Front Page Sports Golf Tour Course Add On

Last updated: January 20, 2026

Overview

Front Page Sports Golf Tour Course Add On was a series of expansion packs released for Front Page Sports: Golf, Sierra On-Line’s ambitious golf simulation that launched on May 16, 1997 for Microsoft Windows¹. The add-on courses extended the base game’s content by providing additional meticulously recreated real-world golf courses, allowing players to experience new challenges within the acclaimed TrueSwing golf engine¹. The base game itself represented Sierra’s answer to the dominant Links franchise, and was developed by Headgate Studios Inc. under the leadership of Vance Cook, who had previously served as director and lead programmer for Links and Links 386 Pro².

The Tour Course Add On series expanded the virtual golfing experience with several notable real-world courses including Pasatiempo Golf Club (Vol.1 no.2), Coeur D’Alene (Vol.1 no.3), and Black Diamond Ranche (Vol.1 no.4)³. These expansion courses were designed using the same rigorous methodology as the base game, which involved the design team visiting actual courses to capture video footage and hundreds of photographs, with planes flown over courses to obtain aerial photographs for accuracy¹. Information about these add-on courses has become quite hard to come by in the modern era, making them somewhat obscure collector’s items³.

The base Front Page Sports: Golf was described as “a gem of a golf sim” by Game Revolution and praised by Computer Gaming World as “worth the wait”¹. The game’s revolutionary TrueSwing interface, which would later be implemented in PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition, set a new standard for golf game controls¹⁴. The Tour Course Add On packages allowed enthusiasts to further explore this innovative control system across diverse golfing environments.

Game Info

Developer: Headgate Studios Inc.¹⁴ Designer: Vance Cook¹⁴ Publisher: Sierra On-Line, Inc.¹⁴ Engine: Not specified Platforms: Microsoft Windows¹ Release Year: 1997 Series: Front Page Sports Protagonist: Player-created golfer Sierra Lineage: Core Sierra

Course Content

Available Add-On Courses

The Front Page Sports Golf Tour Course Add On series was released as a numbered volume system, with each volume containing a different real-world course recreation³:

• Vol.1 no.1: The main base game
• Vol.1 no.2: Pasatiempo Golf Club Add-on
• Vol.1 no.3: Coeur D’Alene add-on course
• Vol.1 no.4: Black Diamond Ranche add-on course

Each add-on course was created using the same detailed photographic and videographic process employed for the original game’s courses¹. The design team’s commitment to authenticity extended to every element of course recreation, from terrain modeling to environmental details¹.

Course Design Philosophy

The courses in Front Page Sports: Golf and its add-ons carried a more municipal course feel compared to competitors, providing a distinct atmosphere that differentiated the game from other golf simulations of the era². This design choice gave the game series a more accessible, everyman quality while maintaining the technical precision that serious golf simulation enthusiasts demanded².

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The Tour Course Add On utilized the same revolutionary TrueSwing mouse-controlled swing system that defined the base game¹⁴. While SimGolf was technically the first golf game to introduce a mouse-controlled swing method, TrueSwing was considered superior and became the defining feature of Front Page Sports: Golf¹. The system allowed players to control every aspect of their swing through intuitive mouse movements, creating what reviewers described as gameplay that “just feels like golf in a way that no other golf sim duplicates”¹.

The game featured a three-click swing system as an alternative control method⁵, providing accessibility for players who preferred traditional golf game controls. The interface supported resolutions up to 1024x768 with 64,000 colors, delivering impressive SVGA graphics for the era⁶⁵. One notable feature included the golfer character falling on their rear end if the player shook the mouse during the swing animation⁶.

Structure and Progression

Players could experience the add-on courses through various game modes including single rounds, tournaments, and career play⁴. The golfer characters were rendered using texture-mapped polygons—a fully rendered 3-D approach that distinguished the game from competitors using superimposed FMV golfers¹⁶. This technical choice allowed for more dynamic camera angles and realistic player animations across all course environments.

Multiplayer Features

The game featured connectivity through Sierra Internet Gaming System (SIGS), which was cutting-edge for 1997⁵. Notably, the multiplayer aspect was not initially planned and was implemented late in the base game’s development cycle¹. The smooth multiplayer integration remained impressive by retro standards and allowed players to compete on add-on courses with friends online⁵.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Front Page Sports: Golf received positive reviews upon release, with critics praising its innovative control system and realistic golf simulation¹.

GameSpot awarded the game 8.1/10, with reviewer Tasos Kaiafas noting that “Front Page Sports: Golf certainly has some fun surprises, taking the stuffiness out of your typical golf sim”¹⁶. Kaiafas further observed that “without the TrueSwing, FPS: Golf would be little more than another golf sim with a few minor, yet entertaining, twists”⁶.

