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Choose Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf if you want to play with as many as four people, pick among golfers with different strengths, or try Nassau scoring and a solo Practice mode. Choose NES Open Tournament Golf if Mario, courses in the UK, US, and Japan, or Match Play and Tournament modes matter more. The best fit depends on your group size and the kind of golf session you want—not an established ranking of which game is better.
How the two games compare
| Feature | Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf | NES Open Tournament Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 1–4 players in Stroke Play and Nassau Game; Practice is for one player. The manual describes two-controller play with players 1 and 3 sharing controller I, and players 2 and 4 sharing controller II. (SNK instruction manual) | 1–2 players, alternating, according to Nintendo. (Nintendo) |
| Courses | 36 holes across an 18-hole American course and an 18-hole Japanese course, as described in the manual. (SNK instruction manual) | Nintendo names UK, US, and Japan courses. Nintendo Life describes them as three 18-hole courses with varying difficulty. (Nintendo; Nintendo Life) |
| Modes | Stroke Play, Nassau Game (a points competition), and single-player shot Practice. (SNK instruction manual) | Stroke Play, Match Play, and Tournament. (Nintendo) |
| Golfer | Choose one of four golfers with different distance and accuracy strengths, according to the manual. (SNK instruction manual) | Mario is the featured golfer; Nintendo says Luigi appears in two-player mode. (Nintendo) |
| Shot setup | The manual describes a hole picture and strategy advice before play. (SNK instruction manual) | Nintendo describes selecting a club and adjusting for wind on an overhead map, then using a timing-based action screen. (Nintendo) |
| Other documented details | — | Nintendo Life reports a save mode and distance and closest-to-the-pin contests. (Nintendo Life) |
Choose Fighting Golf for a larger group or more golfer choice
Its clearest distinction is support for up to four players in Stroke Play and Nassau Game. That makes it the documented choice if more than two people want to take turns in a single session. The manual also explains how four players can share two controllers, with players 1 and 3 using controller I and players 2 and 4 using controller II.
The four selectable golfers have different distance and accuracy strengths, so character choice is part of the decision. Nassau Game adds a points-based alternative to Stroke Play, while Practice is a one-player mode for working on shots. The documented course selection is American and Japanese, with 18 holes each.
Choose NES Open Tournament Golf for Mario and three named course settings
Nintendo’s description centers on Mario, with Luigi appearing in two-player mode. Its listed course settings are the UK, US, and Japan. Nintendo Life describes three 18-hole courses of varying difficulty, and also reports a save mode and distance and closest-to-the-pin contests.
#1 Best Overall
- Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf is a golf simulation game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
- You'll be able to take on up to three friends in a round of golf.
- There are three different modes of play.
- The first is stroke play, in which you try to have the lowest score. You can also try a Nassau game, in which you bet on the best match play scores.
- If you just want to practice, you can; the third game mode is practice mode.
Its listed modes are Stroke Play, Match Play, and Tournament. For shot setup, Nintendo describes choosing a club and accounting for wind on an overhead map before moving to a timing-based action screen. The publisher lists the game for one or two alternating players, so it is the documented option for solo or two-player play, rather than a four-person group.
Which one should you pick?
- Pick Fighting Golf if four-player support, golfers with distinct distance and accuracy strengths, Nassau points play, or a dedicated Practice mode is decisive.
- Pick NES Open Tournament Golf if you want Mario, the named UK/US/Japan course settings, Match Play, or Tournament mode.
- If both sound appealing, decide first whether your usual group has more than two players; then use character and mode preference to break the tie.
These recommendations compare documented features, not firsthand testing or an objective verdict on realism, difficulty, depth, or fun.
Rank #2
- LEE TREVINO
- WINNER OF '87 SKINS GAME
- 2-TIME WINNER OF U.S. Open, BRITISH OPEN, AND P.G.A. CHAMPIONSHIP
- "Never before in a home format have so many options been available to a player of video golf... This is by far the best video golf simulation available."
- -U.S. National Video Game Team
Availability and collecting considerations
Nintendo’s UK publisher page includes original NES and historical Virtual Console listings for NES Open Tournament Golf. It also states that purchases on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family eShops ended on 27 March 2023. Those legacy listings do not establish that either game is currently available digitally in every region. Nintendo Life’s profile lists the game through Nintendo Switch Online, but the live catalog and regional availability should be checked before relying on that route. (Nintendo UK; Nintendo Life)
For physical collecting, the NES cartridges are the direct original-product options. Check the regional version, the seller’s condition description, and whether the listing includes just the cartridge or also the box and manual. Current stock, prices, and seller quality are not established here. Confirm compatibility before pairing a cartridge with a console or controller.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Players: 1 - 4
- Genre: Sports
- Sport: Golf
- Perspective: 3rd-Person Perspective, Top-Down
- Misc: Licensed Title
Rank #4
- HOLE IN ONE: Play Nine, The Card Game Of Golf, Is A Fun And Exciting Twist On The Classic Game Of Golf. Just Like The Actual Game, The Person With The Lowest Score Wins
- ALL AGES: Recommended For Ages 8 And Up, Play Nine Has Easy To Follow Instructions And Simple Game Play So The Whole Family Can Join In On A Round And Play A Hole Or Two
- PLAY: Players Are Dealt 8 Cards With A Discard And Draw Pile At The Center. Players Then Take Turns Drawing, Discarding, Or Trading Their Cards For The Lowest Value Cards
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Rank #3
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