Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this event an "Open Beta" and what does that mean?
An Open Beta basically means that this is a free to participate event that is
an open trial to gather live real world feedback on our products and services.
Since the technologies we have deployed to create this experience are new, we
need time to work out all the potential issues. We very much appreciate
your patience with any problems you may experience and encourage your feedback (feedback@worldgolftour.com).
Since this is a trial the site may sometimes be unavailable due to servicing,
usually between 1 am - 4am PST. If you see this please come back in a few
hours and things should be available.
How does this event benefit the charities?
In return for your time, the sponsors of the World Golf Tour PGA.com Charity
Challenge have all donated either prizes of money, which will be given to the
Teach For America, Sheltering Arms and After School All-stars. 100% of all the
cash sponsorship donations are going to the charities.
How do I register to play?
To begin the Charity Challenge, you need to create a player profile. This is
your character inside the game to your friends and your competition. You need to
click on the Sign Up link in order to begin your registration. We require your
email address, birthdate and location in order for you to register. Anyone can
play the game but you must be over 18 years old and a resident of the United
States in order to have a chance to win any prizes.
I did not receive your confirmation e-mail.
Make sure you completed the registration and saw the screen which verifies we
have received your info and will be sending you a confirmation e-mail. Next check
your spam filter and junk e-mail folder in your e-mail program for the message.
The e-mail will be coming from members@worldgolftour.com. If you still do not have
the confirmation email please contact us at members@worldgolftour.com and we will
help you. Make sure you add members@worldgolftour.com to your safe e-mail list to
ensure that we can contact you.
How do I improve the performance, the game is slow or "freezing"?
The Charity Challenge is built on the latest technology available and requires a relatively
new computer. However you can significantly improve the performance by taking the following
steps:
- Close all other non-essential applications
- Use a high speed internet connection
- Click on "Options" on the game menu at the top and select a lower flash quality
- Click on "Options" on the game menu at the top and turn off "Camera Pans"
- Click on "Options" on the game menu at the top and turn off "Reflections"
- We also recommend using a FireFox browser
These options will decrease the visual quality but significantly improve your frame rate
and smooth the motion.
Do you plan on adding more courses in the future?
Yes, we will be adding many more real-world golf courses in the future. We plan
to offer many of the most beautiful and well-known golf courses in the world for
our players to enjoy. If you have a favorite course, please let us know
at feedback@worldgolftour.com
How do I play the game?
All you have to do is click "Tee Off" and you are ready to
start. There is no cost to you and nothing to install. If you want to enter the
prize drawing or have access to advanced features you need to register and create a player
profile. This is who you are inside the game to your friends and your competition. Your
player profile is also where you can check back to see your scores, check on your weekly
rank, or watch replays of your best shots.
To learn how to play the game, follow the online tutorial for instructions on how to
choose a club, aim and swing the club.
Can I play as many times as I want?
Yes, you can play the Charity Challenge as often as you like for free.
What kinds of prizes can I win?
There is no purchase necessary to have a chance to win great prizes.
We will be giving away:
- 1 TaylorMade Burner drivers (one per month)
- Sleeve of TaylorMade TP Golf balls (ten per month)
- World Golf Tour Adidas ClimaCool Golf Shirt (ten per month)
How does the scoring work?
Scoring is calculated by adding up your total distance from the flagstick with your shot on
each hole plus any penalty points you may have incurred. The total after nine holes is your
total score. The lower the score the better.
How do I register to play?
To begin the Charity Challenge, you need to create a player profile. This is your character inside
the game to your friends and your competition. You need to click on the Register link in order to
begin your registration. We require your email address, birthdate and location in order for you to
register. Anyone can play the game but you must be over 18 years old and a resident of the United
States in order to have a chance to win any prizes.
If you have already registered, you simply need to enter your Username and Password on the
homepage and click the Sign In link and play the challenge.
How do I swing the club?
To begin your swing, position your cursor over your player’s club. Your cursor will turn into a
graphic that says SWING. CLICK and HOLD your left mouse button and move the mouse FORWARD to set
the strength of your swing. When the strength has been set let go of the mouse button to start the
downswing. During the downswing you need to CLICK AGAIN to hit the ball.
A perfect swing is made when you click the button again as the strength indicator is on the thick
white line in the middle of the swing indicator.
