| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1647 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2006-01-26 |
70,352,896 bytes |
71 |
6686 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
MOUNTAIN |
CrystalPinesF.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| |
|
| COURSE NOTES |
This is a re-issue of Mike's P2P course which he has now generously decided to release as a free download.
Due to the minor nature of the changes (a few pin alterations etc) the original review/rating/awards/poll now apply to this release. |
|
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
A little information on the course from the readme:
"I had a vision in mind for the bunkers when I first started to work on the course. I wanted them to be cut quite aggressively into the terrain, and so I went to work on making some believable dirt lips which would enhance that look. I used photos of many courses with similar cut lips and after much thinking and trial and error I came up with the look that I was searching for. As is usual on my courses now, the bunkers have multiple texture blends in the bunker sand and around the lips to make them look as realistic and striking as possible. As well as the "normal" bunkers I wanted to add a few "beach" type bunkers that backed up right to the lakeside. These required yet another texture blend as the waters edge would lap onto the sand darkening the sand at that point. The holes on 3 and 7 employ these beach bunkers so be on the lookout for them!"
Shot Value:
You need to bring your "A" game to Crystal Pines. Knowing when to be aggressive off the tee and when to be conservative is key to scoring well. Crystal Pines is a shade under 6,700 yards. Those who know that before downloading the course will probably try to overpower the golf course by using the driver off of every hole. I don't recommend you do that. Laying up off the tee with long irons and fairway woods to corner of the doglegs leaves you in better positions than trying to pull the big stick out of the bag and do something foolish. Also, you'll need a delicate touch is around the greens. Chipping and putting can be very difficult due to some of the slopes on the greens. Patience and good shotmaking ability are special traits you'll need to make your way around this track.
Technical Aspects:
When you get a course from Mike Jones, you can always expect that he paid attention to every little detail. The bunkers were well placed and penal in spots. The color of the textures blended together gracefully and matched the course style very well. The planting of the course was also well done. Typically, most designers designing in a this genre of course design tend to overplant trees and grasses. Mr. Jones did an excellent job of making the course look very realistic by using different color grasses and trees to complement his course design. I especially liked the purplish texture that had a hardpan look to it.
My Overall Impression of Crystal Pines:
Personally, the course reminded me of one of my home courses. Each hole is unique in design. From the 1st tee to the 18th green this course takes you on a journey across a few lakes and inland to nicely elevated par 3s and 4s. It's the kind of course that you can play over and over again and still enjoy the beauty and sophistication. I tried to play Crystal Pines in a variety of ways. First, I tried to play it in an "attack mode". Hitting driver on just about every tee and going after the flag on each approach. After playing two rounds in that mode, I quickly found out that you can't score well playing that way. Going after each hole with a driver leads to a Seve-like round where you'll miss a lot of fairways and greens and will have to depend heavily on your short game to bail you out. Then I played the course in a conservative manner. Repeatedly laying up to the corner of the doglegs with fairway woods and long irons off the tees to leave full approach shots into the greens. Playing in that fashion, I was able to use the slopes on the greens to my advantage. I found my approach shots to land closer to the hole where I was able to have a chance of converting the putts. The third method was to pick and choose holes to be aggressive on. I found that the par 5s are safe to try to attack in two shots if I hit the fairway. I played the short holes with an iron off the tee which allowed me to spin a wedge into the greens. The times where I chose to be aggressive were on the really short holes, such as holes 1, 4, and 13. After playing the course a few times, I found out that there isn't a best way to play it. The conditions dictate how you're going to score. Since I like to play in championship like conditions, being too aggressive or too conservative didn't help my chances for a good score.
I would have to say my favorite hole is the 18th. A short par 5 that gives you an ultimatum off the tee. Either go for the second strip of fairway off the tee, or lay back with a fairway wood. The advantage of taking the 2nd strip of fairway was that you were left with a long to mid-iron to the green which you can land a little softer than if you were laying back off the tee. Laying back was the safest option. Any chance of finding the bunkers off the tee meant a layup unless you want to try to be a hero like Ray Floyd in the 1985 Ryder Cup. I liked the 18th due to the risk/reward scenario it gives you off the tee. An eagle is a possibility due to the length of the hole, but you can make a bogey just as quick if you play the hole foolishly.
Pay To Play Worthy:
Yes. The course is in fine shape. There aren't any technical flaws. With each course he designs, Mike Jones shows us that he is the very best in APCD course design. Crystal Pines is his best work to date. I fully recommend it to the beginning Links player all the way to the players who've been around since the Links 386 days. It's worth every penny you spend on it.
|
This course is available as a FREE download.
|
|
Download course
|
Please support Links Corner
|
