St Andrews GSPro vs E6 vs TGC 2019
St Andrews GSPro vs E6 vs TGC 2019 — graphics, accuracy, playability, and cost compared
Which simulator platform delivers the best St Andrews experience? Detailed comparison of GSPro, E6 Connect, and TGC 2019 across graphics, accuracy.
The Short Answer
Which simulator platform delivers the best St Andrews experience? Detailed comparison of GSPro, E6 Connect, and TGC 2019 across graphics, accuracy.
The Old Course — Where It All Began
The Old Course at St Andrews is the birthplace of golf and the single most important course in the game’s history. It’s also one of the hardest courses to simulate accurately because its defining features — the massive double greens, the shared fairways, the pot bunkers, the wind that changes everything — don’t translate neatly to the sim format.
St Andrews is not a course that rewards power. It’s a course that rewards creativity and experience. The Road Hole (17th) is one of the most famous holes in golf — a 495-yard par-4 where the drive must avoid the Old Course Hotel on the right and the out-of-bounds on the left, and the approach plays to a narrow green protected by the infamous Road Hole Bunker. Hell Bunker on the 14th is a 10-foot-deep sand trap that has ended more rounds than any water hazard in golf.
The question for simulator platforms isn’t just “how does it look?” It’s “how does the course play?” Do the double greens putt like the real thing? Does the Road Bunker feel like a death sentence? Does the Valley of Sin on the 18th pull putts toward the hole like it does in real life?
Platform Deep Dive
GSPro ($250/year): Crazy Canuck’s LIDAR build of the Old Course is excellent — 95% of the experience for zero extra cost. The elevation data captures the subtle undulations that define St Andrews. The double greens play correctly, with the Valley of Sin on the 18th having a visible pull effect on putts. The pot bunkers are punishing but fair. GSPro is the smart buy for most players.
E6 Connect ($325-625/year): The professional scan of St Andrews on E6 is the definitive sim version. The green contour accuracy is exceptional — the subtle breaks on the double greens that take years to learn in real life are reproduced faithfully. If you’re studying the Old Course for a real trip or want the most accurate practice tool, E6’s St Andrews is worth the premium.
TGC 2019 ($20-30): TGC’s version of St Andrews gives you the routing and a recognizable visual experience for about the price of a bucket of balls. It won’t help you learn the course, but it’s a fun way to play the Old Course without leaving your house.
Comparison Table
| Category | GSPro | E6 Connect | TGC 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphics | 7/10 | 9/10 | 5/10 |
| Course Accuracy | 8/10 | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Playability | 8/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost (first year) | $250 | $325-625 | $20-30 |
| Overall | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 | 5.5/10 |
If you want the most accurate St Andrews experience: E6 Connect. The professional scanning captures the quirks that make the Old Course special. The double greens, the bunkers, the Road Hole — everything is exactly right. The $25 premium is the price of perfection.
If you want the best value: GSPro. Crazy Canuck’s version is 95% as accurate for zero extra cost. The LIDAR data gives you real elevation. The course plays the way it should. At $250/year with everything included, GSPro is the smart buy.
If you’re on a tight budget: TGC 2019. You can play St Andrews for $20. It won’t look or play like the real thing, but it’s St Andrews and it costs less than a round at your local muni.
My pick: GSPro. The gap between E6 and GSPro on St Andrews is smaller than the gap on Pebble Beach. Crazy Canuck’s version is excellent. The $375/year savings compared to E6 Expanded + premium add-on lets me spend that money on golf balls.
For platform-specific details: Can You Play St Andrews on E6 Connect? and Play St Andrews on GSPro. Read the full platform reviews: GSPro Review and E6 Connect Review.