ARMCHAIR GOLF

It is too cold to go and play a round of real golf, so why not settle in your armchair and play a round on the Spectrum? This version of Golf for the 16K Spectrum shows a graphic view of the holes, rough, trees, fairway and lakes. To make a shot the player selects a number, imagining that the ball is the centre of a clock-face.

You then choose the strength of the shot and your ball starts on its way towards the hole - or the lake, depending on how good a player you are.

A variety of penalties are handed-out by the computer when you land in the rough, in a bunker, or out of bounds. For instance, if you go out of bounds the computer will return your ball but you will have a penalty shot against you. If you land in a bunker, the computer will get you out but again you must suffer a penalty shot.

The computer will recognise special scores such as birdies, eagles and a hole in one. The game is interesting for golf fans but is very unremarkable in the software market as several games of golf, one of them very much like this one, have been produced for the Spectrum already.

Spectrum Golf is available for the 16K and 48K versions. It can be obtained from B S McAlley, 78 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxon OX9 4TJ and costs £3.95.