|
Jacob's Creek Golf Club
by Jacob Seersholm
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1644 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2006-01-17 |
101,502,976 bytes |
72 |
7477 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
WOODLAND |
Jacobs Creek Final.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| |
|
| COURSE NOTES |
Course is set in a typical danish landscape which is relative flat.
Zip file contains a readme with the full set of hole preview - ready to print and use when playing.
Have fun!
Jacob |
|
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewer - Michael Hubbard
INTRODUCTION
Jacob's Creek Golf Club is a follow up to Jacob's first brush with the APCD at Eagle Dome Golf Club. For this outing Jacob has conjured up a woodland course set in Denmark.
Extract from the Readme
Course is set in a typical Danish landscape. It's fairly flat, but contains so many other beautifull aspects. In Denmark it's common to use an old farm or other existing building as clubhouse. On Jacob's Creek it's an old farm rebuilt for clubhouse.
The pin placing's are done in three sets of a four round tournament and are grouped as follows: Pins 1 to 4 (round 1 to 4), or pins 5 to 8 (round 1 to 4) or pins 9 to 12 (round 1 to 4). This way all the prominent spots are covered through the four rounds.
- This file also contains the hole previews for the entire course -
COURSE
Right from the first tee Screenshot 1 Jacob's Creek has all the hallmarks of a European venue. Lush dark greens, browns and beige flecks in the tall grasses all give this course a touch of authenticity. It is flat for the most part with delicate variations in slope and elevation, sufficient to create pause for thought. The greens themselves are large and well watered with brown patches Screenshots 2, 5 reminiscent of any good European event. Amongst the tall grasses are numerous patches of red heather. Such is not to be found on every hole [or else it may be considered overdone] but where it is present its deep scarlet properties set the undergrowth on fire providing a unique feel to the course Screenshots 1, 2, 5.
The trees are fairly sparse overall, more akin to a parkland setting than woodland IMO. However they are gathered well into small copses and provide just the needed definition to an otherwise flat course with low lying panorama. The clubhouse is smart, though uninviting Screenshot 6. There are custom tee markers, hole previews boards Screenshots 1, 3, fences, stone bridges Screenshot 4 and flags in the mode of the Denmark national flag Screenshots 2, 5. Such fine attention to detail is evident too in the planting around the water features that enable them to merge in to the beauty of this course Screenshot 7. Added to this there are fine hole previews that picture both the landing area and green contours [also available in the read-me file]. What the course omits however are both crowds and tournament features that would most certainly have ranked this along with some other fine European tournament venues.
Water hazards are present on a number of holes around the course in the shape of lakes and of course creeks. The 11th and 18th par 5 holes are made both challenging and rewarding by the waters inclusion. Indeed on 18 there are two clumps of trees and two bunkers to navigate perfectly if one is to have a clear shot to the green in two. As such this demonstrates a flair for design that is lacking elsewhere.
There are one or two aspects about Jacobs Creek that do catch your eye here. One is the rather garish colouring of the sand texture Screenshot 6, which looks both out of place and a little unnatural. Another is the huge boulders seen in Screenshot 5 between the 10th and 11th fairways which dwarf everything save the tree that stands between them. Such additions add nothing to the realism of the course.
It is noticeable too that whilst there is a reasonable variation in the layout of the holes in play here, the greens are all too repetitive in nature. Firstly they are all large and gently sloped [which is ideal for mod play] and yet lack any other innovation such as the odd step or other feature. A large selection of the greens are identical in having a bunker contoured into either the front or back of a kidney shaped green which did become a recurring theme by the finish Screenshot 1 overhead & Screenshot 7. Along with this I found the transition from fairway to greens to be lacking in imagination as though each fairway ended with the green simply placed on top Screenshot 5 with a solitary strip of fringe grass. It appeared almost as though the course produced great feelings of grandeur along its fairways only to be greeted by the same green set up as at the last hole.
