<li><a href="#L0018">Phase 2 : Club Choice</a><br>
<li><a href="#L0019">Phase 3 : Practice Swings</a><br>
<li><a href="#L0020">Phase 4 : Final Stroke</a><br>
</ul>
<li><strong><a href="#L0021">A few tips from the Swing Doctor</a></strong><br>
<ul>
<li><a href="#L0022">Extra Courses</a><br>
</ul>
</ul>
<br><br>
<h2>Aim of the Game</h2>
<p>The overall aim of the game is to win each of the 6 tournament cups ranging from the <i>Beginners Knock</i> about through to the <i>British Open.</i> Later tournaments are played over more than one round. To do this you must play assessment <i>(Handicap</i> ) rounds where your performance will be assessed. If you do well, your handicap will be reduced and you will be allowed to enter the more prestigious events. A vast range of other options cater for practice and friendly rounds where you can take your golf as you like it and save the results.</p>
<h2>Getting Started</h2>
<p>Virtual Golf works much like any other Desktop Application and thus is very easy to use. Once the game has loaded, simply click on the icon on the icon bar and the game will be ready to play. Your Driver will have been selected by your <i>Auto Caddy</i> (see later) and you will be pointing at the flag. Click your left hand mouse button once and then you can practice your swing by moving the mouse. When you are ready, press the left hand button again and you will be ready to strike the ball.</p>
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<h4>Keys</h4>
<p>Most keys only function before you commence <i>Playing a Stroke</i> (see later)</p>
<tr><td> A </td><td> Action replay of last shot</td></tr>
<tr><td> D </td><td> Drop ball </td></tr>
<tr><td> G </td><td> Gimmie (match play and close to hole only)</td></tr>
<tr><td> Ctrl-R </td><td> Retire </td></tr>
<tr><td> V </td><td> Course Viewing mode </td></tr>
<tr><td> SPACE </td><td> Centre view on the hole</td></tr>
<tr><td> ESCAPE </td><td> Return to Desktop</td></tr>
</table>
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<h4>Map & Wind</h4>
<p>The curved line on the map shows the distance the ball will fly if maximum power is obtained. The outline triangle shows your position and direction. Wind is indicated by a number of arrows pointing in the direction that it is blowing. The size and boldness of the arrows gives an idea of the strength of the wind.</p>
<p><strong>Arrow keys</strong>
<ol>
<li> Map scale 1
<li> Map scale 2
<li> Map scale 3
<li> Centre map
</ol></p>
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<h4>Auto Caddy</h4>
<p>The Auto Caddy will select you a club based on the distance to the Pin, with a very limited consideration for circumstances. No allowance for wind, season, ground height, obstacles or lie is made in "his" selection. It is up to you to select a different club if you think that the one offered is not suitable.</p>
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<h4>Menu Icons</h4>
<p>To get the menu options simply press the middle button over the Virtual Golf icon on the icon bar. The options available are:</p>
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<h5>Sound</h5>
<p>Enables you to adjust the volume level.</p>
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<h5>New Round</h5>
<p>To start a new round first select the New Round option from the Virtual Golf menu and this will open the <i>Player Entry Window.</i> </p>
<p>You can change the game type or number of players by clicking the middle mouse button over the <i>Player Entry Window</i> which will open the <i>Game Type Window.</i> Select the game type and the number of players that you require by clicking on the relevant options listed.</p>
<p>Then, to enter a new player name either:</p>
<ol>
<li> Select a player position by clicking on <b>Player A:</b> or <b>Player B:</b> and so on. then drag a player status file to the Player Entry Window, or you can double click on the file. If you have more than one course the player status file must have been created on the course that is currently loaded or it will not be valid.
<li> Enter a name directly in the window, by first clicking on the name icon, typing in your name followed by <b><RETURN></b> then toggling the required dexterity. You cannot alter the handicap other than by completing assessment <i>(Handicap)</i> rounds.
</ol>
<p>If you have chosen to enter a tournament you should now select the one you require. Note that Certain tournaments require you to have a good handicap before you enter. These are:</p>
<p>You can now choose the number of rounds that you wish to play. A tournament is always made up from a group of ten players - between six and nine of these will be simulated by the computer. When you are satisfied with your choices click on the blue OK. If any alterations have been made to a player after loading a player status file (for example the name) then that player's handicap will be set to 28 (the default value).</p>
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<h5>Game Type</h5>
<p>The current game parameters are displayed by this menu option but cannot be selected here. (See New Round).</p>
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<h5>Player A ..B ..C ..D</h5>
<p>When you have completed an assessment (Handicap) round (which is selected from the Game Type Window - see New Round) your handicap will be automatically reassessed. You (and any other players) can then save the file(s) with your new handicap(s) for loading at a later date.</p>
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<h5>Save Round</h5>
<p>You can save your position in any round except an assessment Save Card</h5>
<p>This option will save a score card as a sprite file.</p>
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<h5>Options</h5>
<ul>
<li> <b>Season</b> - Allows you to play in alternative seasons.
