Golden Tee Control Panel and Golden Tee Questions

[Irishfan11]

I plan on building an arcade machine solely dedicated to golden tee so I searched around and found the idea of putting in the actual golden tee control panel from Happ

http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/acesor/900242 \100.htm

I was wondering if this would work fine with just the Mini-Pac or if I would need both the I-PAC and Opti-PAC from Ultimarc to use it.

Thanks.

-Irishfn11

[SteveJ34]

Are you planning for this to be MAME based?

Also, you can search over in project announcements for Markrvp's Golden Tee cab he built from scratch.

[DaveMMR]

A dedicated Golden Tee cabinet is a really good idea.  Maybe see if you can find an older, used one via various markets (auctions, eBay, Craigslist) and just work with that.  You might actually be able to save some money down the road (especially with Happ's shipping costs - ouch!).  You'll have most or all of what you need without the expense of putting in a PC, software and interfaces.

[Irishfan11]

OK, thanks for the responses and I will clear a few things up.

I already have a cabinet I plan on transforming.

I would like to know if it would work if I put a computer inside the cabinet running golden tee software and than hooked up the golden tee control panel via the Mini-Pac

I also could not find Markrvp's Golden Tee cab so if you have a link that would be great.

One last question is instead of an actual monitor could I use a TV instead if I get a video card with TV output.

I have included a picture of the marquee I plan on using too but with a different backround image.

Thanks for all the help.

-Irishfan11

[Irishfan11]

Anyone Else?

[davieboynj]

if you can get a PAL TV???

http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=1304&src_t=sbk&src_id=goldentee

[leapinlew]

Here is a link to the True Genius's Golden Tee. It looks great!

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=51843.0

[Irishfan11]

Thanks for the link to True Genius's Golden Tee it is really cool.

I dont think I will be going with the PAL TV because the control panel is really small.

SO here is my situation just wondering if this should work out okay.

I have a cabinet I am fixing up and have picked up somevinyl laminate as well as the Golden Tee computer software. I plpan on buying the Golden Tee control panel from Happ and using the Mini-Pac to hook it up to an extra computer I have at home.

I than plan on buying a video card with tv output and installing it in the computer and putting a 24" tv inside the monitor and I was wondering if this would work just like a computer monitor.

I am wondering if this would all work ok together before I shell out the cash.

Thanks!

-Irishfan11

[davieboynj]

I dont think I will be going with the PAL TV because the control panel is really small.

I was assuming you'd hack the criznap out of it - -  Hook it up to a legit control panel and maybe get a PAL to RGB converter.  I haven't seen any reviews of it yet, so i don't really know whether its any good or not, or what version its similar to. 

[Irishfan11]

I could consider it but if the setup I explained early would work I would like to go with it.

[mccoy178]

Okay.  You can use a t.v..  There are plenty out there that are cheap that have component in.  You can get an ATI card and a dongle to convert the signal.  It makes for a much higher quality picture than s video.  If you are making a dedicated GT machine, I would consider getting the modded Golden Tee boards that have all of the Fore series in one.  That is what Markrvp did.  If you do a search and enter "Golden Tee" into the search area and Markrvp into the user area, you'll find his thread.  Mame will be limited to the older GT series (97,98,99,2K, and Classic), for quite some time.  The one good benefit it does offer is all the bowling games and the Tiger Woods PC games which are a ton of fun.  Hope this helps.

[Irishfan11]

The old archives search is offline so I can't search for Markrvp or anything else in the archives I guess.

Just wondering if you know where the modded golden tee boards can be purchased from and for about how much.

I plan on starting a thread in the Project Announcements soon so people can track my progress but I am waiting until I get everything in.

Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

-Irishfan11

[Hildy_42]

The link that Leapinlew posted earlier is Markvp's Golden Tee Cabinet.  I have been searching for awhile now trying to find a good place to purchase the Golden Tee board and hard drive with all the courses on it.  No luck yet.  I think you can buy directly from IT but I am guessing it will be very expensive.  I am keeping an eye on this threed because I am looking to do the same thing as you are.  Good luck.

[Irishfan11]

Ya, I noticed the link a few minutes ago.

I have been searching but no luck so if anyone finds them please post the link.

If anyone has any other advice it is greatly appreciated.

-Irishfan11

[mccoy178]

What kind of advice do you want?  Get more specific and I will too.  You can find the drives for Fore on Ebay for a few hundred.

[Irishfan11]

Ok,

I am watching two auctions on ebay for the golden tee fore kits which includes the board, hardrive, power supple, and marquee and am wondering what is the difference between the green and red boards.

Second, where can you purchase the side decals for golden tee from.

Also, would an LCD work fine with Golden Tee, as of the cabinet I got is not too wide and wont fit much more than 21 inches  so maybe a 19" LCD?

And finally, if I win one of the auctions for the golden tee boards would the golden tee control panel hook up to it without any accessories or what would I need.

Thanks.

-Irishfan11

[19rjs99]

http://www.gatorcade.com/

Most Golden Tee parts can be found here.

[Irishfan11]

Ok, thanks.

Ok, I think I am going to bid on one of the boards which I heard would require a JAMMA harness to use. What are these and where can I get one. Will the speakers, PC monitor, and control panel hook up to this?

I am looking at a 19" LCD monitor possible will that work fine or should I go with a CRT?

