Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Sega Mega Drive
    NTSC-U
  • Sega Mega Drive
    NTSC-J
  • Amiga
  • Atari ST

ArnoldPalmerTournamentGolf MDTitleScreen.png

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TournamentGolf Amiga Title.png

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Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Amiga, Atari ST
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega
Amiga
Atari ST
Elite Systems
Developer:
Sound driver: early SMPS Z80 (banked)
Genre: Sports[1][2] (golf)

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,0006,000 G-4014
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.9959.99[4] 1203
Sega Mega Drive
US
(Classic)
$29.9529.95[5] 1203C
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1203
Sega Mega Drive
PT
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£34.9934.99[7][8] 1203
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
CA
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Arcade (Mega-Tech System)
UK
£? ?

























Amiga
UK
Atari ST
UK
£19.9919.99[9]

Ozaki Naomichi no Super Masters (尾崎直道のスーパーマスターズ), known outside of Japan as Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf (or simply Arnold Palmer Golf in manuals), and on home computers as the even more simple Tournament Golf, is a Sega Mega Drive golf game developed by Sega R&D 6 and published by Sega. Sponsored by professional golfer Naomichi Ozaki in Japan, and Arnold Palmer elsewhere, the game was first released in Japan in September 1989, later localized and brought to the United States the next month, and eventually saw a European release in January 1991.

In 1990, the game was ported to Amiga and Atari ST personal computers, courtesy of developer Motivetime and publisher Elite Systems, and with Palmer's celebrity endorsement notably removed.

A special version of the game designed for use with the Sega Mega Play arcade system was also produced.

Gameplay

Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf, Driving.png

Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf, Putting.png

Driving and putting

Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf, Club Select.png

Club selection

The game is a golf game using a pseudo-3D perspective where the goal is to complete each hole in the fewest strokes. It features two play modes, tournament and practice.

Tournament mode consists of 12 rounds, each with 18 holes of golf. There are three different golf courses, one each in the United States, Japan, and Great Britain (although the background and the scenery does not vary). There are 15 computer-controlled opponents, who play their games separately. Most rounds are played as stroke play (where every contestant competes to have the lowest total score for all holes), but the seventh and eleventh rounds are played as match games (where two contestants compete to have the lowest score on each hole, with the winner being the contestant who wins the most holes). Finishing a round in the top eight increases the player's skill level (up to level 12), allowing the player to hit the ball farther and with greater control. Finishing a round in first place upgrades the player's golf club set from the initial black carbon club set to glass fiber and eventually ceramic clubs. This also increases the distance that the player is able to hit the ball. The game provides a password after each round of the tournament for continuing.

In practice mode, one or two players can play a complete 18 rounds of golf on one of the three courses. Players can set a skill level and use any of the three golf club sets available in the game. In two-player games, players take turns and compete to complete the course in the fewest strokes; in a single-player game, the player competes against par. There is also a two-player match play mode where players compete hole for hole (with the player who wins the most holes winning the round). Finally, one player can play a non-competitive practice game on any individual hole from the three available courses. These games have additional options for setting the wind direction and strength.

Before every match, the player selects 14 clubs (with the putter always being mandatory). Before each turn, the player's caddie gives advice based on her skill level. At first, the caddie can only give the distance from the ball's current position to the tee. As the game progresses, more skilled caddies can give distances to various landmarks and information about how the ball is lying. Before swinging, the game also shows a weather vane indicating the direction and intensity of the wind and a close-up picture of the ball's position. The player then selects which club to use during the shot (the caddie makes a default recommendation). After this, the player can adjust the golfer's stance with Left and Right in order to shank the ball in one particular direction based on the direction of the wind (all golfers in the game are right-handed).

To control the swing, the player uses a power gauge to select the strength and height of the shot with A. When the player first presses the shot button, a marker moves upwards to the top of the gauge. This range controls the strength of the shot. If the player presses the shot button again before it reaches the top, the marker moves back down towards the starting position. The player then must hit the button a third time inside of a green area on the power gauge. This range controls the height of the shot in the air. Hitting outside of the green range results in a missed shot. If the player fails to hit the shot button before it reaches the top or bottom of the gauge, the sequence starts over from the beginning.

When the ball reaches the putting green, the perspective changes to an overhead view of the green. The game first shows the distance from the ball to the tee and then a simple diagram of the lie on the green. The player can select the direction of the putt with Left and Right. Putting uses a similar power gauge but with only the blue range to determine how hard to hit the ball.

History

Sponsorships

Arnold Palmer

Sega of America sought to continue Tonka's use of celebrity sports game endorsements from the Sega Master System era by launching their new 16-bit hardware with a number of recognizable celebrities endorsing its library (such as Joe Montana's endorsement of Joe Montana Football.) Their efforts were largely successful, and the system's strong showing of early sports titles is considered one of the more significant reasons for its success.

One of these notable celebrity endorsements was from the renowned professional golfer Arnold Palmer. Having won a number of PGA Tour championships, and having long been associated with the iced tea-lemonade beverage the Arnold Palmer, the athlete was considered the biggest name in professional golf, and despite his age would have still been a household name in American families.

