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Prairie Dunes 2008
by Steve Avery

Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1876
Release Date CRZ Filesize Par Course Length
2009-03-01  123,342,848  bytes 70  6718 yards
Type Style CRZ Filename
REAL  PARKLAND  prairiedunes_2008.crz 
Course ID Course Key
   

COURSE SCREENSHOTS

CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg)

Description
Real, heathland course
Location
Kansas
Conditions
The greens aren't easy on F*/F*, but they're playable and that's where you should play them.
Concept  4/10
With no ill-will towards Steve Avery's immense APCD skill and his devotion in bringing this course up to date, I still find it something of a dry and unmemorable course. Even the trademark 8th and 17th holes, exciting though they look, come out with very little in their favour, and the rest are almost instantly unmemorable. Certainly, in reincarnation, there are a lot more reasons to play a round here, but I can't for the life of me see it having half as much drawing or staying power as Westchester or Oakland Hills. The widespread popularity of sections of this routine layout is frankly baffling.
Appearance  9/10
Beautiful paths, dense gorse and tranquil water features mark the more-than-significant remodelling that has taken place since the lacklustre Microsoft version. In fact, with the tee changes and re-modelling of elevations, it would not be inconceivable that it would have been easier for the designer to start from scratch. The heathland bushes, if anything, are something of a lowlight: they look somewhat blocky and lacking in variety from distance. But they do little on the whole to detract from Steve's wonderful craftsmanship.
Playability  7/10
Although the course is narrow and limiting, a round passes much happier amid these re-sculpted surroundings, and the renewed sense of believability in the grassy dunes surroundings helps set the tone. While the variety will rarely win prizes (nearly every approach is from between 120 and 140 yards), each hole is delightfully clear in terms of objective and lays all its challenges down upfront, making the course more of a cerebral test than a physical one.
Challenge  4/10
The addition of plenty of thick rough has done little to obliterate the opportunities offered by the shorter course length, and there's little in the landscaping to suggest that even really poor shots will be duly punished. The bunkers do come into play, particularly on the Par 3 holes, but they are almost routinely escapable, often with large swathes of green to accommodate the rescue stroke. Expect to be scoring in the 60s rather than 70s.
Technical  9/10
With the designer's reputation firmly cemented, Prairie Dunes does nothing to disappoint, even if the uncharitable opinion might be held that it could scarcely be worse than the original. Everything is much higher resolution, clones have been obliterated (for the large part), 3D buildings have been added and the plot is refined, varied and interesting.
Overall Technically, right up there with the designer's best work, but the course itself just doesn't inspire confidence. 33/50
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course.

USER RATINGS

 Votes cast
Ace59 %46
Eagle35 %27
Birdie4 %3
Par3 %2
Bogey or worse0 %0

The User Course Reviews and polls have been removed from the forum due to the low numbers of members. The information above is presented merely for historical interest.

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