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Parrot Landing
by Dave Everitt
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1609 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2005-08-11 |
64,888,832 bytes |
72 |
7222 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
TROPICAL |
parrot2005.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| |
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LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewer - Michael Hubbard
NOTE
I have in this review sort to take a fresh look at the course rather that detailing a retrospective comparison of this version to its predecessor. I have therefore simply reviewed the course as it is now & not what has been changed . . .
INTRODUCTION
Parrot Landing is amongst Dave's five designs and the largest file size to date. This revamp weighs in at a modest 57mb. Its intention seems all along to immerse the linkster in a jungle environment of sights and sounds.
Extract from the Readme - by Dave Everett
'I added some new textures, a few statues here and there, and basically left the course layout the same.. . .'
'Hopefully, I captured enough of the 'feel' to help you pretend you are in a forest on an island somewhere, playing a fun round of golf with a few buddies....beer optional.'
COURSE
If tropical was the intent then the result was exotic [Screenshot 4]. The colouring of both greens and fairways is lime & verdant, reflecting the lush nature of the environment. Bunkering was light overall but well positioned to ensure thought off the tees. Knowing nothing at all about design I was distracted continually by the extrusion line around the fringe of every green [Screenshot 7]. I felt it gave a most unrealistic feel to the course especially as it became inconsistent when one was around the green. There are of course plenty of palm trees along with good undergrowth of shrubs & bushes. If anything it does all seem a little too busy at times especially with the inclusion of many cloned Easter Island statues around the course. These seemed a little out of place for me, partly in respect of the colour contrast and partly because of their positioning [Screenshot 7].
Perhaps the most defining feature that gives this course its grasp of the tropics is the sensational soundfile! Tropical Birdcalls of every kind adorned each hole. Indeed it is well worth delaying your shot now and then to just soak up the atmosphere that this engenders. There is even some subtle background music on the tenth tee, though I am not sure why? In addition there are beautifully rendered Parrot flags, hole picture boards [Screenshot 2], 150-yard stone markers & some fine fencing to give this course a sense individuality. Disappointingly the hole previews are simply an overhead shot with no notes.
One aspect that did appear somewhat out of place was the inclusion of a number of rock formations [Screenshot 6]. Aside from looking decidedly unconvincing, they added nothing to the overall playability of the course and could as easily been omitted. Otherwise the grass, sand and rocks appeared blurry in places and & gave the impression that a little Beta testing could have cleaned up things a whole lot.
PLAYABILITY
It's a very modest 7222 yards from the tips with four tough but reachable par 5 holes of which three have a blind second shot approach [Screenshot 3]. Only two of the par 4 holes measure in excess of 450 yards.
What is noticeable however, right from the outset is the predominance of doglegs around this circuit [with six on the front nine - 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9], being a few too many in truth. This did seek to focus attention at times on the dense nature of the jungle, as one was constrained to hit a good number of drives simply for position thereby making the course appear to play without much risk. Indeed without the par 5's there would be little risk and reward in this course [save the reachable par 4 ninth hole]. As such this probably makes it slightly less than attractive as a tournament venue.
The greens are real test of ingenuity to navigate. Many have vicious slopes to test the most accomplished of short games [Screenshot 5]. Overall a little too severe IMO and of a type that would render the MOD unplayable.
DESIGNER INTERVIEW - DAVE 'POSSUM' EVERETT
1. Do you prefer creating a tropical course to any other?
That's a great question, Hubbs. Tropical forests are probably the one thing on Earth I know the LEAST about. I live in East Texas, not a lot of tropical stuff around here. But I've also noticed that even though tons of courses are designed along waterfront areas, and on beaches, few if any really have a 'Tropical' feel to them. I wanted my course to have that deep, lush feel to it...and I enjoy playing in that type of environment. That's the real reason for the tropics.
2. Was it your intention to include so many doglegs or did it just happen like that as it went along?
The doglegs...laying out a course is without a doubt my biggest weakness. This course is actually a re-do of a course I submitted in 2001, and I was even worse at it back then.
3. What was your favourite hole?
I don't really have a favourite hole...there is a couple I'm not too fond of. If I had to pick a favourite, I would say the Par 5 17th...not because it was fun to design, but it's fun, at least for me, to play. My real fun came in trying to create the right ambience and make sure I did the best I could to immerse the players in, as much "jungle" conditions as I could...all the bird sounds are tropical birds from Costa Rica.
4. Are you working on any other courses for the future?
I haven't started anything new yet. Designing is kind of a spare time thing for me. I'm 48 years old, and some of the newer techniques the top designers are using are probably a bit out of my reach. But with winter coming on, I'll probably sit down and stir up something. I've had the name "Rattler's Canyon" on my note pad for a couple of years now, so I'll probably work on a desert course of some type.
CONCLUSION
This course is not greatly polished, not as challenging as a good many others and a little cluttered in places. Yet with many individual features and exotic sounds it captures the true nature of a round played on a tropical Island, as was Dave's intention. There are no crowds, but in truth this adds to the venue as an Island retreat. Not an ideal tournament venue I would suggest but none the less a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere in which to immerse oneself for a variation from the norm.
IN A WORD
Rumble in the Jungle |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Imaginary, tropical course. |
Location
TBA |
Conditions
TBA |
Concept 5/10
Parrot Landing is a claustrophobic, enclosed jungle course with no small
amount of ambition. The numerous rock protrusions are a notable feature,
and few novel twists on hole ideas are impressive and cause some
thought. Despite one or two extremely impressive holes, there's not much
in the way of coherence on this course: the feel of disjointedness and the
panorama do not at any point combine to really make you feel you are
playing the author's intended location. |
Appearance 6/10
The overwhelming impression at Parrot Landing is of crowdedness, especially when all the impressive custom objects are added to the
mix: I grant that's it's not easy to incorporate customisation into this sort of course. There's certainly a lot to look at, though! The jungle
isn't always clone-free, although it's hard to say that it detracts from the round. What is a distraction, however, is the odd panorama;
impressive in its scale, it doesn't quite gel with the foreground. Some of the textures are likewise problematic: the bunkers in particular
looking low-res and unimpressive. |
Playability 6/10
Tropical courses need to have plenty of variety and unusual holes to engage casual players. This course provides it only in fits and
starts: there's quite a lot of padding between holes of genuine enjoyability. Certainly, jungle environments such as this do not lend
themselves easily to holes of strategy or risk. There's a cracking selection of custom sounds and it's certainly worth playing through for
the oddball visuals and some hidden gems, but it won't be a permanent addition to many collections. |
Challenge 6/10
A tough course, thanks to some penal gradients and the attendant trappings of the jungle. Frequent fairway bunkers make even
demands on keeping your drive straight. You'll need a steady hand around the greens, too, with some unexpected elevations and
tough flag positions. Take your birdies at the Par 5s and run. |
Technical 5/10
A panorama both good and bad, some jerky elevations and bunkers that have not really been cared for. I like the yellowing textures, so
why make the tee boxes so green? There's obvious APCD skill lurking beneath the façade, so why is it so easy to pick up areas of
neglect? A mystery. |
| Overall |
A busy jungle course with some impressive visuals that don't quite gel, but exceed
the golfing value nevertheless. |
28/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
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