(This was retro game club game #10 on the Grouvee forum.)

Seriously? Some old golf game getting a 5 out of 5? It's more likely than you'd think. Neo Turf Masters (AKA Big Tournament Golf) is a highlight from a simpler era of gaming that was all about just jumping in and immediately having a good time. But who would've thought golf could work this well among the likes of Metal Slug and King of Fighters cabinets? The genius devs at Nazca (soon to become a part of SNK) found a way to make it work by streamlining what is usually a slower simulation experience into a straightforward arcade experience.

Clear presentation and simple controls are the two key ingredients for making this work. Pick a club with up and down, aim your direction with left and right, press the action button twice to hit. First to determine the power, second to determine the height. No muss, no fuss. You'll mess up a bunch at first, but soon enough you'll get the hang of getting that golf ball to land right where you want it to. Then, if you're playing against a friend, prepare for some intense VS matches where every hit counts. Mess up on a hole too much, and you're going to have to break out another roll of quarters. (Not literally of course, if you're playing this on a modern console via ACA Neogeo Arcade Archives.)

Anyways, so long as you don't completely hate golf, Neo Turf Masters promises to be a good time for all who join in. It's a game that doesn't waste your time, and has just enough silliness to it to keep it from feeling bland and lifeless.

I just finished two playthroughs of this. I like it/hate it. I have limited experience with sports sims from this era (or any era) but this feels like those I have seen. The nice details (the rich sound and lavish color) make this a nice experience. However, this game is frustrating. Some of the holes are just unfair, and when you get stuck trying to get over an uphill shot at less than 30 yards, because you cant seem to angle the extreme shot angle and forfeit that hole, its BS!

It seems some golfers have a clear advantage over others.I like this guy

as far as the courses themselves go, i'm unsure. it seemed to share a few from japan classic to the pan american championship so I figure it's random what you actually play or it might be static but still recycles them. Neither seemed easier or harder, I got a pretty bad score on both and only improved by 3 points my second game.

you can do a few tricks like angle your drive to get a little extra distance (but if you screw up on your angle you'll just go OOB) most of the game is just perfecting that timing, and getting a feel for how 'grain' works when its time to putt.

A fun game to play in a fortnight, and might come back to time to time. It's a good recommendation for the grouvee retro game of the month! Worth checking it out if you're nostalgic for the NeoGeo!