Pro Tip files
Posted: November 6th, 2023, 6:10 pm
There's probably little to no interest in this topic but I think I'll bring it up anyway. The Pro Tip files are the audio file associated with lots of Microsoft courses. In Links 2003, if there is a tip file a button will light up on the hole preview screen and you can get tips on the hole you are on. I think this is a cool feature not found on other golf games. In the CD version, the six original courses had tip files for them. On the download version, there is only one course which is Skeleton Coast. The other five real courses are sold seperately. I don't know if any of these courses come with tip files. Right after Links 2003 came out, Microsoft came out with Championship Courses which were 20 updated courses. They all had tip files except two which were Kapalua Village and Mesa Roja. This is a must have CD as far as I'm concerned. Links 2001 has some tip files but the program makes you find and put in the corresponding CD to play the tip file. This is awkward to say the least. If you put the tip files in the Courses Directory of Links 2003 though, they will play. They will not play this way in Links2001. There are some tip files from earlier versions of Links, namely LS2000 and LS1999. Earlier versions than these have no tip files as far as I can tell. Microsoft Golf also has no tip files. Tip files in LS2000 and LS1999 are named "tipwaves.wav and Tipwaves.ls". If you simply rename them to the exact course name with a .tip extension they will play. Lastly, there are some user made update courses of Microsoft courses that will also play tip files. For instance, Steven Lucey has a course Mauna Kea. If you copy the original Mauna Kea tip file then name the tip file the same name as Steven Lucey's course and then put it into the Courses folder, it will play. Courses that I have got this to work are:
St. Andrews by Stewart Parker
Mauna Kea by Steven Lucey
Cambrian Ridge by Todd Meyers
Banff Springs (Thompson 18) by Colin Jones
Oakmont by Scott Lewin
Bay Hill by Kline/Braden
Kapalua Plantation by Andrew Jones
Pinehurst #2 by Robert Miller (multiple courses)
Pinehurst #8 2007 by unknown
Kauri Cliffs by Adelade (although this one is a little tricky)
I have about 30 to 40 tip files of Microsoft course that I've identified and that play. I could list them if anyone is interested. I'm not sure if it's proper to link them here for people that do not have them. There are three Microsoft courses that are available on Links Corner as well as on Links Country Club for free download that don't have the tip files with them. I think as least those would be ok but I don't want to presume. They are Four Seasons Resort at Aviara, Frankfurter, and Jubilee Course at St. Andrews. Thanks.
Chuck
St. Andrews by Stewart Parker
Mauna Kea by Steven Lucey
Cambrian Ridge by Todd Meyers
Banff Springs (Thompson 18) by Colin Jones
Oakmont by Scott Lewin
Bay Hill by Kline/Braden
Kapalua Plantation by Andrew Jones
Pinehurst #2 by Robert Miller (multiple courses)
Pinehurst #8 2007 by unknown
Kauri Cliffs by Adelade (although this one is a little tricky)
I have about 30 to 40 tip files of Microsoft course that I've identified and that play. I could list them if anyone is interested. I'm not sure if it's proper to link them here for people that do not have them. There are three Microsoft courses that are available on Links Corner as well as on Links Country Club for free download that don't have the tip files with them. I think as least those would be ok but I don't want to presume. They are Four Seasons Resort at Aviara, Frankfurter, and Jubilee Course at St. Andrews. Thanks.
Chuck