World Golf Tour
Encyclopedia
World Golf Tour is an online multiplayer
virtual golf game
. WGT is played virtually on actual golf courses from around the world, using a patented 3D photorealistic georeferencing technology.
Players have the ability to play with their family or friends, join a foursome, or start their own game. Players can choose and compete in a variety of virtual golf courses with up to four players at a time, play individually or enter into a skills challenge or in tournaments for prizes.
Co-founders of WGT Chad Nelson and YuChiang Cheng collaborated together in 2006 to come up with a high-quality golf game simulation that could be played for free on the Internet, and compete or surpass the visual quality of console video sports games. Part of the intended goal was to have a fully integrated social golfing network website
. They recruited JF Prata and Phil Gorrow of Electronic Arts to build the physics game engine
, that interfaces with the thousands of photographs that are taken of each golf course, that are used together to create the WGT experience. WGT launched a demo of the site in 2007
and commenced an open beta test in October 2008. The first golf course WGT captured and developed for play was the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
, located in South Carolina.
Because of its authenticity in photographing and using actual golf courses for game development, WGT differs from standard console video sports game
s that are produced fully by computer graphics, rendered by animators. Using this particular process of game development, it can allow real golfers to play virtually on real golf courses at WGT and then take that knowledge and experience out to the actual golf courses themselves to test their skills and ability. Members of the PGA have even practiced at WGT before going to tournaments.
WGT does not charge a fee to play the HD courses it has developed (although there is a green fee for licensed non-HD courses). WGT derives revenue from high-profile online tournament sponsors, advertisements, and in-game micro transactions for upgrading player golfing equipment and for different choices in costume avatar clothing. Tournament cash prizes can be won and then used to buy virtual goods, like new clubs and clothing to customize the in-game avatar.
In January 2011, a foursome completed the 100 millionth virtual round of golf played on WGT.
software. WGT starts the process of game development by taking thousands of high definition photos of actual golf courses using helicopters equipped with cameras and GPS
tracking systems. WGT then textures the photographs onto the 3D environment,
using Adobe Premiere Pro
to determine how each of the different surfaces will have an effect on the ball. The terrain is within 1-1.5 inch vertical accuracy of the real world. Computer animation, using Adobe Flash
CS4 Professional, is then used to create the avatars that are used as the golfer for each player.
To replicate how the golf ball reacts to the club swing, rolls across the green, or bounces down the fairway, WGT ran various tests to measure impact and collision data. The data were then entered into WGT's newly created game physics engine to determine how each player's golf swing would affect ball travel based on input by the player.
Lastly Adobe Flash
is then used to stream audio and video together for a seamless transition from picture to picture during game play, as a player moves down the fairway or makes a putt.
Players advance from one tier to the next based on their current scoring average and number of rounds played at their current tier. Players are challenged at each successive tier by facing standard playing conditions featuring longer tees and/or faster greens. Players can only rise; once a player reaches a given tier, he or she cannot retreat to a lower tier even if the average score rises. Certain tournaments on the site are open only to players in certain tiers, and in some competitions between players of different tiers the players play from different sets of tees depending on each player's tier.
According to player research on the site, as of October 2011 there were over 1900 WGT players who had advanced to the Legend tier.
Apart from tiers, players are also assigned to "levels" which chiefly reflect the amount of play rather than the player's skill. Players "level up" by earning "experience points," which are based on playing games in certain formats, playing on consecutive days, winning awards and so on. The number of experience points required to rise to the next level increases dramatically as higher levels are reached. Levels are important to players because certain virtual golf equipment may be purchased by players only when they reach a certain level, with the equipment available to higher-level players generally being of higher quality (e.g. clubs that hit the ball farther and more accurately).
Stroke play (full 18 holes):
Closest-to-the-hole challenges (9 holes, or in some cases two different sets of 9 holes each):
in addition to closest-to-the-hole challenges for each of the courses that are available for full stroke play.
(2012), Merion
(2013), Pinehurst No.2
(2014), Chambers Bay
(2015), Erin Hills
(2017) and Pebble Beach (full course) (2019).
In WGT's tie-in with the R&A for The Open Championship
, it may release further courses in the rota in future years, but so far no long-range commitment between WGT and the R&A has been announced.
