data/claims/golf-history.yamlGolf (history and reception)
Game: Golf.
The Famicom booklet (HVC-GF) and the title screen it pictures are copyright 1984 and name only Nintendo; the booklet prints no release date. The North American booklet (NES-GF-USA) is copyright 1985. golf-history/copyright
back cover (PDF p. 12) — read on the page image; the text layer has "⑥6Niniendo1984"© Nintendo 1984Golf Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-GF) · printed p. 3 (PDF p. 5), title-screen picture — read on the page image, in the booklet's picture of the title screen©1984 NINTENDO CO.,LTD.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 3)© 1985 NintendoChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.A copyright year is not a release date. Neither booklet nor the title screen credits a person or a company other than Nintendo.
Cited by: Golf
Nintendo of America's list of NES games dates the North American release of Golf to October 1985. golf-history/release-na
PDF p. 6 — the row reads Nintendo, October 1985; the list gives a month, not a dayGolfChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Golf
Computer Entertainer's July 1985 issue reported that Nintendo showed off its Video Entertainment System in a booth at the Consumer Electronics Show, with Golf among the sports games, and that the system was set for release in September in the metropolitan New York area. golf-history/ces-1985
C.E.S. report (p. 10) — the scout read the sentence on the page image as "Sports gamers will find lots to choose from: GOLF, SOCCER, TENNIS, BASEBALL, NINTENDO 500, and MACH RIDER."; the two-column OCR runs it into the next columnGOLF, SOCCER, TENNIS,Computer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 4 (July 1985) · C.E.S. report (p. 10)release in September in the metropolitan New York areaComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 4 (July 1985) · C.E.S. report (p. 10) — the next line reads "C.E.S. booth" on the page image, where the OCR has "CS. booth"showed off its Video Entertainment System in aRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted "showed off its Video Entertainment System in a"; dropped "June" and the unquoted "limited".Computer Entertainer's February 1986 issue lists Golf among the 15 games sold with the NES in the markets where it was then available, after its debut in the New York City area, in the Sports Series at $30. golf-history/launch-lineup
Nintendo Update (p. 13)After its very successful debut in the New York City area, theComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 11 (February 1986) · Nintendo Update (p. 13)is accompanied by 15 games in the markets where it isComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 11 (February 1986) · Nintendo Update (p. 13)BASEBALL, GOLF, SOCCER, TENNIS, and 10 YARD FIGHT (Sports Series at $30)Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The 15 games are those sold where the NES was then available, not in its first markets.The same issue's Availability Update (p. 14) lists Nintendo's first-quarter games; its text layer has no Golf line, and the page image hasn't been checked.
Cited by: Golf
Golf was also issued on the Famicom Disk System, with a booklet of its own (FMC-GLF) that prints the 1984 copyright and no release date. golf-history/fds
cover (PDF p. 1) — read on the page image (checked by the lead); the text layer has "(FMC-GLF)" with the title words spaced apartファミリーコンピュータ ディスク システム ゴルフ 取扱説明書 FMC-GLFOur translationFamily Computer Disk System, Golf, instruction booklet, FMC-GLFGolf Famicom Disk System instruction booklet (Japan, FMC-GLF) · back cover (PDF p. 12) — read on the page image© 1984 NintendoRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The Disk System cover is PDF p. 1, read on the page image.Cited by: Golf
