Games PC LINKS 2003-CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION User Manual

S W

About Photosensitive Seizures

A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when
exposed to certain visual images, including ashing lights or patterns that
may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of seizures
or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause these
“photosensitive epileptic seizures” while watching video games.

These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including
lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or
shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of
awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions
that can lead to injury from falling down or striking nearby objects.

Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of
these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the
above symptoms—children and teenagers are more likely than adults to
experience these seizures.

The risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures may be reduced by taking the
following precautions:

• Play in a well-lit room.

• Do not play when you are drowsy or fatigued.

If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy,
consult a doctor before playing.

Information in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, is subject to
change without notice. Unless otherwise noted, the example companies, organizations, products,
domain names, e-mail addresses, logos, people, places and events depicted herein are ctitious,
and no association with any real company, organization, product, domain name, e-mail address,
logo, person, place or event is intended or should be inferred. Complying with all applicable
copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no
part of this document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise), or for any purpose, without the express written permission of Microsoft Corporation.

Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual
property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any
written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any
license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property.

© 2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, the
Microsoft Game Studios logo, and Links 2003 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries/regions.

Developed by Microsoft Corporation.

Microsoft and the Microsoft logo are trademarks of Microsoft.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their
respective owners.

T  C

Installing Links 2003

Starting Links 2003

Creating Your Player

Starting a New Round

Customizing a New Round

(Play Golf)

Selecting a Club

Aiming Your Shot

Rotating Your Golfer

Classic Swing Type

Chipping

Post-Shot Options

Dropping

Putting

Practice

In-Game Menus

Display Options

Swing Types

Sand Shots

Rules & Modes of Play

Mulligans & Gimmes

Online Play

Links Career

Links 2003 Championship
Courses

L

I L 2003

Lanny’s Doormat

Par 3 | Handicap 17

This manual’s design is inspired by real-life golf course caddy books (also
known as course managers). Such guide booklets provide helpful information
about each of the courses’ 18 holes, including par and handicap, graphic
illustrations, a written description, yardages, and pro tips.

Like a caddy book, this manual provides helpful information, instructions,
and tips on 18 topics, which are listed in the Table of Contents. Each of the
18 topics contains a topic title (such as “Installing Links 2003”), followed by
a description of the topic written in the style of a caddy book (as if the topic
were a golf hole).

Each topic has
the following:

An illustrated fantasy hole
depicting the theme of the
current topic.

The Links 2003 crest with
topic number.

The name of the fantasy hole,
its par, and the topic’s handicap
rating (its complexity relative to
the other topics—1 is the most

complex, 18 is the simplest).

TIP

Helpful gameplay hint.

NOTE

Extra detail.

FYI

Reference to where you can nd
additional information.

This opening topic should get you off to a
running start—it practically plays itself, so just
sit back and take what the Setup gives you.
Should be an easy par.

IMPORTANT!

Links 2003 requires Microsoft® Windows® 98,
Windows® Millennium Edition, Windows XP, or
Windows® 2000; 400 MHz processor; 64 MB RAM
(128 MB RAM required for Windows XP); 16 MB
video card.

To install Links 2003

1. Insert the Links 2003 CD 1 into your CD-ROM
drive. If Setup does not run automatically, proceed
to step 2.

2. From your desktop, double-click My Computer.

3. In the My Computer window, double-click the
CD-ROM icon.

4. Click Install. Setup will guide you through the
installation process.

FYI

New Features in Links
2003 include:

Real Time Swing.

The golfer swings
simultaneously
as you move the
mouse. See topic 14
(“Swing Types”).

Green Analyzer. A
viewing mode that
offers a quick way
to analyze the green
from any angle. See
topic 10 (“Putting”).

Putting Assistant.
Novice golfers get
help lining up their
putts. See topic
10 (“Putting”).

Links® Match Maker,
E-mail Tournaments.

Set up or join online
games. See topic 16
(“Online Play”).

IMPORTANT!

Information you need to know.

TIP

Want a Pro to teach
you how to play Links
2003? You can take
interactive lessons
on aiming, swinging
(for all swing types),
chipping, putting,
and dropping. It’s like
going to the practice
green or driving range
with the Club Pro!

To take an
interactive lesson

On the Main Menu,
click Lessons, and
then click the lesson
you want.
–or–
During a round, click
the Menu tab in the
bottom-right corner,
click Lessons, and
then click the lesson
you want.

FYI

Click Help in any
screen to open the
Links Help Menu and
get context-sensitive
information, as well
as an index of almost
300 Help topics.

NOTE

The Options screen
is one of many setup
screens without a
Next, OK, or Finish
(or other command)
button. To exit the
screen, click Back.

