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Birch Tree National
by Fred Storey
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 991 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2002-07-29 |
14,833,273 bytes |
71 |
6349 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
PARKLAND |
Birch Tree National.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| d21775e3a31211d6812800045a971f6e |
ea97d29ae310fd91d099274910c92d55 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by
Joseph G Reynolds CPA
September 2002
Introduction
Fred Storey released his first course, Birch Tree National, on July 29, 2002. This modest download has a user rating of 2 stars. No other information is available, as the Readme file included is corrupted.
Overview
This course is the APCD equivalent of a fishy handshake. The first time you fire up Birch Tree National, you're confronted with a splash that shows a green with deep pencil mark extrusion lines, cutoff flagstick, mediocre bunker work, and weeds floating on top of an unrealistic water texture. On the first tee your eye is immediately drawn to THAT mountain; yes, the ubiquitous Whistler pano, common to every early APCD mountain course, has arisen from the ashes. A sign on the first tee advises waiting until the bell sounds before teeing off. Hmmm..but I can see the entire landing area, and I never did find a bell to ring for the following group. The first hole is a par 5 with a forced layup off the tee because of a greater than 90 degree dogleg left around a large lake. The extrusions were pronounced enough that my first 3W bounced backwards when it ran to the corner of the fairway. The pin was cut 8' from the front.
Things improve from that inauspicious beginning. The course has a realistic feel, and the designer took great care in creating undulating fairways and challenging greens. It scores fairly easily, because despite the elevation work and Sahalee-type claustrophobic feel, you'll play a lot of shots with short irons here. In 4 rounds at Champ clicker under M/M conditions, I shot from 57 (-14) to 66 (-5), well below my scoring average of 69.8. Cranking everything up to max, my scores ranged from 69 to 71.
Actually this design does show a lot of promise for this rookie designer. With the notable exceptions of the single plant type undergrowth and numerous overhanging limbs, the planting is adequate. It is notable the APCD quality improves with each hole. In particular, the bunkers on the last 4 holes are a marked improvement over the first ¾ of the course. I liked the elevation work, in both the mounded fairways and interesting greens. The putting surfaces are a challenge without being absurd, and you'll find multiple undulations and breaks, evidence of a thoughtful design. But there are just too many problems with Birch Tree National: concrete trees are common, some of the planting along water looks sloppy, and too many of the front 9 bunkers are uninteresting (e.g., fairly flat, no lip).
Conclusion
I would not recommend this course because of the flaws. It also lacks the many tangible qualities that go into a well made course (SEE the Included/Not Included list at right). There is little that makes this course stand out, the routing is ill conceived, and despite the tightness of the layout, it is not challenging. A good player easily overpowers the length, and there are no compensating qualities.
Brief Hole by Hole Description
1st Hole Par 5 - 522 Yards
110 degree dogleg left, 3W to corner, then either over/around the trees, or 7I & SW, either way water is never in play, and you're off to an easy birdie start.
2nd Hole Par 3 - 182 Yards
Slightly uphill, benign open look to sloping green, lone bunker is out of play.
3rd Hole Par 4 - 331 Yards
Avoid the overhanging limb by drawing whatever club you're comfortable with hitting a snaking 25-30 yard fairway, flop on, no worries.
4th Hole Par 3 - 206 Yards
Variation of 2nd Hole; open, 3 harmless bunkers.
5th Hole Par 5 - 517 Yards
The branch on the left steers your tee shot to the right side, hook the second around the concrete tree, make an eagle or at worst a birdie.
6th Hole Par 3 - 202 Yards
You're in luck if the pin is back right; otherwise, big hook. Tree limbs are in play except for a punch shot.
7th Hole Par 4 - 362 Yards
Draw a long iron around trees from the elevated tee, short iron on.
8th Hole Par 3 - 159 Yards
Short iron field goal in between trees.
9th Hole Par 5 - 554 Yards
Elevated tee, draw your driver, definitely reachable.
10th Hole Par 3 - 214 Yards
My favorite hole - 50 foot drop, undulating green.
11th Hole Par 4 - 380 Yards
Elevated tee, hit a draw around the trees to the snaking fairway, short iron on.
