On each hole, you first hit the ball by selecting direction and distance from the overhead view on the bottom of the screen. Then, you need to run to where your ball landed while defending yourself against various enemies, such as enemy ninjas, giant frogs, killer sharks, snakes, and more.
The enemies you encounter depend on the terrain you're crossing. You can eliminate them by kicking, punching, or using a throwing star. Bonuses like temporary invincibility, extra lives, health restoration, or magical transport to the green may also appear on the screen. Once you reach the green, you need to defeat a fire-breathing dragon guarding the hole.