10 Best Golf Games of All Time

Gaming leaves you with no excuses for not trying out all of the sports in the world. And with modern technology, the graphics and physics engine are more authentic and realistic than ever. Still, it’s been a long journey for golf simulators, dating back to the 1980s. And some of the classics still remain unforgettable in gamers’ minds. 

If not realistic simulators, you can opt for fun arcade experiences as well, incorporating all sorts of fantasy courses, obstacles, and power-ups. When the weather is looking rough or you simply want to chill out at home, you can always boot up these best golf games of all time. 

10. What the Golf?

Video game golfing doesn’t always take itself too seriously. And among the most ridiculous takes on the sport is What the Golf?. It’s the perfect game for casual players who simply want to have fun without a care for the stringent rules or scores. 

Variety is the spice of What the Golf?, taking you through over 500 levels. Each is more creative than the last, bursting with color and all sorts of absurd designs. And the updates continue streaming in, ensuring there’s always something new.

At its core, you’ll be hitting all sorts of items from golf balls to chairs to hit a flag. You navigate parodies of other games and gimmicks that are effortlessly silly and full of surprises.

9. Golden Tee Golf

The Golden Tee series has been a worthy contender for the best golf games of all time, with its blue skies and arcade gameplay. It originally launched in 1989. Thus, a big-time classic that is still played in some bars and shops. 

The controls are pretty simple for any casual gamer to try out. And the trackball leads the charge among the most challenging but fun mechanics of playing golf, controling the power, direction, and curve of your shot. 

Do check out the recently released Golden Tee Arcade Classics, featuring eight legendary games modernized for a contemporary fanbase.

8. The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA Tour

The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA Tour offered a pretty comprehensive package with both real and fictional tournaments. You played through a profound career mode, with clubhouses to update and members to recruit.

But most exciting of all was the course designer, where players expressed their creativity. Unfortunately, the game has been discontinued on digital storefronts, but it still remains impactful today.

7. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10

In 2009, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 hit the gaming market with a new innovative live weather feature. This made all the difference for realism, feeling like you’re truly out on the golf course.

Meanwhile, the series remained competitive, with fluid motion controls and online leaderboards to challenge yourself against the best of the best.

6. World Golf Tour

Many casual golfers and veterans play World Golf Tour because it’s free online, but also pretty good. It’s a straight-up simulation of actual golf, featuring some of the most popular courses worldwide. 

Moreover, you access thousands of country clubs, as well as compete in multiplayer game modes, ranging from quick head-to-head rounds, weekly tournaments, and fast-paced battle royale called Divot Derby. 

5. Mario Golf

Another series that doesn’t take golfing too seriously is Mario Golf. The golf courses are prime spots for the whimsical, whether sunny beaches or the fan-favorite Mushroom Kingdom. 

Rather than stress about how precise your swing is, Mario Golf chooses to focus on speed. You have fun mechanics like backspins, freezing the ground, dashing opponent balls out of the way, and more.

4. Links 2003

The classics of the best golf games of all time are topped by Links 2003. At the time of release, it came out with stunning courses, pretty realistic, as well as the physics engine. You swung your club in real-time, competing in vicious online tournaments.

Links 2003 was so good that it continues to have a loyal following even today, with fans using the Arnold Palmer Course Designer to freshen things up.

3. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004

Arguably, the best golf series is the Tiger Woods PGA Tour franchise. And among the best titles is the 2004 entry. While most game modes remained the same, customizing your golfer and taking them through various courses, 2004 featured the best swing control. 

You could keep track of events in real-time and access licensed gear. This had definitely been an uphill climb in golf simulation, with 2004 nailing that sweet balance between realism and fun. 

2. PGA Tour 2k25

But as far as modern-day golf simulation goes, PGA Tour 2k25 is undefeated. It’s the go-to way most casual gamers and veterans want to play golf when looking to feel like a real-life pro. With the new EvoSwing mechanic, players can now practice and master the most impressive shot.

Meanwhile, you have lots of content to play through. MyPLAYER adds more customization options to truly feel like your own person. The online leaderboard is more competitive than ever, upping your game at every turn.

No longer is Tiger Woods the only star of the show, with rising stars like Max Homa and Matt Fitzpatrick offering you more dynamic ways to show off and break new records.  

With MyCAREER, you get three-storied tournaments, while the Ranked Tours and cross-platform Societies expand your skills and reach of excellence. 

1. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005

Yet, tracking down the best golf games of all time, I can’t help but include Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005. It’s always new features that set apart new iterations, and 2005’s did that with Tiger Proofing. That way, players could curate their own difficulty and experience. 

Further, the entry offered more customization options to stand out from online opponents. Legends mode, in turn, challenged you to carve your way to legend status by defeating superstar PGA golfers and fictional rivals. 

It’s a wonder how Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 superseded its predecessor. But it’s the constant innovation and new features that continue to maintain the franchise’s spot at the top.