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Qualchan
by Jack Hartt
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 217 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-04-30 |
12,074,983 bytes |
72 |
6767 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
PARKLAND |
qualchan.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 21cf6cc03d6911d588fb828ae28f8248 |
c5fb27fc26d4ada36d449da5a5755d10 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Pete Dixon
I reviewed the Beta release of this real course from Spokane, Washington a few weeks ago only to discover that I had just missed out on the new improved final version that I am reviewing now by just a day or two.
This is the only version available now and much improved it is to, addressing all the points I raised that in my opinion could be altered for the best.
The beta course was a very good effort but certainly lacked finesse this has been rectified by the use of custom textures which now adorn the course, rough, fairways, greens, semi rough, tees and grassy areas all now look excellent and have been improved no end, the cut strip between the fairway and rough has also been much improved and the bunkers have much better depth and finish.
The water is also finished off better and the creek that runs through the course has lost its brightness and artificial look and now has reflection and is so much more lifelike.
Planting has also been tidied up although there are still a few errors around.
I am not going to go on too much here as the original course was very good in its own right but suffered from basic errors, the good of the original has been kept and the errors eliminated on the whole.
Best Hole: I actually go for the par 5 third which now looks and plays much better since the re-vamp. You have to hit a mega accurate tee shot to a narrow strip of fairway with water on either side, then a second over water to the green.
Overall: A much-improved course from the beta, the custom textures and careful planning that has gone into the improvements has reaped dividends. There are still some areas that can be improved on, planting, layout a little smoother but as I correspond with Jack I know he will be improving all the time and is keen to learn, his next course should be even better.
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First Review for ref only (Beta Release)
This is a fictional course which is hard to describe, it is quite open with trees and a creek that runs throughout the 18 holes, more like a river really with some very nice effects for the water, you have to see it for yourself to appreciate it.
This is Jack's first design to be available for download and what a gem it is and only a meager 11MB file, so no strain on your phone line.
As you look out from the first tee you get a fine view ahead of you, of the first hole but also some of the other parts of the course, it is a fresh approach and although very nice it improves as you continue your round, in fact the first hole is probably the weakest hole on the course.
I am not saying the course is perfect, far from it. I like the course for it's fresh ideas in layout and for the obvious potential that Jack has in using the APCD. There are errors that are obvious to see, he has tried to refine as much as he can but hasn't quite got the expertise with which to do it yet. This is obvious from areas such as making seams neat between fairways and semi-rough and on the tee boxes; it almost works but twists in places and doesn't quite come off.
The same can be said for the planting, there is not an over abundance of plants and under planting here and what there is, is usually pretty well done but there are some untidy pieces around.
The bunkers have good depth and are reasonably well finished but again they are on the verge of being very good, there is, however, room for improvement.
Fairways, greens and rough are stock textures, fairways are gently sloping with a cut strip between it and the rough, the greens are smallish with some quite nasty borrows and I would rate as medium to hard difficulty.
The fairways are quite wide and easy to hit, although, these are guarded by bunkers and water hazards in places. In fact the fairways are a little too basic in shape and width for me and could be tightened and maybe tweaked in order to make the course more of a challenge.
Best Hole: The par 4 17th, a dog leg right with the creek on your left and a stream running through the fairway just about where you want to drive your tee shot. Your second shot is over the stream to a green guarded by two nice bunkers on the right.
Overall: I hope I haven't sounded too negative about Qualchan, there are mistakes, yes, but there is something about the course that gives it a certain charm and uniqueness.
I know Jack has re worked the course already with other designers help and should be available for download soon, he has used custom textures and finished off areas much more in keeping with the best courses available now, this may effect your decision to add this version to your collection, only you can decide on that.
As for Jack, I am sure he is going to keep on improving and as he improves the standard of his courses will get better and we will all be wanting to add his courses to our collections.
Course Info :
Cameo Screen?
Splash Screen?
Text file?
Hole Previews?
12mb
Reviewed May 2001 |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Real, lakeside course. |
Location
TBA |
Conditions
TBA |
Concept 7/10
Loosely based on a real course, the difficulty level at Qualchan has been
pumped up, with small, tough greens and the hazards and deep rough
brought heavily into play. There is some entertaining hole design and a
strong sense of locality. But you get the feeling occasionally that the
course has been built to play you, rather than let you play it. Not bad, but
certainly pushy. |
Appearance 9/10
There's a lot to look at at Qualchan, particularly in the way of water features. The network of lakes features heavily and is extremely
well-constructed and planted. Elevation changes are used to good advantage and the heavily planted areas look genuinely menacing.
For an old design, this shines. |
Playability 9/10
This course will constantly serve up challenges and find new ways to test you out. It's a bit frazzling having to think over the pluses and
minuses of every shot, and you wouldn't want to play a 72-hole tournament here. But the sheer variety keeps you hooked, and the
likeable extras, including some decent custom sound, is a touch that helps the course stand out from the rest. |
Challenge 3/10
Woah! Slow down. This course is much too hard. The deep rough is inescapable; the water ever present. Nearly all approach shots will
flirt with a hazard in some shape or form, and the worst is still to come. The greens are maddeningly, infuriatingly difficult: not steep,
but intricately contoured and almost impossible to line up putts upon. I shot a 77 and felt reasonably happy with my round. Not a
course for the faint-hearted. |
Technical 7/10
Being a 2001 product, this course does lack some of niceties of modern designs. But customisation (sound and visual) is used well
throughout, there is a polished finish to most of the visuals, and texture transitions are - for the large part - admirable. A little more
work on tidying the planting and elevations might be in order, especially the latter. Several greenside shots are rendered nearly
impossible by gradient changes and this does significantly affect the game. |
| Overall |
A real tester of a lakeside course. You'll take to it easily but come away dirty and
frustrated. May cause harm to those suffering from stress. |
35/50 |
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.
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