History of Links

In this installment of the History of Links, we're going to focus on the official online tour, the Links Tour. How did it begin? What features does it include now? What does the future look like?

 

With the release of Links LS 1998 the Access Software team added the ability for an outside program to interface with Links LS to record stats information, player names, hole scores, and more. This would allow third party web sites to create their own online tournaments which could directly interface with the game instead of having their players report scores by email or other means.

 

The Links Tour started out as simple idea in the summer of 1997. Back then it was titled Links Tour '98 and was created by Mark McArthur, current Microsoft Links Game Designer, and me, Mark Hulka, Links Country Club Director. We wanted to create an easy-to-use program that was entirely automated to allow for instant round submissions and real-time leaderboards. We began work on the tour in July of 1997 with hopes of a beta test in September.

 

We put the word out in August that a beta test of a new tour was coming in September. We were hoping for at least 50-100 participants but were expecting much fewer than that. Once the test commenced we quickly found out that we had underestimated the number of interested players. Our roster swelled to over 500 members! Players such as Paul Willey, Jerry Garlisch, and Don Ruhland were amongst the members who still play today.

 

After a 3 month beta test, December 15th was the opening day for Links Tour '98. The opening was hugely successful, and soon we had a few thousand members downloading our software and playing Links LS online. We also noticed that the cost of running such a venture was beyond our means. We sadly had to close down our efforts in March of 1998. However, all was not lost.

 

After we closed down our site, Access Software came to us and asked if we were interested in letting Links Tour '98 become the official online tour of Links. We enthusiastically agreed. After a few months of web site redesign and an update to the tour launcher, the LS Tour was born.

 

The LS Tour launched in the summer of 1998 and reigned until Microsoft acquired Access Software in April of 1999. Once Microsoft took over it was obvious that the LS Tour should be moved to Microsoft's MSN Gaming Zone. The Links team began to port the Linux-based LS Tour to the Windows-based Links Tour for the release of Links 2001.

 

The Links Tour launched with the release of Links 2001 in the fall of 2000, and the LS Tour closed its doors and support for the Links LS series in the summer of 2001.

 

The Links Tour offers instant round submissions so you can see a real-time leaderboard recording the action, with detailed statistics and multiple tournament formats. The Links Tour is open to everyone of any skill level and includes novice tournaments for those new to online play. The Links Tour is also home to the VGA Tour.

 

The VGA Tour is a sub-set of Links Tour tournaments in which the winners are awarded cash prizes. Therefore, if you can compete on the Links Tour, you are ready to compete in the VGA events for a chance to win big money!

 

You'll also find excellent support on the Links Tour. Administrator David Cass does his best to make sure all members are treated fairly and get the help they deserve. You'll find him on the Links Tour forums if you have a question.

 

Future enhancements are already underway including handicap format changes, improved novice tournaments, an updated ranking system, expanded flights, and more! Even more ideas are in the works for the next generation of Links Tour, but you'll have to wait to hear more about that. With Links 2003 just announced, more History of Links is in the making, so stay tuned!

 

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