|
Imperial Valley C.C.
by Lonnie E. Lindell
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1606 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2005-08-10 |
71,651,328 bytes |
72 |
7690 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
MOUNTAIN |
Imperial Valley C.C.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| |
|
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewer - Michael Hubbard
INTRODUCTION
A strong mountain setting is the home of Lonnie's second outing as an APCD designer. It makes good use of the highland panorama as it traverses through some unwavering holes incorporating more than its fair share of watery graveyards.
Extract from the Readme
'Imperial Valley is my second course'
'Imperial Valley is a fictional course set in the Mountains . . . The course received its name from the Imperial Valley subdivision in Cheyenne, Wyoming'
'The course has 4 tee markers, Custom logo, splash screen, hole previews and custom flags. Just a FYI, the 1st cut is set to rough'
The hole previews are of great help. The first for example recommends a drive down the left. The benefits of this are all to clear if you send your drive down the right! To help, the course also provides Fairway markers [Screenshot 1 & 3], giving the best driving line for each hole. The custom flags [of Welsh design] are IMO superb.
COURSE
The course has a splendid lay out. It has good colouring and made the most of the panoramas throughout. I did feel the tree's were somewhat scattered, especially around the par 3 holes [Screenshot 5 & 7]. Being of many differing varieties I felt they looked a little unnatural. There are a number of good blind shots along the way [when played in close up] which accentuates the rolling variation in levels used on this course. Good elevation is used throughout [Screenshot 4].
Disappointingly there are no crowds or tournament objects on this course. For me these would have really added a great tournament feel to the layout that seemed sadly missing. There is just the one 3D object [at number 18 - Screenshot 6] along with old tee markers allowing speculation that a little more could have been added to make this course really swing.
PLAYABILITY
Time for the BIG stick, for Imperial Valley is very long. Measuring 7690 from the tips, with nine par 4's of 450 yards and more. Pleasingly however the par 5's are reachable and the course begins and ends on this note. Indeed both 1 & 18 are both great par 5's to take on [Screenshot 1].
Some risk and reward is evident in places, with a large preponderance of water on the course that regularly comes into play. At the par 5, sixth hole, for example, one must drive onto the small peninsular to be able to reach the green in two. However BEWARE the rough!! The rough is pretty penal. As noted above, the first cut is rough which poses one or two problems such as at number 6 [Screenshot 2] as hitting the first cut here will mean that reaching the green in two is no longer an option! As for the 'rough' itself? Don't go there!
Given its length, accurate driving is crucial. However in this respect the fairways are reasonably generous allowing one to take on the distance with limited risk. The bunkers are fine but again, could have been better placed in the fairways than the rough thereby requiring more accurate placement of each tee. Having said that the trees come into play a good deal. At the par 4 seventh for example [Screenshot 3] you must negotiate the trees on the inner corner of the dogleg. This will leave a pleasingly open shot to the green [Screenshot 4]. Water poses perhaps the greatest risk over all, as it dominates many of the holes [Screenshot 5].
The greens too are very large indeed. On the par 4, fourth hole, a 230+ yard second shot may leave one with anything in the 20 - 60 yard department to negotiate. The greens are moderately contoured and do allow for the opportunity of some good length puts.
Looking at it critically all of this can create one overriding feeling of monotony. Generous fairways, long holes, large greens . . . There is a simple lack of variety in the hole length to save one from the feeling that one must leather each and every shot. In this respect the course is quite brutal and unrelenting. As such, it lacks the finesse and touch that come from a more disparate variety of holes, Calling for a medley of flair and creativity. In this regard the course comes up a little short, providing a sustained challenge of strength but not guile.
DESIGNER INTERVIEW - LONNIE LINDELL
1. How did the course evolve for you?
Sitting here I'm trying to remember back to January of 2005. The APCD fever got me again. On the day I released my first course. I told myself that I would never put myself though that again, designing a course. Than in January the APDC bug got me. I was sitting at my desk and started drawing a layout of a course. After the first hole, Following my drawings I designed the first hole. Well so much for the drawings. From there on, the course grew as it came to me. This might sound strange. Designing cNote Heights - later the name was changed to Imperial Valley. Became a way to relax after a day at work.
2. Was it your intention to make the course play long?
I wanted to create a course that had many risk & reward holes. I wanted to make the course long. Wanted to add difficulty wherever I could.
3. What would you say was the signature hole for you?
I really enjoyed designing the 3rd hole, the 6th hole. I like the way the 13th hole turned out, & the 18th hole [Screenshot 6]. Hmm if I had to pick 1. I would have to pick #3 [Screenshot 7]. You cant beat the view from the 3rd tee. I have always enjoyed a downhill, from the tee to green, hole. Just a FYI. Back home, Billings, Montana, we have a golf course that has a hole that looks very similar to the 3rd hole. When designing this hole. I did think of the course back home. Like I mentioned, I really like down hill tee to green holes.
4. What has given you the most pleasure in this design?
When I released the 1st beta of this course. I meet Vivo. We spent 6 - 8 weeks getting this course to its final release. I learned many new aspects to the APCD from him. I cant thank him enough for his contribution leading to the final release of Imperial Valley. I can only thank him for his help and hope that one-day, I can do for him as he has done for me. I had the pleasure of meeting a real friend in Viv.
5. Where did the inspiration for the flags come from?
I used the Welsh flag as a thank-you to Viv for all his help. I told Viv I wanted to do something to thank him for all his help. This was my thank you to him.
CONCLUSION
This course is a monster. It plays very well indeed and seriously - l o n g . . . perhaps too long for a true test of links genius. The inclusion of a greater diversity in fairways, greens and hole lengths could have taken this out of the good course file and promoted it to very good. For only his second outing as a designer however, Lonnie has put great heart into this design. It is a great test of power driving and accuracy with length on approach. A great tournament course [despite the absent crowds] that cannot be underestimated.
IN A WORD
Big Country |
This course is available as a FREE download.
|
|
Download course
|
Please support Links Corner
|
|
|