12th Hole Par 5 - 519 Yards
Fairway is 15-20 yards wider than most, so grip it and rip it, flop a long iron over the trees, easy bird and occasional eagle.
13th Hole Par 3 - 213 Yards
Although the overhanging branches look worse than #6, you should have no problem avoiding them with a normal shot.
14th Hole Par 4 - 345 Yards
You could waste time figuring out which club avoids the overhanging branches on the left and lands in the 15 yard fairway, or just blow a Driver over everything - you can carry the small pond on the right - flop over those annoying plants obscuring the green, another birdie.
15th Hole Par 4 - 402 Yards
Dead straight, it's all right in front of you from this elevated tee.
16th Hole Par 5 - 546 Yards
Pretty good hole overall. Great looking landing area hides an interesting bunker complex on the left. 40 yard elevation drop overall, the green is not bunkered, so as long as you land the tee shot in the 35 yard fairway, you should see another red number.
17th Hole Par 5 - 494 Yards
Tight hole, some challenge hitting this 28 yard fairway, really nice looking greenside bunkers, but one you should be able to overpower.
18th Hole Par 3 - 201 Yards
Our 7th par 3 of the day features a green steeply sloped from front to back, well bunkered.
Issues and Oddities
Stock objects and textures are used throughout the course. Over several rounds the bumper effect and the odd bounce from the extruded edges was repeated too often. The undergrowth is a single identical grass clump planted using the forest tool - found on every hole. The executive course routing is queer - 7 par 3s, 6 par 5s, 5 par 4s. There were overhanging branches on a half dozen tees, the worst offender being the 6th. On this hole only the back right pin position is accessible. No matter how much you try to hook the ball, you simply cannot get around the large branch just in front of the tee. The only solution to find the center of the green was to take one less club, play the ball back 3 or 4 clicks, and hit a low running hook that barely clears the lake.
Notes for the Designer
There are qualities within Birch Tree National, especially over the last few holes, which indicate you've mastered the basic elements of APCD. Where you go from here is up to you; not everyone sets out to be a top designer. Many are content to merely complete a course that's playable.
There are tangible aspects which separate a good design from an average one. Players don't mind extrusions when they are well done, especially between the first cut and the rough. But there are proven techniques to minimize the odd effects and appearance. Leaving deep cut extruded textures, such as found here, is an aesthetic distraction, and more importantly, lead to the occasional unrealistic result.
This course has no extra features, and is limited by the stock textures, objects, and the overused Whistler pano. In addition, I found steel weeds and concrete trees that reflect a lack of attention to detail. Again, if you set out only to publish a playable course, you succeeded. If your expectations are higher, your next course will need to show a willingness to go the extra mile
With respect to the hole layout, most are lacking in risk/reward strategy. You have laid out a course which dictates the route, with few options. At times it barely resembles a golf course because of the overuse of trees; I felt more like I was trapped inside an arcade game than out on a golf course. Many of the troubling issues associated with Birch Tree National could have been avoided with effective beta testing.
I loved the elevation work, and your greens are well balanced and interesting. I hope you stick with APCD because you're actually off to a good start. Few designers start off with a top course; many improve with each release; most give up and never finish. It's a bear learning how to work with this CAD, and you were up to the task. With a little more focus, and some help from your cohorts, you will evolve into a good designer.
You have resources available through Links Corner which will greatly aid you, namely, players willing to give feedback through beta testing, and designers to bounce ideas off. Getting involved with other folks in the Links community is one the best things about this golf sim designer. I look forward to seeing your next release.
I am both a player and a designer. I review courses primarily from the standpoint of strength of design, style, and overall ascetic appeal. I am cognizant of the enormous effort required to complete an APCD design, but out of a sense of duty to the Links community I will not hesitate to point out flaws. This review is intended to be fair, helpful, and constructive to the designer. However, this is merely one person's opinion.
Course statistics: Par 71; 5 sets of tees; 6349 yards from back tees.
Included/Not Included:
Cameo: Yes
Splash Screen: Yes
Hole Previews: No
Tee Signs: No
Stock Signs: Yes
Custom Tee Markers: No
Custom Flags: No
Read-Me: Corrupted File
Handicaps: No
Custom or added Sounds: No |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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