PLAYABILITY
At 7477 yards Jacobs Creek packs quite a punch, even from the shorter tees. Yet there are only 2 very long par 4's and three reachable par fives, all on the back nine. Thus the majority of holes fall into a very similar length and pattern. The fairways are aesthetically pleasing whilst having both water and sand on occasions for protection. However they are in general of ample width to hit long. With a lie in the short grass to play from Jacob's Creek suddenly looks a good deal easier as there are few terrors around the greens.
The rough here is pretty dense and very punishing around the greens if one strays from the short grasses. I was taken to hitting 2 or 3 shots on occasion to extricate myself from a torturous lie! However, with the course being largely flat, with generously sloping greens, there is little to fear or to prevent one from scoring low. The nature of the fairway approaches running directly into the greens with no contouring or rough encroachment allows for a very comfortable set up when running shots in at faster speeds [such as with the mod]. With the general layout of the course being uncomplicated there is little risk and reward all told. Fairways and greens should be relatively easy to find along with a good few birdies and eagles.
DESIGNER INTERVIEW - Jacob Seersholm
1. What has brought you the most pleasure in releasing Jacob's Creek?
'There were many pleasures. One of the greatest was building the clubhouse (which i did as the very first). It was fun trying out the 3D building. Another thing was tweaking textures to get them all right and matching.'
2. Where did you get the inspiration for using the red heather in the rough?
'heheehee . . . Well the heather is very common in Denmark where this course is supposed to be set - though it's fictional. Very large parts of Denmark are covered with heath.'
3. Was the large file size a factor in your not using tournament objects?
'That was one reason. Another reason is because we in Denmark only had one European tour tournament in 10 years. It's a very rear thing here.'
4. Are you working on another venture at present?
Yeah I started a new course about a month ago. 17 holes are done - no planting at all yet. The lay-out is around a steep edge with some magnificent drives and views.....
CONCLUSION
At 104 mb Jacobs Creek represents a huge file size and yet it renders at good speed. Jacobs creek is a beautiful course, that highlights the finer side of European golf. Its attractive planting and water features supply it with a scenic charm all its own. As such its artistic qualities outshine its challenges from tee to green. A little more imagination around the greens in particular would have helped to make this course both as challenging as it delightful.
IN A WORD
Delightfully Danish |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, marshland course |
Location
Denmark |
Conditions
One or two greens will probably force you to limit this to M*/M*. Breezy wind conditions work well. |
Concept 8/10
A sumptuous creation, set in a lakeside environment, and making a big think of beautiful grass, planting, Jacob's Creek also features a fair few stand-out holes, not least the excellent 8th, 11th and 14th, which demand careful golfing strategy. In fact, they carry much of the course, with some other holes being either less appetising or a little over-the-top. The whole thing is wrapped up in an excellent parcel which is truly reminiscent of European lowlands. |
Appearance 8/10
The view from the first tee is almost the best on the whole course, with delicate scarlet flowers among the weeds and beautifully-planted waterside. It's a theme that recurs around the course, which has also used tiny elevation changes to great effect. The bunkers are suitably lipped, and the panorama fits well, but the clubhouse is perhaps a bit of an eyesore from certain angles, not least when concluding the first half of the course. |
Playability 9/10
Excellent golf from the get-go, with a variety of straightforward and very target-oriented holes. Most of the Par 5s are constructed to be proper three-shotters, which makes a refreshing change, and the hazards are used prudently to catch errant shots. The interplay between straightforward holes and those with more flair is entirely natural, which only adds to the course's appeal. |
Challenge 7/10
Under benign conditions, Jacob's Creek is very accessible. Greens are relatively unguarded and the rough, despite being populated by the trademark grasses, is not a big threat. As long as you avoid the bunkers, and play the trademark holes with a bit of common sense, you can score low. It's a much more interesting propostion at faster speeds, and plays very close to par. |
Technical 8/10
The technical work has held up very well, and there's a distinct feel to the course which helps to set it apart. The golfing design is excellent, too, managing to incorporate some very imaginative holes without coming across as gimmicky. A shame about the clubhouse, which might have been better left out, and some hasty work around some of the bunkers. |
| Overall |
A terrific mixture of holes, blended skilfully into a believable setting. Definitely worth your time. |
40/50 |
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.
|
|
Download course
|
Please support Links Corner
|
|
|
