I had the same problem with the sim golf demo as well. Really weird.
I don't have an ad stopper. I do use ad ware. But that doesn't block ads. It blocks info sent over the internet from my computer. I like to be anonymous.
Anyways I have downloaded the patch from file planet. That's a good site, but you have to wait in line.
And so far I don't like the patch

. Boy am i having money problem. But of course I started in the desert. I usually don't restart. I always see if I can play out of a bad starting position. I don't think I can