Links: Championship Course

Links: The Challenge of Golf was one of the first realistic golf games for personal computers when Access Software released it in 1990. While most Apple II sports games used simple graphics and basic gameplay, Links tried to bring real golf to home computers.

The game let players choose from several real golf courses, including Torrey Pines in California. Each course had 18 holes with accurate layouts based on the actual locations. Players could pick different clubs, adjust their stance, and control the power and direction of their shots. Wind speed and direction affected the ball's flight, making players think carefully about each swing.

To hit the ball, players used a three-click system. The first click started the swing, the second set the power, and the third determined accuracy. Missing the timing meant hooking or slicing the ball into trees, sand traps, or water hazards. The game tracked statistics like driving distance, putting average, and greens in regulation. Players could compete in stroke play or match play modes against computer opponents or friends.

Links pushed the Apple II's technical limits. The game used the computer's high-resolution graphics mode to show detailed course layouts from an overhead view. When putting, the view switched to show the green's slopes and breaks. Trees, bunkers, and fairways appeared in different shades and patterns. The game even included digitized sound effects for club strikes and crowd reactions, though these required extra hardware on the Apple II.

The game came on multiple floppy disks because each golf course needed lots of data storage. Loading times between holes could take 30 seconds or more. Players needed at least 128K of RAM, which not all Apple II computers had. The game ran best on the Apple IIgs with its better graphics and sound capabilities.

Links started a successful series that continued on newer computers through the 1990s. The Apple II version proved that home computers could deliver sports simulations beyond simple arcade games. While the graphics seem basic today, Links offered Apple II owners their first chance to play realistic golf without leaving home. The game's focus on real courses and accurate physics set the standard for future golf games on all computer platforms.