Billabongs HD
by Mark Pogson, update by Lez Marwick

Note: This course contains 1024x1024 textures and can only be played in version 1.07 or later of Links 2003

Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 2105 Release Date CRZ Filesize Par Course Length 2012-11-13  121,791  bytes 72  6896 yards Type Style CRZ Filename FICTIONAL  PARKLAND  BillabongsHD.crz  Course ID Course Key c7cae0b751bd42d29b9239d612d6d698  56275ccb5bc0520e870608eb12e6bf8c  COURSE SCREENSHOTS COURSE NOTES Billabongs HD update by Lez Marwick The course shadow file can take some time to create, especially on older computers. There are computer player drop problems on this course. If these occur, use Alt+tab to return to Windows and then shut down Links by right clicking on task bar icon and close window then exit program. Restart Links, and load in LASTGAME.sav to continue. The computer player will then be able to drop the ball. These are the changes I can remember making: New HD textures New and modified mids Hole boundaries adjusted Added planting on 16 to inhibit short-cutting Custom tee markers Logo added Modified splash screen Field of flowers replaced with grass for better draw distance Seam blend on 4th fairway fixed Fixed some floating grass in water Planted grass in horse field Green slopes reduced 18 pins planted on each green Some greens expanded slightly Some rocks re-mapped More sounds - horses, cows, water, and billabong ambience Hole previews (in yards, because they were originally made for my personal use) A big THANK YOU to Mark Pogson for allowing this update, and for creating Billabongs. The more I play it, the more I love this course! Lez CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) Description Imaginary, farmland course Location NSW, Australia Conditions M*/M* is playable with care Concept  6/10 The ideas and flair behind Billabongs are impressively conveyed, and there's no doubt that the downlands of New South Wales have been imaginatively reconstructed, along with plenty of scene-setting objects and suitable sounds. But the course itself has gone off the rails for something specifically intended to be down-at-heel and local - it's tortuously contrived, features some near-impossible requirements, silly green shapes and over-long Par 5s, and the odd conceit of putting three Par 3s in the middle of the back 9 strikes of desperation. Appearance  7/10 The yellowing green is a good choice, especially with Lez's hi-res update; certainly the course melds nicely with the panorama and surrounding fields. The planting has been tightened up and there are fewer anachronisms: the remaining vestiges of farmland are a welcome alternative touch. Unfortunately, the general appearance, although improved, is still somewhat washed-out. Playability  6/10 Well, there's certainly never a dull moment at Billabongs. The hole shapes are intriguing, water a surprisingly constant threat, given the location, and there are plenty of opportunities to take risks. Unfortunately, it's all a bit too cynical and contrived to be taken seriously, there are a lot of blind shots, and the argument that 'simpler is better' has rarely applied more so than here. There are some real standout moments, especially on the back nine, but only really for novelty value. Challenge  4/10 Less of a hard layout than a sadistic one, you'll spend plenty of time sharing your woes with the water oases, and frequently having to shuffle around to get an acceptable approach into the tiny greens. Putting is certainly no pushover, either, with some old-school green construction adding the final blow. Technical  6/10 Billabongs is a fairly lofty project on the surface, and now that some fine-tuning has taken place, it's certainly a more playable course that matches up to its designer's ambitions. The hole design never really gets its feet grounded, though, hence the 'Imaginary' categorisation. Some floral hole previews have been sacrificed for functionality, but the ambitious hole design demands more than this. Overall A course with some worthy ambitions as far as location and creativity goes. Unfortunately, the designer's gone overboard in an effort to impress. 29/50 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