My New Favorite Golf Video Game Has Been There All Along

A few months ago, I got back into video games. Sorry, not video games—a video game. WGT, a.k.a World Golf Tour.

It's been around for decades, and during the COVID lockdown era, I could be found in many a room in my house hunched over my phone, playing my favorite courses one shot at a time. At the time, it was the next best thing to actually getting out and playing. I felt more satisfied after a round—having actually contended with the elements—than I did after an hour long carpet putting or chipping session.

That's because the rough, the wind, the green speeds the sand—everything in WGT is more like an off-course adjacent experience than a video game.

So, I should say, I got really into an off-course golf experience recently. So much so that when WGT hit us up at Dan on Golf about teaming up, it was an instant no-brainer.

In partnership with the guys at WGT, Dan Rapaport and I have created our own one-of-one links course. It's an amalgamation of some of our favorite courses across the world. Think St. Andrews, Royal St. George's, Chambers Bay, and even a little Pinehurst No. 2 for good measure.

We're calling it The DOG Track, and ironically it's the only Dog Track you'll be dying to play. Usually that name is reserved for the kind of place you avoid. This is not that.

Even better: the folks at WGT set up a whole tournament on the course. It's called the Dan on Golf Open at The DOG Track—and you can try your hand at breaking the course record right now. All you have to do is download WGT on your phone or computer, create an account and you'll be ready to compete.

I'm not kidding—it's impossible not to get hooked for an entire afternoon. Playing 18 holes won't take you five hours, but it will test you with five hours worth of challenge in less than an hour.

Watch the wind, pay attention to your lies, mind your shot shapes and styles and good luck.

The course record is currently 58, so you'll need it.