| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 753 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2002-01-30 |
31,626,066 bytes |
72 |
7666 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
MOUNTAIN |
PineConeRidge010402.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 9e02e4a00cd711d6a6160020e0c05738 |
2b7bcbe289dc23864feaa6b350c289ba |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by
James Wood
March 2002
Course Overview
A first timers effort here at the APCD and it shows in places he probably expects and in some places he probably won't. I'll try to give some guidance for future efforts and hope he takes another swag at it.
This course is fairly hilly with planting that you would expect with a name like Pine Cone Ridge. There are not too many objects to be found here and the ones used were well placed and looked appropriate to the setting. The planting was done fairly well with the exception of under planting. That was left out. Hazards are done here in the old Microsoft fashion. The bunkers look as if they were extruded but the texture was left as sand. Hard to tell exactly how they were constructed without peeking into the APCD. For the most part they were numerous and rather large. Water hazards were framed with a rock texture. Cart paths were fairly well done and looked good. No hole previews are available but the course is laid out in a fashion that you shouldn't require them for navigation. There are a few bad edges and pulled verts but not as many as you would expect in a first time effort. My main complaint is with the layout as explained in the next section.
Tips for Playing the Course
Fairways are fairly generous except for the few that were artificially narrowed by hazards placed in the middle. Greens are a good size with fair contours. That should be an indication of a good course for the Power Stroker but this one is not. Particularly off the back tees. The course is just too long. The first four holes provide a good example:
Hole #1 Par 4 494y 21.4 ft. uphill
Off the back tees with no wind you are left with a second shot of 217yds that is 10.6 ft. uphill. Good course architecture usually calls for a fairly easy par 4 to start things off. This one is not easy.
Hole #2 Par 3 222y 10.3 ft. uphill
After playing that monster par 4 we now have a very long par 3.
Hole #3 Par 4 469y
This one isn't as long as the first hole but there is a huge bunker at the middle of the landing area. If you are able to keep it in the short stuff your second shot is 201yds with a 7 ft. uphill climb.
Hole #4 477y Par 4
This hole is cut in half by a large water hazard. A forced layup with something less than a 3W leaves a second shot of 232yds to the pin.
Favorite Hole
Hole #8 was fairly good looking although it was a tough tee shot leaving me with the second shot as pictured. You'd think I'd be in trouble at this point but you'd be wrong. A 4I faded nicely around the trees leaving me just off the back side of the green.
Overall
Still all in all a good first effort and I would strongly suggest rethinking the next layout or possibly borrowing an existing layout and fictionalizing it. I've often said that course architects get paid very well for good reasons and amateurs like us keep proving me correct.
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. |
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