Links is the name of a series of golf simulation computer games, first developed by Access Software, and then later by Microsoft Game Studios after Microsoft acquired Access Software. The line of golf games was a flagship brand for Access, and the series spanned several years: from 1990 to 2003. Several versions of the game and expansion packs (containing new courses and golfers mainly) were created for the Mac and PC over the years. A version for the Xbox named Links 2004 was released in November 2003. In 1991, Links won Computer Gaming World's 1991 Action Game of the Year award.
In 2004, Microsoft sold the Salt Lake City studio to Take-Two Interactive, where it was renamed Indie Built. Indie Built was subsequently shut down in 2006. It is therefore unlikely that Take-Two will produce any additional versions of Links.
Many members of the development team now work for TruGolf, a golf simulator company based out of Centerville, Utah.
Leaderboard Golf (1984) Commodore 64
World Class Leader Board (1987) DOS
Links: The Challenge of Golf (1990) Amiga, DOS
Links: Championship Course: Pinehurst Country Club (1991) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Firestone Country Club (1991) Amiga, DOS
Links: Championship Course: Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort (1991) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Bay Hill Club & Lodge (1991) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Bountiful Golf Course (1991) Amiga, DOS
Links: Championship Course: Barton Creek (1991) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Mauna Kea (1992) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Troon North (1992) DOS
Links 386 Pro (1992) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Banff Springs (1992) DOS
Links: Championship Course: The Belfry (1992) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Innisbrook - Copperhead (1993) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Pebble Beach (1993) DOS
Links Pro (1993) Macintosh
Links: Championship Course: Bighorn (1994) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Castlepines (1994) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Prairie Dunes (1995) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Cog Hill (1995) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Riviera (1995) DOS
Links: Fantasy Course: Devils Island (1995) DOS
Links LS 1997 (1996) DOS
Links Championship Course: Pelican Hill (1996) DOS, Windows
Links LS 1998 (1997) Microsoft Windows 95
Links Championship Course: Valderrama (1997) Windows
Links Championship Course: Oakland Hills (1997) Windows
Links: Championship Course: Valhalla (1997) Windows
Links LS 1999 (1998) Windows
Links Championship Course: Congressional Country Club (1998) Windows
Golf (1994) Windows 3.1
Golf 2.0 (1995) Windows 3.1/95
Golf 3.0 (1996) Windows 95
Golf 1998 Edition (1998) Windows 95
Golf 1999 Edition (1999) Windows 95
Golf 2001 Edition (2000)
Links Extreme (1999) Windows
Links LS 2000 (2000) Windows
Links LS 2000 10 Course Pack (2000) Windows
Links Championship Edition (2001) Windows (Includes Links 2001, Links Expansion Pack 1, a Course Designer, a Course Converter and 4 new courses)
Links 2001 (2001) Windows Microsoft Game Studios
Links Expansion Pack (2001) Windows
Links 2003 (2002) Windows Microsoft Game Studios
Links 2003: Championship Courses (2002) Windows
Links 2004 (2003) Xbox
Links 2003: Championship Edition (2003) Windows (Includes Links 2003 and Links 2003: Championship Courses)
Links Golf Courses Library (several versions)
Note: Microsoft Golf 1.0-3.0 are just Access' Links 386 redesigned to run natively under Microsoft Windows. Golf 1998 Edition and 1999 Editions were produced by Friendly Software. After Access Software was acquired by Microsoft in 1999, Microsoft produced Golf 2001, which was based on Links, and then discontinued the Golf series to continue with the Links series.
Computer Gaming World in 1992 stated "the final word in golf—for now, at least—is Links 386 Pro, praising the game's "stunning" Super VGA graphics and "dream come true" gameplay. The magazine predicted that "it is quite likely that the only thing to ever beat this game will be yet another version of Links. In 1993 the game received a Codie award from the Software Publishing Association for Best Sports Game, and Computer Gaming World named it the Overall Game of the Year, stating that doing so was "pretty obvious" given how long Links had been at the top of the magazine's Top 100 Games list.
