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Greendale
by Alan John Portway
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1447 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2004-05-25 |
18,355,235 bytes |
72 |
7624 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
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FICTIONAL |
PARKLAND |
Greendale.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
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LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Designer: Alan Portway's previous designs include Blue Lakes GC, and a beta course called Lagoon Links, but as it's been a while since he's released a completed course, it's good to see him active again in the community.
Course: From the first tee onwards, Greendale is a long and open course that challenges the golfer to stay within regulation, as with creeks found around the course, golfers need to play safe and know when to attack. The most exceptional feature is certainly the diverse array of trees and wonderful small planting used around the course, however, the buttercups didn't seem to match with the style of course the designer was trying to present. Rolling fairways and elevations are a great aspect to the design, but seemed to be overused, while the overtly large greens made the course easier than it should have been, especially as they didn't have much curve or slope to them either. Bunkers seemed to be placed rather than positioned, as they were not challenging enough to hurt scores with mistimed drives or bad iron play into the greens. Hole designs were much too repetitive, as it seemed the only non straight hole design was a dogleg, which was used on too many occasions.
Favourite Hole: The Par 4 Hole 7 was my favourite hole on the course, as the scenic view leading into the green was great. As with other holes though, the second shot to the green could have been more challenging, which in this case could have perhaps seen the water come into play more, along with the landing area being tighter.
Playability: As the course is extremely open in terms of fairway width and the size of the greens, even in windy conditions, scores are likely to be quite low. The Par 3's were simply straight up target golf, while the Par 4's only challenge seemed to be whether or not to lay-up short of a creek off the tee, or to hit over it for a shorter shot into the green. Eagles are hard to get, as the Par 5's are rather long, but if you stay within regulation off the tee, shooting a good round here should be quite easy.
Technically: Even though there are no major flaws that affect playability, Greendale does have its faults, but does also succeed in many aspects as well. There are no custom textures or advanced APCD techniques found around the course, as stock textures were used from fairway to green. Because of this, the course wasn't very aesthetically pleasing, and only the diversity in planting saved it from being boring visually. Bunkers on some holes were exceptional in terms of how well they have been lipped, but on other holes, they had no lips at all or had been made very poorly. The running water texture was well chosen, but in some areas the water was running uphill, while planting in many areas was cloned, especially around the waters edge. Additional extras like the bridges looked great, but then the bridge included on Hole 17 wasn't good, due to how pixilated it was. In terms of sounds, some were too repetitive, others were too loud and many were out of place, as in one instance, numerous birds could be heard playing on a hole that had barely any trees around it, while a running water sound stopped and started continuously. The rock mountains were extremely well done, so it would have been better if the course was built around the theme of them, as it's important to capitalize on areas in the APCD that you excel at. Overall, the course was clean cut and smooth mostly, but different textures and seam blending would have made it much better.
Other: In terms of inclusions, Greendale contains a Cameo, Handicaps, Hole Previews and Splash Screens, but doesn't have any tournament options, except for a leaderboard on the last hole. Even though on first impressions the course doesn't have any noticeable faults, an inconsistency in the technical application of APCD techniques is an issue that soon becomes visible. In many places the course is exceptional with its scenery and technical aspects, while in other areas, much more work was needed. This shows that the designer didn't maintain regularity in his designing techniques. The course was on the borderline of being rated lower, but wasn't, because it didn't compare to lower ranked courses that didn't show any signs of effort with the APCD, when it is obvious that the designer has done so with this course. My main recommendation to the designer is to become more creative with hole designs, keep all APCD work consistent throughout the course and to not be afraid to take risks with designing.
Download Value: Greendale is a wide open course with large greens and fairways, so RTS players will more than likely enjoy the course more than others, because if you're looking for a course with advanced APCD techniques, and unique hole designs, then this course isn't for you. At just under 15mb, the course is a small download, but considering that it includes no extras in the zip file or within the course, and doesn't offer anything not seen before in terms of course design, it won't be staying on my hard drive.
Information:
Course Statistics:
2003 - Fictional Parkland - Par 72 - 5 Tees
7624yds (Back) - 7280yds (Forward)
Par 3's: 4 - Par 4's: 10 - Par 5's: 4
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