Mario Golf on Game Boy Color is not just a port of the N64 game, but a unique experience in its own right. It combines elements of a golf game with those of a role-playing game (RPG). At the start of the game, you choose your character, each with their strengths and weaknesses, which evolve over time as you progress through the game. Your character gains experience points by winning matches or playing mini-games, which can be distributed to various skills such as putting, making it easier to perform well.
While the story mode is the main focus of the game, there are many other modes to keep you engaged, including Tournament, Match Game, Stroke, Training, and two-player mode via link cable. The game comes with a comprehensive dictionary of golf terms and an extensive range of statistics on your player's performance.