Links 2004 Game Modes: Something for Everyone

By Keith Procter

One of the things I like most about Links 2004 is its variety of game types. There are more ways to play XSN Sports’ new golf game than you can shake a bag of clubs at.

In the Single Round mode alone, there are 13 different ways to challenge your video golfing skills. And there are two other ways for a single player to compete on his or her Xbox console, Career and Challenges, as well as the Multiplayer games types available via System Link or Xbox Live. That number of choices—enough to make your head spin like a scalded slice—guarantees Links 2004 will have a longer shelf life than irradiated milk.

In this article, I’ll focus on the game types available in Single Round play. We’ll be adding stories soon about competing in the Challenges and Career settings, as well as the Multiplayer offerings.

Let’s start with my favorites, which are any of the three types of Nassau games available with Links 2004: Nassau, which is limited to two players; Bestball Nassau; and Alternate Shot Nassau, which both require four players (two two-player teams, using any combination of human or CPU players).

I’m particularly fond of the Nassau modes.

A Nassau essentially is three match-play competitions in one 18-hole round. Two players or two teams face off using match-play rules, meaning the lowest score on each hole wins that hole, which takes some of the pressure off hackers like me. When I score a double-bogey or other unmentionable score on a hole in a Nassau, it doesn’t ruin my entire round. The damage is limited to the offending hole.

Here’s an example of how Nassau scoring works: Player A wins the first three holes on the front nine but ties with his opponent, Player B, on the remaining six holes. Player A would win the front nine by 3-up or +3 (one point each for the holes she or he won). On the back nine, let’s say Player B wins the 10th and 18th holes, while Player A wins only the 15th. They post identical scores on the other holes, giving Player B the win on back nine, 1-up. Player A would win when the overall scores are compared because he won more holes over the course of the round than Player B (2-up).

Nassau, especially the Bestball Nassau, became my favorite this past Thanksgiving Day when my family gathered for Thanksgiving dinner at my house. That’s when my 12-year-old son and I played his teenaged cousins, an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old. The kids played the game for the first time that afternoon, so they were all equal in skill and experience when they challenged me to play with them after dessert.

The man of the match, though, was my son, Doug. He followed a conservative game plan; while his older cousins and I always tried to outdo each other off the tee and aimed every approach for the flagstick, Doug took care to get his drives in the fairway and often aimed for the center of the green. No blood was drawn on the front side, but on the back side Doug was at the top of his game, holing several long putts en route to posting birdies on five of the final six holes. I couldn’t have been prouder if I’d holed the putts myself. Even though I went 3-over on the final six holes, thanks to Doug’s stellar play we were able to take the back side and the match 4-up.

All of the Single Round games can be played with any combination of human and CPU players. I suggest giving them all a try. You’re sure to find one or two that strike a chord.

Any combination of human and computer-controlled players can take part.

SINGLE PLAYER GAMES
Stroke (1 to 4 players): Standard Stroke Play. One swing, one stroke.
Match Play (2 players): Players compete to win a majority of individual holes. The player with the lowest score on each hole wins that hole.
 Nassau (2 players): Similar to Match Play, where two players compete to win a majority of individual holes. It’s like three competitions in one round. Players compete to win the Front Nine, Back Nine, and best total for both nines.
Skins (2 to 4 players): Players compete to win Skins (one per hole, best outright score wins the hole). Each skin is worth a set dollar value. If a hole is tied for best score, the next hole is worth two skins, and so on. The goal is to win the most holes (and the most money).
 Stableford (1 to 4 players): A variation of Stroke Play that rewards risk-taking. Players are awarded points for their score on a hole: you receive eight points for double eagle, five for an eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, -1 for bogey, and -3 for a double-bogey or worse.
Bestball Stroke (4 players): Two two-player teams compete in standard stroke play with both teammates playing individually, using the better of their two scores on each hole.
Bestball Match (4 players): Two two-player teams compete to win a majority of holes: Teammates play individually and the better of their two scores is used on each hole.
Bestball Nassau (4 players): Two two-player teams compete to win a majority of holes on the Front Nine, Back Nine, and total for 18: Teammates play individually and the better of their scores is used on each hole.
Bestball Skins (4 players): Two two-player teams compete to win the most money, with teammates playing individually and using the better of their two scores on each hole. Each hole is worth a skin. Tied holes carry over.
Alternate Shot Stroke (4 players): Two two-player teams compete in standard stroke play with each teammate taking every other shot.
Alternate Shot Match (4 players): Two two-player teams compete to win a majority of individual holes: each teammate takes every other shot.
Alternate Shot Nassau (4 players): Two two-player teams compete to win a majority of holes on the Front Nine, the Back Nine, and overall: each teammate takes every other shot.
Alternate Shot Skins (4 players): Two two-player teams compete to win the most money, with each teammate taking every other shot. Each hole is worth a skin. If a hole is not won outright, the skin carries over to the next hole.