|
Munchen Nord - Eichenried
by Guenter Kujat
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1106 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2002-10-02 |
67,013,996 bytes |
72 |
7124 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
REAL |
PARKLAND |
Eichenri_2003.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 406f25f9eac74461b35843b3303c96b5 |
ab4452848481d695bade27e5deebe28d |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Mike Nifong
October 2002
Course type: München Nord - Eichenried is a real, parkland-style golf venue located in Munich, Germany, where it hosts the BMW International Open on the European PGA tour.
Historical perspective: The history of München Nord - Eichenried is, in essence, the history of the APCD. The original version, known then as Munich North, was not the first APCD course released - it tied with Langolier as the seventeenth such course - but it was universally acclaimed as the first great APCD course, and the first (and for a long time, the only) real course that equalled Access/Microsoft's efforts in that regard. Thereafter, it was re-released twice to take advantage of new features available in the APCD (one time to add tournament objects that can be switched on or off, and one time to add hole previews); these additions, along with some tweaking of the textures, kept München Nord, as it was known after its third incarnation, among the elite real-course renditions, but there was a general feeling that this now venerable APCD classic was beginning to show its age.
Given that history, it is probably not surprising that Guenter reworked München Nord to take advantage of such 2003 features as texture blending and adjustable water color, or that it was the first course released in the APCD 1.5 format. In fact, the course became available before the game on which it is played (although that version was withdrawn to repair a flaw in the way the game AI responded to one of the holes). The current version was released on October 2, 2002.
The other courses released by Guenter in the interim between the original and present versions of the Eichenried course - Gut Lärchenhof and the Gut Kaden trilogy - are also real courses located in Germany, and they have only enhanced his reputation as one of the handful of elite APCD designers.
What is included:
There is a brief read-me file that details the changes made in this version of München Nord and acknowledges those persons who have provided assistance. The customary cameo and splash screen(s) are present, as are hole previews; the latter provide a bit less information than is the norm these days (I believe they are the same ones from the previous version, although I did not check), but are more than adequate as an aid to anyone who wishes to forego the top camera.
In keeping with the course's status as a European Tour venue, there is a tournament option. And as you might expect from Guenter, it as excellent - at least as good as any other available. [I would note here, however, that the inability of the crowds to cast shadows - Microsoft's fault, not Guenter's - somewhat diminishes the attractiveness of that option now that the trees have their shadows back.]
How well it is crafted: 96
All you really need to know here appears at the top of the page: 'by Guenter Kujat.' As is always the case with his designs, one strength of this course is that it has no weaknesses. I have made no attempt to deconstruct it in the APCD, but suffice it to say that I found nothing that called for further investigation - just consummate and meticulous craftsmanship in all respects: precisely what I expected.
How good it looks: 93
I have read some comments on the boards to the effect that some people do not think the textures in Links 2003 are as good as the ones in Links 2001. It is hard to imagine that anyone who played this course would make such a statement, or that he would think that the most recent 2001 version of München Nord, as good as it is, is any match for what Guenter has given us here.
As you would expect with one of Guenter's offerings, felicities abound. The little touches for which he is famous - such things as the BMW logo flags and the recessed sprinkler heads around the greens - are still here. But the APCD advances that prompted this update are also used to marvelous effect. I have always felt that Guenter's recreations are unsurpassed in the realism of their appearance, but the texture blending in the fairway transitions and around the edges of the bunkers really takes things to a new level: what he accomplishes here approaches the magical. The ponds, with their greenish tint suggesting a profusion of algae, have also been transformed. (I am a little less enthusiastic about the effect in the streams, but that is a very minor quibble.) The planting, always a strong point, looks even better here than it ever has before, and it is hard to imagine how we ever got by without shadows. [Perhaps I should point out here that I have 8x anisotropic filtering enabled. This causes a few visual artefacts - a grid effect on the splash screen, a faint shadow at the tip of the cursor, a blurring of the horizon line on the lie indicator, and an occasional white line around a 2D object being the most noticeable - but, in my opinion, more than compensates for them in the breathtaking beauty with which the courses are rendered.]
The only thing this course lacks is spectacular scenery, a situation over which Guenter had no control. But at this moment, it would have to be said that München Nord is the most spectacularly real looking course yet created for the Links series.
How much fun it is to play: 87
As has been noted by others on many occasions, the biggest drawback to a truly accurate rendition of a real course is that it will almost certainly play easier in its cyber-incarnation than it does in real life. That appears to be the case here as well, at least for pro clickers. On the other hand, as a recent convert to RTS, I found the play to be extremely enjoyable. Moreover, although this cannot be considered a difficult course, it seemed to require a little more strategic thinking than I recalled having been the case with the previous version. Part of the reason is that this is not a course you have to overpower to score well on. As a matter of fact, a 3W or even a 5W is often a better choice off the tee than a driver due to the placement of bunkers or water hazards, or because the fairway narrows in the usual landing area. Tee shots are normally pretty much straight ahead, although on #4 I had to move my ball all the way to the left to both miss the tree to the right of the tee box and land on the fairway - I still have trouble hitting a reliable fade or draw in RTS. The fairways often have subtle elevation changes that can result in a less-than-perfect lie on your approach, but they were never contrived or unfair. The greens are not quite as benign as they may appear on first glance - you may occasionally find yourself with a relatively flat long putt, but you are much more often going to be faced with a 6-10 footer that breaks more than you expect it to.
