Mario Golf
The first Mario game from Camelot Software Planning kicks off the modern Mario Sports line. Hit the links across six full 18-hole courses, level your golfer in an RPG-style progression, and connect to the Game Boy Color version via Transfer Pak — a feature-rich golf sim wrapped in pure Mushroom Kingdom charm.
Overview & New Features
Mario Golf for Nintendo 64 was the first true entry in what would become a long-running Mario Sports series, developed by Camelot Software Planning — the studio behind the Hot Shots Golf series on PlayStation. It married realistic golf mechanics with the colour and personality of the Mushroom Kingdom: six themed 18-hole courses, eleven playable characters, RPG-style stat progression, and an unprecedented Transfer Pak link to the Game Boy Color version that let players carry their Camelot RPG-style golfer between systems.
Released in June 1999 in Japan and rolling out worldwide through that summer and autumn, the game went on to sell roughly 1.5 million copies globally and earned a “Player’s Choice” re-release — cementing the formula Camelot would refine across Mario Tennis, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, and beyond.
Gameplay
Mario Golf uses the classic three-click power meter familiar to golf sim fans — press once to start the swing, again to set power, and a final click to set accuracy. From there, success depends on reading the wind, the slope of the green, the lie of the ball, and the strengths of your chosen golfer. Every character has unique stats for power, control, draw/fade, and approach — and crucially, characters can level up with experience, gradually unlocking better drives and more accurate putting.
| Mechanic | How it works |
|---|---|
| Three-click swing | Click to begin, click at desired power on the meter, click for accuracy. Mistime the third click and your shot pulls left or right. |
| Wind & weather | Wind direction and strength change shot trajectory. Holes 13–18 take place at sunset for atmospheric flair. |
| Spin control | Apply backspin, topspin, fade or draw using the C-buttons before the shot — essential for cutting corners and stopping on the green. |
| Character RPG | Play more rounds with a character to raise their stats. Each character also has three colour palettes to pick from. |
| Scoring | Standard golf scoring — from Hole-in-One down through Albatross, Eagle, Birdie, Par, Bogey, and worse. Earn Birdie Badges for sub-par holes in Tournament mode. |
| CPU multiplayer | Most multiplayer modes can be played with CPU opponents — select character + button combo at character select. |
Game Modes
Mario Golf packs 10 distinct modes — well beyond the typical “stroke play and that’s it” of contemporary golf games. From RPG-style character unlocks to Mini-Golf to a chaotic Speed Golf time trial, there’s far more here than just hitting balls towards a flag.
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Single player. Compete against 29 CPU golfers across an 18-hole course. Finish top three to earn a Trophy; first place earns max Course Points. |
| Get Character | The unlockable mode — beat a specific character on a specific course to add them to your roster. |
| Ring Shot | Skill challenge — hit the ball through floating rings on a hole. Excellent for learning shot shaping. |
| Speed Golf | Race the clock — finish a course as fast as possible. Lower time + lower score = better rank. |
| Stroke Play | Classic golf — lowest total score across 18 holes wins. Up to 4 players. |
| Mini-Golf | Two compact mini-golf courses with unique putting puzzles. Up to 4 human players (no CPU). |
| Training | Practice range to drill swings without scoring pressure. |
| Match Play | Hole-by-hole head-to-head — win each hole, not the lowest total. |
| Skins Match | Hole-by-hole with money on the line — ties roll the prize over to the next hole. |
| Club Slots | Random club assignment per shot — a chaos mode for parties (no CPU). |
Courses
Six 18-hole main courses (each in two variations — standard and tournament/championship), plus two secret unlockables and a Mini-Golf set. Each course has its own theme, hazards and personality.
Toad HighlandsBeginner-friendly opener
Koopa ParkTougher, narrower fairways
Shy Guy DesertSand traps and harsh winds
Yoshi’s IslandTropical paradise with water
Boo ValleySpooky haunted woodland
Mario’s StarFinal main course — hardest test
Luigi’s GardenMini-Golf set
Peach’s Castle GreenMini-Golf setCharacters
Eleven playable golfers in total. Six are available from the start; five must be unlocked through “Get Character” mode by defeating that character on a specific course. Each golfer has unique stats for power, control, drive distance and shot shape.
Default — Available from Start
Series debut
Series debut
Unlockable Roster
Power shot sparks electricity
Plus three further characters unlocked through Get Character: Sonny, Harry and Maple — all making their first ever Mario series appearance. Metal Mario is also unlockable in the international release (he’s not in the original Japanese version), bringing the total to 11. Four additional Game Boy Color RPG characters — Kid, Joe, Sherry and Azalea — transfer in via the Transfer Pak link, giving the game one of the largest rosters of any sports title on N64.
Game Boy Color Crossover
One of Mario Golf’s most ambitious features was its Transfer Pak link to the Game Boy Color version (released later that year). Using the Transfer Pak accessory in the back of the N64 controller, players could pull their custom Camelot RPG-style golfer — levelled up across the GBC’s adventure mode — directly into the N64 game and play tournaments with them.
This brought four additional playable characters into Mario Golf 64: Kid, Joe, Sherry and Azalea. The Virtual Console and Nintendo Switch Online ports later removed the Transfer Pak feature, so the full crossover experience requires the original cartridges and accessory.
Reception & Sales
Mario Golf received generally favourable reviews on release. Critics praised its accessibility — reviewers at GameSpot noted the game removed “the guesswork for gamers who are not familiar with the subtle nuances of golf” while still rewarding deep play. IGN’s review highlighted that the game had “all the intricacies that make golf the most loved and frustrating game on the planet” wrapped in an inviting Mario package.
The game went on to sell approximately 1.5 million copies worldwide, making it the 37th best-selling Nintendo 64 game. Sales were split roughly 650,000 in North America, 650,000 in Japan, and 200,000 elsewhere. Strong enough numbers to earn a “Player’s Choice” budget re-release and to greenlight Camelot’s continued work on the Mario Sports line, including Mario Tennis the following year.
Trivia
- When Wario hits a power shot, the swing sparks with electricity — a small touch unique to him among the cast.
- Wario’s shoes are pink in this game (typically green in his other appearances). They’re back to green by Mario Tennis the following year.
- If you listen carefully during the title intro, you can hear Wario mutter “It shoulda been Wario Golf!” in the background.
- The European version uses an entirely different intro song — the original track is still on the cartridge but unused.
- Mario Golf marked the debut of Plum, Charlie, Sonny, Harry and Maple — none of whom appear in any other Mario game outside the Camelot Mario Golf and Mario Tennis series.
- Metal Mario was added for the international release; he is absent from the original Japanese version, where the character lineup is also reordered.
- The Japanese version doesn’t show the leftmost grey power-indicator bar on the swing meter — it was added for the US/EU releases for clarity.
- It’s the first Mario Sports title proper from Camelot, who would go on to develop Mario Tennis (2000), Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (2003), and the Mario Tennis: Power Tour / Mario Golf: Advance Tour duo for GBA.