Professional Arcade Golf Gaming Revealed

Thanks to Sunspot/Chicago Tribune for their article discussing the lives of the top Golden Tee Golf arcade game players, and charting the enduring popularity of the trackball-based golf title, which "players [have] spent $400 million playing" over the past few years. Graig Kinzler, the only current pro Golden Tee Golf player, "says he made about $70,000 last year playing Golden Tee, more than $47,000 in officially sanctioned online tournaments and the rest in live tournaments", and even "works with a sports psychologist to hone his Golden Tee game." The sport is also more expensive than might be reckoned for the hardcore devotee: "20 games a week at $3-$4 per game... is customary - so much so that most of the top players have their own [cabinets] at home."

Comments

This may be a little off topic ....

[VermifugeRT]

Every bar I have been to has a copy of golden Tee Golf or Area 51. Sometimes they have both! Has any one else noticed this? It may very well be just an West Coast thing or even just a San Francisco bay area thing.

Has this game received recognition before?

[swat_r2]

Given the apparent immense popularity of this game, why hasn't it received more publicity? It's amazing that with all the time and effort I've put into years of following the gaming industry that I haven't heard more of this phenomenon (other than casually noticing them as a regular staple in the bars)

Is this the "Myst" of Golf Games? :)

I hear he's currently ranked first in the world

[Decaffeinated Jedi]

Graig Kinzler, the only current pro Golden Tee Golf player, "says he made about $70,000 last year playing Golden Tee..."

If he's the only pro Golden Tee Golf player, who does he play against to win that money? Something tells me that one-man Golden Tee exhibitions don't draw a large crowd. ;)