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Willowgreens 2005
by Mike (Pecos Bill) Nicely
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1620 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2005-10-11 |
98,295,808 bytes |
72 |
6941 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
WOODLAND |
Willowgreens2005_locked.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| |
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|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewer - Michael Hubbard
NOTE
I have in this review sort to take a fresh look at the course rather that detailing a retrospective comparison of this version to its predecessor. I have therefore simply reviewed the course as it is now & not what has been changed . . .
INTRODUCTION
With a good number of competent courses under his belt, Mike Nicely sets about a reworking of his 2001 links course Willowgreens.
Extract from the Readme - by Mike Nicely
' I have updated textures and added some new plantings . . . I have changed a few bunkers and added some water on a couple of holes.'
'I have done seam blendings and repaired some bad areas of the course. Also widened a few Fairways to accommodate an easier Tee shot. Changed the terrain on several greens to make them more MOD 1.06 friendly.'
COURSE
In truth I was a little confused by this course being classified as a woodland venue at the outset. Yes there are trees, but so sparsely planted and scattered about as to almost appear to be an afterthought to the course. With its very flat canal/wetland appearance I wondered whether a more shrubby approach may have suited the look more and a classification of parkland? As it is I felt the tree's looked ill suited for the task, appearing around the hole perimeters rather than being part of an established woodland -Screenshot 1 overhead, 3, 4, 7.
If one overlooks this then the use of a mountainous panorama too seems slightly at odds with the unyielding plateaux that Willowgreens sits upon. In its favour however is the effective use of the many canals and water channels weaving throughout the course, intersecting here and there to form small lakes. Along the way too are a goodly number of bridges to view, which adds a pleasant feel to the atmosphere. There are very lush verdant grasses along these waterways that give the course a fresh stimulation otherwise lost by the lack of under-planting around the course - Screenshot 3. None the less the overall colour scheme is very pleasing accompanied by the occasional subtle colourings such as at the 4th tee - Screenshot 6. The Sandy texture in the bunkers is unusual. It has a gravely feel to it that some may dislike, but seems to work well with the venue - Screenshot 5. Attention however was needed to their contouring as on many occasions they appeared to be little more than slight depressions in the ground - screenshot 4, 5 lacking realism or effect.
The custom flags [of green & yellow] are well designed. There are also a few 3D structures around, which provide nice touches along with a few benches and signs to 'Use the Cart Path!' Disappointingly there are no hole previews, no crowds and no tournament objects.
PLAYABILITY
It's plays a tad short for me at 6,941 yards boasting 4 reachable par 5's and no par four holes exceeding 450 yards. At first glance this may invite one to think that the course was a pushover. In truth it does play very easy with few dangers to be avoided save the ever-present meandering rivers adjoining many small bodies of water around the course. The holes themselves become a little repetitive after a fashion with little in the way of variation either in length, style or terrain.
The fairways are very flat with little or no undulations at all. Wide enough to hit comfortably from the tees, but not so wide that you can loose good judgement on your placement. Elevation too is all but non-existent although this appears to be in keeping with the watery nature of the course. The canals intersect a number of fairways, leaving one with the choice of laying up or blasting the drive. This in itself provides one of the few dangers around the course as the water around the greens appears more for effect than risk.
The greens are large throughout and predominantly covered with very subtle contours - Screenshot 3, 7. However given their size and accessibility, a little more variation in there construction would have been welcome I feel. Maybe a few steps here and there along with shape variation would have helped add a little to what can become a rather plain challenge even to an average player.
There are approximately 70 bunkers on the course though they rarely come into play. When they are to be found they remain very flat and underwhelming which poses no great threat even to a modest sand saver - Screenshot 4, 5. The trees come into play on occasions. However with their planting being so sparse they fail to add any real challenge to an otherwise very easy venue.
DESIGNER INTERVIEW - MIKE (PECOS BILL) NICELY
1. Why did you choose to update Willowgreens?
I was asked to update the textures and planting for one of the on line Tours ( LOGO) . He asked for it quick ... that is why no Hole Previews.
2. What made you change it from a Parkland course to a Woodland course?
I love woodland courses. And having amassed so many new trees and plantings helped me convert this to woodland
3. What aspect of the course do you feel provides the greatest challenge to each player?
I believe that this course makes you play your Tee ball best.. Which will set up easier approach shots ... manage your Tee shot and you can score Low here. And Driver isn't always the best club from the Tee.
4. Are you working on any other courses for the future?
YES.... I am working on the update to Firestone South. Also have an other one that is going on 2 years of work , it is called The Hatchery Golf Club . This course has been a lot of problems, I have started over on it at least 4 times ... seems the designer program has a problem with this course.. LOL . Hoping to have it done sometime in the summer. Or at least a playable Beta . My main goal for now is to work the update to Firestone . I really feel that these updates to the MS courses by APCD- Courses.com will rock the Links Community. Its an honour to work with these people, they are geniuses.
CONCLUSION
There is nothing striking about willowgreens despite its huge 92 mb size. With fairways easy to find many flat lies to play from and large greens, shooting low here really is a necessity for competition golf. The course lacks the feeling of a tournament venue but rather imparts the nature of a homely local club where one may well enjoy a society day or simply a round with friends.
Lacking in both challenge and variety Willowgreens boast a great deal from its file size, but for me, fails to deliver.
IN A WORD
Plain & Simple |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, marshland course |
Location
No real clues, but it seems to have something of the upstate New York
courses. |
Conditions
M*/S* is probably as fast as you should take it. |
Concept 4/10
difficult to accept Willowgreens, with its confusing blend of mountainous panorama and low, swampy lakes. On the flipside, if you're
willing to accept the course as occupying some sort of median plane, then it's reasonably passable. The contrived hole design takes
some getting used to, though: the round feels more of a puzzle than anything, and you constantly feel at the mercy of the designer. |
Appearance 6/10
While the lowlands have been reasonably well planted and there are a few highlights in the flowerbeds, shale bunkers and marshes,
there's a little bit missing elsewhere. A lot of the trees are poorly scaled or resolved, and there's not really too much going for good
views on the course either, despite the glamorous panorama. Underwhelming is probably the correct verdict. |
Playability 5/10
Willowgreens is rife and over-run with blind tee shots; the reliance on hitting what you can see and avoiding the hidden hazards
becomes seriously painstaking. The lack of hole previews do little to help when the water is used so cynically to narrow landing areas
out of sight, and this costs the course even dearer. It's a depressing round of golf that shouldn't be found in a fictional course. |
Challenge 6/10
Thankfully, there's very little deep rough to punish those occasions when you stray off-line; if there was, then the cynically-placed water
hazards would ensure a score above 80. Even if you hit all 18 fairways (which is unlikely in the extreme), then the tricky-to-read
(although, admittedly, by no means excessive) greens will convert many makeable putts into a double. Tricky stuff indeed. |
Technical 5/10
There's a good line in customisation at Willowgreens, which counts for a bit, particularly when your mind is otherwise distracted by the
golfing demands. The lasting impression, though, is that it could all be pieced together a little better than it is. Some fine detail
notwithstanding, this hasn't really aged well. |
| Overall |
A course that might well suit the short-hitters. Strategically designed golf is all well
and good in its place, but you can take the idea one step too far. |
26/50 |
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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