When you buy an FSX course, you're getting a permanently-owned, laser-mapped replica with prices ranging from $150 for standard versions to $500 for premium editions featuring drone-mapped accuracy down to 20 centimeters. Premium courses deliver hyper-realistic textures and landmarks that make you feel like you're actually at Pebble Beach, while standard courses give you functional gameplay without the ultra-precise mapping. Bundles offer better value, typically three to six courses for $1,000, and you'll have access to practice modes, full rounds, and performance tracking. Keep in mind that licensing issues might mean your favorite course isn't available yet, and if you're wondering whether the premium price justifies the experience, there's more to examine about what separates a great simulation from just hitting into a pretty screensaver.
Why do some FSX golf courses cost as much as a real round at a decent public track? The reality is, those premium prices buy you drone-mapped 3D elevation accurate within 20 centimeters. You're getting every hump and bump that tour pros actually face, which makes a massive difference in realism. Big-name tracks like Pebble Beach justify their cost with lifelike ground contours and bonus details like Pinehurst's Payne Stewart statue. The improved mapping creates authentic ball reactions you won't find on standard courses. However, a la carte pricing lets you skip courses that don't interest you, like The Crossing or Willow Crest, that users barely touch. You'll want to invest in universally praised options like Pebble Beach and Ballyowen instead. The base package includes FSX 2020, FSX Play, FSX Pro licenses, and 25 golf courses to get you started. During gameplay, you can change weather conditions dynamically, switching from sunny to cloudy or rainy, to vary your practice sessions.
When you drop money on an FSX course, you're not just buying a digital golf backdrop; you're getting an integrated training ecosystem that works across the entire platform. Each course grants access in multiple modes—you can hit single shots to practice specific clubs, play full 18-hole rounds with real weather settings, or jump into Compete mode to challenge other players. The course data feeds directly into your performance reports, so every shot you hit contributes to your gap testing and dispersion analysis. You'll also get access to dual display options if you're working with an instructor, plus offline session saving that syncs to the cloud. Every course you purchase becomes yours permanently, eliminating the subscription fatigue that plagues other simulator platforms. The platform delivers stunning graphics that enhance the realism of every practice session. Basically, one purchase gives you a complete practice facility, not just pretty scenery.
How much should you budget for FSX courses? It depends on how you want to buy them. Individual courses range from $150 for lesser-known layouts to $500 for major championship venues like Pebble Beach. You'll find over 300 courses available à la carte, all in 4K resolution.
Bundles offer better value. The Pinehurst package (courses 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, plus Cradle) costs $1,000, while the Pebble Beach trio runs the same price. The FSX Fantasy Course Bundle is priced at $1,349 on sale, offering access to challenging layouts suitable for all skill levels. Subscriptions are your cheapest entry point: Silver costs $199 yearly for about 25 courses, while Gold is $499 and includes the full FSX software suite. Gold subscribers also gain access to third-party simulator integrations like GSPro and Awesome Golf, though those platforms require separate purchases. The fact of the matter is, if you bought SIM IN A BOX Play 10', you get three years of Gold free!
Not all FSX courses are created equal, and the price difference tells you exactly where your money's going. Premium courses at $250 to $500 get drone-mapped down to 8 inches of accuracy, capturing every undulation and bump with 3D elevation details within 20 centimeters. You'll see 4K graphics, hyper-realistic textures, and extra landmarks like the Payne Stewart statue at Pinehurst. Standard courses? They're functional but lack that premium detail level; you're getting playable layouts without the ultra-precise mapping or top-tier visuals. The point is: both tiers run on FSX Play's Unity engine with 3D grass and improved lighting, but premium tracks like Pebble Beach and St. Andrews deliver that lifelike simulation experience that justifies the higher price tag. If you've already bought courses on FSX 2020, you can download FSX Play versions of those same tracks at no extra charge. Winners of league events can earn courses too, with overall winners receiving a Premium Course and second place taking home two Standard Courses.
Once you've decided on the detail level you want, you're faced with another spending decision: buying courses one at a time or grabbing a bundle. The key point is: individual courses run $150 to $500, which adds up fast if you're building a library. That $500 premium course becomes expensive when you want variety. Bundles flip the math in your favor; you'll get three to six courses for $1,000, dropping your per-course cost considerably. The Monterey Peninsula bundle packages Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, and Spanish Bay together, while Pinehurst's bundle includes five even-numbered courses plus the Cradle for the same price. The 17-Mile Drive bundle features courses with the stunning Monterey coast as a breathtaking backdrop to your virtual rounds. The St Andrews Links bundle brings together three legendary courses, the New Course, Castle Course, and Jubilee Course, giving you Scotland's most iconic links-style golf in one package. If you're serious about variety, the top-tier option delivers ten courses for $3,000, making each course just $300.
If you're scratching your head wondering why your home course isn't showing up in FSX Play yet, there's probably a licensing tangle behind the scenes. Let me clarify: Foresight stopped making new FSX 2020 courses after 2022/2023, which means some newer releases only exist in FSX Play. Meanwhile, older courses from the 300+ library can still work in FSX Play, but they need proper activation first.
The real kicker? You can't just flip a switch to access everything. Each course requires manual activation—there's no "Activate All" button to make life easier. Plus, if you're using different usernames on your FSX Live account, courses might not even appear as expected. Course availability depends on whether it was released before production halted!
Yes, you can customize both wind and green speed on your purchased FSX courses! Before starting your round, you'll access the course options and adjust wind levels from None up to Heavy Wind, or set specific speeds between 0-30mph. Green conditions are adjustable right alongside settings like time of day and altitude. Here's the catch: you've got to configure everything before you hit that initial shot, since you can't edit conditions once gameplay starts.
Yes, but only on premium courses. Foresight uses drone teams to map high-end tracks with incredible accuracy, we're talking within 20 centimeters of actual ground elevation! This drone data captures every hump, bump, and terrain change you'd find in real life. Higher-priced courses like Pinehurst get the most detailed treatment, while basic courses skip the drone mapping and use standard modeling instead. You'll definitely notice the realism difference.
You've got three solid practice options beyond full rounds. Initially, there's a driving range mode where you'll work on your long game with launch monitor data tracking every shot. Second, chip and putt practice lets you dial in your short game on dedicated greens with different flag positions. Ultimately, you can enable practice mode during actual rounds, letting you hit shots repeatedly without affecting your score, perfect for honing tricky situations!
You can't remove holes once you're already playing; that setup happens before you start your round. Head to the Advanced Setup tab and click on individual holes to deactivate them from your upcoming session. You can customize your round however you'd like, whether that's removing a few tricky holes or playing just your favorite four. Once you start playing, though, you're locked into whatever holes you selected beforehand.
Yes, FSX Pro delivers solid club fitting data and shot tracking! You'll get detailed club and ball data through the Performance Fitting App when connected to GCQuad or GC2. The system tracks shot numbers, distances, dispersion patterns, and lets you tag shots with specific club set-ups and swing changes. You can view everything in multiple formats, including driving range, ball flight, table, or clubhead views. Plus, you'll export session reports via email and track your improvement online through FSX Live accounts.
FSX courses aren't cheap, but you're getting seriously accurate recreations of real golf courses. Whether they're worth it depends on how often you'll play them. If you're committed to improving your game through regular simulator sessions, they're a solid investment. Casual users might want to stick with the free courses initially, then grab bundles when they go on sale. Either way, you'll know exactly what you're paying for.
