| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 183 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-03-31 |
31,953,521 bytes |
72 |
7511 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
LINKS |
northerndunes.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 74e6280025d511d5a4e744455354616f |
c7e3aac14f961cbfbefaada17299cc9f |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by James Wood
First Impressions:
Since the first inclusion of St. Andrews into the Links series the avid Links fan has been exposed to Scottish links style courses. As it turns out we were badly betrayed. After playing St. Andrews and the sister courses included in later editions of Links you always left the course with the feeling that there should have been something more to it than that. Well that something missing is what you will find when you play Northern Dunes. Windswept, barren, undulating, and breathtaking all at the same time this course may challenge your game like no other course available at this time. Even though this is a fictional course it always conveys a sense that somewhere in Scotland there is a course that appears exactly like this one.
Take the time to read the marker on hole #1 and take in the scenery that greets you while you gaze down the first fairway. The rest of the round will not be a sight seeing tour. You'll be too busy trying to save par. Sod bunkers, contoured greens, uneven fairway lies, and punishing rough are some of the challenges that are in store for you. The textures and color combinations used all seem to be perfectly matched to the setting. The twisted trees, gorse, and other planting done here gives you the impression that these plants struggle every day for their very survival. After playing your round here you may find that you were struggling for yours as well.
Strategy:
This course cries out to be played in windy conditions. It would be difficult even in calm weather. Even though the bunkers on this course appear intimidating you are far better off in the bunkers than in the deep grass. The lies in the deep grass are too unpredictable to allow you to play good shots from those positions. This deep grass often penalizes shots played through the greens. Chipping from these positions and getting up and down is almost impossible. Bunkers near the greens are usually placed to catch short approaches and off-line second shots. Bunkers in the fairways are always placed in ideal positions to penalize poorly hit drives. The par 4's on the front nine are all long holes typically requiring long irons and often requiring a wood for second shots. The only par 5 on the front nine is not reachable in two although this hole may present your lone chance at a birdie since you can play a lofted club such as a SW into the green. The back nine probably presents more birdie opportunities than the front. There is one reachable par 5 with a good risk/reward second shot. The 11th hole is only 546 yards from the back tees. The second shot however is usually going to be made from a severe side-hill lie with a left to right wind into a dogleg right. Play the shot well out to the left and you may be rewarded with a chance at eagle here. I won't give away any more of the course but there are a few holes to watch out for on your way in. The fairways here present many uphill, downhill, and side-hill lies causing you to constantly rethink your club selection and shot direction. The greens are very contoured and sometimes tiered. Getting the ball close to the pins is very difficult. Shooting par on this course is a very good score.
Favorite Hole:
I was going to pick one but I feel it would do an injustice to the course as a whole so I will take a pass and just say that I enjoyed the entire course and not just one hole.
Overall:
This course will set the standard for every links style venue either made with the APCD or produced as a commercial effort. It is an outstanding effort and should be in everyone's course library as a permanent addition.
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Lacy Gearheart's thoughts...
An excellent Scottish Links style design with tight fairways and undulating greens. It is so real that you can almost smell the salty air and feel the same anguish when your ball finds one of the nasty bunkers. If you play Links....you gotta have this for your library.
Course Info :
Cameo Screen? Yes
Splash Screen? Yes
Text file?
Hole Previews?
29mb
Reviewed March 2001 |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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