Hot Shots Golf 5 gets its online... on

For those of you who don't play golf, it's a game with a ball and a stick. Many games begin that way, but their evolution takes them on very different paths. Isn't it amazing how a ball and a stick, along with a unique set of rules, can become a multitude of recreational activities? Bonus points for naming as many as you can! These bonus points can be traded in for props. Not stage props, but a tip of the hat props.

If you've followed our coverage of Hot Shots Golf 5 and downloaded the demo off of the Japanese PS-Store, you know it's a pretty darn fun title. Now we can tell you about the online basics of the game, thanks to Famitsu magazine. Online lobbies will support 50 players and you can customize your player with a multitude of clothes, gear, etc. Playing a round with friends is fun and all, but hopefully it's not with all 50 people -- a 9-hole course could take hours!

There are slated to be about 14 playable characters in the game, including Japanese golfer Shigeki Maruyama. We might see some changes upon the stateside release, which has yet to be announced. Eventually, though...