S L 2003

This 2nd topic has the lowest handicap of all
18— ve quick clicks and you’re there! Or, if
you created a Links 2003 desktop icon during
installation, double-click it to get there in two!

To start Links 2003

1. From the Start menu, point to Programs, point to
Microsoft Games, and then point to Links 2003.

2. Click Links 2003. The Main Menu is displayed:

QUICK START—Begin play using default settings (see

topic 4).

PLAY GOLF—Customize settings before starting a new

round (see topic 5).

LINKS CAREER—Start a Links career (see topic 17).
ONLINE—Select an online play option (see topic 16).
OPTIONS—Select settings for Game, Graphics and

Sound (see next page).

LESSONS—Take an interactive lesson (see TIP).
CONNECTION—Select online connection settings.

Options

Click Options on the Main Menu to display the
Options screen, which is divided into three sections:
Miscellaneous, Stats, and Settings. The only options
important to getting started are under Settings:

GAME SETTINGS—Select options for yards vs.

meters, your scorecard, animations, hole previews,
and so on.

GRAPHIC SETTINGS—Select options for video

cards, display modes, course animations, dynamic
cameras, resolution vs. redraw speed, and so on.

SOUND SETTINGS—Select or edit sound scripts,

set volume and channels, turn on or off course,
crowd, and golfer sounds, and so on.

To select Game, Graphic, or
Sound settings

1. In the Main Menu screen, click Options.

2. In the Options screen, under Settings, click the
desired setting.

–or–

1. During a round, click the Menu tab in the
bottom-right corner of the screen, and then
click Preferences.

2. In the Preferences screen, click the desired
settings button.

Quintuple Point

Par 5 | Handicap 18

TIP 1

You can import your
own photo! At step
4, click Browse, and
then click Help.

NOTE

Amateur: No hooks

or slices; Putting
Assistant available.

Professional:

Moderate hooks and
slices; partial Putting
Assistant available.

Championship: Full

hooks and slices; no
Putting Assistant.

Elite: Severe hooks

and slices; aiming
in Main Cam only;
no Grid or Putting
Assistant available.

TIP 2

The Caddy
recommends a club
for each shot. The

Putting Assistant

helps Amateur and
Professional level
players to aim their
putts (see topic 10).

TIP 3

The Grid overlays the
terrain, highlighting
its contours, and is
especially useful for
reading putts.

FYI

For more golfer
options, click Golfer
Settings in the
Options screen.

FYI

Computer Opponents
can be created and
then competed
against. Refer to Help
(topic: “Computer
Opponents”).

FYI

For information on
cloning, deleting, or
renaming a player,
click the respective
button, and then
click Help.

C Y P

Here’s your opportunity to show what kind of
Links player you are. Fashion your own unique
approach, and then  nish #3 as a golfer to be
reckoned with!

To use the Create Player Wizard

1. Type your name in the Player Name box.

2. From the Golfer Model drop-down list, select a 3D
model for your player.

3. Click the arrows under Shirt, Pants, and Skin (if
available) to select your player’s appearance.

4. From the Photo drop-down list, select a photo for
your player (see TIP 1).

5. From the Sound Script drop-down list, select a
voice for your player.

6. Specify if your player is right- or left-handed, and
then click Next.

7. Select a Skill Level (see NOTE) and Tee position.

8. Specify if you want to Use Caddy and/or Use
Putting Assistant (see TIP 2), and then click Next.

9. Select a Swing Type (see topic 14) and Swing
Orientation (if applicable).

10. Select your Grid preferences (see TIP 3, next
page), and then click Next.

11. Select your player’s clubs, and then click Finish.

12. You can click the Settings, Personality, Clubs, or
Club Distances tabs to view or edit your player’s
attributes. When you’re  nished, click OK.

IMPORTANT!

The Create Player Wizard appears automatically only
the  rst time you start Links 2003. To create other
new players, or to edit your player after it has been
created, follow the steps below:

To create a new player

1. On the Main Menu, click Options.

2. In the Options screen, click Players.

3. In the Players screen, click Create New Player.

4. Select a Player Type (see FYI), and then click Next.

5. Follow the steps for using the Create Player Wizard
(previous page).

To edit a player

1. On the Main Menu, click Options.

2. In the Options screen, click Players.

3. In the Players screen, under Player, click the
Player you want to edit in the Select Player
drop-down list.

4. Click the Settings, Personality, Clubs, or Club
Distances tabs, and then make your changes.

5. To save your changes and return to the Options
screen, click OK.

Frankenstein

Par 5 | Handicap 9

FYI 1

Stroke is the most
common mode of
play in golf. Players
compete individually
to  nish a round with
the fewest strokes.
For more information
on the many modes
of play available
in Links 2003, see
topic 15.

FYI 2

Cam (an abbreviation
of camera) refers to
any viewing window
in Links 2003. For
more information on
cams, see topic 13.

