Like most journalists, I can’t afford membership in a country club. The only one I’ve ever been invited to is Ray’s Hilton Country Club, a sarcastically named dive bar in my hometown of Newport News, Va. Just about everything I know about country club life comes from viewings of “Caddyshack.”

I may never get a chance to enjoy the lush life, but I can simulate the experience at home. I may never be any good at tennis or golf, but in virtual reality I can throw down with Roger Federer or Annika Sorenstam. And I never have to stand around waiting for another foursome to play through.

• “Virtua Tennis 3” (Sega, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $49.99): Tennis may be the simplest sport out there, which is why it’s been a staple of video games ever since “Pong.” That simplicity helps make “Virtua Tennis” one of the most accessible games on the market, one that players of just about any skill level can enjoy.

“VT3” has a decent selection of pro players, from superstars like Venus Williams to relative unknowns like Gael Monfils, but the real fun comes from creating your own character. A robust career mode lets you slowly build the skills of your low-ranked doppelganger.

GRADE: 3 Stars (out of 4)

• “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07” (EA Sports, for the Wii, $49.99): Nintendo’s Wii console seems tailor-mode for golf games; it’s easy to imagine that its motion-sensing remote is a driver or a putter. “Tiger Woods” is the third golf title we’ve seen for the system, and it’s easily the most realistic.

Of course, the Wii controls take some getting used to if you’ve been playing “Tiger” on another console. To take a shot, you point the remote down and hold the B button; then you swing it back and forward. The height of your backswing and the speed of your follow-through determine the power of your shot, and if you don’t swing in a straight line your ball is likely to end up in the rough. It may frustrate duffers who are used to more precise joystick controls, but that frustration when a shot goes awry just adds to the realism.

As always, EA offers a ton of game modes, an impressive roster of pro golfers and the ability to build your own character from scratch.

GRADE: 3 Stars

• “ProStroke Golf: World Tour 2007” (Oxygen, for the PlayStation Portable, $29.99): Golf can be a nice change of pace from the frenzied action of most video games, but even the most laid-back player will lose patience with the excruciating slowness of “ProStroke Golf.” Every shot is framed by pointless animation of golfers walking, lining up shots or staring down the fairway.

GRADE: 1½ Stars