What The Golf, between this and bullshots, someone might think I’m going for the world record on articles with titles that parents do a double-take after reading. What The Golf? is a golf game with very little actual golf in it. With a title like that, I’m sure you aren’t surprised. Instead, it is Barbie, “Life is plastic, it’s fantastic.” It’s rather comedic golf, though not crazy golf because that would be too sedate for What The Golf.

The thing about comedy and games is how they are done. You have three options when it comes to comedy in games: Slapstick, internet memes, or actual comedy that is thought-provoking. Skate 3, Untitled Goose Game, and Portal, are examples of each. One is hilarious a couple of times, the other is a slight smirk if you’re in on the joke, and the other makes you wonder. A golf game isn’t going to make you think too much, instead, it does what you think it will: Produce a Flappy Bird reference and make you putt something in a hole that wouldn’t go in the hole.

It might sound like I’m actively digging its grave ahead of the Switch release, however, I’m not. I actually quite like it. The problem I have is the comedy aspect. You see, with comedy you have to laugh to find it funny; Given I’m as dead on the inside as the hopes of a theatrical release of a Casper movie this year, I don’t do that often. Nonetheless, I get funny; I understand that sometimes things are funny and I’ll just not laugh. That spot right there is where What The Golf? sits, it is humorous but never makes you break out laughing or even smirk. So why do I like it?

Well, part of it would be my enjoyment of golf games themselves. Before Elin Nordegren shouted: “What the Golf?” I would on occasion play the last game before Tiger Woods’ career went south. I’m a boring man, I know. That notwithstanding, What The Golf? goes through an arcade golf version of a majority of golf games before it, from 2D flash games, 3D cartoon golf, Flappy Bird-clone, golfing through menus, and everything you can think of. What I think I like the most is its creative way of sticking to the theme of the game: Golf.

Everything is done through an almost Mario-esque interconnected hub world with holes to putt you into selected levels. Within those holes you’ve putted into, you have three challenges: The basic challenge that should be simple, a more difficult par shot, and a near-impossible challenge that makes you yell “What The Golf?” Sometimes it is less the challenge that makes you wonder what you are playing, and more the mad nonsense you’re golfing with or the countless puns about putting. “Car-pe diem” is just one of the many that just make you groan in embarrassment at the fact that you enjoyed that for a whole femtosecond.

None of which answers the question, is it any good? As a serious game to play golf in, no. Don’t be stupid, a game with that title and dreadful puns isn’t going to be your replacement for either walking for miles or saying you do with those friends who actually go out and play golf. As a game to break out on the couch with family or pass around when sitting at the dining table (and not having dinner), it is silly and fun. So with the Switch release next week, What The Golf? will be in the perfect place to pick up and play. However, who is it perfect for?

What The Golf? is for someone who has a complete insane bit in their head that yells that they must complete every challenge or someone is going to be eating a controller. This is where I think a Switch port will cost you more than you think, as you throw it like a boomerang across the room in anger. This is the thing, as my editors know well, just doing something for the comedy of it isn’t the best option. Yet that’s what a majority of What The Golf? is all about, references, the golf is a lie, and Super Putt. When you are trying for the 12th time to get the bowling ball around the sun, hit the mirror, blind the old man next door so he drops his town, and bang it for his gentleman’s vegetable to get it in the hole in one swoop, you might be a bit enraged.

As a pick-up-and-play game or with friends, I understand the appeal of What The Golf. It’s when you’re in your office late at night on your own writing a review and playing it, that you realize, it is not a very complex and groundbreaking game. It takes the fundamental language of gaming in a “casual” form and injects references the internet will understand, which is now a license to print money since Untitled Goose Game released. It is not something you terribly need, but sure does seem like something handy to have around when your friends are allowed to come over once lockdown is completely lifted for the 11th time.

A PC review copy of What The Golf? was provided by Triband for this review.

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What The Golf?

$19.99

7

Score

7.0/10

Pros

• Fun gameplay.
• Fine references common to the internet sphere.
• Many "What The Golf?!" moments.

Cons

• Complete lack of use in the D-pad, even in menues.