FYI

The gauge shown
is the Classic swing
gauge. Each of
the other swing
types (Easy Swing,
PowerStroke™, and
Real Time Swing) has
its own gauge or icon.
See topic 14.

S  N R

This topic can play out two ways: take the
“scenic route” by customizing the gameplay
and course conditions with the Play Golf
approach, or take a straightforward shortcut
by using the Quick Start method.

To use Quick Start

1. On the Main Menu, click Quick Start.

2. In the Quick Start screen, click a course in the
Course to Play drop-down list.

3. Select the number of players for the new
round (1-4).

4. From the Players in the Game drop-down list,
select the players.

5. Click Begin Play.

Play Golf: Customize a New Round

Unlike Quick Start, which uses default settings such
as Stroke mode of play (see FYI 1), no wind, average
green speed and hardness, and so on, Play Golf lets
you choose your own preferences (see topic 5).

Links 2003 Main Cam

Whether you choose to Quick Start or Play Golf, the
 rst thing you see when you begin a new round is
the Main Cam. See FYI 2 (this page) and the graphic
(next page). This is the primary viewing window in
Links 2003.

Player Information

Slope, Wind, and
Lie Indicators

Display the slope of the
terrain on which the
ball lies, the direction
and strength of the wind,
and the type of terrain
on which the ball lies.

Elevation Information

Displays the dif ferences
in elevation between the
ball, the Aiming Marker,
and the hole.

Course Information

Top Cam

Displays an overhead
view of the hole.

In-Game Menus

See topic 12.

Swing Gauge/Icon

Click to execute the swing
(see FYI).

Aiming Marker

See topic 7.

Whirlwind

Par 4 | Handicap 16

Ol’ Greenthumb

Par 4 | Handicap 14

C  N R

S  C

Caddies’ Bane

Par 3 | Handicap 15

TIP

To hand-pick pin
positions for each
green, select Custom
Pin Positions, and
then Custom Pins.

NOTE 1

Galleries are the
crowds at golf events;
Tournament Objects are
3D structures, such
as grandstands and
camera towers.

FYI

Click CourseManager
to add or delete
courses, view course
IDs and videos, or
see a list of recorded
players. In the Course
Manager screen, click
Help for more details.

NOTE 2

For information on
recording a player’s
round, refer to the
Help Index (topic:
“Recording a Player”).

Easy par or tough bogie? Create your own luck
here on the 5th Topic. Wind, green conditions,
and pin positions all come into play. It’s a true
risk/reward and you get to call the shots!

To customize a new round

1. On the Main Menu, click Play Golf.

2. In the Play Golf screen, click New Round.

3. Under Course to Play, select a course from the
drop-down list.

4. Under the selected course, select the number of
holes you want to play from the drop-down list.

5. Under Options, click Galleries & Tournament
Objects options (see NOTE 1) in the
drop-down lists.

6. Under Rules, verify (or change) the mode of play
and Mulligan & Gimme options (see topic 15).

7. Under Conditions, select your preferred course
conditions from the following drop-down lists:

Wind conditions—Wind strength.
Green Speed—How fast the ball rolls on the green.
Green Hardness—How hard the ball bounces

when it lands on the green.

Pin Positions—Hole locations (see TIP).

8. Click Next.

9. In the Players in the Game screen, click Add
Player, and then select players for the round.

10. Specify Swing Type, Tees, and Caddy. Select
Record to record a player’s round (see NOTE 2).

11. When nished, click Begin Play.

You nally get to let out the shaft! Selecting a
club is one of the easiest things to do in Links

2003. However, selecting the correct club (and
knowing what to do with it!) is what separates
the birdies from the bogies!

To select a club

1. Move the pointer to the bottom of the screen, and

then click the Clubs Menu tab.

2. On the Clubs Menu, click a club to select it.
The selected club will be displayed in the Swing
Gauge (if you‘re using the Classic or Easy Swing)
or club icon (if you’re using PowerStroke or Real
Time Swing).

Using the
Club Gizmo

The quickest way to
select a club or change
shot types is by using the
Club Gizmo:

1. Right-click the swing
gauge or club icon.

–or–

Press TAB.
–or–
If you have a three-button mouse, click the

middle button.

2. Select a club (or shot type).

3. Click Close or move the pointer off.

FYI

If you want to change
one or more of the
clubs in your bag,
you’ll need to edit
your player. See
topic 3.

TIP

Want to customize
your stance, swing
plane, or trajectory?
Click Setup on the
Clubs Menu or Club
Gizmo. For details,
click Help in the
Advanced Shot
Setup screen.

TIP

To display the average
distance of a club,
move the pointer over
it in the open Clubs
Menu or Club Gizmo.