Golf’s a boring old sport, but the damned game seems to be all over the TV nowadays. With the Ryder Cup on every sporting man’s lips at the moment, it seems the ideal time to cash in on the blanket media coverage.

It seems ironic that TV sports that are by their nature unexciting most of the time - like golf, snooker and darts - have some of the highest prize money kitties around. Like the real games, though, the console versions of these “sports” are always very much love them/loathe them affairs. Play them for ever, or play them never.

The simply delights of Golfamania have kept Master System owners happy for years. But the big one has hit; the original computer golfing game has arrived, bigger and better than ever before. How can Golfamania stand up to the colossal challenge of Leader Board? It can’t. There's a new champ in the house.

Sandtraps, trees, bushes, water hazards - they’re all here. The combination of three real courses - Cypress Creek, St Andrew’s and Doral Country Club - and a specially-designed course, the Gauntlet Country Club, adds real variation to World Class Leader Board.

Up to four players can compete over the courses, with each one being able to play at any of three skill levels. This is great news as the quality of players is varied, and you can really handicap players to make things fairer for novices.

Walking onto the first hole, you are struck by the scenery around you. Trees, rivers, bunkers and fairways are all well drawn and ready to offer you a challenge.

Most of the holes have some kind of hazards, especially on the best-of-the-best Gauntlet course. Land in the bunker or the water and listen to the superb speech taking the mick out of your last shot. “Can’t be too happy about that one,” laughs the machine as you drive that tee shot straight into the vast wastes of water.

World Class Leader Board knocks Golfamania right into the sandtrap. The Leader Board concept of multi-player action has always proved popular, and the addition of speech and great scenery graphics makes this the only golf game worth considering.

• Les "Bogey" Ellis

GRAPHICS

83
▲ Loads of excellent scenery around hole.
▲ Great impression of 3-D down the fairway.

SOUND

87
▲ What's needed is well done.
▲ Excellent speech when you cock up!

GAMEPLAY

83
▼ Not as much fun on your own.
▲ Feeling of achievement when mastered.

CHALLENGE

82
▼ Needs more courses to last.
▲ Special ultra-tough Gauntlet course.

PROSCORE

83
When it comes to golf games, there is no worthy challenger.

Rating

83

Reviewer

Sega Pro magazine

Region

UK

Scans

SegaPro-Magazine-Issue01?gallerypage=34

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