Tournament Challenge options

[baa7]

I'm religiously trying to complete the Tournament Challenges to unlock stuff while playing on Tour difficulty. But I don't think this is going to happen. Some of the Challenges are unbelievably tough (match Tiger's 61 at Firestone is called a "medium difficulty" challenge?!).
I assume the only way to unlock courses is to pay for them. I don't have Xbox Live, so I don't know what the options are. Can I open a Silver account and then pay to unlock select courses of my choosing? And how much do they cost? Something else: Torrey Pines requires the most points to unlock -- 60. Would I for example be able to pay to unlock the courses that require the most Challenge points, while I continue to complete the Challenges to unlock those courses that don't require as many Challenge points? Thanks for any help.

[daz]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

I'm religiously trying to complete the Tournament Challenges to unlock stuff while playing on Tour difficulty. But I don't think this is going to happen. Some of the Challenges are unbelievably tough (match Tiger's 61 at Firestone is called a "medium difficulty" challenge?!).
I assume the only way to unlock courses is to pay for them. I don't have Xbox Live, so I don't know what the options are. Can I open a Silver account and then pay to unlock select courses of my choosing? And how much do they cost? Something else: Torrey Pines requires the most points to unlock -- 60. Would I for example be able to pay to unlock the courses that require the most Challenge points, while I continue to complete the Challenges to unlock those courses that don't require as many Challenge points? Thanks for any help.

I'm not sure how it works with a Silver account, but when I went to unlock a course, you have the option of unlocking all or none. I don't think you can pick and choose the courses you'd like to unlock. I'm pretty sure about that, but not 100% because I wasn't looking to do what you want to do. But like I said, I think you just have the option of unlocking all or none and I think it's either 200 or 250 MS points.
Why not create a Silver account and find out? It doesn't cost anything for Silver, unless it's a total pain for you based on where your 360 is located.
I had to unlock them all because I never saw me unlocking all the courses through the Tiger challenges because they're so freakin' tough.
Plus the way I'm looking at it, I just want to unlock enough stuff in the Pro Shop that I'm not using the default equipment and also not getting equipment boosts either.
The game gets more challenging by upgrading to the intermediate and advanced equipment options. Once you minimize your sweet spot, you really have a challenge on your hands.

[baa7]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Thanks daz. So I checked Wikipedia and it says 500 MS points = 6 to 7 bucks. Is that right? If so, then 200-250 points to unlock the courses is way more reasonable than I thought it would be.

As far as setting up an account, I've never done that so I'll have to check out what's involved. Thanks again.

[baa7]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Plus the way I'm looking at it, I just want to unlock enough stuff in the Pro Shop that I'm not using the default equipment and also not getting equipment boosts either. The game gets more challenging by upgrading to the intermediate and advanced equipment options. Once you minimize your sweet spot, you really have a challenge on your hands.

That's exactly what I'm doing. I'm not using any clothing/equipment that gives me boosts. And I already unlocked an advanced driver and tuned the sweetspot down to 15, and I love it. The game is a great challenge now.

[daz]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Thanks daz. So I checked Wikipedia and it says 500 MS points = 6 to 7 bucks. Is that right? If so, then 200-250 points to unlock the courses is way more reasonable than I thought it would be.

As far as setting up an account, I've never done that so I'll have to check out what's involved. Thanks again.

I'm next to positive it wasn't 500 points. I think on one day I had 1750 points and bought the new COD:WaW map pack, the Gears 2 map pack that's on sale and the courses. I still have about 190 pts or so left over. I'm pretty sure I'm right. But, being 47, old age does effect the memory. Plus I don't have to think right now because I'm on summer break!

[baa7]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Plus I don't have to think right now because I'm on summer break!

Okay daz, thanks for your help. Sounds like you're a teacher. I did that for 15 years before I collapsed.

[DivotMaker]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Some of the Challenges are unbelievably tough (match Tiger's 61 at Firestone is called a "medium difficulty" challenge?!).

Hmmm...I am -7 through 8 holes right now...doesn't seem terribly difficult right now....let you know how I finish up...

OTOH, I had a helluva challenge getting through one of the Sawgrass challenges agains Luke Donald I believe it was....

EDIT: Finished -16....

[Zalf]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

You just need to complete the first challenge of each course to unlock it. You have to build up enough points to get access to the first challenge. Not sure how many of the 3rd and 4th challenges you would have to play to get access to all of the first challenges.

Some of the challenges do get ridiculously hard. 18 hole Match play against Tiger at Pebble Beach and he shoots 11 under on the front 9. He would actually challenge some of these crazy scores in the online tournaments.

18 hole stroke play against Tiger and Rocco at Torry Pines and both of them ended up shooting 15-16 under.

[baa7]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

You just need to complete the first challenge of each course to unlock it.

But the game doesn't allow you to access any of the challanges for a particular course until it's unlocked...? I don't understand if you're aware of that, or if you're saying there's another way.

[baa7]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Hmmm...I am -7 through 8 holes right now...doesn't seem terribly difficult right now....let you know how I finish up...

EDIT: Finished -16....

Yeesh. I have my driver tuned to a 15 sweetspot, so I have real trouble hitting fairways now. I'll shoot -16 in my dreams and that's about it. Also, I don't use the putting meter, and I lose a half dozen strokes or more per round because of funky putting. Amazing that others can shoot that low, wow.

[Zalf]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

But the game doesn't allow you to access any of the challanges for a particular course until it's unlocked...? I don't understand if you're aware of that, or if you're saying there's another way.

Hence the "You have to build up enough points to get access to the first challenge. Not sure how many of the 3rd and 4th challenges you would have to play to get access to all of the first challenges."

[daz]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Okay daz, thanks for your help. Sounds like you're a teacher. I did that for 15 years before I collapsed.

Yeah, I'm a career changer. I was a photojournalist for 20 years before I switched. Got out at the right time too. Not the best time to be in newspapers.
As you well know, it's a ton of work and people who always talk about the summers off really have no clue how much that is needed. Plus my summer, I complete my masters!

[Koolie G]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

I don't think I'll ever be able to shoot -16 on Tour Pro with my sweetspot tuned down and no putting meter. If you are shooting that low you have to have the putting meter on and the little line that shows you exactly where to put it. I assume that line is still in the game, I just started putting without the meter from the get-go.

I guess if I want to beat some of those challenges I may have to change my level and the putting mechanics so I can "go low". I don't want to pay real money to unlock the courses and if this is the direction EA is going with their games, I'm gonna be highly ticked off when I have to pay for basic things in my games....AFTER I've already bought the freakin' game for $60+.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Baa7, if you have never set up a live account you can/should get a gold account for free. On your 360, you can set up 4 users. For each user, you get one free month of Xbox Live Gold.

[baa7]

Re: Tournament Challenge options

Baa7, if you have never set up a live account you can/should get a gold account for free. On your 360, you can set up 4 users. For each user, you get one free month of Xbox Live Gold.

Great to know, trev, thanks for the info.