Up until recently, the only golf I’d ever been exposed to was Putt-Putt. I’ve sat through a few rounds watching tournaments on TV and I once got to hit a few balls at a driving range. So, with all this experience under my belt, I became the obvious go-to guy for reviewing Tiger Woods PGA Tour ’06.

Now before you start zoning out, I have to say I actually did enjoy this game regardless of its numerous flaws (which I will detail). Even as I write this, I’m thinking, how about one more round?

Unfortunately, the first thing you’ll notice upon booting up is that Tiger Woods isn’t the most accessible game. I found myself mystified as I waded through the game’s many menus and options. It becomes frustrating because almost nothing is explained. I was left with several questions: Why are there levels on the clubs, clothes and accessories you’re able to buy with your earnings? What’s the difference between a level two shirt and a level three shirt when both have the same putting bonus? Or do they have the same putting bonus? It’s possible to find out through trial and error, but who wants to bother when you're down to your last $500?

You’ll get a moment of respite, though, if you choose to create your own character. It's a near-Zen moment when choosing the exact size and shape your nose will be, or how far your gut hangs over your belt. You can even choose your own voice, though, despite being able to change the pitch levels, it’s not too varied. You also have the option to design your own course, but this feature is recommended for hardcore aficionados only.

While the character models are alright, and the motion capture has been well done, the graphics are uneven. The environments are stark, the textures are poor, and I could never shake the feeling of being completely alone (despite the often annoying and snarky commentary). However, the crack of the club against the ball and the sense of speed you get when following the ball fly through the air will definitely get your adrenaline flowing. Of course, that’s dependent upon whether or not you get a good hard swing on your club.

The learning curve is pretty steep and the controls can be painful at times. While the basic process of swinging the club is very simple —pull back on the analog stick for the backswing, push forward for the follow through— there are moments in the game where you’ll need to do just a bit more. For example, you may get stuck inside a steep bunker, in which case you’ll need to get some air by using the C stick to aim at the bottom of the ball to control its trajectory. At the same time, you’ll need some power behind your swing by repeatedly tapping the Z button while performing your backswing. . .

Think about that for a moment and let it sink in.

Tapping the Z button, aiming with the C stick, and striking with the analog stick, all within a short time frame, is a serious pain. Fortunately, these moments are rare, but they exist, and it will bring you a step closer to controller-throwing frustration. And though the very basic controls are in the manual, most you’ll end up having to learn on your own through exploration.

Then there are the bugs. A word of advice, don’t hit the ball anywhere near a cliff unless you’re absolutely sure it will either make it over the drop or land in the water. Mine landed in the sand at the bottom of the drop and I was stuck there, sixty feet below the course, wasting all my shots as I bounced them off the cliff wall until I reached the shot limit.

So, by now you’re asking yourself, why does he like this game? I do not play sports games to dress up my little man. I don’t care about putting him in a blue cardigan with yellow shorts and cowboy boots. What I do love is the RPG aspects of building up his skills as I play. The better I perform, the more points (and cash) I am rewarded.

There are a ton of ways to play the game: Season Mode, Rivals Mode (very cool as you can play against the legendary golfers of the past), head to head, and co-op modes. Each option allows for multiplayer (i.e. you can invite your friends when starting a match in season mode), though my own personal preference is the single player game. The multiplayer is what you make of it, but taking turns to play a game just seems so pedestrian in these days of simultaneous multiplayer goodness. And while the PS2 and Xbox versions have online play . . . well, this is the GameCube version; we’ll just have to wait until Tiger Woods Revolution.

The feel of the game is just right once you get the hang of the controls. It’s so intangible, but you feel it in your gut as the game just takes hold of your brain and says, Play me more, damn you! And you find yourself powerless to resist because you think to yourself, Maybe this time I’ll get that Eagle!

I confess; I don’t like golf. At least, I don’t like watching golf. I don’t care about the PGA, and while Tiger Woods is a brilliant athlete, he doesn’t take precedence over watching Roy Oswalt pitch for the Houston Astros. But, my God, I really like this game. It’s just a shame that what it has in excellent gameplay, it lacks in just about every other aspect.

Discuss in Talkback