PGA 2k21 Ghost Players--need advice on understanding how this all works

[golfnut67]

After playing at least 30 Career Mode seasons since last year, I just discovered the Ghost player option. After each PGA season, not wanting to jump right back into the frustration and repetition of bad leaderboards and the same courses, I usually play a few rounds alone, looking up obscure designed courses, either the interesting looking Trending courses or more often, every real course I can find in my area (Dayton, Ohio). I've played them all in real life. It's really cool to play your local courses in this game.

I love playing the designed courses. I always have, and wish they could be a part of any Career Mode season. But they aren't, obviously. The one thing that has been lacking is playing alone. Today I just discovered Ghost players.

It makes playing a designed course *so* much more interesting. Just having another player that you pick that has shot a well under par score in the past to play against makes it so much more fun. I was worried when I saw the previous score that a Ghost player had shot on any given course, that it was basically going to be an exact replay of his previous round, meaning, you already know what his score is going to be and what you have to shoot for.

But I was happy to discover that what they shoot is totally random. My first round I chose a Ghost that had shot -8 on the course before, but this time they shot -6. And yes, beat me by 2 strokes.

My question is, what exactly is a "live" Ghost? Is that actually a player that's online at the same time, playing live? I know that sounds like an obvious yes, but, how are you "live" and playing as a Ghost? Is it just a way to match up a random live match with someone without playing a Society tournament? How to you offer yourself as a live Ghost, if so?

The other question is, is there any way to communicate in real time with at live Ghost within the game via typing/texting them within the round?

Any tips would be appreciated. This aspect of the game has certainly opened up a more challenging and interesting way to play designed courses in between Career Mode tours.

[MrArlingtonBeach]

Re: PGA 2k21 Ghost Players--need advice on understanding how this all works

I honestly have no idea how live ghosts work.

But I do know you can set it up so that when you are adding ghosts to play against, the scores they shot in their round can be hidden. That way, you can choose a ghost and have no idea what their results are until you get through the round you play with them. Keeps things a bit more interesting than simply knowing a player shot -8 from the get go.

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: PGA 2k21 Ghost Players--need advice on understanding how this all works

Live ghosts are other members of the Society who happen to be playing the same round as you, when they appear as an option. They could be on the 6th hole during their round 2, for example, when you start your second round. You could opt to add them as a live ghost to your round. If they then add you as a live ghost to their round, they could wait on you to catch up to them. If you both have "turn order" enabled, once you catch up to them on the 6th hole, the game will then sync you up together and you can play the remainder of the round out using full turn based play. I've used it several times and it works well, but it depends on how long the players want to wait to get in sync.

I always play a Society round with a "ghost ball" (the recorded round of a player who's already finished the current round. It moves along at a good clip because it's not turn enabled, but the ghost players also ignore the order of play rules of golf, and hit their shot as soon a the screen is redrawn, whether they're away or not. I'm used to it now and like having a feel of something "quasi-live" going on around me.

[golfnut67]

Re: PGA 2k21 Ghost Players--need advice on understanding how this all works

That explains a lot, I appreciate that.

Of course, after playing a few rounds with Ghost players, and live Ghosts, I've noticed the same type of glitches with the scoring/leaderboards. I played a round today with a Ghost (not live), and 3 separate times he hit the water and/or was out of bounds. He magically appeared every time after those shots on the green, with no stroke penalties. Sigh. Same old stuff. At least I can just do the math and add up what his real score is since I've seen his shots. But jeez. How messed up is the scoring/leaderboards in this game? Maddening.