(USGA) and the R&A. WGT has also made agreements with equipment providers and other companies including TruGolf, Taylor Made, Ping, Lynx, Snake Eyes Golf, Cleveland, Callaway, Srixon, Loudmouth Golf, American Express, Sky Golf, Adidas Golf, Ketel One vodka, Lexus, Old Granddad bourbon, and Pilsner Urquell.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) partnered with World Golf Tour (WGT) in 2009 to co-host the first annual Virtual USGA Championship online. The Virtual U.S. Open attracted hundreds of thousands of players from more than 180 countries, and by its third year, over 2 million qualifying rounds were played.
The event was won by Wayne Stopak (aka NASAgolfer), with a final round 66 on Bethpage Black. Stopak received a replica of the US Open trophy and a trip for two to Pebble Beach for the 2010 US Open. A similar competition was held in 2010, using the Oakmont course that hosted the Women's Open. One of WGT's dominant players, BolloxInBruges, won a trip to the 2011 US Open, at Congressional. He shot rounds of 61-63. The 2011 Virtual U.S. Open at Congressional
, May-June 2011, was won by mrenn29 with final-round scores of 64 and 57.
In 2010, the first Virtual Open (British) Championship 2010 was held at St. Andrews. It was won by AvatarLee, with rounds of 58 and 63, for a golfing trip to Scotland. The 2011 Virtual Open Championship at Royal St. George's, in June-July 2011, was won by StoneColdKiller, with rounds of 58 and 61.
WGT can also be launched and played from a number of online organizations including USGA.org,ESPN.com and Face book. Social networking apps can also be added to anyone's home page at Face book to let family and friends know where you play virtual golf, read blog entries about your latest game, and track your golfing statistics.
WGT allows a player to post their own replays of their best 10 shots they've taken in the past. External voice chat communications programs Ventrillo, Team Speak and Roger Wilco
can be used to communicate with other players, while playing golf at WGT, making it easier to communicate with other players.
Multiplayer online game
A Multiplayer Online Game is a multiplayer video game which can be played via a game server over the internet, with other players around the world...
virtual golf game
Sports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
. WGT is played virtually on actual golf courses from around the world, using a patented 3D photorealistic georeferencing technology.
Players have the ability to play with their family or friends, join a foursome, or start their own game. Players can choose and compete in a variety of virtual golf courses with up to four players at a time, play individually or enter into a skills challenge or in tournaments for prizes.
Co-founders of WGT Chad Nelson and YuChiang Cheng collaborated together in 2006 to come up with a high-quality golf game simulation that could be played for free on the Internet, and compete or surpass the visual quality of console video sports games. Part of the intended goal was to have a fully integrated social golfing network website
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
. They recruited JF Prata and Phil Gorrow of Electronic Arts to build the physics game engine
Physics engine
A physics engine is computer software that provides an approximate simulation of certain physical systems, such as rigid body dynamics , soft body dynamics, and fluid dynamics, of use in the domains of computer graphics, video games and film. Their main uses are in video games , in which case the...
, that interfaces with the thousands of photographs that are taken of each golf course, that are used together to create the WGT experience. WGT launched a demo of the site in 2007
2007 in video gaming
-Events:*March 14: Microsoft announces Games for Windows - Live, a version of Xbox Live for the Windows platform. The service launched on May 8.*March 27: Microsoft announces the new "Xbox 360 Elite" stock-keeping unit . The revision comes with a bigger hard drive and the ability to output HDMI...
and commenced an open beta test in October 2008. The first golf course WGT captured and developed for play was the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Kiawah Island Golf Resort
The Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a resort located in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, United States, near the city of Charleston. The resort opened in May, 1976...
, located in South Carolina.
Because of its authenticity in photographing and using actual golf courses for game development, WGT differs from standard console video sports game
Sports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
s that are produced fully by computer graphics, rendered by animators. Using this particular process of game development, it can allow real golfers to play virtually on real golf courses at WGT and then take that knowledge and experience out to the actual golf courses themselves to test their skills and ability. Members of the PGA have even practiced at WGT before going to tournaments.
WGT does not charge a fee to play the HD courses it has developed (although there is a green fee for licensed non-HD courses). WGT derives revenue from high-profile online tournament sponsors, advertisements, and in-game micro transactions for upgrading player golfing equipment and for different choices in costume avatar clothing. Tournament cash prizes can be won and then used to buy virtual goods, like new clubs and clothing to customize the in-game avatar.
In January 2011, a foursome completed the 100 millionth virtual round of golf played on WGT.
