| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 2103 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2012-11-09 |
61,912 bytes |
71 |
6839 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
UNCLASSIFIED |
kanaal2012.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 91c7fe34544843cd9a19588c1a0a9ed3 |
a179731f276c947fc2d81c5c02a93f18 |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, marshland course |
Location
Netherlands |
Conditions
It does play faster, but surely this course is cut out for playing on S*/S*? Or even slower? |
Concept 9/10
What a superb idea for a course. Sitting on Dutch Polderland - the land reclaimed from the sea - this is no links, nor is it a normal park course. The Kanaal exudes a charm all of its own. It genuinely looks green and soggy, although it's far from ugly. Mitch Sirk has used this for a template for some amazing creativity in hole design, with green sizes and pin positions that both border on the preposterous, but also feel about right given the lack of real estate between water hazards. The 1.07 touchup has been carried out tastefully and with restraint. |
Appearance 9/10
Kanaal certainly isn't impressive on the large scale, but on the finer scale it's decidedly lovely. Nothing planted on the course is more than a couple of metres tall, but it all fits beautifully, and the water regions are fantastically textured and planted. The textures have been well-chosen, although the 3D work looks a little clunky in a modern light. Importantly for the overall feel of the course, the panorama is unique and appropriate without being overbearing. Despite the fact that it's notionally on very dull landscape, this is a brilliant course to look at. |
Playability 10/10
Because of the unique concept, this course takes up a lot of your time trying to find a way to play it, and a way to beat it. On an open terrain, each hole can be played in myriad ways, and those with good recovery skills will realise that trying to stick to the narrow fairways isn't always the easiest way. Greenside play is fascinating; what little elevation is used is done around the greens, and makes chip and flop shots a consistent challenge. Great fun to play, over and over again. |
Challenge 9/10
It's difficult to compare Kanaal to other courses, and in fairness, it's very much a matchplay course with some greens deliberately created to be unhittable. To be honest, though, the simple fact remains that - with suitable conditions, Kanaal offers up a sprinkling of both birdies and bogies, and Par is very much the right number at the end of the day. |
Technical 10/10
Even in its original incarnation, there was very little to fault about this special and unique little course. The hole design makes the course entirely, and it's unlikely that 18 such intense holes have ever been created for the game. For that alone, Mitch Sirk earns his design credentials. |
| Overall |
Amazing design in an original and convincing landscape. This joins the elite on the basis of pure playability. |
47/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
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