Editing Golf: U.S. Course

{{italic title}}
{{game infobox
|image=[[File:Fds famicomgolfuscourse jp.jpg|200px]]
|developer=[[HAL Laboratory]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|release={{release|Japan|June 14, 1987}}
|languages={{languages|en_us=y}}
|genre=[[Golf (series)|Golf]]
|modes=1–4 players alternating
|ratings=
|platforms=[[Family Computer Disk System]]
|format={{format|fds=1}}
|input={{input|nes=1}}
|serials=FMC-GFUE
}}

'''''Golf: U.S. Course''''' (also formatted as '''''Golf: US Course''''')<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.com/jp/character/mario/en/history/index.html|title=HISTORY {{!}} Mario Portal {{!}}|publisher=Mario Portal|language=en|accessdate=May 19, 2024}}</ref> is a Japan-exclusive golf game released for the [[Family Computer Disk System]] on June 14, 1987. It is the first game of the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] to support more than two players. Gameplay is more similar to that of the later ''[[NES Open Tournament Golf]]'' than to that of its companion title, ''[[Golf: Japan Course]]'', which was released a few months earlier. Despite the name, the holes are fictional.

==Gameplay==
[[File:FCGUSC Gameplay.png|frame|left|Screenshot of gameplay]]
Gameplay is similar to the previous ''Golf: Japan Course'', but with further features added. The course view and course map are now separate screens that can be toggled between, alongside the green view. This allows for a greater amount of detail, especially on the course view. Dense trees are no longer out of bounds, but are navigable areas; they always have at least a small amount of land around them, even if they appear to be in water from the map. The wind meter shows a crosshair within a larger crosshair to show the direction and speed relative to whichever direction the player will putt. There are four options along the bottom of the screen in course view, which can be navigated between by holding down {{button|NES|B}} and using the {{button|NES|pad}} left and right, while doing the same but using the {{button|NES|pad}} up and down to change their values. These options are:
*Tee point: This option is only functional before the first successful stroke, and allows the tee to be moved left and right.
*Swing speed: Changes how fast Mario swings, from 1 (slowest) to 3 (fastest). Faster strokes hit harder, but are more difficult to hit cleanly.
*Club: Switches between the 14 available clubs (the same as in the previous games).
*View: Switches between the three viewpoints, though once the player is on the green it becomes locked.
Additionally, the score sheet can be viewed by pressing {{button|NES|start}}. Unlike in ''Japan Course'', rather than a loading screen appearing every 4-5 rounds with a coffee shop, the loading screen appears every two rounds with a view of the score sheet thus far.

There are two game modes:
*Stroke Play: Up to four players can try to do their personal best. The other players look like Mario (or the hidden female character) but with a different overall color. Player 2 is green, Player 3 is blue, and Player 4 orange. Player 3 uses Player 1's controller, while Player 4 has to share it with Player 2. The 1 Player Stroke Play scores were used in the tournament that was contested by 77,000 players.<ref>{{cite|url=famicon.s348.xrea.com/entries/19870614_golfusc|title=ゴルフUSコース|publisher=Famicon Masterpieces|accessdate=January 23, 2021}}</ref>
*Match Play: Two players, controlling Mario and his green clone, compete against each other. Unlike in ''Japan Course'', there is no computer opponent. A player can forfeit a round by pressing {{button|NES|select}}, holding {{button|NES|pad}} up, and pressing {{button|NES|start}}.
There are four slots to save scores (represented by flags, lowered by [[Family Computer Disk System|Diskun]] when overwriting) with blank slots recorded as 900.

==Contest and alternate version==
[[File:Golf UC Lady screenshot.png|frame|The [[Lady golfer|lady golfer]] in the original version of the game]]
Like ''Japan Course'', the game comes on a blue disk, meaning it is compatible with the Disk Fax, a device found in public places across Japan such as department stores. These machines would send the player's saved games and high score information to [[Nintendo]]. Nintendo held a contest centered around this game. The top 100 players received a trophy, and they along with 9,900 others received a gold [[Family Computer|Famicom]] cartridge of ''[[nwiki:Punch-Out!! (NES)|Punch-Out!!]]'' There was also an unannounced prize, which was a special version of the game that came on a gold disk known as '''''Golf: Special Course''''' (labeled '''''Golf: Prize Card''''' on the title screen)<ref>{{cite|url=pony.velvet.jp/fcdisk/fmcmdskw4.html|title=◆ゴルフUSコースの景品の一つのはずなのにその後も登場。『ゴルフスペシャルコース』|publisher=Family Computer Disk System Art Database|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}</ref> and was given out to 1,000 randomly chosen players who had scored a hole-in-one. This version was harder due to its "Special Course." It also has a hidden character<ref>{{cite|author=kikai / マリオガイド|date=July 17, 2021|url=youtu.be/Emxg5JlGu48|title=幻のマリオキャラを探せ！【スーパーマリオ調査隊】|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=July 31, 2021}}</ref> that can be unlocked if the total score is 320 or under after four games. At the Stroke Play menu, holding {{button|nes|A}} and pressing {{button|nes|start}} replaces [[Mario]] with a [[lady golfer|female character]]. She has the same abilities as Mario. This character was once unlockable in the blue disk version, but it required the extra step of registering the disk with the Disk Fax, which has been discontinued—as such, she is available today for that edition only on unformatted copies that had previously gone through the Disk Fax.

