| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1595 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2005-06-26 |
45,596,672 bytes |
72 |
7307 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
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FICTIONAL |
WOODLAND |
Foxwood.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
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| COURSE NOTES |
Foxwood is the first course i have designed for Links. Learning the APCD has been a slow process, and i still have alot to learn.
The course is loosly based on a real course called Fox Harb'r, but what i have created is a fictional course because many changes have been made (hence the name change).
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LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Chris Gormley
Background Info:
This is the 1st design by Brad Meek and it is a fictional course that is based in a wooded area. Brad does mention in his readme that this course is based loosely on a real course and I am looking forward to reviewing this course as I have read some good things about it. Here is a little excerpt from the readme:
'Foxwood is the first course i have designed for Links. Learning the APCD has been a slow process, and i still have alot to learn. The course is loosly based on a real course called Fox Harb'r, but what i have created is a fictional course because many changes have been made (hence the name change). The Course is a par 72 that plays 7312 yards from the back tee's.
I would like to thank the members of Links Corner for all the answers they supplied to me in the designers forum. Most of the textures I used for my course came from Links Corner and i changed them to suit my needs. The sand texture used in the bunkers was made by myself and i was happy with how it worked out. A special thanks goes to the designers of Mordhel G & CC for allowing me to use 2D grass objects from their course.'
Overall Impressions:
I must say that I am pleasantly surprised at this first design by Brad. It is not like other first designs in that this one shows a little more refinement to it than other designs. Brad is to be commended for his work on the course.
The course is pretty basic without a lot of added things but this is not a negative as it is very refreshing to play. I cannot remember when I have had so much fun playing a round. The course has some really nice hole designs that offer a player quite a bit of Risk/Reward thought out the round. Although I must say that most of this risk/reward only comes into play if you try to be greedy with your shot selections, Foxwood is a grip & rip players dream. A lot of the holes are designed to give a player the opportunity to really go for that monster shot off the tee, although this might not always be the best shot for the player. There are some spots however that require a player to sit and think about their shots before they try and execute them. This is what makes Foxwood so fun to play as there is a nice balance between thinking shots and long ball shots.
The APCD work on the course is done very well, especially for a new designer. There were no glaring problems that I could see from a technical standpoint although there were a few areas, like the banks along the water hazards that could have used a little more work. But for the most part the APCD work is very good. I commend Brad for taking the time to learn the various techniques needed to construct a course this solid. It takes time to fine tune those techniques and Brad is well on his way to mastering them.
The fairways and greens are very open and large for the most part. There are some strategic tight spots on the fairways to challenge the player but these should be able to be handled easily with a well placed drive. The fairways are also contoured very well and fit into the natural looking terrain that Brad has created. The greens are also contoured well and are MOD friendly IMHO. I did not check every pin placement but on my 3 review rounds I did not find a pin that I thought was unfair with faster conditions.
The bunkers throughout the course are large and constructed pretty well. They are not always in play on some holes but if a shot gets out of control they will gobble them up. The bunkers that are in play are placed very well to challenge a player to either make a good shot or pull out the sand wedge.
The textures that Brad has chosen work very well together and just add to the realism of the course. This course looks like it could really exist, and the textures play apart in this along with the natural flowing terrain.
The planting of the course is pretty good for the most part but there are a few areas where it needed to be tweaked a little bit. The planting around the water areas needs to be varied a little bit more IMHO. I like what Brad was doing here but I feel it needs a little more variation. There were also a couple of spots where the planting was a little to 'busy' as there were just to many ideas going on in that particular spot. But I do have to say that Brad's planting has impressed me becuase with new designers the planting is usually the hardest thing to do well, but Brad has a good handle on how to plant a course.
Closing comments:
Foxwood is a great little course that I have had a blast playing. The course is not overly hard to play and although it does tend to lean more to the grip & rip mentality it still offers some areas where the thinking player can enjoy it as well. I liked the layout and I think with a little more tweaking and refining of some areas this can be a great course. I would recommended that everyone download this course and give it a try as it is put together very, very well.
"I am writing this review from the viewpoint of not only a player but as a Tour Director. Although I am not a designer I understand the work that goes into a design as I have beta tested many courses and my review is simply how I as a player/Tour Director would view this course."
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