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Blacktooth Foothills
by Randal Queen
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1328 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2003-08-21 |
58,831,900 bytes |
71 |
6839 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
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FICTIONAL |
HEATHLAND |
Blackfoot.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
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LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by
Bob Hankla
October 2003
Designer: Blacktooth Foothills is designed by Randal Queen. From what I can tell, this is his fourth course following Ashland Oaks, Chelshire Estate, and Gooseneck Bay. Chelshire Estate has been one of my favorites, and Gooseneck Bay, while being well done and nice looking, gave me all sorts of problems, so this should be interesting.
Background: In the words of the designer: 'This course was designed with the thought in mind to have a wooded area that spilled out onto an open prairie with rolling hills to match the background of the panoramic I chose. I wanted a fun yet challenging playable course that was open and airy which allowed aggressive play but penal with bunkers and deep rough and tall dry grasses. While there may be some water that comes into play, I did not want a course that was built around watery surroundings. Nor one that was dependent on water hazards.' I would say he met his objectives.
Visuals: The overall look of the course is very appealing. The use of scattered trees and long grasses made for a good look. I normally look for heavier underplanting and varied vegetation, but this designer made it work the other way. The lighter planting added to the open and spacious look he was going for. Ironically, while the overall course feel is open and spacious, I did think that the planting of trees very close to the tee boxes made me feel cramped at times. They never interfered with my line, but one time I felt so close to a tree that my backswing would hit the trunk of it. One area that I thought could be improved was the planting around the water hazards. Some of the long grass around the water hazards would have been an improvement for me. The textures used work well together, and complement very well the trees and grasses used.
Layout: I liked the layout very much. As he stated in the intro, the design wasn't dependent on water, but it was used effectively. There is good variation in hole lengths, including a very dangerous and fun drivable par 4. Fairway and green shapes are very interesting and unique. The course plays fairly short at 6839 yards, but is compensated for by the million bunkers you'll run into, both on the fairways and around the greens. Accuracy is important on this course, especially from the tee. While the overall feel is spacious, I did think that some of the holes were a little too close together. The intent may have been to make it feel more like a real course by being able to see adjoining fairways, but it may have been overdone in some cases. Another pet peeve was finding OB in the middle of the course where the green from an adjoining hole got too close to the fairway I was playing to.
Technique: I saw no technique or construction problems worth mentioning.
Favorite Hole: I would have to go for the dangerous and fun drivable par 4. While the length is listed at 334 yards, it plays anywhere from 250 - 270 depending on the pin position if you decide to go for the green. The route is a dogleg left with water along the left side of the fairway and separating the green from the fairway. The 'safe' route is a fairway wood to the end of the fairway, and a wedge across the water to the green. Beware of the slope of the green bringing balls back into the water, especially if you're playing with soft greens. The fun route is going for the green from the tee with a fairway wood or driver depending on pin position and wind. Trees can block your line, but shouldn't deter a good shot. The biggest danger probably isn't carrying the water, but the slope of the green making what you think is a good shot all wet. Oh, did I mention that this was also the finishing hole?
Recommendation: It's a large download at 57 meg, but well worth it. I would recommend it to everyone. It's nice to look at and fun to play. Thanks to the designer for bringing it to us.
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CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, farmland course |
Location
TBC |
Conditions
TBC |
Concept 7/10
This is a good reworking of British countryside and on the whole looks very effective. The golf is largely Links style, and the course is littered with hundreds of small pot-bunkers to prey on the unwary. The concept as a whole was let down for me by the waterside holes. These were too reminiscent of Belfry-style 'target' golf, and not really in keeping with the rest of the course. |
Appearance 8/10
The course looks lovely, on the whole. The advanced APCD techniques make an authentic feel, and custom textures add a little extra. The panorama is understated and works well with the course. Only a couple of minor flaws spoiled this countryside stroll for me: some of the planting looked a little haphazard (particularly the little-tree-under-a-big-tree idea and the trees close-up to the tee box) and the water and wild areas looked perhaps a little more artificial than was ideal. But there are still many great views to be had here. |
Playability 5/10
In some ways, actually playing this course is the weakest feature. The fairways and greens are very harsh, and I found myself playing the vast majority of my shots from the rough and the bunkers. The Par 3s are very hard (particularly the 7th - for shame!) and don't create birdie opportunities, almost forcing you to bail out and take the quiet line. I enjoyed the round on the strength of my chipping game (which is good), but found the constant hazard play to be exhausting. |
Challenge 9/10
Surprisingly, given the amount of recovery play required, the course is very fair when it comes to scoring. While the lateral elevation changes will always make you think, the course hasn't been stretched out to mammoth proportions and the bunkers are easy to escape from for par. My round came to -3 with an eagle on the last (another 'target' hole), which represents a good mixture of risk and reward. |
Technical 7/10
The designer has done pretty well here. He clearly knows the APCD well and has used seam blending to great extent around the fairways and bunkers. The planting could use work, and an inappropriate helicopter at one point rudely interrupted my round. A couple of hard edges were also evident where the lake (a misjudgement, in my opinion) and an area of scrub had been inserted. These minor inkblots could be ironed out simply, but the use of trees needs harder work. |
| Overall |
A good looking British-style course, which is only spoiled when the designer's ideas start to wander. |
36/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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