Game Development
WGT is developed using Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web PremiumAdobe Creative Suite
Adobe Creative Suite is a collection of graphic design, video editing, and web development applications made by Adobe Systems. The collection consists of Adobe's applications , that are based on various technologies...
software. WGT starts the process of game development by taking thousands of high definition photos of actual golf courses using helicopters equipped with cameras and GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
tracking systems. WGT then textures the photographs onto the 3D environment,
using Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a timeline-based video editing software application. It is part of the Adobe Creative Suite, a suite of graphic design, video editing, and web development applications developed by Adobe Systems, though it can also be purchased separately. When purchased separately, it comes...
to determine how each of the different surfaces will have an effect on the ball. The terrain is within 1-1.5 inch vertical accuracy of the real world. Computer animation, using Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
CS4 Professional, is then used to create the avatars that are used as the golfer for each player.
To replicate how the golf ball reacts to the club swing, rolls across the green, or bounces down the fairway, WGT ran various tests to measure impact and collision data. The data were then entered into WGT's newly created game physics engine to determine how each player's golf swing would affect ball travel based on input by the player.
Lastly Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
is then used to stream audio and video together for a seamless transition from picture to picture during game play, as a player moves down the fairway or makes a putt.
Tiers and levels
WGT players are assigned to "tiers" reflecting their skill. From lowest to highest, the tiers are Hack, Amateur, Pro, Tour Pro, Master, Tour Master, and Legend.Players advance from one tier to the next based on their current scoring average and number of rounds played at their current tier. Players are challenged at each successive tier by facing standard playing conditions featuring longer tees and/or faster greens. Players can only rise; once a player reaches a given tier, he or she cannot retreat to a lower tier even if the average score rises. Certain tournaments on the site are open only to players in certain tiers, and in some competitions between players of different tiers the players play from different sets of tees depending on each player's tier.
According to player research on the site, as of October 2011 there were over 1900 WGT players who had advanced to the Legend tier.
Apart from tiers, players are also assigned to "levels" which chiefly reflect the amount of play rather than the player's skill. Players "level up" by earning "experience points," which are based on playing games in certain formats, playing on consecutive days, winning awards and so on. The number of experience points required to rise to the next level increases dramatically as higher levels are reached. Levels are important to players because certain virtual golf equipment may be purchased by players only when they reach a certain level, with the equipment available to higher-level players generally being of higher quality (e.g. clubs that hit the ball farther and more accurately).
Golf Courses developed for play at WGT include
Source:Stroke play (full 18 holes):
- Bethpage BlackBethpage Black CourseThe Bethpage Black Course is the most difficult of the five golf courses at Bethpage State Park on Long Island. In 2002 the Black Course became the first publicly owned and operated course to host the U.S. Open. It also hosted the 2009 U.S. Open...
- Cabo del Sol, Mexico, for a "green fee" of $1.00 for 9 holes or $1.50 for 18 holes. The course is based on TruGolf computer-generated graphics, however, rather than WGT's own technology of high-definition photography.
- CongressionalCongressional Country ClubThe Congressional Country Club is a country club and golf course in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Congressional opened in 1924 and has hosted three U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship, and is an annual stop on the PGA Tour, with the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods. The tournament was first...
(Blue Course) - Kaiwah Island Ocean CourseKiawah Island Golf ResortThe Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a resort located in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, United States, near the city of Charleston. The resort opened in May, 1976...
- OakmontOakmont Country ClubOakmont Country Club is a country club and the "oldest top-ranked golf course in the U. S.", in the Pittsburgh suburbs of Plum and Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA. The Pennsylvania Turnpike separates the eastern seven holes from the rest of the course....
- Old Course at St AndrewsOld Course at St AndrewsThe Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The Old Course is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by The St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament...
- Royal St George's
Closest-to-the-hole challenges (9 holes, or in some cases two different sets of 9 holes each):
- Bali Hai, Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
- Celtic Manor ResortCeltic Manor ResortThe Celtic Manor Resort is a golf-centric hotel and leisure resort in Newport, south Wales. It consists of two adjoining hotels, a country inn, two golf and country clubs, and a multi-purpose conference centre...
Twenty Ten Course - Edgewood, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
- Harbour TownHarbour Town Golf LinksThe Harbour Town Golf Links is a golf course that hosts The Heritage golf tournament on the PGA Tour, usually held in April. The course is located in the Sea Pines Plantation of Hilton Head Island, in Beaufort County of South Carolina. Golf Magazine has rated the course #1 in the state of South...