If you CLICK AGAIN before or after the PERFECT SHOT line, the ball will either hook, draw, fade or slice
depending on where you click the button. If you need additional help, please click the TUTORIAL link on
menu at the top of the game screen.
How do I change clubs?
You can select the club you want to use by clicking on the green arrows below the club indicator or by using
the click-wheel on your mouse.
Displayed above the club is the distance the ball can travel if hit at full strength, without elevation
changes. Once you have selected your club you should aim your shot. Sometimes it is beneficial to select
a club that hits 10-20 yards further than your target, so that you do not have to swing at full strength
and therefore increasing your accuracy.
How do I aim my shot?
Adjust your aim by positioning your cursor over the AIM INDICATOR then CLICK and DRAG as you move your mouse.
The Yardage indicator will turn red when you have positioned it outside of the maximum carry distance for that
club. If this happens you should change your club.
By hitting the Space Bar on your keyboard or clicking on ZOOM in the Swing Meter you can toggle between the Green
view and the Fairway view to get a closer look and adjust your aim more precisely.
Sometimes it is beneficial to not aim for the flag. Aiming for a larger area of the green can help you avoid the
hazards or roll the ball to the hole.
Do I need to buy anything to win?
No, there is no purchase necessary to win a prize in the World Golf Tour’s PGA.com Charity Challenge. Please see
the SWEEPSTAKES RULES for instructions on how to alternately enter the sweepstakes.
Do I need to achieve a certain score to win a prize?
No
Your system will not accept my email address. Why not?
Email addresses must be in the standard testname@test.com format and a single e-mail address can only be used
for a single account.
Why don’t I get to putt in the game?
The Charity Challenge is a closest-to-the-pin contest. We did not include putting in this version of the game.
Why don’t I get to play a full hole in the game?
The Charity Challenge is a closest-to-the-pin contest. We allow only one shot per hole to determine your score.
How can I form my own team of players?
You must be registered and logged in to create a team. You can create a team by clicking on the Teams link at the
top of the page and then the Create a New Team link. You will be prompted to enter your Team Name and then add the
email addresses of your friends you wish to invite to join your team.
An email will be sent to each email address inviting them to join your team. You may customize the email that is
sent to each of your friends. Each friend you invite must accept the invitation in order to be added to your team.
If your friends are already on a World Golf Tour team, that’s ok! You may be a member of up to 5 teams.
If you create a team you will be the Team Captain. As Team Captain you have the ability to ADD and REMOVE players
from your team. Make sure that only people you invited to join your team are on the team!
As a member of a team created by a friend, you have the ability to RESIGN if you no longer want to be on the team.
The RESIGN link is located on Teams page.
How many people need to be on the team?
There can be a maximum of 8 players per team and a minimum of 6 players.
How do I join a team?
You must be invited to join a team. If you receive an invitation, just follow the link in the invitation email to be
added to the team. If no one has invited you to join a team, just create your own!
Can I join multiple teams?
Yes, you can be a member of up to 5 teams
I’m already registered at World Golf Tour with my main email address, but I received an invitation to join a team with my
alternate email address. Can I still join that team?
Yes, when you click the link in the Team Invitation email, the system will ask you if you have already registered with
the World Golf Tour. If you say YES, you will need to SIGN-IN with your registered email address. We will transfer the team
request sent to your alternate e-mail address to your World Golf Tour registered e-mail address.
Alternatively, you can have your friend send you a Team Invitation to your registration email address.
If you have not already registered at the World Golf Tour, you will need to create a new player with the email address
that received the team invitation.
Remember, you are not eligible to win the same prize more than once regardless of how many accounts you create. See our
Terms & Conditions section for more clarification.
What if I want to change the registered account whose score is on a team?
You cannot change the e-mail address for your account. However if you want to stop using one account and start another one
with a different email address, you need to re-register, leave the team with your old account and ask your team captain
for an invitation to your new e-mail.
Remember, each person is only allowed a single entry into each drawing. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
How can a team win prizes? What are they?
We will not offer prizes for teams in this contest. However in the future stay tuned, we will have more team features
and prizes.
How will I be notified if I win a prize?
You will be notified by our prize vendor via email if you have won a prize. Please make sure you register with a valid
e-mail address. Your entry will be void if we cannot verify your e-mail address or contact you.
How can I view one of my shots again?
