Carpet Golf 3-D requires a Web browser capable of running Java applets. Such browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3 or higher, and Netscape Navigator version 3 or higher. This game will not run on the WebTV browser device, nor on certain versions of the America Online built-in browser.

Click here if you are having problems running the game under Netscape.

How do I play Carpet Golf 3-D through America Online?

Some versions of the America Online built-in browser will not run Carpet Golf 3-D. To play the game, you may need to use an external Web browser. Here's how:

Click on one of the icons below to go to the Web site of Microsoft or Netscape.  From either of these Web sites, you can download a free version of a Java-capable browser. Follow the instructions to install the browser on your computer.

Once you have installed the external browser, use it instead of AOL's built-in browser. Just launch the external browser any time you are connected to AOL.

If you grow tired of the shortcomings in Netscape Java, you can always switch to Internet Explorer.

The game runs very slowly. What can I do to speed it up?

Carpet Golf 3-D runs best on computers with a Pentium 100 MHz processor or faster. The Web browser also has a major impact on the speed of the game. Of the browsers I have tested, I find that Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4 gives the fastest performance with Java applets.

Of course, the game will run faster if you shut down all other CPU-intensive tasks that may be running.

If you have a slower computer or an older browser, you can play a 2-D version of Carpet Golf which is less demanding on your computer.

What is the difference between practice mode and tournament mode?

In tournament mode, you are limited to seven strokes per hole; in practice mode, there is no limit.

In practice mode, you can use cheat keys to repeatedly play holes that are giving you trouble. Cheat keys include:

R -- Replay the hole from the beginning
P -- Go to the previous hole
N -- Go to the next hole

Note: The cheat keys won't work until after you have clicked the mouse for the first time in the applet window. This is Java default behavior.

Can I download this applet?

This applet is hosted by the America Online Web server, which allows you to download the component files. You do this by using a method called "anonymous FTP". To initiate an FTP session, click here.  The AOL Web server will respond with a list of files in the directory. Right-click on the names of the files, and download them into a single directory on your computer's disk drive.

To execute the applet offline, use your browser to open "index.html" in the directory where you downloaded the files. Please note that most releases of Netscape Navigator version 4.x will not allow you to execute Java applets from your local disk drive.

If you put this applet on your Web page, please include a link to my Web site.

How do I aim my shot?

When you click on the image of the golf course, an aiming arrow will appear. The direction of the arrow indicates the direction of the shot, and the size of the arrow indicates the force. Press the SWING button to initiate the shot. The accuracy of your shot depends on when you release the SWING button (see next question).

The ball doesn't go in the direction of the aiming arrow.

Try to release the SWING button when the red Aim indicator is at the center of its range.

How can I keep the ball from rolling back down the slopes?

Try hitting the ball at an angle to the slope; this gives it a longer distance to slow down.

How does the house with the flag on top work?

When shooting the ball through the house, you must time your shot by looking at the rotating flag on the roof. The ball will exit the house according to the direction that the flag is pointing. If the flag is pointing to the right, the ball will exit through the right door; if the flag is pointing back to the door where the ball entered, the ball will come back out through the same door.

In some cases, there are yellow barriers blocking one or more of the doors. If the ball exits through one of these doors, it will bounce off the barrier and go back into the house.  The ball will continue to bounce back and forth until the flag is pointing to a door which is not blocked by a barrier.