Although improved since Golf, NES Open Tournament Golf is still rough around the edges. The biggest gameplay is that when the player takes a shot it covers the whole of the screen.
Courses
The courses available between the US version of the game and the Japanese version differing greatly. In the US release, titles NES OPEN Tournament Golf, players had a choice of only three courses: US Course, Japan Course, and the UK Course. In the Mario Open Golf, players had a choice of five courses: Japan Course, the Australia Course, the France Course, the Hawaii Course, and the UK Course.
Game Modes
Stroke Play
In Stroke Mode, players scores are based on the amount of shots they take to finish the holes. In NES Open Tournament Gold, players were required to progress in rank. Players start off as a beginner and increase in rank to amateur, semi-professional, and professional. In Mario Open Golf, the progression unlocks more courses.
Match Play
In Match Play, the winner of the match is determined by whoever wins the most holes and gets the lowest score at the end of 18 holes. In single player mode, players compete against AI controlled challenges:
| NES OPEN Tournament Golf | Mario Open Golf |
| Luigi | Luigi |
| Steve - Beginner | Tony |
| Mark - Amateur | Billy |
| Tony - Semi-Professional | |
| Billy - Professional |
Tournament
In Tournament mode, players have the option of playing Stroke Play or Match Play to earn prize money. Prize money can be viewed by selecting the Prize Money option in the Clubhouse, with a record of the players total earnings being saved.
Clubhouse
The clubhouse is where players can spend the money earned in Tournament mode to collect items and view different game data.
- Register Name
- Choose Clubs
- Options
- Player Stats
- Prize Money
- Tournament Roster
- Training
- Hall of Fame Holes
- Clear Saved Data