After hitting your shot, while you are on the Scorecard page, click the button that says View Replay and then click the
Play button to watch the replay from any camera angle available. You can also save your replays and share them with your
friends!
If you have saved any of your best shots, they will be saved and can be viewed again on the Replays tab under the Your
Profile page.
How do I save one of my shots as a replay?
After watching the replay click the Save button to save your replay. You can save up to 5 shots to watch over and over.
Your saved replays can be found on the Replays tab of the Your Profile page.
How can I share my shots with my friends?
After watching a replay you can click on the Share button, enter your friend’s email address and a personal message and
click the Send button. Share your best shots with your friends and challenge them to see if they can do any better.
How many shots can I save?
You can save up to 5 shots at a time.
Can I create more than one player?
You can only create one player per email address. You cannot win the same prize more than once regardless of how many
players you create.
Is there a limited number of times I can play the game?
No, there is no limit to the number of times you can play the game.
Does it cost anything to play?
No, the Charity Challenge is free to play for anyone with an email address. Our Charity Challenge Sponsors have covered
the cost of the event to benefit our benefactor charities.
Can I adjust the position of the ball in my stance?
Yes, by pressing the "s" button on your keyboard you can adjust the ball in your stance. Moving the ball forward in your
stance will cause the ball to go higher while moving the ball back in your stance will cause the ball to fly lower.
What do LW, SW, AW and PW stand for in the club selection?
LW = Lob Wedge
SW = Sand Wedge
AW = Approach Wedge
PW = Pitching Wedge
What does the golf ball icon with the green dot do?
The golf ball icon with the green dot is an advanced setting that allows the player to put extra spin on the ball.
By moving the green dot to the top of the ball it will create top spin so the ball will roll more. Moving the green
dot to the bottom of the ball will create extra backspin on the ball.
Are there advanced settings I can use to score better?
You can use move the ball up and back in your stance (push the "s" button on your keyboard) and add extra spin to your
ball by using the golf ball icon near the swing meter.
What are the penalties for hitting a bad shot?
You will be assessed score penalties for missing the green.
Fringe: +5 points
Fairway: +10 points
Dirt: +15 points
Light Rough: +15 points
Medium/Heavy Rough: +20 points
Rock: +25 points
Cart Path: +25 points
Sand Trap: +30 points
Water: +40 points
Out of Bounds: +50 points
Do I have to donate money to charity to play this game?
No, you do not need to donate money to charity to play this game. Our sponsors have been generous to cover the cost of the
prizes and event for you. The World Golf Tour is donating all funds received from our sponsors to benefit certain charities.
However, if you want to help support the charities directly, please click on The Charities link to learn more about them.
Which charities are benefiting from the game?
We are donating all funds received from our sponsors to the following charities: After-School All Stars, Teach for America
and Sheltering Arms. You can learn more about these charities on our The Charities link on our homepage.
When will there be a version of the game where I can play an entire hole?
In 2008, the World Golf Tour will release a new version of the game in which you will be able to play a full 18 holes. You
will be able to play in a foursome with your friends and compete to shoot the lowest score.
What are the system requirements to play this game?
You must have Flash version 8 or newer to play this game and a high-speed connection to the internet.
My computer has an old version of Flash. How do I get a new one?
You are required to have Flash version 8 or newer to run this game. If you have an older version please visit Adobe
at http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
to download the latest version.
Will you share my e-mail address?
We take your privacy seriously and your information will not be shared with any party outside of this event or sold to a 3rd
party. However by signing up for an account and selecting the sponsor opt-in, you are giving us permission to share your info
with PGAtour.com, the three charities and our sponsors. We may be contacting you from time to time with offers and information.
If you want to be removed form our e-mail lists Email us at members@worldgolftour.com
Is the game safe to play?
Yes, playing the World Golf Tour is safe and secure. We do not install any external software or use any spyware. We only want
you to enjoy playing our game!
What if you find cheaters?
Anyone found cheating in the game will be removed from our member list and be made ineligible to win any prizes.
What if some one wins but they provide you with incorrect registration information?
Anyone providing the World Golf Tour with incorrect registration information will be ineligible to win a prize and
we will select a new prize winner.
Can I win more than one prize?
Yes, you are eligible to win more than one prize in the Charity Challenge. However, you cannot win the same prize
more than once.
If you need to contact Customer Service you
may reach us at
members@worldgolftour.com