| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 24 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-02-12 |
11,188,991 bytes |
72 |
8360 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
IMAGINARY |
PARKLAND |
ASHOAK.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| d6ec7e40007e11d5b58be2ac1cb93c23 |
6f0de497e3482c8c4ac2bde6c9e419fd |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Lacy Gearheart
First Impression: This is the first course designed by Randal Queen. It is a fantasy course that seems to be set somewhere in Texas or Oklahoma. It has a unique quality about it. It has very large terrain changes with sweeping fairways and undulating greens. The design is very very LONG and plays from the back tees at a monsterous 8360 yards. Many of the par 4's are 520 yards in length and the par 5's are much longer. The fairways break up into sections making it impossible to really crank your shots and go for distance. This course is designed for precision accuracy and patience. The fairways are basically islands that lead the way to the well hidden greens. The colors of the course are VERY nice. There is not any green rough other than the 1st cut around the fairway. The surrounding terrain consists of red dry brush covered with small bushes and tiny oak trees. The colors are what I liked about the design and I personally would consider this a desert style course. The fairways and 1st cut of rough are extruded and in some areas maybe a bit too much, but this IMHO adds to the realism and the overall playability. Not many shadows were seen in the top camera.
Like I said, this is a very long course and should be taken seriously. You wont find much in the way of blocking the fairway or the green, but many tee shots and approach shots are blind and the top camera is needed in order to find your way thru this course. On a few holes you will find bluffs that are really well crafted such is the case on the approach shot of Hole #10. Several of the holes offer a unique and nice view off the tees. This course plays alot like a combination of Entrada and Devils Island. Although the dry brush is not out of bounds and in play, falling into it wll cause mayhem trying to find the green. It is covered with small bushes and trees that will keep you from completing your objective. The canyon like surrounding terrain is well crafted and and well planted. The only downfall to this type of planting is that the Panorama is quite visible at times and looks strange due to the Lake Side Panorama set was the chosen choice. This can been seen on Holes #12, #16, and #18. You will find all of your approach shots will be on somewhat of a severe slope and they will play either uphill or downhill causing you to seriously consider club selection. This course is a HUGE challenge and will appeal to the Clickers that want a great challenge, but I am pretty sure that the average PS player will lean away from this unique beauty. But if they also want the challenge......this course is ready for them.
Custom ammenities: None that I saw, but the colors surely make up for that deficiency
Greens: Severely sloped; these greens are no pushover. Even if you are positioned close....you are in for a long day of putting. I missed many 5 foot puts and only shot -2.
Fairways: Usually segmented like tiny islands, these fairways are not generous and seem never to be the pefrect size. You will find you either have too much or not enough club to perfectly position yourself for the next shot. This just adds to the difficulty.
Tee Boxes: Well crafted tee boxes..very flat, but I personally did not prefer the sandstone fringe used on the tee boxes. The light rough around the fairway would have made a better choice. I would have liked to have seen some golf related items such as ballwashers, a sign or two and cartpaths, but he chose not to. This to me does not take away from the course and should not be confused with being an incomplete design.
Bunkers and Water Hazards: I did not see any water hazards except on the 5th hole , but the bunkers were well shaped. The bunkers also could use a little more tweaking. Some were a little bumpy and will cause a very bad lie if you find yourself in this area.
Planting: Overall it was very good. For this type of course, the choice of vegitation was a good one. The Panorama seemed out of place at times. Another one would have made it even better. A desert type Panorama would have helped this alot. But do to the limited amount; the designer just did with what he had. Of the stock panorama's...this was the best choice.
Best Hole: Several of the holes came to mind, but my personal favorite was the #5 hole, 198 yard par 3. This was a nice dowhill hole that dropped extremely in elevation. There was a very nice view from the tee and a single bunker fronted the green while the lone pond guarded the back left.
Overall: A very good fictional desert style course with few ammenites. This course is a challenge from the first hole and should appeal to many Clickers, but PS players will probably stay away from this one. For a first design this is top rate and I really look forward to Randal's next design.
Course Info :
Splash Screen? Yes
Cameo Screen? Yes
Hole Handicaps? unknown
Attached txt file? Yes
11mb
Reviewed March 2001 |
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