Akagi Masumi's list of arcade games dates Nintendo's Vs. System Golf in Japan to August 1984, the same month as its Pinball. golf-history/arcade-japan
p. 57 (PDF p. 59), 国内編 (Japan), Nintendo — the list gives year and month only; the pinned OCR text has no page breaks, so the row is at line 12160 and the page is the scout's reading of the scan84/08 ゴルフ (VS)Our translation84/08 Golf (VS)アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内・海外編 (1971-2005) · p. 57 (PDF p. 59), 国内編 (Japan), Nintendo — the OCR reads ピンポール for ピンボール84/08 ピンポール (VS)Our translation84/08 Pinball (VS)アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内・海外編 (1971-2005) · p. 57 (PDF p. 59), section heading — read on the page image by the lead; the section runs from the left column's foot into the right column, where the Vs. rows stand; the OCR garbles the heading任天堂（任天堂レジャーシステム）Our translationNintendo (Nintendo Leisure System)Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted the list's Nintendo section heading, read on the page image.Cited by: Golf
Nintendo's Japanese arcade flyer sells Golf and Pinball as a new release in an upright "M.D. System" (multi-display system) cabinet, "two roles in one cabinet". The golf screen it shows is titled "Stroke & Match Golf" and is copyright 1984. golf-history/arcade-jp-flyer
p. 1, headline — read on the page image; the text layer has "■SYSTEM™ GHT TYPE"M.D.SYSTEM UPRIGHT TYPEGolf / Pinball arcade flyer (Japan, Nintendo) · p. 1 — read on the page image新発売。マルチ・ディスプレイシステム アップライト・タイプOur translationNew release. Multi-display system, upright typeGolf / Pinball arcade flyer (Japan, Nintendo) · p. 1 — read on the page image; the text layer reads the 1 as 71台で2役。ディスプレイ効果抜群。Our translationTwo roles in one cabinet. A superb display effect.Golf / Pinball arcade flyer (Japan, Nintendo) · p. 1, screen picture — read on the page imageSTROKE & MATCH GOLFGolf / Pinball arcade flyer (Japan, Nintendo) · p. 1, screen picture — read on the page image©1984 NINTENDO CO.,LTD.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Golf
Nintendo of America's flyer announces Vs. Golf and Vs. Pinball as "a 2-in-1 VS PAK release" that puts two games in one cabinet. golf-history/vs-pak
p. 1, text block — read on the page image; the text layer has only "your VS.TJYSTEM with VS. GOLF/VS. PINBALL or"Announcing VS. GOLF/VS. PINBALL -- a 2-in-1 VS PAK release that combines two exciting new games in one cabinet.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The flyer prints no date.
Cited by: Golf
Canadian Coin Box, an arcade trade magazine, wrote in July 1985 that Vs. Golf and Vs. Pinball were introduced at the AMOA show of 1984, "two completely separate games in one cabinet", and listed Vs. Golf as playable on both the Vs. Dualsystem and the Unisystem. A Vancouver distributor's advertisement in the same issue named Golf first among the Unisystem's top earners. golf-history/arcade-na
Nintendo Vs. System feature, scan p. 10 — the pinned OCR text has no page breaks (this line is at lines 865-866, the table at 954, the ad at 6583); scan pp. 10 and 65 of Internet Archive item canadian-coin-box-magazine-july-1985 are the scout's readingGolf and VS. Pinball at AMOA ‘84Canadian Coin Box Magazine, July 1985 · Nintendo Vs. System feature, scan p. 10added a new twist — two completely separate games in one cabinet.Canadian Coin Box Magazine, July 1985 · Nintendo Vs. System feature, table — the table's columns are GAMES, DUALSYSTEM, UNISYSTEM, COMMENTSVS. Golf Yes YesCanadian Coin Box Magazine, July 1985 · scan p. 65, advertisement — an advertisement by Pacific Vend Distributors of VancouverUnisystem top earners: Golf, Excitebike, IceChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The same table lists a separate Vs. Ladies Golf ("VS. Ladies Goll Yes Yes" in the OCR).
