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Munchen Nord - Eichenried
by Guenter Kujat
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 602 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-10-13 |
48,536,023 bytes |
72 |
7096 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
REAL |
PARKLAND |
Eichenri.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 5a492f21c7294a94801080c76867dbdf |
83e317a48a149901b0bfc16006598d28 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Dave Campbell
December 2001
Expectations: It is always a pleasure to review a Günter design, as I'm sure all Links players are familiar with his expert recreation of German tour courses. I am familiar with the layout and have played it many times, but look forward to another round and the slight changes made.
First Impressions: This is the third version of Munich North - Eichenried (now named München Nord - Eichenried) and Günter, more so than any other designer, is the first to re-release his courses with the newest APCD enhancements and fixes. I personally like this as it will keep an older course more contemporary, particularly if they are as well done as Günter's are. This course is a recreation of a real course in or near Munich Germany and is the host of the 'BMW International Open', an annual European PGA tour stop. It is an open, parkland style course and is a par 72 playing to 7,096 yards from the black tees. Four tee choices are available and the red ladies tees are a mere 6,057 yards.
I guess the real question here is how does this course hold up one year after it's initial release. Let's take a look, shall we?
Playability: Let me get right to the point. Is this course showing it's age a bit compared to the recent deluge of marvellous designs? Should it still be considered one of the top courses available? I can sum it up in just few words . yes, YES and YES!!! This course still looks and plays as smoothly as any released to date. It may not be flashy or tricked up but it is classic in design and playability. I'll admit that I have a soft spot for this design being that it was the first APCD course that completely amazed me. It is also a wonderful powerstroker course and the lure of not having to stress on every single shot is a powerful one. That being said it is not a pushover at all and many shots will get your attention. Turn up the wind and set the greens to fast with difficult pins and I think you'll have your hands full, at least I know I would. Couple that with the great tournament atmosphere that is present and the nicely planted objects and crowds and you really get the feel of being there. In my test round I added the H2O sound script to further enhance the experience.
The tees are pretty straightforward and have a visually pleasing 1st cut collar. Almost all tee shots are wide open with the exception of maybe two, and all these needed were a shift right or left in the tee box and you could still tee off straight. That doesn't mean you automatically pull the driver and mash away. In fact I think on half my tee shots or more I used a 3W or less, just to make sure I caught the generous part of the fairway. Many holes choke right at the 250-280 yard mark with bunkers, water or just natural twists of the fairway. The fairways all have a 1st cut bordering them, and a straight tee to green mapping of mowed texture. They roll very subtly in elevation but are always there, so expect the occasional awkward lie. Like I mentioned there are many fairway traps (of which I found a few, even with my safe tee off strategy) so these will need to be taken into account as well.
The bunkers are formed nicely with a small, mud lip sidewall. There construction is first class and they are fairly shallow for the most part, which helps a bit with the recovery shots. Like I said I was in the fairway traps at least 4 times and didn't garner a bogie all round, so I call that very fair. Some of the greenside bunkers had some good elevations surrounding them but again, I could always use the explosion shot to get close and save my par. There is quite a bit of water in this design too. It doesn't appear overwhelming at first, no large lakes or anything, but when you start to look at how many holes have water present you realize it's a hazard to be wary of. The look of the water in this design is still as realistic as any produced to date. Lovely planting abounds with nice march grasses, waterfowl and new (I think) rock bank textures. I like the realistic look of the hazard stakes and the nice little footbridges built from the terrain.
The greens are very well done, exhibiting a cross-mowed texture and fringe border. Real nice balance of elevations on most, with an added element of danger from many greenside bunkers and a few well placed ponds. The putting test is perfect here in my opinion, never a truly flat lie but most putts can be realistically made inside 10'. That doesn't mean I made them all (I wish), but on many courses I don't have this same feeling when I putt. I become more defensive in nature, just trying to lag and not give myself a 4-5 foot come backer. I felt I could attack many of the putts on this course and that's a fun way to play. I want to also note the recessed sprinkler heads in the green fringe . still one of the nicer effects on any course.
Just a quick mention of all the objects and custom stuff in this design. It was totally ground breaking upon its initial release and many courses now have caught up or even surpassed this course in the use of such special effects. That being said I still think Günter has a real knack for object and sound planting. The tournament feel his courses have are second to none, and round that out with a good tourney sound script and I can become totally immersed.
Drawbacks: This is the first review I've ever done where I didn't have a single thing written down in my drawbacks area, not one. It was surprising to me as well. It is crisp and clean from the APCD point of view, and it has the realistic layout and playability (as you would expect from a real course). Does this mean it becomes the new number one course in my book? I do still love it but it isn't even my favorite Günter Kujat course, as that distinction goes to Golf Club Gut Larchenof (at least until Gut Kaden is released perhaps). That is just a personal feeling overall about the two courses, perhaps just a preference in layouts in the final analysis.
Maybe the only thing to really mention in this section is that this course may play too easy for most folks. I even shot a -4 today before I wrote this review (in moderate conditions though), but like I mentioned if you toughen the conditions a bit it can grow fangs very quickly. And there are a few shots that with one errant snap can make your round blow up, particularly the holes with a pond near the green.
Best Hole: All are good and sound golf holes but a couple do stand out for me. All the par 5's are gorgeous and full of risk/reward opportunity. There are a couple of long par 4's but most are fair and offer their own risk/reward chances. For me it always comes down to the short 150-yard par 3 12th hole. I have to catch my breath every time this hole renders, and I still consider it one of the most beautiful ever made. No less than three ponds and a stand of trees need to be carried to reach this generous but well protected green. Usually the dynamic and reverse cam views of this hole are just as breathtaking. My screenshot show me just about to take my powerstroke whack off the tee on this beautiful hole.
Test round stats: -4 71%FIR 61%GIR 26 putts. Real good round for me since I hardly seem to play more than a round or two a week anymore. Like I've said this course is slightly forgiving and should become a PS players favorite because of it.
Comparable courses: Golf Club Gut Larchenof by Günter Kujat
Overall: My final assessment is that München Nord - Eichenried still has the stuff to place it at the top of my personal favorites and is a must download for anyone. The ability to turn off the tournament objects will appeal to many people, although the tourney feel is my personal preference. Günter doesn't take a back seat to anyone when it comes to the APCD and quality of designs, and this course will always be the FIRST user designed course that rivaled what was released by the games creators. This you can never take away from it, and will always be special to me because of that. Add to that the powerstroke appeal and I don't see what more a person could want. Thanks much Günter and I'm anxiously awaiting Gut Kaden's release.
Course Info :
Splash Screen? Yes
Cameo Screen? Yes
Text file? Yes
Hole Previews? Yes
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