I got this on release. It's as hard/easy as you want it to be.
I was consistently breaking 60 on the previous edition, making par felt like making a bogey.
First round on the 2nd hardest difficulty level here ? An 85. Best score so far is -3.
If you had all the aids off and set it to the hardest swing difficulty, it would take you months of practice to consistently break par imo.
The graphics and career mode have also improved.