for prize eligibility.

Merion Golf Club is hosting the U.S. Open Championship for the fifth time this year, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Hole 7 at Merion offers a birdie opportunity as it's a 360-yard par-4. Most players will use long irons from the tee to reach the semi-blind, angled drive zone, setting themselves up for a short approach shot. Control your tee shot or you'll face overhanging trees and out-of-bounds on the right side. The large green gives you plenty of space to land, but the three distinct levels and sharp drop-off on the left force you to keep your approach accurate.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 7 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 6 Preview

Merion Golf Club is one of America's top ranked and historical golf courses, and now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

The par-4 Hole 6 at Merion challenges you with a semi-blind tee shot to a bowl-shaped fairway. Most players will face a slightly uphill approach shot to the green with a false front, with the option to go "old school" and run their shot up onto the green. Another hole where par is a great success.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 6 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 5 Preview

We're two weeks into the 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier on World Golf Tour and are seeing some great virtual golf being played.

There are already more than 100,000 players entered and competing on Merion Golf Club, the host of this year's U.S. Open Championship.

The top 156 scores plus ties will make the cut to qualify for the Championship rounds, but everyone has a chance to not only play all 18 challenging holes at Merion, but also a chance to win the grand prize trip to next year's U.S. Open.

View Leaderboard

Remember, you can play the Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier as many times as you want to try and post your best score, so keep shooting!

Play Tournament

VUSO Highlight of the Week

Watch this video replay of WGT player, Cleworthy (Level 94 Legend) getting an amazing hole-in-one on the 256-yard Merion Hole #3 in the Qualifier. 

Be sure to save your best replays and you could be featured too!

Introducing the first virtual club from Callaway on WGT, the Callaway X Hot virtual driver, with explosive distance off the tee.

The X Hot is an exciting new driver from Callaway, with additional distance plus extra forgiveness, to improve your virtual game. It unlocks for top WGT players at Levels 31 and 67.

Shop Callaway Drivers