|
Briarwood
by Ross Anthony
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1186 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2002-12-09 |
57,407,268 bytes |
72 |
7173 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
PARKLAND |
Briarwood.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 319eb48367794f9eb5619c063563069a |
4dd0b4076d5ccd0496d7f3cec31728ef |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Rand Herron
December 2002
If you've played earlier released courses from Ross Anthony, such as Callavary and Eagle Canyon, you might know to expect excellence in detail and imagination. Briarwood is a fine example of imagination and Ross Anthony has built yet another fun course.
Overview:
If you have your 'hole preview' feature off, it's better to turn it on before playing Briarwood. The very informative previews are extremely well done, artful, and a part of the charm of the course. (See screen shot 1) They can also help your score.
It is a swampy Fictional style course set imaginarily in the countryside of Louisiana. A medium-length Par 72, Briarwood displays some very unique texture combinations with curvaceous fairways and bunkers. It plays 7,173 yards overall but seems shorter. The front nine is the longer 3,832 yards, the back nine 3,341 yards - from the back tees. The course is laid out over a thick looking nappy rough that gives you that swamp feel, but the fairways are silky smooth and appear close-cut. Combined with crosscut greens, and the smooth fringe around them, the playable areas stand out strong against the surrounding darker contrasts. (See screen shot 2) The meticulous sand bunkers are a variety of shapes and sizes. The tee areas are like the fairways, smooth and close cut looking with a thick patchy rough tapered neatly around them. Cleverly set signs are discretely added to each hole. There are clean gravel pathways leading to and from the fairways interconnecting the holes. The plantings are thick and hold true to a lowlands bayou style course, including thick grassy areas and water throughout. Much of the water ponds and lakes appear man-made however, with gravel areas around them giving an overall appearance of man tailoring the course into the untamed land. But there are also some natural marshy looking water areas too. In my opinion, it would have looked a bit better if more of the water edges were the wild marshy type but the gravel skirted water areas look nice as well, as in screen shot #2. The outer areas (should you really shank one) are 'wild fescue' and very thick.
Playability:
You will most likely find that Briarwood is moderate-to-difficult depending on your swing style. I think PS'ers and RTS'ers will find it more difficult then the Clickers. It will also depend on your Pin and Tee selection since there is nice variety in the greens and Ross Anthony has done an excellent job at placing the easy-to-difficult pin positions. The risk/rewards are there but there are also plenty of straightforward golfing holes that give it a real course feel. There is not too much eye-candy here, just fairly honest golf. But then it is a swamp - not Splendor in the Grass. The first two holes are a little intimidating with fairly narrow driving areas, but the 1st is a Par 5 that gives you a decent birdie try if your drive hits the fairway. A few notable holes include: The 3rd hole lakeside Par 3, listed as 182 yards presents a dual-green configuration. Should you draw the more difficult pin position to the front green portion, it is a tiny postage stamp, oddly shaped and surrounded by sand bunkers. The tee is elevated 57 feet above giving you a splendid view to the green. (See screen shot 3) The 6th hole, a 421 yard short Par 4 is a dogleg left with trees left and downhill fairway that requires a clean drive. Around the bend is another split green. One of my personal favorites is the 8th hole, a 434 yard Par 4 that has a fairway snaking through a large lake and presenting 3 driving options, or more if you use your imagination (also on screen shot 1). Then there is the 9th, a hefty 680 yard whale; this compelling 3 shot Par 5 also features dual greens. It is flanked by two canals on either side and demands an accurate tee as well as second shot that sports two prominent fairway bunkers, and a choice of greens with the canal bisecting them. The green runs across a bridge in the middle. The 11th is another example of a risk/reward hole. The Par 4 is a short 312 yards and if the wind is right, tempts you with a drivable green. There are several dual green configurations on the fictional course.
Imagination = Fun in playing Briarwood.
Sounds: *The sounds are extremely well done and add to the marshy experience. Where there is moving water, there is moving water sounds, water birds, frogs, etc. Sorry, no banjos. There is variety in the sounds.
Extras: *Readme, *Hole Previews, Hole Handicaps, Splash Screens, Cameo, Hole Signs, Ball washers, Custom Flags, Clubhouse (the only building I could see).
*The Readme file is very good and offers further hole explanations as well as the nicely presented Briarwood introduction.
Lacking: (nothing to effect the score) 3D buildings, Tourney objects, 3D plantings, Spectators.
APCD Comments:
The biggest set-back to Briarwood being a 2003 course is that it does not take advantage of the newest 1.5 design features. It left me thinking how much more beautiful the course might be with the use of seam blending in the right places. The rough textures appear blurry in the close-up view and there is little doubt that 512 textures employed the right way would make the course much more realistic looking. (See screen shot 4) The designer was just not ready for this step however and offers this telling quote from the Readme file: 'Although finished on the Links 2k3 apcd (v 1.5), this course was originally started in the earlier version, and no seam blending has been done here. Being new technology, I wanted to have total control of this new feature before applying it to a course.' And it does look like a 2001 design, but to be fair, it makes the transition extremely well and the 2003 shadows look great. The extrusions are outstanding. Ross Anthony has the obvious talent to grasp the seam blending and texture features, and so - I can only conclude, high expectations for the next design!
Overall, for a fictional course - Briarwood is a departure from the norm in my view and has a fresh inviting appeal. There is a permanent place on my hard drive for it and as the review reveals, I highly recommend it to you! I hope Ross Anthony continues on with APCD 1.5 and pushes that imagination further, into 2003.
|
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, marshland course. |
Location
TBC |
Conditions
TBC |
Concept 6/10
It's a nice idea to set a course in the Southern USA marshlands, and one fully worthy of the designer's reputation. Sadly, it's a course that has been overworked to no small degree, leading to some overly-contrived hole designs and a lack of suitable atmosphere. The course is likely to appeal more to lovers of fantasy courses, because it is not representational of the region it is intended to portray, and this is its biggest failing. |
Appearance 6/10
A game of two halves. The planting is superbly varied, although there are several features that look out of place. The fairway and bunker textures are great, but the heavy rough looks out of place and underplanted and really detracts from the tone of the course. The water does likewise. A lot of features, though, bear hallmarks of heavy extrusion, which does not add significantly to the course's air of authenticity. |
Playability 4/10
Frankly, this is a bit of a drag. The designer has over-engineered quite a few holes in order to foul up the player, and this unfair feeling penetrates into ones golf. Narrow fairways are another common hazard, and the bunkers will pick up any shots that even slightly stray off line. Birdies are possible, but you don't feel you've been fairly challenged for them. |
Challenge 6/10
The test of this course varies widely from hole to hole, and the course is begging for some consistency. Many holes offer subtle risk/reward options and do not threaten the player with 'hidden' hazards and unfair lies. Other holes, sadly, cannot have the same said about them. The handicapping of this course must have been quite an easy task, because it's all too easy to distinguish between the easy holes and the hard ones. Just not adequate, I'm afraid. |
Technical 7/10
Despite the generally excellent choice of custom textures, the blends are in need of work. As far as the whole course goes, no insignificant attention must be paid to the course shapes and an attempt to make them more natural. The planting is brilliantly understated but varied and is among the best I've seen. |
| Overall |
An indecisive tropical-style course, which has clearly had a lot of different influences. Sadly, they don't all gel together and leave some of the fancier hole designs falling flat. |
29/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
|
|
Download course
|
Please support Links Corner
|
|
|
