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Loon Lake Lodge - Hillside
by Warren Wilson
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 545 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-08-16 |
57,339,375 bytes |
72 |
6817 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
IMAGINARY |
MOUNTAIN |
LLLHillside.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| ca140140920811d58ef70050baa75708 |
052c7533ef75f19b0ddf1e8aeca7580a |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Chuck Clark
Background: There is a good read me included with this course, so I will let the designer speak for himself: 'I began the two courses: Loon Lake - Lakeside, and now Loon Lake - Hillside, with the idea of creating two rounds of 18 holes that play similarly, yet each have their own flavor. I based the first course around a real bird sanctuary near where I live. There of course, is not, nor ever will be a golf course there. From that course evolved its companion, the Hillside course. It is located to the west of Lakeside and the rear of the clubhouses appears on the Hillside course. I don't believe they become visible during play, however. I hope the courses are very playable yet offer challenges. I did not want to create unrealistic greens or fairways on either course. The risk factors shouldn't be too great but require accuracy at least in general.
It is very wise to stay away from the areas near waterways. The underbrush makes shots very difficult. Thanks to the folks who gave the beta a test through and made helpful suggestions: Taboo, Loner, DWC and MPC. My apologies if I've left anyone off!'
Overall Impression: This was another course which gave me a pleasant surprise. There has been little or no comment about this course since it came out. But I am telling you right now, there should be. This is a fascinating golf course. It has some extremely interesting golf holes. There are huge variations in elevations; both up, down and across. I am so happy to finally see a mountain pano with a mountainous course.
The pano is a custom one that is a bit weird and phony looking (see below). Sorry, but it looks like something that was made up, not a real picture. The course is wild and interesting. There are huge mountains of rock, flowing creeks, cliffs of stone and lots of deep bunkers. The greens are a bit small and you really have to play with the top cam open. There are a number of dog legs that require a 3-wood off the tee. The tee boxes are extremely unusual as well. They flow over the landscape like a carpet. Many of them are huge and have lots of slopes in them. But they are all flat where the tee markers are, so it is ok.
Playability: This course is playable if you really plan your way around; especially off the tees. You are hitting less than driver off most of the tees, but this is ok since the course is not too long (which is pretty refreshing for a change). There are many dog legs, which require you to aim carefully. The greens are small and narrow in places and some are severely sloped as well. But all in all, mostly due to the length (6817 yards), the result is a course which is very playable.
Shot Values: Wow, you have to have just about every shot in the book to play this course. You really better know what clubs to hit on highly up hill and down hill shots. There is one tee shot on a par 3 that is about 50 yards above the green Quick, how much yardage do you add for 50 yards downhill? And there are many dog legs, and side hill lies to test your skill as well.
Visuals: Like I mentioned above, I didn't like the pano much, but I do like the look of the rest of the course. The creeks and valleys are really well done. The cliffs of rock and the wild slopes are fun and different. The bunkers are well done and nice to look at (but don't go in, they are deep).
Technique: The APCD technique here was pretty good. There are some sharp texture transitions, but other than that, I did not see any critical errors. The hazards are well done, and the planting is very nice.
Summary: This is an extremely interesting golf course. I really enjoyed playing here and plan on doing it again. And I am not just saying that because I had a really hot round the first time I played it (I actually scored the lowest round I have ever shot in L2K1). It is not long and requires lots of thought. I recommend it to anyone with a fast connection. It is a pretty large download though, so you slow connection guys may not want to spend the time. But if you are looking for a wild and fun golf course, with lots of mountains, cliffs, dog legs and interesting additions, then I say go ahead and spend the time. You won't be disappointed.
Course Info :
Cameo Screen? Yes
Splash Screen? Yes
Text file? Yes
Hole Previews? No
50mb
Reviewed February 2002 |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Imaginary, mountain course |
Location
I’d be inclined to put this in the Canadian Rockies somewhere. |
Conditions
Slowest settings only. |
Concept 7/10
A very ambitious course, Loon Lake Lodge's Hillside makes a brave attempt at living up to its billing with soaring elevations, pretty flowers
and lakes, and towering rockworks. It's not come at the expense of good strategic golf, either, with most of the sternest demands off the
tee. The extreme nature of the course has come at the expense of some fine detail, though, and the overall presentation needs work, with
little by way of accompanying documentation or hole previews. |
Appearance 3/10
Sadly very dated. The textures do not fit together at all well, exhibiting messy rings around both fairways and greens, and much of the
work looks very blocky, with the mesh being somewhat manhandled into shapes and bunker outlines very much an afterthought. There is
some credibility in the planting and several of the novelty features, but the course looks distinctly old-fashioned and mis-formed in too
many parts. |
Playability 6/10
A short course that demands much of the strokes in the book, the Hillside course has a lot of potential to play in various ways,
including links-style creative use of the rough. Long hitters will have plenty to aim at, and the variety of hazarding conditions will hone
the recovery game. You'll need to overlook an absurdity or two, but this remains quite playable. |
Challenge 6/10
As long as you don't play silly buggers with the green conditions, which are distinctly out-of-date, you'll find the course presents a fair test.
Good shots are rewarded; poor ones punished, and this is most true on the Par 4s. The longest and shortest holes lack the correct
ambition, and it's perhaps a bit too easy to score par on both. |
Technical 5/10
Plenty of credit is due for creating stimulating golf in this highly stimulating environment, with plenty of highlights in the drama of the
landscape and a few novel touches that rarely get seen elsewhere. But there is distinctly less credit due for some pretty awful mesh
work, and an uncreative choice of textures. |
| Overall |
An exciting mountain course that is worth a look around despite its age. |
27/50 |
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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