Cited by: Golf
Golf has three games, 1-player stroke play, 2-player stroke play, and 2-player match play, on one 18-hole course of 9 holes out and 9 in; the player with the fewest strokes wins. The Famicom booklet gives the same three and the same course. golf-history/modes
printed p. 2 (PDF p. 3), Object of the GameSelect 1 or 2 player stroke play or 2 player match playGolf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 5), How to Play1-PLAYER STROKE GAME, 2-PLAYER STROKE GAME or 2-PLAYER MATCH GAME.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 5), How to PlayA match is played for 9 holes OUT and 9 holes IN for a total of 18 holes in all. The player with fewest strokes wins.Golf Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-GF) · printed p. 3 (PDF p. 5) — read on the page image, where the menu reads 1 PLAYER STROKE GAME, 2 PLAYER STROKE GAME and 2 PLAYER MATCH GAME試合は、OUT9ホール・IN9ホールの合計18ホールで競い、打数の少ない方が勝ちです。Our translationA match is played over 9 holes OUT and 9 holes IN, 18 in all; the one with fewer strokes wins.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Golf
A shot takes three presses of A: the first starts the backswing, the second stops it and starts the downswing, which sets the distance, and the third sets the point of impact, which sets the curve. Impact on the swing meter's white line hits the ball straight, left of it slices, and right of it hooks. With the 1 wood, a downswing started at the meter's extreme left and an impact on the white line with "just the right timing" hits a super shot of 306 yards. B is not used. golf-history/swing
printed p. 5 (PDF p. 6)The A button is pressed 3 times to make the player shoot.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 7)stop the backswing and start the downswing. This determines the flying distance .Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 7)position . This will determine how the ball curves during flight.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 7)If you impact the ball when the swing meter is on the white line, a straight shot will be hit. If it is to the left of the line, the ball will slice. If it is to the right, the ball will hook.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 7)If you use the # 1 wood (1W), and start the downswing with the swing meter on the extreme left, and impact the ball with the swing meter on the white line with just the right tim ing, a super shot (306 yd) can be hit.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 3 (PDF p. 4), controls — under the B buttonNot used.Golf Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-GF) · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6) — read on the page imageⒶボタンを3回押して、画面のプレイヤーを操作し、ショットをします。Our translationPress the A button three times to control the player on the screen and take the shot.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Golf
Up and down on the control pad select the club and left and right turn the direction the player faces. A WIND display gives one of 8 directions and a speed from 0 to 15 MPH. golf-history/stance-and-wind
printed p. 5 (PDF p. 6)Select a club by pressing the top or bottom of theGolf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 7), StanceThe direction the player faces can be changed by using the right and left sidesGolf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 7), Wind direction and velocityThere is a WIND display in the message area that indicates one of 8 wind directions (with an arrow) and a wind velocity of between 0 and 15 MPH.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Golf
A putt takes two presses of A, and where the downswing starts sets how far the ball rolls. The player aims at a target mark with the control pad, and a mark on the green shows the grain of the turf, which changes the roll. golf-history/putting
printed p. 7 (PDF p. 8), PuttingThe A button is pressed twice to putt.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 7 (PDF p. 8), Puttingdownswing determines the rolling distance.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 7 (PDF p. 8), PuttingBefore putting, use theOcontrol pad to aim the target mark in the desired direction.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 9)mark on the green indicates the grain of the turf. The roll of the putt will change according to the conditions of the turf .Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Golf
Both booklets warn that some rules differ from real golf. A ball out of bounds costs 2 strokes and is played again from where it lay; the woods are usually out of bounds, as are the ponds on the 5th, 8th and 18th holes and any ball that leaves the screen. A ball in the ocean, a pond or a river costs 1 stroke and is played from a set place. A bunker shot flies half as far as a fairway shot. golf-history/rules
