When Golden Tee players step up to the trackball, they are not only greeted by colorful landscapes and challenging fairways, but they are also welcomed by a soundtrack composed to enhance the experience.

Behind that music is Nick Zwirlein, a composer who has spent years blending tradition, experimentation, and fun into a catalog of songs that now define the game’s sounds.

Nick’s journey with music started before he ever thought about Golden Tee and golf courses. Growing up, he was surrounded by sounds that would shape his creative path. His parents played a mix of classical and popular music around the house, while television shows and an older sister’s record collection opened his ears to different genres. By elementary school, he had picked up the cello, the instrument that set him on a professional trajectory. That choice led him into lessons, orchestras, and eventually formal study, where he sharpened his ear for both performance and composition.

Although he saw himself performing full time, Nick’s path shifted. Wrist issues and the demands nudged him toward recording and writing instead. Those changes expanded his horizons, allowing him to explore a wide range of music. From Bach to Nirvana, from Green Day to Miles Davis, he absorbed it all in. Film scores also became a huge influence, giving him a taste for dramatic arrangements that later found their way into Golden Tee’s more cinematic tracks.

When it comes to creating new music for Golden Tee, Nick starts by asking a simple but important question: what should this course feel like? The process begins with screenshots of the course and discussions with the infamous designer, Jim Z. He then imagines how the environment could be translated into sound. A desert course might call for tribal percussion with cinematic flair. A mountain course could lean on folk instruments layered with modern production. A city course might get a jazz groove that feels at home in a cocktail lounge.

But the music cannot just be accurate to a setting. Golden Tee is often played in busy bars, so songs need to be catchy, accessible, and able to cut through background noise without overwhelming it. Nick has learned to strike a balance between authenticity and fun. He sometimes draws from mainstream references that players will instantly recognize, rather than creating a song that feels a bit too textbook.

The results speak for themselves. On Norddalen, Nick incorporated a Hardanger fiddle to give the Nordic setting an authentic Scandinavian flavor. For Tacoma Mesa, he used Native American inspired rhythms but mixed them with a “dub orchestral” style to create something familiar yet fresh. Hollywood Hills, one of the most challenging projects, required a jazz arrangement so intricate that he turned to live musicians for help, including his wife who is a music teacher. The payoff was a soundtrack that felt right at home in the glamorous Hollywood Hills setting. Nick has even hidden personal touches in the music. One Golden Tee track features a melody inspired by a tune his daughter once sang, a subtle Easter egg for his family but also a memorable hook for players. These touches reflect his philosophy of writing music that feels alive and connected rather than just functional.

His influences run wide. Rock bands like Bon Jovi, Nirvana, and Green Day shaped his teenage years. Classical giants like Yo-Yo Ma and composers of film soundtracks gave him a sense of drama and scope. Miles Davis opened his ears to improvisation and color. Teaching and working with students kept him curious and willing to try new things. All of these threads weave together in his Golden Tee catalog, where a jazz lick might sit next to a folk fiddle or an electronic beat.

What stands out most about Nick’s work is the way it combines professionalism with personality. His catalog is modern, diverse, and refined, yet it also includes playful nods and heartfelt details. Just as Golden Tee itself balances skill with entertainment, Nick’s music walks that same line.

For many players, the music of Golden Tee may be a subconscious part of the experience, humming in the background as they line up a shot. But for Nick, every note is intentional. He has built a soundtrack that not only supports the game but elevates it, making every course feel like its own world. As Golden Tee continues to evolve, his music will remain part of its heartbeat, playing on loop in bars and homes, waiting for the next player to hit the trackball and step into the soundscape he has created.