GameRevolution gave the game an A− rating in July 1997, calling it “a gem of a golf sim”¹.

Gamecenter scored the game 8/10 on July 8, 1997, with reviewer Gordon Goble providing favorable coverage¹.

Computer Gaming World reviewer Scott A. May declared the game “worth the wait,” acknowledging the extensive development period¹.

Computer Games Strategy Plus featured Jeff Lackey’s enthusiastic review describing the game as “a very pleasant surprise and a true breakthrough” that “just feels like golf in a way that no other golf sim duplicates”¹.

InterAction Magazine featured John Zhaski calling it “the most playable and realistic golf game available for the PC”¹.

PC Magazine offered a more tempered assessment, with T. Liam McDonald writing that the game “leaves too many shots short”¹.

Modern Assessment

The game has maintained a dedicated fanbase among retro gaming enthusiasts⁴³. Modern retrospective reviews have acknowledged its historical significance in establishing control schemes that became industry standards⁴.

Aggregate Scores:

• MobyGames Critics Average: 74%⁴
• MyAbandonware User Rating: 5/5 (4 votes)⁷
• Retro Replay: 7/10⁵

User reviews on MobyGames have been particularly enthusiastic, with one reviewer declaring it “My favourite golf game of the 90s. Was not topped until late into the Links series. Absolutely amazing game that does not get the respect it deserves”⁴. Another fan described it as “hugely influential and overall a very well done game”³. The game has been described as introducing “mouse-swing and set the standard for controls in Golf games”⁴.

Development

Origins

Front Page Sports: Golf represented nearly three years of development by a six-person team at Headgate Studios¹. The project marked Headgate’s first venture into golf simulations and designer Vance Cook’s return to the genre after his foundational work on the Links series². Cook served as both director and lead programmer, bringing his expertise in golf simulation design to Sierra’s Front Page Sports brand².

Sierra On-Line acquired Headgate Studios in 1996, bringing the developing golf simulation into their sports game portfolio¹. The acquisition demonstrated Sierra’s commitment to competing in the golf simulation market against established franchises like Links⁴.

Production

The development team employed an unusually thorough approach to course creation¹. Team members visited actual golf courses to capture video footage and hundreds of photographs documenting every aspect of the layouts¹. To achieve accurate overhead perspectives, planes were flown over courses to obtain aerial photographs¹. This methodology would be applied to both the base game courses and the subsequent Tour Course Add On releases.

The multiplayer component was notably implemented late in the development cycle, as it was not part of the original design plan¹. This addition required integration with Sierra’s SIGS online gaming system, which was cutting-edge technology for the era⁵.

Development Credits:⁴

• Designer/Lead Programmer: Vance Cook
• Composer: Charles Barth

Voice Cast:⁴

Role	Voice Actor
Voice Actor	Geoff Spade
Voice Actor	Michele Wilson
Voice Actor	Mike Stalker
Voice Actor	Mark VanWagoner
Voice Actor	Deb Adams
Voice Actor	Sam A. Mowry

Technical Achievements

The game’s TrueSwing interface represented a significant advancement in golf game control systems¹. The trademarked feature allowed for nuanced swing control that contemporary reviewers found superior to competing implementations¹². The success of TrueSwing led to its later implementation in PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition¹.

Graphics utilized texture-mapped polygons for golfer rendering, distinguishing the visual approach from competitors who relied on full-motion video overlays¹. The game supported SVGA graphics with resolutions up to 1024x768 and 64,000 colors⁶⁵.

Technical Specifications

System Requirements:⁶⁵

• Resolution: Up to 1024x768, 64,000 colors
• Graphics: SVGA support, texture-mapped polygon golfers
• Media: CD-ROM⁴
• Online: Sierra Internet Gaming System (SIGS) support⁵

Technical Issues

The base game and presumably the add-ons were affected by several technical issues that Sierra aimed to remedy with patches¹:

• Crashes during gameplay¹
• Poor artificial intelligence at times¹
• Various bugs requiring post-release patches¹
• Putting power calibration issues where the lowest setting still required a very light touch⁶
• Sharp edges on polygons, particularly visible in sand traps and walls⁶
• Terrain that didn’t blend as uniformly as other golf simulations⁶
• Installation issues reported on Windows 7⁷

GameSpot’s review noted that “If your preference is extreme precision in a golf sim, FPS: Golf might not be what you’re looking for”⁶.

