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Arrow Canyon Resort 2003
by Art Patscheck
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1307 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2018-08-19 |
54,379,196 bytes |
71 |
7171 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
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FICTIONAL |
DESERT |
ArrowCanyonResort2003.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
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LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Rick Priebe
Designer: Art has been designing for Links since the earliest days of the APCD. He has numerous excellent courses to his credit, including Arrowhead C.C. (several versions), Avocet, and Buck Creek.
General course information:
Included: All the expected extras are included in this design, including nice hole previews. Crowds and camera platforms are available as tournament options.
General Comments: Unlike some desert courses, this one doesn't immediately knock your eyes out. The desert terrain has a stark, barren look to it that is contrary to what we usually see in desert courses in Links. There are no 10 foot tall saguaro cactuses, no thick brush or desert trees, or anything else to break up the monotony of the quite realistic landscape. Nothing that is but the golf course itself. And that is all that is needed in this case. As we have come to expect from Art, the course is a gem. With great hole mapping, wonderful use of elevations, and just the right blend of the rare hazard or well placed bunker, we once again have a Patscheck course that is interesting and challenging from start to finish. Each hole has its own character, its own rewards for good play, and its own pitfalls for the unwary golfer. The desert areas are in play, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are playable. That seemingly barren desert is in reality a minefield of small boulders and scrub brush that can give you fits when you stray from the manicured grass. But keeping the ball in play will result in opportunities for birdies, and better on some holes. The par 5's all qualify as birdie opportunities, with eagle a real possibility on some.
Textures: Textures are all good and work well together. There is some noticeable tiling in the desert texture, but that is almost unavoidable in so large an area that is lightly planted.
Eye catchers
Pluses: I have enjoyed every round I've ever played here. There aren't many courses I can say that about. This course grabs your psyche (at least it does for me) on the second hole. A short par 3, 140 yards to a green that is raised 50 feet above the tee, it will test your club selection skills to the limit. A cavernous bunker awaits anything short. Most of the holes on this course will keep you thinking. quite surprising when you consider that the only trees are some scattered palms that only come into play on a very errant shot.
Minuses: The only real negative that I could find only applies to those who, like me, often play against an AI opponent. There are a couple of holes that seem to draw the computer opponent off into the wilderness. In fact, on the fifth hole, he spent so much time out there that I found myself watching for the Burning Bush. But alas, he was not destined for biblical greatness; he had only lost his way. Nine shots later he finally found the righteous path and rejoined me on the green. He had a similar, though not quite as lengthy sabbatical on the ninth hole.
Favorite Hole: Tough call. I really like the tee shot on the par 4, 10th. You play a full driver to a landing area that slopes sharply left to right, effectively narrowing the fairway to about half of what it appears to be. Then most of the time you will not have a remotely flat lie for your second. Holes like this have always intrigued me. The par 5 18th is a fabulous finishing hole, with a dangerous risk/reward second shot. You can reach with a 3W, but water lurks left and short, with bunker and desert right. I went for the green here during my review round, but my subconscious took over and forced me to bail out right, into the bunker. I still made birdie from there to finish at -2, not a bad score for me.
Rating: This is a great layout, definitely worth the small price tag.
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CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Imaginary, desert course. |
Location
TBC |
Conditions
TBC |
Concept 9/10
A convincing locale at the foot of the Rockies, you can almost feel the raucousness of Las Vegas' Strip. Obviously an influence for the later episode of bonkersness that was Rocky Nuts, Arrow Canyon is far more contained, but shares the same fantasy elements and has no more flat ground. Having the desert as playable terrain was a nice touch and adds a lot to the round. |
Appearance 6/10
Look closely at the deserts and there are plenty of clones; a pity, because the desert need not be so heavily planted. The surrounding hills play fast and loose with the mesh, and there are some most un-lifelike folds and elevations. The most impressive aspect of the course is a near-complete view of every hole from the tee: there are no blind shots here! |
Playability 7/10
Most desert courses are lax at offering strategy or risk/reward: Arrow Canyon is no exception. The holes are narrow, not particularly delimited or shaped, and offer very little other than a precision driving test and the continuous challenge of changing elevations. Thankfully, there's sufficient variety for this never to become a bore: the course as a whole plays rather smoothly. |
Challenge 7/10
My biggest bugbear is the deep rough abutting almost directly onto the fairway. With the added inconvenience of the desert surround and constantly changing slopes underfoot, this becomes an unnecessary awkwardness Because of the fantasy-like environment, you'd be forgiven for taking a few mulligans out on the course with you to help pick up your game. |
Technical 7/10
I know a lot was improved in the 2003 P2P version of this course (which I don't own); in the earlier version, flaws with the planting and elevations are easily picked up upon. Consider if you will, though, the age of this course and how well it has dated. Art is one of the true geniuses with the APCD and everyone has to start somewhere. |
| Overall |
A contender for the best desert course. Admittedly, it is a weak category, but if you only want one sandy paradise, make it this one. |
36/50 |
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.
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