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Faerne The Ancient Course by Tim Radl
Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1882 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
2009-05-09 |
184,032,063 bytes |
71 |
7340 yards |
Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
FICTIONAL |
LINKS |
Faerne20090508.crz |
Course ID |
Course Key |
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COURSE NOTES |
Welcome to Faerne, The Ancient Course. Please enjoy my first APCD endeavour. This is a very old fictional course set on the Scottish coast. It was designed to be played with strong or gusty wind, and fast, hard greens.
The traps are penal but the greens are fair and true. Don't be afraid to run the ball onto the green. This is actually the best option for certain holes. I think it's a shot maker's layout that rewards length and accuracy. Enjoy the sweeping views of the Kyle of Faerne and the distant mountains. Oh, and be sure to play with an overcast sky. I recommend a bright, overcast or cloudy sky. This is actually very important for reasons that will become evident during play.
I have attempted to create a quirky and interesting authentic linksland course. If I could have made it 16 holes I just might have. Some holes are short and some holes are ridiculously long, but I think they all work well together. Par should be measured at the end of the round, not hole by hole.
The setting for your round today is sometime in the early 20th century.
I've also included a tournament setting. |
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CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description Fictional, links course |
Location TBC |
Conditions TBC |
Concept 8/10 Faerne joins the list of links courses that have been slightly over-produced,
not that that's any bad thing in this case. Taking some obvious influences
from St Andrews, Enniscrone and indeed Brydestone, the hole design is a
million miles away from the eponymous 'Ancient', but it certainly is
enjoyable. The countryside is entertainingly littered with ruins, pillboxes,
sheep and other such esoterica of the British countryside; hyper-realistic it
isn't, but in terms of diversion and things to see, Faerne certainly takes the
prize. |
Appearance 8/10 Rather lush and green, the course is well enough planted from distance, but the low-level planting looks a little too random up close.
The 3D work is impressive, but again possible not best viewed from point-blank range, when the textures get all stretchy and blurred.
The dune-like elevations and the panorama are best and imbue the course with solid identity and location. |
Playability 10/10 Enjoy Brydestone and you'd have a ball here. Many, many standout holes, through the 3rd, 4th, and impressively-playable short 12th will
actually remain in the memory, and there are fewer higher compliments. Plus, there's a whole bunch to see and hear on your way
round, several challenges balanced with birdie opportunities, and the chance to solve a golfing puzzle or two: smashing! |
Challenge 7/10 Shots don't come cheap here: the rough and deep grass are punishing, and the bunkers - despite being used sparingly - are wellpositioned.
The greens make for tricky reading, too, and with windy conditions breaking par would be some achievement. It's not all
bad news thanks to a few relative pushovers, but easy it isn't. |
Technical 8/10 There's plenty to appreciate here, from the 3D and 2D customisation to an insidious understanding of what constitutes links golf, even
if the practice has distorted that somewhat. Perhaps a more understated set of colour choices would be called for in this environment
and a little more attention to the very small details where they impinge on the lines of play, but they are only small nitpicks in what is a
very fine first course. |
Overall |
Not a hyper-realistic links course, but a terrific semi-fantasy round nevertheless. |
41/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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