printed p. 8 (PDF p. 9), RulesNote that some rules d iffer from real golf rules .Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 9), Rules — the OCR reads OB as 08you are penalized 2 strokes and the ball is played from where it was lying before you shot it 08.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 9), RulesWhen a ball goes into the woods, it is usually considered 08. (There are exceptions to this.)Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 9), RulesPonds on the 5th, 8th, and 18th holes are 08.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 9), RulesIf the ball goes off the screen, it is considered 08 - no matter what hole it is.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 9), RulesThe ocean, ponds, rivers, etc., are considered water hazards. If a ball lands in one of these, you are penalized 1 stroke and the ball is played from a set locat ion.Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 9), RulesThe flying distance of a bunker shot is calculated as half that of a fairway shot.Golf Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-GF) · printed p. 7 (PDF p. 9), ルール — read on the page image5・8・18ホールの池はOB区域となります。Our translationThe ponds on holes 5, 8 and 18 are OB areas.Golf Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-GF) · printed p. 7 (PDF p. 9), ルール — read on the page imageバンカー・ショットの飛距離は、フェアウェイ・ショットの飛距離の半分となります。Our translationA bunker shot's distance is half a fairway shot's.Golf Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-GF) · printed p. 7 (PDF p. 9), ルール — read on the page image正式ルールとは多少異なる場合がありますので御了承ください。Our translationPlease note that the rules may differ somewhat from the official rules.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Golf
The booklet's course table gives the 18 holes 6,889 yards in all, par 72: 3,426 yards out and 3,463 in, each par 36. golf-history/course
printed p. 9 (PDF p. 10), course table — the OUT total; the OCR gives the table's cells one per line, with par 36 on the next3426Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 10), course table — the IN total and par3463 36Golf NES instruction booklet (US, NES-GF-USA) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 10), course table — the TOTAL row6889 72Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The out and in totals add up to the total, yards and par alike.
Cited by: Golf
Computer Entertainer's May 1986 issue rated Golf three and a half of four for graphics and three and a half for game play, and recommended it at a list price of $29.95. The reviewers "enjoyed it a great deal". They liked changing the golfer's stance; the one drawback they named was that the screen gives the hole's length but not the yards left to the pin. They wrote that the NES was the first dedicated system since Intellivision, apart from "a very early version on the 2600", to have a golf game. golf-history/ce-review
Value
{
"review": "Computer Entertainer",
"of": 4,
"scores": {
"graphics": 3.5,
"game play": 3.5
}
}p. 12, Golf — the review's header; the scout read the rating on the page image as ♦♦♦½ / ♦♦♦½ (the text layer garbles the symbols) The lead checked the rating ♦♦♦½ / ♦♦♦½ on the page image (item computer-entertainer-5-2, image n11).has become a veryComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1986) · p. 2, The Rating System — the key's first line, "4 SYMBOLS = EXCELLENT ... 3 SYMBOLS = GOOD", is garbled in the text layer=quality of graphics; 2nd set=quality of game playComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1986) · p. 12, Golfyour choices and we really liked being able to change the stanceComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1986) · p. 12, Golfversion is the fact that the screen only tells you the number of yards the hole length is, not the number of yards left to get to the pinComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1986) · p. 12, Golflovers and this is the first dedicated system since Intellivision (and a very early version on the 2600) to feature this particular sport.Computer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1986) · p. 12, GolfWe enjoyed it a great deal and think you will too.Computer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1986) · p. 12, Golf — the scan trims the column's left edgeecommended (MSR $29.95)Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The rating ♦♦♦½ / ♦♦♦½ checked on the page image, and the note says so.The review prints no byline.
Cited by: Golf
Nintendo of America's Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) describes Golf as an 18-hole championship course on which the player picks the club, controls the swing and selects the angle of impact, pushing the button three times for a shot with the irons and woods, and accounts for wind speed and direction. golf-history/players-guide
printed p. 131, Sink That Winning PuttGAME PLAY: This game lets you pick your club, control your swing— even select the angle of impact. You push the button three times to hit with the irons and woods.The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · printed p. 131, Sink That Winning PuttYou also have to account for wind speed and direction.The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · printed p. 131, Sink That Winning PuttThis 18-hole champion-The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · index — the entry on p. 131 is headed "Sink That Winning Putt" and doesn't name the game itselfGolf 131Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted the index line "Golf 131", since the entry itself doesn't name the game.