==Staff==
{{main|List of Golf: U.S. Course staff}}

==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=6>
FCGUSC logo.png|The game's logo
Mario Gear NES.png|[[Mario]]
MarioGolfBag.png| Mario pulling out a golf club
MarioClub.png| Mario holding a golf club
MarioLeaves.png| Mario checking the wind
MarioFore.png| Mario hitting a golf ball
FCGUSC Title screen.png|''Golf: U.S. Course'' title screen
Golf UC Main menu.png|''Golf: U.S. Course'' main menu
FCGPC Title screen.png|''Golf: Special Course'' title screen
Golf SC Main menu.png|''Golf: Special Course'' main menu
FCGUSCMarioSprite.png|Mario (player one)
FCGUSCGreenMarioSprite.png|Mario (player two)
FCGUSCBlueMarioSprite.png|Mario (player three)
FCGUSCYellowMarioSprite.png|Mario (player four)
Golf UC P1 Maria.png|[[Lady golfer]] (player one)
Golf UC P2 Maria.png|Lady golfer (player two)
Golf UC P3 Maria.png|Lady golfer (player three)
Golf UC P4 Maria.png|Lady golfer (player four)
FDS US Course.png|Disk
FDS Golf Prize Card.jpg|''Prize Card'' disk, side A
Golfprizecardb-side.jpg|''Prize Card'' disk, side B
</gallery>

==References in later games==
*''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'': A costume, golf clubs, and a golf ball based on Mario's attire appear in this game for [[Mii]]s.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]'': One of Mario's palette swaps is based on his stars-and-stripes-based clothing in ''Golf: U.S. Course'', although ''[[NES Open Tournament Golf]]'' is more frequently cited.<ref>{{cite|author=Sakurai, Masahiro|date=July 10, 2014|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20171017180848/https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKl2p4nZNg|title=Post by Masahiro Sakurai|publisher=Miiverse|accessdate=May 19, 2024}}</ref>
*''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'': The stars-and-stripes clothing once again appears.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'': Mario's palette swap based on his outfit from this game returns.
*''[[Mario Golf: Super Rush]]'': Mario's golf outfit from ''Golf: U.S. Course'' returns in this game as a reward for achieving an A- rank in Ranked Match during January 2022.
*''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'': Mario's golf outfit makes an appearance in this game as a playable driver, starting from the [[Los Angeles Tour (2022)|2022 Los Angeles Tour]].
<gallery>
NESOpencostume.png|Sprite of the outfits icon from ''Mario Golf: World Tour''
Mario SSB4 Artwork - NES Open Tournament Golf.jpg|Artwork from ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U''
SMO Mario Golf.png|The [[Crazy Cap#Golf Outfit|Golf Outfit]]'s model from ''Super Mario Odyssey''
Mario Striped SSBU.png|Artwork from ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''
MGSR Mario NES Open Tournament Golf.png|The outfit from ''Mario Golf: Super Rush''
MKT Artwork MarioGolf.png|Artwork of Mario (Golf) in ''Mario Kart Tour''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=ゴルフ{{hover|US|ユーエス}}コース
|JapR=Gorufu Yūesu Kōsu
|JapM=Golf: US Course
}}
;''Golf: Special Course''
{{foreign names
|Jap=ゴルフスペシャルコース
|JapR=Gorufu Supesharu Kōsu
|JapM=Golf: Special Course
}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://www.nintendo.com/jp/famicom/software/fmc-gu/index.html Official site]

{{stub}}
{{Super Mario games}}
{{NES}}
[[Category:Japan-only games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:1987 games]]
[[Category:Sports games]]