UP TO PAR I've always thought that golf simulations don't get the attention they deserve from programmers - you tend to end up with a result that is often in Basic, features matchstick men and simple graphics and generally lacks the professional touch. On the other hand I've often found that presentation excluded, golf works well as an entertaining computer simulation. Now we come to Handicap Golf on the Amstrad from CRL, and it illustrates some of the points made above. While the graphics are simple with dots for ball and hole and a 'Saint'-like matchstick man for the golfer, the game is a lot of fun. Holes are simply drawn, a few trees here and there, simple yellow for bunkers and so on - each one extends over several screens so there are options to preview each before you slice away. You have a wide selection of golf clubs, both woods and irons, from which to choose and must take into account not only the power you give to the hit and direction but the wind power and direction as well. When you make it to the hole you get a close up and a little cursor that must be aligned with ball and hole. It's all quite entertaining, but I can't help thinking that if 1 can get in under par every time it must be pretty easy.    
PCW | 
