Today was ‘Practice’ and these are first comments –

Everyone –‘Its easy to play but very realistic’

‘Serious gamers can play against friends or the serious golfer can enjoy taking on their fellow fourballers.’

Numbers of course – ‘Three excellent choices – which ones are we going to use for this Championship?’

Player numbers – up to four and there are female characters as well as male.

So what do you get for £14.99, considerably less than the prices of other games and around the cost of 18 holes at a good public course? (Only this game you can play again and again).

You firstly have a game which has quality throughout. Yes, there are only three courses but the choices are excellent and the game helps you get into ‘play’ mode very quickly. The ‘Help’ is well thought out so that whatever standard of ‘game’ player you are, if you need assistance you will find it quickly.

Secondly, this golf game does not have too much US influence – its more ‘reserved’ in what it displays and how it feels, crowd noises and the commentary, that the hype of other games. As you will read later, the wildlife needs a gun according to one of our reviewers and swear words (from the ****! to the !!!!) are the frustration factor that many a new arrival to golf may feel are part of replicating the game they are so avid about (but spend so little time actually practising). This is downgrading the game to an extent but its cussing from everyday life and the more gentle approach of International Golf Pro respects golf as it should be … enough of the little things, onto the Championship proper.

Practice rounds over (all night for our no-gamer), our players started Round One and with no cheating the (computer) Buff was on 70, the (graphical) Artist was one shot back – and the (true) Technician had a 68 for a two shot lead.

Buff – ‘I need a gun …. and an oven’ (for the birds)

Artist – ‘That wasn’t fair’

Technically – ‘This is easy’

Round Two and just like the game proper, on Course Two, some players found trouble, more trouble and even more trouble.

Buff – ‘You boys are just XXXX!’

Artistically – ‘That wasn’t fair’

Technically – ‘Does this thing give lessons?’

It was on to Round Three, time to divide up the five pound note on offer as prize money. Everyone was feeling much more relaxed and players all had the feel of what was need to win –

In third place – Our Artist –‘This just isn’t fair (neither is the game proper!)’

In second place (after a 67 the best round of the Championship) – the Technical player ‘Its almost as good as I am in real life’

And the winner – ‘I am going to point the gun at something with wings’, said Buff.

This is great value and no matter what standard of golfer you really are, you do get a feel of playing golf as good as you (or the World No 1) can be. Its fun and it has some facets of setting up and taking into account all that you need to play that special shot or hole that crucial putt. For Seniors playing their juniors (grandparents vs grand children), for any regular group of golfers ….. Just Buy It!

International Golf Pro is available from all good games retailers and from the Internet – priced £14.95