| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 855 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2002-04-12 |
26,479,053 bytes |
72 |
6962 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
UNCLASSIFIED |
Seven Oaks.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| fefac2004e1311d69de2990b8c4e3843 |
7791d18ee902e0c652eea1ba55066455 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Dave Campbell April 2002
Expectations: This is a first design so I'm not sure what to expect. I assume there are some oaks.
First Impressions: Seven Oaks is the first design from Kennet and is hard to classify. It is certainly fictional but is all over the board as far as type. It weighs in at around 20 meg zipped and is a par 72 that plays to 6,962 yards from the back tees, with five tee choices available.
Playability: On the first tee render I thought for sure that I was on a seaside links design. Lots of ground scrub plantings, the ocean on my left and a VERY open looking hole. As I progressed though I started seeing small trees and rocks, then wild elevations of all sorts from tee to green, and eventually densely forested areas right up to the fairways. Consequently there is no flow or distinct style to this course. Planting and look seem to change from hole to hole, as is the case with a new designer trying out all the different tools as they proceed. The result is normally a course that was a good learning experience but lacks the polish and flow of a real golf course, or one that will be played often.
That being said there were many good things to pull out of this design. Kennet made several custom textures (I'm assuming he did, but someone did for sure) and I feel the need to mention one in particular. It appears he added almost a rainbow worth of colors to his rock texture and it really seems to work. I know it sounds funny but look at the screenshots with rock. Up close it was a bit pixelated and looked funny, but from afar was one of the best rock textures I've ever seen. Add to that some planting upon the rocky face and it was one of the strong points of the design for me.
Some of the hole layouts were unique and thought provoking for sure, and overall the course was playable and appealing. It just didn't seem to flow. Another thing to mention is I kept thinking I should be able to murder this course and score like mad given the relatively short yardage, but it never seemed to happen. So in his own way he built in some defence with the strange layouts and fairway object placement (yes, right in the middle of the fairway at times).
Drawbacks: Well, it is a first design and along with that you get mesh shadows. Not nearly as bad as some and for the most part the APCD work is above average. The design was all over the place, one fairway flat and open, another with a pond running the length of the fairway or trees dotted about right in the middle . forcing you to thread the needle. Some greens were totally flat, or close to it, and then you'd get one that was elevated beyond reality. The only theme is that there wasn't one.
There were many terrible looking shots because you could see the bottom of the panorama, mostly on dyna cam shots but not always. On the 4th tee the pano bottom was too visible not to have been seen upon play testing, and really detracts from an otherwise interesting (and very drivable) par 4. The planting will need to be looked at on your next design, and for the most part it was good . if not thematic. But I saw rock planted on the sides of impossibly steep hills, and spectators as well. Maybe a mountain goat could stay there but not people.
I couldn't see the hole while putting on the 6th green in one render. I aimed with the top cam, and when I got closer I could see it.
Best Hole: The aforementioned par 4th hole was interesting. Only 276 yards from an elevated tee . I had to worry about clubbing down so I wouldn't overdrive the green, on a par 4. I also liked the par3 6th hole, very short at 166 yards but hit from an extremely elevated tee. Made club selection interesting, particularly in the wind. I also mentioned the 447-yard par 4 14th hole, which has a creek running the length. It wasn't conventional but I thought it looked cool from the tee.
Comparable courses: One of many 1st time designs, but a little better.
Overall: Well, I think I've said it all. If you like some of the screenshots and fantasy type holes are what you like then you may want to take a look. Otherwise I'd pass and let Kennet go to school on this design and come out with an even better course. He has some skills for sure, and now should have the APCD knowledge to back it up. A decent first effort with some real eye catching goodies included. Thanks for the time and effort Kennet, and I love the rock texture.
Course Info :
Splash Screen- Yes (of Bay Hill ?)
Cameo Image- No
Course Readme File- No
Hole Previews - No
Tournament options - No
Crowds - Yes
Handicaps - Yes
|
This course is available as a FREE download.
|
|
Download course
|
Please support Links Corner
|
