As a main game simulation from 1995, this title immerses you in the competitive environment of the PGA Tour season, featuring real professional golfers. The core gameplay loop involves competing in various formats like stroke play, match play, and full tournament modes. A distinctive feature is the automated caddy system, which selects the appropriate club for every lie and situation, allowing players to focus on swing execution across multiple platforms including PlayStation and SNES.
The gameplay centers on realistic golf simulation, requiring players to manage their shots and club selection across diverse course conditions. The primary loop involves navigating rounds of golf using the available control schemes specific to each platform. Players engage in standard competitive formats such as stroke play, where the total number of strokes determines the winner, and match play, where holes are won individually. Comprehensive tournament mode structures are included, designed to mimic the structure and pressure of a full season event on the professional tour.
A notable feature of this simulation is the integrated caddy system. This system automatically assigns the appropriate golf clubs based on the lie of the ball and the specific situation presented on the course. This mechanic simplifies the process of club selection, allowing players to focus more directly on swing mechanics, power calibration, and overall course strategy rather than manually cycling through the entire bag of clubs.
Beyond the standard stroke and match play, the game offers dedicated tournament modes that replicate the multi-day structure of professional golf events. Players compete against the field of professional golfers featured in the 1995 roster.
As a main game release from that era, this title does not feature any downloadable content (DLC) or official expansions. The experience is self-contained, focusing entirely on the simulation of the 1995 PGA Tour season across the numerous supported hardware systems.
This title is classified strictly as a Sport simulation, focusing on the mechanics and structure of professional golf competition.

A course add-on for PGA Tour 96. It adds the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida: home of the PGA as well as the location of the annual The Players Championship.

An add-on course for PGA Tour 96. It adds the Wentworth Club course located in Surrey, UK.

The Game Gear version of PGA Tour 96 is the last entry in the series on the platform. It has a different selection of courses, licensed PGA golfers and modes compared to other versions. The three available courses are Sawgrass, Summerlin and River High. The five game modes are Practice, Putting, Driving, Skins and Tournament. Up to four players taking turns on the same Game Gear are supported.

An add-on course for PGA Tour 96. It adds the Spanish Bay links course located in Pebble Beach, California.

Here is your chance to experience the fairways and greens you've always dreamed of. Walk the 18th on the TPC at Sawgrass with the best on the PGA TOUR, then pass the field by as you march on to win it all! - Look at the numbers, 5 TPC courses, 5 new tournaments, and 3 different play modes: Practice, Skins, and Tournament. - If you win a Tournament, you win trophies and prize money! - Updated roster includes 8 featured PGA TOUR pros.