<li> <b>Mouse Buttons</b> - Toggles the names given to the mouse buttons.
<li> <b>Gimmies</b> - Toggles whether gimmies are allowed in matchplay.
<li> <b>Panoramic</b> - Toggles the full width view display.
<li> <b>Monitor</b> - Allows you to play the game on a VGA Monitor.
<li> <b>Make Default</b> - Saves the current options as default.
</ul>
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<h5>Tour Info</h5>
<p>This menu option displays the current holder and the previous four holders of each tournament trophy. You can view the information on the tournaments by clicking on the tournament name.</p>
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<h5>Practice</h5>
<p>You can practice on any hole of a course so long as there are no rounds in progress.</p>
<p>If you press V whilst in the Initial Direction mode you can practice from any position on the hole using the map.</p>
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<h5>D/Range</h5>
<p>Gives access to the driving range. As with practice there must be no rounds in progress.</p>
<h2>Playing a Stroke</h2>
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<h5>Phase 1 : Initial Direction</h5>
<p>You start facing the hole. You can alter the direction in which you wish to stand by moving the mouse pointer over the map and clicking with the middle button. When you are satisfied with your choice either click with the left hand button to take you to Phase 3 or with the right hand button to take you to Phase 2.</p>
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<h5>Phase 2 : Club Choice</h5>
<p>Select a club by moving the mouse up or down then click either:</p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Left button</b> - Go to Phase 3 with the chosen club.
<li> <b>Middle button</b> - Return to Phase 1 with the chosen club.
<li> <b>Right button</b> - Return to Phase 1 with the original club.
</ul>
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<h5>Phase 3 : Practice Swings</h5>
<p>Practice your stroke or set your fine aim.</p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Left button</b> - Go to Phase 4.
<li> <b>Middle button</b> - Hold this down and set fine aim by moving the mouse left and right.
<li> <b>Right button</b> - Return to Phase 2
<li> <b>Shift + Right button</b> - Return to Phase 1
</ul>
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<h5>Phase 4 : Final Stroke</h5>
<p>Take your final stroke or click the right hand button to return to Phase 3.</p>
<h2>A few tips from the Swing Doctor</h2>
<ol>
<li> When you take your final stroke imagine that the mouse is the head of the club. It should travel smoothly along a right to left path (for a right-handed player) without any up or down movement. The mouse should also be held at 90 degrees to the direction of its movement. Slight angles in the way that the mouse is held with relation to its movement will induce Hook or Slice to a greater or lesser extent. Similar effects will also be introduced if the path of the mouse diverges from a straight horizontal line.
<li> The power of your shot comes from the speed of the mouse at the time of impact with the ball. The faster the mouse is moving, the harder you will strike the ball. Any jerkiness in your stroke will reduce the total amount of power that you can generate, as will failure to follow through correctly.
<li> The season effects the way that the ball will respond to the club and its flight, bounce and run on;
<ul>
<li> <b>Spring -</b> Good flight, but slightly softer ground effects bounce/run on.
<li> <b>Summer -</b> The best conditions for flight and bounce/run on.
<li> <b>Autumn -</b> Similar to spring but damper air causes more drag.
<li> <b>Winter -</b> Cold damp air increases drag and soft damp ground restricts bounce/run on. Damp clubs and ball will also increase the tendency to hook or slice the shot.
</ul>
<li> You cannot hook or slice a putt.
<li> When you are in the rough don't try anything bigger than a 7 iron or you'll be in there all day. For a bad lie use a 9 iron or a wedge.
<li> The overall slope of the green always runs with the direction of the cutting of the grass. Sometimes it can be hard to assess your shot so use the viewing options to get good look at the way the ball is likely to go.
<li> Don't lift your head up just as you are playing your stroke.
<li> Keep your left arm straight.
<li> No jeans to be worn on the course or in the clubhouse.
<li> Please replace all divots.
</ol>
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<h4>Extra Courses</h4>
<p>To use one of the Extra Courses just double-click on the application for the course you want to use. </p>
