Coins unlock slowly in the context of item price, which is where EA aims to lure players toward its downloadable add-on content. The publisher learned from Tiger Woods 12 that locking courses behind a pay-to-play gate was a mistake, so Tiger 13 tries to meet the audience in the middle. Coins earn players access to new courses, so playing Tiger Woods 13 as normal rewards players with extra content without having to spend real-world money. Even better, completing challenges unlocks courses permanently.
This is the pitch, anyway. The reality is that EA's new system is a disgusting, well-disguised sham that makes past DLC traps look like charity.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 restricts access to 20 of its 36 courses. Players can rent one round on a locked course for 6000 Coins, the earnings of about 10 rounds at 18 holes, each of which takes about 20 minutes. For those who can't spend the inordinate amount of time required to borrow one round of golf, EA presents the option to pay for Coins. Rather than selling the audience iconic places like Banff Springs, it's made it more expensive than ever – and it's temporary.
Completing "Gold Mastery" tasks is the only way to open a course forever. The challenges are not only extremely difficult and time consuming -- sinking five Eagles, hitting the green in regulation 80 times, etc. -- but must be completed on each course players hope to own. Tiger 13 golfers need to pay dozens if their hours and/or dollars to spend additional time to possibly access a course indefinitely.
EA is well within its right to restrict access to as much optional content as it pleases, but Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 features an exploitative add-on system which displays complete contempt for its audience.
Online Country Clubs are the best way to soften the blow of the DLC structure and make the most of the Tiger 13 economy. The more people who join a Club, the more they contribute to its rank and status, and the more days in a row its members play, the more Coins everyone makes. This cyclical system is absolutely for the Tiger faithful, and hardcore players should can maximize their gain.