Version History

Version	Date	Platform	Notes
Base Game (Vol.1 no.1)	May 16, 1997	Windows	Initial release1
Vol.1 no.2	1997	Windows	Pasatiempo Golf Club Add-on3
Vol.1 no.3	1997	Windows	Coeur D’Alene add-on course3
Vol.1 no.4	1997	Windows	Black Diamond Ranche add-on course3

Easter Eggs and Trivia

The game included several humorous touches that set it apart from typical golf simulations⁶²:

• If the player leaves the game untouched, someone screams at them from a distance⁶
• Shaking the mouse during the swing causes the character to fall on their rear end⁶
• In-game audio includes heckling such as “Hey buddy, we’re losing daylight!” and “Hit the ball! I gotta be home for supper!”²
• The game carried a more municipal course feel compared to competitors, giving it a distinct atmosphere²

The game was also released under alternative titles including “DSF Golf” and “Sierra Sports Golf”⁷.

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

While specific sales figures for the Tour Course Add On packages have not been documented, the base game’s critical success and the acquisition of Headgate Studios by Sierra indicated commercial viability¹. The game established Headgate as a significant developer in the golf simulation space.

Publishing Variations

The game was distributed in multiple regions with various publishers⁴⁷:

• Sierra On-Line, Inc. (United States)
• Acer TWP Corp (Taiwan)

Regional releases were documented in Germany, Taiwan, and the United States⁷.

Fan Community

One dedicated fan noted: “This is a great little game. I’ve been addicted to it for about 10 years now. What I love about the game is that you can play it alone because I like to always compete with the computer opponent”⁷.

The game has been described as having lasting appeal: “Still, information about it is quite hard to come by”³, indicating that while the game maintains a devoted following, documentation and preservation have been challenging.

Critical Perspective

Front Page Sports: Golf and its Tour Course Add On represented Sierra’s serious entry into the golf simulation genre during the mid-1990s⁴⁵. The game’s TrueSwing interface proved influential, setting standards for control schemes that would be adopted by subsequent golf titles⁴¹. The meticulous course recreation methodology—involving on-site photography and aerial surveying—established practices that would become standard in the sports simulation industry.

The game’s position as “Sierra’s answer to Links”⁴⁵ placed it in direct competition with the dominant franchise of the era, and while it didn’t ultimately dethrone Links, it carved out a respected niche among golf simulation enthusiasts. The TrueSwing technology’s later adoption in PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition demonstrated the lasting impact of the control innovations pioneered in this title¹.

For 1997, the combination of innovative controls, online multiplayer through SIGS, and detailed course recreations represented a cutting-edge package⁵. Modern retrospectives acknowledge that while graphical fidelity has been surpassed, the fundamental gameplay feel and control responsiveness remain impressive by retro standards⁵.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• Not available on digital storefronts; physical copies occasionally found through collector resources³

Download / Preservation

• MyAbandonware – Base game ISO available (440 MB)⁷

Community Resources

• VCF Forum Discussion – Add-on course identification³

Note: The Tour Course Add On packages are particularly rare and may require specialized collector resources to locate³.

Series Continuity

Front Page Sports Golf Tour Course Add On expanded upon the base Front Page Sports: Golf, which was part of Sierra’s broader Front Page Sports franchise that included titles covering football, baseball, and other sports. The golf simulation stood as Headgate Studios’ first contribution to the series following Sierra’s 1996 acquisition of the studio¹.

The TrueSwing technology developed for this title was subsequently implemented in PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition¹, creating a technological lineage that extended beyond the Front Page Sports brand itself.

• Base Game: Front Page Sports: Golf (May 16, 1997)

References

Footnotes

1. Wikipedia – Front Page Sports: Golf – release dates, developers, publishers, designers, composers, critical reception, development history, technical details, known issues ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴ ↩³⁵ ↩³⁶ ↩³⁷ ↩³⁸ ↩³⁹ ↩⁴⁰ ↩⁴¹ ↩⁴² ↩⁴³ ↩⁴⁴

2. GameSpot – Front Page Sports Golf Preview – developer background, TrueSwing interface, design philosophy, in-game audio quotes ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

3. VCF Forum – Front Page Sports Golf Add-On Courses Discussion – add-on course volume identification, user testimonials, rarity of information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹²

4. MobyGames – Front Page Sports: Golf – credits, voice cast, publishers, user reviews, aggregate ratings ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹

5. Retro Replay – Front Page Sports: Golf – retrospective review, SIGS connectivity, control systems, modern rating ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³

6. GameSpot – Front Page Sports: Golf Review – technical specifications, resolution details, gameplay features, known issues, reviewer quotes ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴

7. MyAbandonware – Front Page Sports: Golf – regional releases, alternate titles, user comments, download availability, compatibility issues ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