Despite its Western name, the late Arnold Palmer does not appear in the game, save for a cameo on the title screen. While the Western box art suggests the player is competing in the "Arnold Palmer Tournament," there is no reference to this in-game nor in the manual. The Japanese version devotes a section of its manual to Ozaki Naomichi, but likewise, the golfer is largely absent from the game.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf
English (US) Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf
Japanese 尾崎直道のスーパーマスターズ Ozaki Naomichi no Super Masters
French Le golf d'Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer's Golf
German Arnold Palmer Golf
Spanish Golf Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Golf
Italian Il golf di Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer's Golf
Norwegian Arnold Palmer golfspel Arnold Palmer Golf Game

Production credits

Main article: Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf/Production credits.

Magazine articles

Main article: Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Master System Mega Drive advert SE.jpg
SE advert
Master System Mega Drive advert SE.jpg
MDMS TenerUnaVideoconsola ES advert.jpg
ES advert (1991)
MDMS TenerUnaVideoconsola ES advert.jpg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1989-09: "September 1989" (1989-XX-XX)
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Mega Drive print advert in GamePro (US) #11: "June 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
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CG GR 3 Mega Drive advert.jpg
Print advert in Computer Games (GR) #3: "Ioúnios 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
CG GR 3 Mega Drive advert.jpg
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Mega Drive print advert in Sega Visions (US) #1: "June/July 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Home computers print advert in ACE (UK) #37: "October 1990" (1990-09-xx)
also published in:
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Home computers print advert in Power Play (DE) #1990-10: "10/90" (1990-09-14)
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Home computers print advert in Megazone (AU) #10: "November 1990" (1990-11-xx)
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[17]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
70
[18]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[19]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
85
[20]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
85
[21]
Console XS (UK) PAL
82
[22]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
50
[23]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
72
[24]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
73
[25]
Joystick (FR)
91
[26]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
84
[27]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
84
[28]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
72
[29]
Mega Action (UK)
84
[30]
MegaTech (UK)
85
[31]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
80
[32]
Mean Machines (UK)
83
[33]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
85
[34]
Player One (FR)
70
[35]
Raze (UK) PAL
87
[36]
Sega Power (UK)
83
[8]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[37]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
82
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
81
[39]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
68
[40]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
70
[41]
Video Games (DE)
70
[42]
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
27 reviews

Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf

Mega Drive, JP
APTG MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
APTournamentGolf MD JP CartTop.jpg
APTournamentGolf MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Supermasters md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
APTG MD US Box.jpg
Cover
APTG MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Aptg md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic)
APTG MD US Box Classic.jpg
Cover
APTG MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Aptg md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
APTG MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
APTG MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf MD EU Manual.pdf
Manual
APTG MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, PT

Mega Drive, SE Rental (Kanal10)
APTG MD SE Rental Box Back.jpgAPTG MD SE Rental Spine.jpgAPTG MD SE Rental Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU
APTG MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
ArnoldPalmer MD BR cover.jpg
Cover
APTG MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, CA
APTG MD CA Box.jpg
Cover

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CU Amiga (UK)
73
[43]
Tilt (FR)
90
[44]
Amiga
82
Based on
2 reviews

Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf

Amiga, UK

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Joystick (FR)
72
[45]
ST Action (UK)
80
[9]
ST Format (UK)
73
[46]
Tilt (FR)
90
[44]
Atari ST
79
Based on
4 reviews

Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf

Atari ST, UK
TournamentGolf AtariST UK Box Back.jpgNospine.pngTournamentGolf AtariST UK Box Front.jpg
Cover
TournamentGolf AtariST UK Disk1.jpg
Disk 1
TournamentGolf AtariST UK Disk2.jpg
Disk 2

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,

TournamentGolf MT Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf/Technical information.

References

  1. File:APTG MD JP Box.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
  3. Computer Entertainer, "December 1989" (US; 1989-12-18), page 14
  4. GamePro, "February 1990" (US; 19xx-xx-xx), page 52
  5. Sega Visions, "August/September 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 20
  6. 6.0 6.1 Mean Machines, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 60
  7. Raze, "February 1991" (UK; 1990-12-20), page 61
  8. 8.0 8.1 Sega Power, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-03), page 24
  9. 9.0 9.1 ST Action, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-xx), page 62
  10. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 9
  11. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "August 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 7
  12. GamePro, "July 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 61
  13. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1990" (US; 1990-0x-xx), page 59
  14. Computer & Video Games, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-16), page 7
  15. ACE, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-xx), page 17
  16. Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 7
  17. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 21
  18. Aktueller Software Markt, "Januar 1990" (DE; 1989-1x-xx), page 61
  19. Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 72
  20. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 26
  21. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 44
  22. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 127
  23. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 290
  24. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 22
  25. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1989-xx-xx), page 1
  26. Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 116
  27. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 78
  28. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 90
  29. Mega Drive Fan, "January 1990" (JP; 1989-12-08), page 73
  30. Mega Action, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-12), page 64
  31. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 76
  32. Micromanía (segunda época), "Abril 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 44
  33. Mean Machines, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 58
  34. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 137
  35. Player One, "Janvier 1991" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 52
  36. Raze, "February 1991" (UK; 1990-12-20), page 60
  37. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 52
  38. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 23
  39. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  40. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  41. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 15
  42. Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 85
  43. CU Amiga, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-xx), page 72
  44. 44.0 44.1 Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 67
  45. Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 174
  46. ST Format, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-14), page 64


Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf

ArnoldPalmerTournamentGolf MDTitleScreen.png

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Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1990-03-22