Golf

Golfing in the Grand Theft Auto series is primarily represented in the form of various golf courses, which first appeared in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, as well as golfing tools and attire. However, only Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and The Ballad of Gay Tony episodic game for Grand Theft Auto IV features golfing as an actual minigame.

Golf in general
The first depictions of golf in the GTA series appears in the form of golf courses in part of a city. They include:


 * Leaf Links in Vice City (GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories);
 * The Avispa Country Club in San Fierro and Yellow Bell Golf Course in Las Venturas (GTA San Andreas); and
 * The Golden Pier Swingers Golf Club in Liberty City (GTA IV and episodic packs, and GTA Chinatown Wars).

With the exception of the Golden Pier Swingers Golf Course (which is merely a driving range), these golf courses tend be depicted with open lawn areas, sand traps, water hazards, putting greens (complete with flag poles pinpointing golf holes) and the country club building itself; (non-interactive) tennis courts are also present within the Leaf Links and Avispa Country Club. It is also common for the player to spot golfer pedestrians and Caddy golf carts in and around the courses.

Golf as a minigame
Golfing as an in-game activity is not available in GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas. In GTA Vice City Stories and The Ballad of Gay Tony, however, the player is given the opportunity to tee off at driving ranges in Leaf Links or the Swingers Golf Course.

The game mechanics of the minigame in both games is similar in that the player is required to time their swings as accurately as possible by plotting a oscillating cursor on a bar as close as possible to a designated point, thereby resulting in a more accurate shot. In the Ballad of Gay Tony, the shooting mechanics is slightly improved to increase the challenge of gameplay; the further the target which the ball must go, the higher the point which the cursor must be plotted at is.

In GTA Vice City Stories, golfing is only possible during "Home's on the Range". Golfing in The Ballad of Gay Tony is available after completing "Practice Swing", after which it can be activated by accessing the front entrance of the Golden Pier's Swingers Golf Course; players can choose to play with an anonymous competitor, or play with any of Luis Lopez's friends.