This is my first build ever so you can probablly tell be now I am really new to this. Thanks


-Irishfan11

[Irishfan11]

The boars on ebay are going in the 300 dollar range and I am wondering if that is typical for golden tee boards.

Also the guy told me I would need a JAMMA harness to run the game what is this and where do i get it. Does the monitor and control panel plug right into it?

What is the harddrive for included w/ the kit

Here is the link:  http://tinyurl.com/fdlsm

And once again willa 19" LCD work fine with this or should i get like a 17" CRT as the cabinet is small.

Thanks in advance.

-Irishfan11

[markrvp]

Hi Irishfan11:

I answered many of your questions via PM.  Something you need to be very clear about:

A VGA (COMPUTER) MONITOR WILL NOT WORK with the actual arcade Golden Tee board.  You have three options for monitors:

1.) MEDIUM RESOLUTION MONITOR- this is the type of monitor originally included in the GT Fore machines.  These are expensive and highly specialized - you would never use it for anything other than the GT machine.

2.) CGA MONITOR - or simply an "Arcade" monitor.  There is a dipswitch setting on the GT Fore board that will allow the graphics to be output at the lower CGA resolution.  This doesn't look as good as medium resolution, but is certainly less expensive and easier to get.  A brand new 19" CGA monitor from either Happ or Betson is under $200.

3.) MULTISYNC MONITOR - like the WG D9200 or Betson Multiysync or BillLabs multisync.  I bought the Betson Multisync 27" for $425 and it accepts the medium resolution input and looks beautiful.  This monitor will also work at 800x600 VGA or 640x240 CGA, so I can also use this monitor with MAME or another arcade board.




In order to hook up the Golden Tee control panel to a PC, then a minipac is all you need.  If you are going to use it with the arcade boards, then be aware of the following:

You need to hook the trackball directly to the Golden Tee arcade board (PCB).  You can get the actual harness or do what I did and hack a computer IDE cable which will fit on the 10 pin header (the rest of the connector just hangs over the edge).  The monitor, speakers, and buttons all hook to the PCB via the Jamma Harness.  The hard drive needs power from the power supply and also hooks to the PCB via an IDE cable.

If you actually buy the arcade boards, then I will take some pictures of how it all hooks up and can also tell you how the the wiring is done.  If you do a Google search for Golden Tee Fore Manual, you will find an arcade games reseller who has a GT Fore manual in PDF format available for download.  I don't have it on this computer, or I would just attach it.

[Irishfan11]

Ok, thanks markrvp.

I think I am going to go with the happ Vision 19" CGA monitor with either shelf mount or universal frame. Just wondering which one would be recommended. I dont have any mounting materials or a shelf to mount it on so I think I may go with the universal frame.

I am going t try to win one of the auctions for the boards on ebay as that is the route I really wante to use.


I can easily get some extra IDE cables so maybe I will PM you on how to do it once I get them.


So here is my overall situation on this project:

I already have the cabinet as well as the laminate for the sides. I will be ordering black leater 3/4" tmolding.

I plan on trying to win an auction on ebay for the green golden tee board with the harddrive and power supply and marquee.

I may make a custom marquee with my last name for some personal touch.

I plan on buying the Golden Tee side decals from gatorcade.com.

I will buy a Happ monitor as well as a bezel to use in my cabinet.

I am buying the complete golden tee control panel from gatorcade.

If i missed anything tell me. Thanks everyone for all the help I couldnt of even got started without you.

-Irishfan11

[davieboynj]

I did a golden tee conversion from a "turtles in time" cabinet once...  We were originally planning on leaving the CGA monitor in, until the op saw it and had us switch it.  I would suggest, if it is at all possible, getting a medium resolution monitor.  GT just isn't the same on cga. 

[Irishfan11]

Where can you find a medium resolution monitor and about how much for a 19".

-Irishfan11

[markrvp]

This is the only 19" Medium Resolution monitor I can find:

http://www.happcontrols.com/monitors/49028200.htm

No price is listed.  You'll probably need to call Happ to find out pricing.

[Irishfan11]

Ok I won the auction for the golden tee green board, power supply, marquee, and hardrive. I plan on purchasing a JAMMA harness later on this week as well as the control panel.

I think I am just gonna go with the CGA monitor because in a year or two I am going to turn this into a MAME cabinet and make a replica of the golden tee cabinet with a 27" monitor.

-Irishfan11

[Hildy_42]

Did the hard drive you won in the auction have all 29 courses on it? 

[Irishfan11]

No, I do not believe the harddrive came with all 29 courses but I may upgrade later on.

I still plan on using the CGA monitor as this cabinet will become a MAME cabinet in the future and taking all the golden tee stuff out and making a replica golden tee cabinet like markrvp with a 27" monitor.

Markrvp,
If you could post the wiring pictures like you mentioned earlier and thanks for mentioning the Golden Tee Fore manual.

I will be buying all the rest of the parts for the cabinet within the next week or so.

-Irishfan11

[Irishfan11]

Just an update and a few more questions.

My cabinet is approxiamtely 23 inches wide. If I order the golden tee control panel from
http://gatorcade.com/ucp.html what will I have to do to it if anything to make it fit my cabinet. I know normally golden tee cabinets are bigger so would I be better off making my own control panel or what. I first option though is to buy the control panel pre assembled.

Thanks everyone again for all the advice.