Quick Question About the 7 Formats Available.

[jurgie]

I am able to introduce Ghost Players into all the Formats offered except for the last two. The Alternate Shot & The Scramble have no provision for Ghost Player participation. So how do you get computer controlled players into these two Formats?

[Mal]

There aren't any computer controlled players in the game. The ghost players are just recorded rounds from other players. You can't really have a recorded round from a single player in a format that requires more than one player playing the round.

[jurgie]

I guess computer controlled was the wrong wording that I used. Anyway, in any of the formats other than the last two, all the ghosts inserted in those formats play their own game. In other words I do not have to swing for them. That is what I was hoping for when playing in these formats. My question is, why in either one of the last two formats can you not use the ghost feature. It only mentions controller control of guests?

[Mal]

I answered that.

[ABERN]

I think that's easy to understand. If you're talking alternative shot, how is it that the ghost is going to shoot from your position, if you get the best shot?

As for the question being answered, as above,

You can't really have a recorded round from a single player in a format that requires more than one player playing the round.

I'm unsure what you mean here. With alternative shot, you're explanation doesn't hold. I could, if I wished, have the same player's ghost round play three of the four players in the group, and I can play the fourth. This won't work not because of using that single ghost, but because of the reason explained above, that is, how is the ghost to hit a shot it never hit in its ghost round?

Anyway, I could play best ball with one ghost and myself, and it would work, though to do so wouldn't make much sense. I might as well play match with one ghost.

[jurgie]

The format is called Alternating Shot. You and a partner are playing as a 2 man team. It can be played against another 2 man team or against an entire field of twosome partners. The only time you and your partner each hit your own ball is on the first tee. I hit a tee shot, my partner hits a tee shot. We then decide which is the best shot. If we decide his is the better tee shot , I will hit the second shot using his tee shot . If we had decided mine was the better tee shot then my partner would have hit my ball as the second shot. From this point on we alternate turns in hitting the ball until it is in the hole. If I was the last one to putt the ball into the hole, my partner would have to hit the tee shot off the next hole. We alternate shots until that ball is holed. So, whoever holes the ball, the other player tees off on the next tee. This is usually played in a handicap format that only allows a certain combined handicap total which is then divided in half. We have a rule at our club that you and your partner's combined handicap after being cut in half can not exceed 18. Basically, it becomes a putting contest. I have no idea if this format will work with ghost players. It must work with something in this platform or they would have not included it in the format section. I can tell you this however, it works in Links 2K3, TW08, as well as PG. I play it often.

[Andy]

Alt shot is one ball for each team. 2 balls are never used even on first tee. If I drive on the first then my partner drives the 2nd

[jurgie]

I don't know where you are located Andy, but I will say that there are variations to the Alternate Shot Format and how it is played . In my neck of the woods in Northern California, we play it at my club as I have described. If you stop and think about it, be it one or two balls off the first tee would have little if any effect on the tournament outcome. I have played all over my State, Nevada & Oregon and every course I have been to has what is termed as Local Rules that address things like dropping out of hazards on their course and numerous other things. All local rules apply no matter what the PGA Rule Book states. There are far too many silly rules listed that rarely if ever apply to anything. Point being, I am very careful when using the word " Never " when describing anything that is associated with the sport of golf. My original question was about the two formats Alternate Shot & Scramble. Does the game engine of the 2K21 platform have provisions where a living player like myself is able to play either one of these formats using fictional players or non real ghost players or fictional guests. In Links 2K3 and in TW08 which by the way are now 19 and 14 years old respectively not to mention PG going into its 9th year all feature the Alternate Shot and Scramble Format. Time for some fictional players to be introduced into this game don't you think?

[ABERN]

I have no idea what you are talking about. There's no AI. Simple. There's alt-shot and scramble (Like Links and TW). But no AI. I repeat, there is no AI. What hitting one or two balls off the tee in alt-shot has to do with anything, I'm not sure.

There's no AI. Alt-shot is only possible with Private matches. You can't play alt-shot with ghosts, who are real players recording real rounds.

There are no "fictional players" (AI), no "non-real ghost players"(AI), and no "fictional guests" (AI).

There is no AI.

[jurgie]

OK ABER , thanks for clearing this up. Alt - Shot & Scramble can only be played in within private matches. So basically what you have here is a half baked platform whose primary function is to host endless tournament play. Isn't that special!

[ABERN]

I'm sorry, I don't get what you're saying. The platform is not "half-baked". It's there and it works as it should in Private matches. Without an AI, it's not possible to use ghosts (recorded rounds) during these game formats.

About "endless tournament play", I really don't know what you mean.

But anyhow there is no AI. If there were, I'll guarantee people would complain about them in some fashion.

2K1 is a pretty good golf game. The problem is with the Career mode (which I rarely play) and the screwed up Leaderboards. Why 2K hasn't reset them and wiped out ghosts rounds since the last few updates, I have no idea, except to say they are lazy and probably don't care. Also, to count a nine-hole score as if it were an 18-hole score is downright stupid. If I play nine holes and score a -2 on a 36-36 course, they seem to think that means I shot a 34 on a par 72, amounting to a -38. No one is that stupid.

Being a statistics freak, I'd also like to see club statistics, a la Links 2003. And back to the Leaderboards, I'd like to see them sorted by default swing difficulty.

Apparently, this is asking too much, as 2K has had over 9 months to fix these obvious problems or add any enhancements. They plugged the exploits (though rather excessively), and added some sponsors and useless clothing and club items, but there's a lot of stuff that's broken that they haven't bothered to fix.

As I said, good game, but nowhere near perfect.

[jurgie]

I appreciate your reply and clarification. You were the only one to really confirmed the question I had. I am just a little disappointed in the fact that although there are many things to like about this platform, there appears to be no room for creativity and input by the party who owns this game. My opinion only. No hard feelings on my part towards you, and thanks again for your time.