I'm not going to beat around the bush with you folks as many of you know that I always give you my up-front opinion. I don't like sports and as such, it only follows that I don't like video games based upon sports. I've never been that athletically inclined and while the jock was out playing, I was in the stands with his girlfriend. As you can tell, I wasn't really excited when I was asked to review this product; however, I was the only one available at the time and the staff here at GameApex strives to bring you the latest and greatest...so it was time for me to put aside my personal feelings and step up to the plate and go to bat for you folks (jeez...I'm even using sporting cliche's now!).

Total Pro Golf is the latest release from Wolverine Studios, an up and coming PC gaming company which focuses on the sporting niche. Recently released a few short weeks ago,a lot of buzz has been generated around the internet on this new golfing game. I was contacted by Mr. Gorski, the President and Head Developer of Wolverine Studios, with information on how to download and install the game, plus the standard promise of immediate assistance that we typically see. Did I mention before that I wasn't that excited about reviewing a sports game, much less a golf game?

So, do you think that this small upstart company from Michigan can entice Rob to change his pessimistic attitude about sports games when the other major players couldn't? You're going to have to read on to find out.

Story 9/10

Being a sports game, there isn't really a story 'per se'; however, there is a career that you can build upon, season after season. You begin as where you should, right at the bottom of the ladder with very little money in terms of sponsorship and having to employ the over-the-hill intoxicated golf pro to be your coach (while your caddy steals your golf balls and resells them for cigarette money)*. As you progress throughout your career, you build up and gain experience in a variety of different traits, meaning you win more tournaments meaning you win more money meaning you can hire a more experienced staff.

You also get a sense of how well you have been playing as the main page will change settings as you get better during your multi-year career. You pretty much start off in a small, white 'office' that looks more like a second bedroom in a tiny apartment. Once you progress to the 'next level' (based upon earnings, I believe, but you don't know until you see your new office), your office is now a nice looking den and your bulletproof Compaq-looking computer is now a Dell, dude. Go one more level and now it looks like you're in your own home with a laptop and what appears to be a cool looking hand-held flip screen device.

*NOTE: You don't get the option to have a drunk coach or a thieving caddy. Hopefully, they'll be added in a future patch (just kidding).