| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1813 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2008-01-18 |
157,290,496 bytes |
72 |
6918 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
UNCLASSIFIED |
DarkWoods.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| |
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|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, forest course |
Location
TBC |
Conditions
TBC |
Concept 9/10
Mat Leclair's forte has always been the woodland course, and Dark Woods certainly lives up to its name. The surrounding forest is as convincing and lifelike as any we've seen in the game, and the holes that thread through are brilliantly conceived for the large part. You feel that credibility and ambition are being stretched a little on certain holes, but for the very large part, this is a brilliant and coherent creation which is utterly believable for the careful planning and work that has gone into it. |
Appearance 10/10
The planting in the woodlands is right up there with that at Crooked Creek for ultra-realism, and the course is rounded off with high-quality 3D customisation, not least in the glorious, luscious clubhouse. Just when you think you've seen everything, there are some impressive rockworks awaiting along the back nine. Overblown? Maybe; but you wouldn't miss it for the world. |
Playability 8/10
I can't say I was over-enamoured with the lengthy rendering times, although a reduction in graphics detail did help to a large extent. Nor was the presence of steel weeds in some of the deeper and darker parts of the course very helpful. Thankfully, these small flaws were overshadowed by the hugely clever and welcoming hole design, from the subtle on the first half to the heroic on the second half. So many holes remained in the memory afterwards, and this is no easy thing to achieve for a designer. |
Challenge 8/10
The woods don't really provide an overshadowing menace as much as an attractive backdrop, and you are left with the clever hole shapes to provide the challenge, right from the first tee. The hazarding is a good mixture between the penal and the foreshadowing, water is used in all the right places, and the greens are receptive without being too easy. Only the Par 5 holes are a misjudgement: they are much too easy to reach under regulation, and afford one birdie too many. |
Technical 10/10
Dark Woods, like all of the designer's courses, has received an undivided and (some might say) unnecessary degree of attention. It is extremely difficult to fault on any level. |
| Overall |
Second only to 'the Creek' in terms of great woodland courses. A picturesque beauty, crafted to near-perfection. |
45/50 |
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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