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The Champions Course
by Kevin Eckhoff
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 661 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-11-04 |
14,984,404 bytes |
71 |
7172 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
PARKLAND |
thechampions.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 7010f4a1d13c11d59bd60020780302d8 |
ff21a89ed38104b330c07e0c0d3979a9 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Joe Turner `Loner'
November 2001
The deep green of the mowed fairway and deep rough worked well with the colors of the tee boxes and greens. The occasional splash of color was not out of place on this parkland course. The undergrowth looked nice with the mixture of trees used but obviously with a small download such as this something has to give and it became quite sparsely planted in places. The 3 pars showed it in the top views and the tees were usually out in the open without any planting to enhance the areas, a few more bushes would have enhanced the overall impression of the course without increasing the download by much. The bright blue-white mountain in some of the background views didn't fit this or any other course. The treatments around the water hazards, dark green high grass, were a nice touch. The clubhouse, scoreboard and the tents dressed up the final hole.
Since designing Royal Lithium Kevin's style has changed for the better, he had fairway bunkers at practically every landing point on the course and greens that were well guarded by bunkers or water a very impressive step forward. His par 5's seemed to lean towards the easy side while the par threes had more than a touch of difficulty because of the putting, interesting strategy. The fairways were on the narrow side (11 was unbelievable but hittable) and the green size seemed to be mostly small but fair. The putting looked easy but the subtle twists and turns kept them from being easy while not making them seem ridiculous. The elevations and the caddie seemed to be acceptable.
5th hole par 5, 553y, with a 30.1ft drop, divided by a narrow patch of rough that cuts across the fairway your best bet is to hit the ball to the right in order to get a clear approach shot. I had a 282y drive, which left me with 256y, and a 38.5ft drop to go. With a very well placed bunker at the front of this small green I hit to the left of the green to avoid the bunker but kept in mind a large bunker on the left side of the green, thread the needle. I landed on the green about 20ft away, a stretch for an eagle with his putting surface.
9th hole par 5, 523y, with a 44.4ft drop, a very narrow fairway with bunkers at the landing zone, a cautious drive is a necessity here even if you have to go short. I drove 386y and had 239y with a 56ft drop to go. Before you hit this approach shot stop and drink in this view including an interesting building. Because of both the drop and a slightly tiered green I used a 2 iron adjusted up and it worked well, kept me on the green and out of the water hazard to the left of this long narrow green.
13 hole, par 5, 548y, with a 57ft drop, cut in half by a rough, that's after you pass 4 bunkers, this narrow fairway allowed me a 287 drive. I had 255y with a 29ft drop approach. The entire left side of the fairway, front of green and right of green is a water hazard with bunkers in the rear of the green I used an adjusted, up 3w and it gave me the green, don't dream of an eagle here, a birdie is a good choice.
This course while not being the most beautiful course I've seen is very attractive in it's own way, It is also a challenging course, especially the back nine, and a joy to play. The putting while difficult to read at time is fair. Although the fairways are a bit on the narrow side you are given a chance to make them. With all the hazards in the right place mistakes here will be costly. This is a very nice course to play and will fool you at times. I enjoyed it and I hope he continues to build courses like this. It was a challenging course with interesting holes and an unbelievable small download. I hope you will try it, at this size you have nothing to lose and I feel everything to gain.
Reviewer Note
I am a player not a designer and therefore rate a course as a player for other players.
Summary :
Included: readme, cameo, splash, custom flags, buildings and tents.
Not included: custom tees, hole previews, hole signs, hole numbers and ball washers.
Statistical information: par 71, 7172y, 3 sets of tees, 4-3 pars, 11-4 pars, 3-5 pars. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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