Somehow it’s not The Golf Club 2K19
Ever since the downfall of theTiger Woods PGA Tourseries (largely due to the downfall of Tiger Woods himself), there has been a void of high-profile golf video games. EA Sports tried continuing the franchise under theRory McIlroybanner, but gave up after the one title it released back in 2015.Everybody’s Golfwas good and lighthearted (it had always been re-branded asHot Shots Golfin North America), but 2017’s game was the first in the series since 2011.
The closest golf has to annualized video games is happening today.The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA Tourjust stealth-released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One at a price of $50. It’s the thirdGolf Clubtitle; the original launched in 2014 andThe Golf Club 2launched in 2017. Back-to-back years is technically annualized.
What makes this game special is right there in the name. It has the PGA Tour official license for the first time ever, which brings that extra authenticity to a realistic simulated golf game. Developer HB Studios says thatThe Golf Club 2019will have a PGA Tour career mode and courses that are endorsed by the PGA Tour. It doesn’t appear as ifGolf Club 2019has the rights to use the likenesses of the players, however.
There’s another interesting tidbit aboutGolf Club 2019: It’s being published by 2K Games. This makes it the only golf game with backing by a major publisher (apart fromEverybody’s Golfbeing funded by Sony, but that’s not aiming for the same degree of realism). If this venture goes well, it’s conceivable that 2K could wrap futureGolf Clubgames under the 2K Sports2Kbanner and pay for the licenses to include PGA Tour players.
The surprise launch today only includes the digital version ofGolf Club 2019. 2K says that physical editions will hit retail sometime later this fall.
