Golf on the PC must be one of the most consistent offerings on the platform. Even way back in the days of AT and XT machines PC Golf was a popular pastime in a lot offices and homes. With so many players of the sport worldwide and it's easy accessibility by non-players golf games will always be popular (and sell well!). The Links series has always been well received, and the latest version should be no different.

There is a reasonable selection of players to choose from in Links 2003, with the ability to determine shirt and trouser colour. It is certainly a pleasure to see in a sports game for a change the option to choose female players and on this alone Microsoft earns full marks. At this point you can select the style of play and your status as an amateur or professional player as well as the club selection available in your bag (no oaken club with nails though).

Player control makes or breaks golf games and is something that has gone through many variations. In Links 2003 you are given the choice of playing the traditional power bar and swing bar method and innovative full mouse control method (our favourite).

The first method, although functional, suffers from the same problem as most other games in the genre in that it is about how fast and accurate you are at clicking the mouse buttons. It provides for a level of skill in the game play but is somewhat removed from the reality of Golf. The alternative of full mouse control is where you pull back the mouse to initiate your golf swing and push forward to hit the ball. How straight your motion is dictates slice and hook while the power you apply dictates the length of shot. It feels and plays very realistically and to us, sets a bench mark for control systems in all future golf games.

The game plays very realistically with the game physics being spot on for ball flight and roll. After course selection your player is placed at the first tee with a window box of the hole to be played and one showing the optimum shot direction. You have a wind speed and angle indicator coupled with a nifty little graphic showing the elevations of the hole. When addressing the ball you have a sighting marker which you can use to determine the direction of flight of the ball if you hit it straight. You also have the ability to pull up a menus for special shots and plays.

Putting is very much the same with the only difference being the inclusion of an overlay grid that gives you an accurate picture of the green slope and pitch. Putting utilises the same mouse push and pull system as driving.

The graphics in Links 2003 are a mixture of photo realistic images and rendered graphics. The overall effect delivers quite an excellent representation of the golf course. We were however surprised at the lack of animation. This may be limited by the game engine however there is no animation of the trees and water. Both would have been helpful in portraying the wind and its direction. There is a certain clinical feel to the play area with everything being in a pristine condition. There is no random animals or other players about and overall you feel like you are the only person on the course (where is the grumpy grounds keeper on the tractor?)

Player animation is done very well. Your player reacts to poor shots with shaking head and various club swings. This coupled with the audio comments leaves you in no doubt about how well you are playing.

The game also comes packaged with short videos of the courses (before you tee-off) and these are more holiday promotions rather than adding any real value to the game play.

The overall sound is good and bad. The use of players comments on how he is playing is well done albeit frustrating if you are having a bad round. There is also the ambient crowd noise which again reflects how well you have played a shot. However this and the occasional ball noise is about all you seem to get. There is a lack of background noise such as the wind through the trees, birds etc that is all part of the golf playing experience. Given the game ships in a whopping three disks, the small amount of sound effects is surprising.

The game ships with six courses including the Kauri Cliffs course here in New Zealand. Of the courses that came with the game we felt this was by far the best and most challenging and would go on to say we are not biased at all! Overall there is a good varied selection to chose from and obviously the ability is there to upload more as they become available (there is already an expansion pack available!).

There is also a career play option where you can earn money through playing tournaments both against the PC or through online tournaments. This will certainly extend its "on the disk" life with the ability to join world wide tournaments and compete for the title of best in the world.