In addition to being absolutely lovely, the bunkers are well placed to influence your choice of club. Generally, I found the fairway bunkers to be fairly easy to avoid with conservative play, but I had a lot more trouble with the ones around the greens. This was due in part to the fact that the irons are hard to hit for consistent distance in RTS, but I also found myself between clubs a lot more often than normal. The bunkers are not too hard to get out of, but it was usually tough to hold the ball close to the pin with the difficult pin settings.
Water is often present, but rarely presents itself as a direct threat. Most of the time, as with the little streams that cut across the fairways, its influence is to make you a little more conservative in club selection. The exception is the 357-yard par-4 #16, where you can nearly reach the green off the tee in favorable wind conditions, but only if you hit across the pond. A great risk/reward hole, and a genuinely scary shot in RTS.
Two of the four par-5's (#6 and #11) are reachable in two from the back tees, and they provide good eagle opportunities. The other two (#9 and #18) were not reachable (for me, at least), but still provide excellent birdie chances.
The computer foursome had little trouble with the Eichenried course. Under b/m/m/m conditions, they were a total of -55 (closely bunched at -13 to -15), hitting 98% of the fairways (92-100) and 88% of the greens (83-100). [This is the first course I have tested this way in Links 2003, but these scores exceed anything I ever recorded in Links 2001.] Under w/f/f/d conditions, they still managed -34 overall (-7 to -9), finding 87% of the fairways (78-100) and 72% of the greens (61-83). I did note one AI anomaly: on #15, three of the four (everybody but Sergio) hit their tee shots approximately 9/6 on the swing meter, resulting in their balls landing in the rough just past the first segment of fairway.
Difficulty rating: Moderately easy
The bottom line: The standard by which the first wave of Links 2003 courses will be judged, this new version of a true APCD classic should be considered an essential part of any collection. It maintains the tradition, established by its first incarnation with respect to Links 2001, as the first great course released for the newest version of this greatest golf simulation. As a matter of fact, the hardest thing about writing this review was coming up with a score that did this course justice while still leaving some room for the great ones that are, I am sure, yet to come.
Course Statistics :
Course statistics: Par 72; 4 sets of tees; 7124/6727/6310/6061 yards; holes are handicapped. |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Real, parkland course |
Location
Southern Germany |
Conditions
Playable at M*/M*, but only just on some greens. |
Concept 9/10
This most famous of German courses makes its name with round, target-based fairways, numerous little ponds, and sharply-guarded
greens. Not as demanding as some in this genre, thanks to some generous landing areas, it's still out of the norm for parkland courses
and the European Tour in generally. It has received a typically thorough and atmospheric conversion from a talented designer, and
remains every bit as engaging as the real thing. |
Appearance 7/10
The only one of Guenter's courses to receive attention to seam blends, and the resultant effect is clear around the fairways. Unfortunatey,
the greens haven't been blended, which strikes one as a bit of an afterthought, although in fairness the textures are well enough chosen
that it's not a stand-out problem. This theme of inconsistency carries on around the course, with some ponds receiving minute care and
attention around the edges and others being left virtually untouched. Given that Munchen is a pretty flat course, though, there's a delightful
range of views. |
Playability 9/10
I doubt there's another real-life course I enjoy playing so much on a regular basis. The parkland atmosphere is impeccable, and the
nature of the golf makes for a thrilling and daring first half, before opening out to a more staid - but no less stimulating - back nine.
The hazards, without fault are placed to provoke interesting shot selection, and this applies to the trees - too - which are brought into
play on several holes. |
Challenge 6/10
The greens can be frustratingly unreadable at times, but they have dated reasonably well, that caveat aside. Elsewhere, the openness
of the course means little of a threat, and perhaps I would have liked to see some deep rough rather than the ornamental scattering of
grasses. The long holes, particularly, are a bit of a pushover, and it's hardly surprising that this course holds the European Tour record
for most Eagles in a round. |
Technical 7/10
'm very pleased with the way this course has aged, and it's not at all obvious that it's some seven years old, given the fresh-looking
textures and some sublime attention to small details and 3D work. There are frustrating moments of inconsistency on the part of the
designer when a more rounded result could have made this his piece de resistance. |
| Overall |
If you're going to own just one of Guenter's excellent German courses, make it this
one. Endlessly replayable, and good-looking in a moody sort of way. |
38/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
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