- Hilversumsche Golf Club, HilversumHilversumis a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... - Pebble Beach
- Pinehurst No.8Pinehurst ResortPinehurst Resort is a historic upmarket golf resort at Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA. It has hosted a number of prestigious golf tournaments.-History:...
- Wolf Creek, Mesquite, NevadaMesquite, NevadaMesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the Arizona state line and northeast of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,277. The city is located in the Virgin River Valley...
in addition to closest-to-the-hole challenges for each of the courses that are available for full stroke play.
Future Courses
In line with its USGA tie-in, WGT has published a preview of the new courses that will be launched on the site in conjunction with the upcoming locations for the U.S. Open: OlympicOlympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
(2012), Merion
Merion Golf Club
Merion Golf Club is a private golf club located near Ardmore, Pennsylvania that is consistently rated by Golf Digest, among America's greatest golf courses, and will host the U.S. Open in 2013...
(2013), Pinehurst No.2
Pinehurst Resort
Pinehurst Resort is a historic upmarket golf resort at Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA. It has hosted a number of prestigious golf tournaments.-History:...
(2014), Chambers Bay
Chambers Bay
Chambers Bay is a Scottish links-style golf course in University Place, Washington on Puget Sound. The public course is owned by Pierce County and opened for play on June 23, 2007....
(2015), Erin Hills
Erin Hills
Erin Hills is a golf course located in Erin, Wisconsin. Construction began in 2004 and the course officially opened in 2006. It has been selected for the 2017 U.S. Open, which was announced on June 10, 2010. It also makes it the first PGA Tour event ever awarded to a course owned by one person.The...
(2017) and Pebble Beach (full course) (2019).
In WGT's tie-in with the R&A for The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
, it may release further courses in the rota in future years, but so far no long-range commitment between WGT and the R&A has been announced.
Partners & the World Wide Web
WGT enters into license agreements with real golf courses and tournament owners such as the United States Golf AssociationUnited States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
(USGA) and the R&A. WGT has also made agreements with equipment providers and other companies including TruGolf, Taylor Made, Ping, Lynx, Snake Eyes Golf, Cleveland, Callaway, Srixon, Loudmouth Golf, American Express, Sky Golf, Adidas Golf, Ketel One vodka, Lexus, Old Granddad bourbon, and Pilsner Urquell.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) partnered with World Golf Tour (WGT) in 2009 to co-host the first annual Virtual USGA Championship online. The Virtual U.S. Open attracted hundreds of thousands of players from more than 180 countries, and by its third year, over 2 million qualifying rounds were played.
The event was won by Wayne Stopak (aka NASAgolfer), with a final round 66 on Bethpage Black. Stopak received a replica of the US Open trophy and a trip for two to Pebble Beach for the 2010 US Open. A similar competition was held in 2010, using the Oakmont course that hosted the Women's Open. One of WGT's dominant players, BolloxInBruges, won a trip to the 2011 US Open, at Congressional. He shot rounds of 61-63. The 2011 Virtual U.S. Open at Congressional
Congressional Country Club
The Congressional Country Club is a country club and golf course in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Congressional opened in 1924 and has hosted three U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship, and is an annual stop on the PGA Tour, with the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods. The tournament was first...
, May-June 2011, was won by mrenn29 with final-round scores of 64 and 57.
In 2010, the first Virtual Open (British) Championship 2010 was held at St. Andrews. It was won by AvatarLee, with rounds of 58 and 63, for a golfing trip to Scotland. The 2011 Virtual Open Championship at Royal St. George's, in June-July 2011, was won by StoneColdKiller, with rounds of 58 and 61.
WGT can also be launched and played from a number of online organizations including USGA.org,ESPN.com and Face book. Social networking apps can also be added to anyone's home page at Face book to let family and friends know where you play virtual golf, read blog entries about your latest game, and track your golfing statistics.
WGT allows a player to post their own replays of their best 10 shots they've taken in the past. External voice chat communications programs Ventrillo, Team Speak and Roger Wilco
Roger Wilco (software)
Roger Wilco is a Voice over IP application used by multiplayer video game players, usually in combination with a headset. The name is derived from a common voice procedure in two-way radio. Roger stands for "I understand what you just said" and wilco is short for "will comply"...
can be used to communicate with other players, while playing golf at WGT, making it easier to communicate with other players.