|
The Scorpion
by John Borycheski
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 422 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-06-03 |
23,936,585 bytes |
72 |
7241 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
DESERT |
The Scorpion.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 728fc7c3576011d5b7920050ba1149bd |
c1e84021cd2f577ffb82d9c4ca2dcc0b |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Pete Dixon
July 2001
Most definitely a desert course and I have to say desert courses leave me a little uneasy as they can appear to be hard edged as the texture available seems to make it that way.
Well I have to say that there is nothing hard edged about this wonderful course and the reason for that is the excellent planting that is used which softens everything but is believable and still very much gives the feel that you are in the desert.
The planting must have taken an age to do, it is not just thrown in or repetitive, it has been carefully planned and executed and mixed with outcrops of rocks that seem to glint in the sun.
Well that's just the outside, what about the playing area? You won't be disappointed here either, the tees are exquisite, fairways undulate and sit perfectly, the rough is not wide as you have the desert too but this also looks good and doesn't miss a cut of light rough between it and the fairway. Bunkers are expertly done and placed, they are not positioned to trap every good drive or approach but there to capture wayward shots, these are finished with a dry grass edging on some with rough around it that fits in just right with the surroundings.
Greens are a real test, there are subtle breaks to contend with and you must play the course regularly to be able to know where best to hit your ball onto them.
There is no panorama to speak of but the use of slopes and rocks mean that it makes its own natural one and looks fine.
Water doesn't feature until you get to the short par 4 6th from then on it features heavily and this is expertly handled again and gives a new feel to the course, again the planting is excellent around it.
There are some great risk/reward holes here, par 4's and 5's that aren't long, the par 4 10th gives you a chance of a hole in one if the wind is blowing right, if it isn't then it is all about club selection.
Elevation changes and the blending of textures are all spot on and the course just flows and is a pleasure to the eye, it never gets boring and all holes are unique, even the wasteland is edged off and planted well adding to the look and also adding an extra hazard.
Best Hole: Pick any one of 18, it is that good, I can't make my mind up so the picture I choose at the top is one of a hundred I could have posted.
Overall: Without doubt the best desert course yet, it would be fair to say that this would make a great course in real life, it certainly makes a great course for Links and one not to be missed. If any of you are thinking of creating a desert course then you have to check this out to see how it is done. There are no gimmicks here just beauty in its simplicity and execution.
A definite keeper and one of my contenders for COM for June, a top tenner, no question, can't wait for the next release.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Gormley's thoughts..
Overall: The Scorpion is a course based in a desert area. The planting is done pretty well and fits the course, but does seem a bit 'busy' for a desert area but this is just a personal observation. There are a couple of rough edges but nothing major. The bunkers and other hazards are pretty well done and placed well to challenge a player's ability. The greens are large and well designed. They all are contoured nicely with a very natural look and feel. The fairways are pretty well done with plenty of elevation changes, which are smooth and natural looking. This course basically looks and feels like a real course. Nothing fake looking here. The course overall is very fair for all swing types to play. The fairways and greens are very forgiving in their design but not so much that it makes the course easy to play. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a desert course that is fair and fun to play and look at.
Filesize 23MB
This review will be based on playability, aesthetics and originality. Please keep in mind that this is only my opinion following my play-testing of the completed course.
I fully understand the hard work and immense skill that is involved in the designing of these courses and my comments will try to be constructive and without bias.
Tested on classic swing Pro level from the back tees |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Imaginary, desert course |
Location
TBA |
Conditions
TBA |
Concept 4/10
Rocky desert with some manmade water features, green fairways and
some scary water features. A welcome break from the archetypal sandstrewn
desert courses. There's little as regards atmosphere, thanks to the
barren stretch of landscape and panorama, and the hole design is often a
bit of a mess; certainly a departure from the straightaway style normally
associated with desert courses. My reckoning is that The Scorpion lacks a
distinct focus on the part of the designer, and the result has quite a few
deficiencies. |
Appearance 4/10
The lushly-planted desert rocks are a splendour, and it's a crying shame that we couldn't see an equal standard of planting waterside
and in the expansive sandy waste areas. There's some odd uses of elevations, though, not least a ridiculous plateau green and some
massive and atypical drop-offs. For once, this is a course that might benefit from being a little bit more flat. Possibly the daftest visual
oddity is the horrendous clash between the grass textures and the thin band of yellowing wild rough, which just makes it look like a
road painter has had some spare time on his hands and done a golf course. |
Playability 3/10
Some serious problems here. Blind shots profligate, not just off the tee, and because the desert is marked a hazard, there will
inevitably be the frustration in losing strokes. Bunkers are altogether too carefully placed, and the course is less risk/reward than an
exercise in working out how to keep your ball safe. |
Challenge 4/10
The battle to hit the fairways will cost plenty of strokes, and the rough is virtually inescapable without hitting the desert hazard.
Tthe greens will cost too with their whopping gradients and horrendous pin positions. There's too many side-elevation shots, and
birdies are nigh-on impossible down the back straight. |
Technical 3/10
Steel trees dominate the desert and mean stray shots are inevitably punished: there are no lucky bounces here. Texture and elevation
use is at times atypical and other times just silly. Some good planting - at least from a distance - is the saving grace, but I'd like to see
much more work on the course's gameplay. |
| Overall |
A seriously over-rated course. Looking old, difficult, Mod-unfriendly, and horrible
without a Top Cam. Not the worst by far, but far from the best. |
18/50 |
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
|
|
|
