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Jamaica Winds
by Dave Houghton
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 141 |
| Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-01-29 |
12,018,291 bytes |
72 |
7360 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
TROPICAL |
jam..crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 74cdc475e3c4473bbac40f36e4a68b59 |
4bb20205f10d0db18300f7682f5df8e2 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Dave Campbell
Expectations: As I download I'm thinking this has to be an island course.
First Impressions: Jamaican Winds G.C. was posted at the Links Corner on 1/29/01 and is the only design to date from Dave Houghton. It is a par 72 measuring 7,360 yards from the back tees, with three different tee choices. It is a fictional course set in a lush island setting, although I was only able to spy the ocean from the 7th green. In the readme file supplied Dave's states the time this course took to build, not to mention 15 restarts. Sounds like typical first course trials. Thanks for sticking with it Dave.
Playability: This is a very difficult course, particularly the first six holes. The APCD work leaves a bit to be desired over the first third of the course (to be expected on a first offering) and combine that with deep grass right to the fairway edge and you can have some problems. On several occasions the fairway elevations feed right to the fairway edge making it even harder to keep it on the short grass. On top of that there are several greens that have a rock texture surrounding them and play OB (found that out the hard way). Many of these greens are on a plateau and with no fringe it's easy to run the ball right through the green, particularly on a long approach or an iron out of the deep grass. Made for some interesting and inventive chip shots. The course did get a bit smoother as the round progressed as Dave seemed to be getting a better handle on the APCD. My round was quite enjoyable for the most part.
Tee boxes are stock and some offered some beautiful views. The fairways could tend to get fairly wild and unbelievable with elevation work at times, but most could be hit from the tee. Some greens had severe breaks and swales and then some had virtually none or completely flat. I must say that I appreciate the easy putts but it seems to be too wide a swing from one style to the other. There are bunkers scattered about in all the normal places but have been laid in place without further polish.
There is much rockwork on this course, most of which surrounds the greens in a skirt effect. Some of my wayward shots showed very nice planting done around this rock, particularly in the latter part of the design. Like I mentioned this rock is an OB texture and having it surround a green was perhaps too punishing. My screenshot shows some rockwork behind the 8th green with bunkers atop each rocky outcrop. Very creative Dave, this was a pretty approach shot.
To sum things up this is a decent layout that is constructed better as the design progresses. It is playable although can seem a bit unfair at times.
Drawbacks: There are numerous APCD errors in this course, as you would expect from an early design. I noticed red spots in the mountain behind the first green. What appears to be a vertical fairway bunker on the 2nd. The texture mix clashed at times, particularly in the mountains. You would see a rock texture immediately go to a grass texture for example. I couldn't see the hole on the 11th green although I was only 10' away. Straight uphill putt so there was no break to hide the hole. I saw the occasional floating tree and mesh shadow. I noticed what appears to be red water in the top cam on the 9th tee.
As is often the case bunkers suffer in a first design. I've dabbled with the APCD so I know how tough it is to make a decent sandtrap. I still have trouble making one that doesn't end up wavy or unnatural in elevation. Many designers have mastered bunkers though and that makes these types stand out even more. The traps on this course appear to have been inserted and forgotten as if it is white rough (see screenshot). Where elevations have been attempted it just makes it look worse, wavy with unrealistic angles. That being said they are not unplayable by any means, in fact are easy to hit from so they don't affect playability. It is noticeable to the eyes though.
My last complaint is my opinion only but think others share this viewpoint. There are too many doglegs! Every non-par 3 was a dogleg. Some angles are good but you need to offer a different look every now and then.
Best Hole: There are some nice ones to choose from but I'll go with the par 4 8th. It is a 387 yard dogleg left to a bowl shaped fairway. It is a gorgeous approach to a green flanked by rock with bunkers atop each outcrop.
Test round stats: -3 85% FIR 83% GIR with 31 putts in the above conditions.
Comparable courses: The Island and The Island II by Paul Nicholson (less fantasy element though)
Overall: Jamaican Winds is a better than average first course offering that is totally playable. It is a lush island setting with wild elevations at times but you can make up some strokes on the greens. There are too many other great courses available now to recommend this one for download but it is a fun course to play and offers some unique looks at times. It is only a little over 10 meg if you do want to take a look. Thanks for the obvious time and effort Dave, hope there's more to come from you.
Course Info :
Cameo Screen? Yes
Splash Screen? Yes
Text file? Yes
Hole Previews? No
11mb
Reviewed July 2001 |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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