| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1679 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2006-06-25 |
81,436,672 bytes |
72 |
7404 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
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FICTIONAL |
WOODLAND |
Estate Height-test.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
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| COURSE NOTES |
| A new design for Links 2003 of an old JNSE course by Bob POLIN. |
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LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by: Chuck Clark
Background: Mr. Bois is well knows to Linksters as the designer of Bethpage Black and Broken Arrow among others. Dominique is well versed in the APCD; after being known to be pretty good with the Jack Nicklaus series designer in a previous career. This course is actually a remake of a JN course designed by a Mr. Bob Polin. It's been many years since I played JN so I couldn't tell you a thing about the JN version of this course.
Overall Impression: This is a very well built golf course with lots of interesting holes and unusual sights. There are deep rock lined lakes (almost like quarries). There are lots of big tree's and good work with elevations. There are also some very interesting and varied bridges over the ravines.
This is also a course which is suitable for people who like to play Links pre-mod and (probably) pro-click. In general the fairways are narrow and the greens are small. There are many holes with deep bunkers fronting the greens; which makes for a tough round if you're hitting from the rough.
Playability/Shot Values: This is the one area that I have a problem with this course. There are a number of narrow fairways with bunkers pinching in from the sides. There are some blind shots where the hazards are completely out of sight from the tee. Quite a few of the greens are very small and steeply pitched. Deep bunkers are frequently placed directly in front of the greens which precludes any type of run-up shot. Since I play at Champ level and I'm not that good I need to use a run-up shot on this type of course. The designer also used deep rough in a number of areas which added to the difficulty level.
The 17th hole is a good example of what I'm talking about (see screen shot). This is a 610 yard par 5 with no helping wind; so you feel that you have to hit driver. However, right in the driver landing area are a bunker on either side of the fairway reducing the fairway width to not much. If you play champ level or above it is very hard to hit this fairway with the driver. Well, this would be ok; but the lay-up shot is almost impossible. A creek crosses the fairway and there are large tree's and deep bunkers all around. There is almost nowhere to hit!
Visuals: Despite the playability issues this is a beautiful golf course to look at. Mr. Bois obviously knows how to use the program and does a fine job of giving each hole is own special look and feel. As mentioned above there is good use of 3-D objects, nice textures, lots of beautiful big tree's, interesting water hazards (rock line lakes and creeks) and good use of elevations. There is also some unusual detail work done on the cart paths and a pretty neat floral display behind the 9th green (see screen shot).
Technique: Very well done. There is some nice work with seam blends and the elevation work is smooth and realistic. The planting is well done; but there isn't any underplanting. Mr. Bois says in the read-me he had some problems with crash's and foresting (which I know all about). There was also some good work on the bunkers; although I would have liked to seem a bit less uniformity in the wet sand border. I also saw some sharp edge shadow's; including one right off the 9th tee. But that's getting pretty picky on my part; this course is actually very well done.
Favorite Hole: I don't usually pick a long par 4 as my favorite but I have to pick one here. The ninth hole is a long (480 yard) par 4 with a lake all down the right side of the fairway. The second shot is played to a narrow two tiered green with deep bunkers along the right side and a lake with fountains behind the back. There is some room to bounce the ball up along the left side of the green and the fairway is of a fair enough width. Therefore this hole is fun and playable! And it looks nice to boot!
Summary: This is a well done course that looks nice but plays pretty hard (for higher levels of play). I can heartily recommend it to (pre-mod) pro clickers. This is a perfect course for players who play at that level. There are serious playability issues for mod players at champ level and above. Some of the holes are a bit unfair at this level. The course is constructed very well; but it's not perfect. If this course was made a bit more playable and there was a few things fixed here and there it would be a top level course. But despite all that it is fun to play and nice to look at!
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CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, canyon course |
Location
TBC |
Conditions
TBC |
Concept 7/10
A fascinating course, fictional yet never unbelievable, Estate Heights plunders some great hole designs and almost outlandish course architecture in order to create a country club course with a hard 'edge'. Inspiring use of water, rockwork and elevations helps to create something sufficiently exotic and out of the ordinary to stand up: several holes are very clever, although certain APCD gimmicks (crossing fairways, shared greens) crop up from time to time when they really need not. |
Appearance 8/10
Very smart, particularly in the brave use of very lush green textures, although the designer has admitted that some of the fine detail had been rushed for release. It's sad, because it's occasionally just a little bit too obvious that more care could have been taken with edges: those of the 3D features, those of bunkers, and those along side water. With a little smoothing and some good 'cover up' planting, this could really be special. As it is, the rush job is just a little too obvious. |
Playability 9/10
Estate Heights really plays on its novelties and the mix of straightforward holes with something a little bit more exciting. It's a fabulous blend and holds up surprisingly well on repeated rounds. Many holes feature a viable alternative route of play and there are endless ways to explore this course. |
Challenge 5/10
The Par 5s are perhaps the biggest problem, yielding eagles and birdies too easily, and the easy-to-read greens will give up further shots. I personally found the wooded regions too forgiving as well. The ability to miss the water should result in a comfortable several strokes under par. |
Technical 9/10
Barring the corrections listed above, this has been smoothly done. It's a convert of an older course, so the course design has been refined, and the planting tidied up. It does make one wonder, though, whether this sort of fictional course would gain credibility if released as new: features such as straight-extruded bunkers in flat land and the over-reliance on artificial water features might just be gimmicky today. This shouldn't detract from the very creditable work on display, though. |
| Overall |
Something a little out of the ordinary, without being freakish or unbelievable, and all the more refreshing for that. |
38/50 |
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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