Royal Liverpool on FSX Play: Hoylake's Licensed Version

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Royal Liverpool on FSX Play is the licensed version of the most strategic Open rota course, and it fixes the one problem the GSPro community build has: the routing. But it costs you $50-80 to access it, and the pricing debate is the only thing that keeps this course from being a no-brainer purchase for FSX Play owners who love links golf.

The course at Hoylake is a thinking player’s test. It is flat, exposed, and lined with out-of-bounds stakes on almost every hole. It rewards discipline over power. The FSX Play version, professionally captured by Foresight Sports, is the definitive sim version of this course.

The Hoylake Experience in FSX Play

Royal Liverpool Golf Club ranks 47th on the Golf Digest World Top 100. It hosted the 2006 Open where Tiger Woods won using driver only once in four rounds, and the 2014 Open where Rory McIlroy won wire-to-wire. The course demands strategic restraint, which makes it a fascinating sim experience.

The FSX Play version uses Foresight’s professional LIDAR capture to render the subtle internal contours that define Hoylake. The course looks flat on television. The FSX Play version reveals the ridges, swales, and runoffs that make approach shots so difficult. The 18th green, a punchbowl fronted by a small burn, is one of the best-rendered greens in the FSX Play links collection.

The defining feature of Hoylake is the out-of-bounds stakes that line the front nine. In FSX Play, these are correctly enforced through stroke-and-distance penalties. Hitting a 300-yard drive that leaks 10 yards right is a reload from the tee, not a pitch-out from the rough. This creates genuine tension on every tee shot, and the FSX Play version enforces it correctly.

The key difference between the FSX Play version and the GSPro community build is the routing. The GSPro version uses the traditional routing with the shorter 16th hole. The FSX Play version uses the 2014 championship routing, which includes the 590-yard par-5 16th that was added to create a more dramatic closing stretch. This is the correct routing for anyone who wants to play the course as the pros saw it when McIlroy won the Open.

How to Access Royal Liverpool on FSX Play

Royal Liverpool is available as a paid course through the Foresight Sports online store. It is FSX Play only – it is not available for the older FSX 2020 software. You need a compatible Foresight launch monitor (GC2, GC3, GC3S, GCQuad, QuadMAX, Falcon, GCHawk, or Launch Pro) and a Windows PC.

The course is priced at $50-80, depending on current promotions. It is listed under “Royal Liverpool Golf Club” in the Foresight store. Purchase gives you a license key that you activate in the FSX Play software. The course downloads and appears in your library immediately.

Quality Assessment

The LIDAR data for Royal Liverpool is excellent. The flat, exposed terrain of the Wirral Peninsula is accurately captured, which means the wind settings genuinely affect how the course plays. The 1st hole plays into the wind, the 5th plays across it, and the 18th plays downwind toward the clubhouse. The FSX Play wind physics make these differences meaningful.

The green complexes are the standout feature. Royal Liverpool’s greens are among the most subtle in links golf – they look flat but have significant internal contour that funnels approaches into collection areas. The FSX Play version captures these contours accurately. The 3rd and 12th greens, in particular, are well rendered.

The rough rendering is a mixed bag. The thick, wiry fescue that punishes offline shots at Hoylake is represented through the heavy rough penalty, but the visual texture cannot match the real thing. The course plays firm and fast, which is correct for links golf, and the rollout on fairways matches the real Hoylake conditions.

How FSX Play Royal Liverpool Compares to Other Platforms

Royal Liverpool is available on GSPro (free community build) and FSX Play (paid licensed course). The FSX Play version has the championship routing, better graphics, and professional LIDAR capture. The GSPro version is free and has the traditional routing.

For players who care about playing the correct championship layout, the FSX Play version is the better choice. The 590-yard 16th is a significant hole that changes the closing stretch. For players who want to save money and do not care about the routing, the GSPro version is excellent.

Neither version is available on E6 Connect, Trackman Performance, or WGT. Royal Liverpool is a FSX Play and GSPro exclusive in the sim world.

FAQ

Is Royal Liverpool available on FSX Play?

Yes. Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake is available as a paid, licensed course through the Foresight Sports online store. It requires FSX Play software and a compatible Foresight launch monitor.

How much does Royal Liverpool cost on FSX Play?

The course is priced at $50-80, depending on current promotions. Check the Foresight store for the current price.

How realistic is Royal Liverpool on FSX Play?

The professional LIDAR capture accurately renders the subtle internal contours, green complexes, and out-of-bounds hazards. The championship routing with the 590-yard 16th is included. The wind physics are well implemented for the exposed terrain.

Which version of Royal Liverpool looks the most realistic?

FSX Play has the best visual quality. The professional LIDAR capture and Unity engine graphics produce sharper textures and more accurate elevation data than the GSPro community build.

Can I play Royal Liverpool on other simulator software?

Royal Liverpool is also available on GSPro as a free community build (with the traditional routing). It is not available on E6 Connect, Trackman Performance, or WGT.

What is the best wind setting for Royal Liverpool on FSX Play?

Set wind to High. Hoylake is fully exposed on a flat peninsula, and the course plays dramatically different without wind. The 2006 Open was played in calm conditions, which is why Tiger won without hitting driver. Crank the wind for the authentic challenge.

How do I buy Royal Liverpool on FSX Play?

Visit the Foresight Sports online store, search for “Royal Liverpool Golf Club,” purchase the license key, and activate it in the FSX Play software. The course will appear in your library immediately.

For a complete guide to every course worth playing on this platform, read Best Courses on FSX Play. For the full platform breakdown, see the FSX Play review.