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Royal Wessex Golf Club
by Lacy Gearheart
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 232 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-04-09 |
43,843,383 bytes |
72 |
7177 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
PARKLAND |
Royal Wessex GC.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 454bbca32d2c11d5b01b0000e87e4e35 |
eb8e0072ed0e65015855f00f72c209e9 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Pete Dixon
Okay, here I go again, I seem to have exclusive rights to review Lacy's courses and that is not a hardship in any way, although Lacy may be thinking, 'Oh no, not Pete reviewing my designs AGAIN!!'
This is a fictional course set in Britain, designed by an American, reviewed by a Brit reviewing an American's design. Clear?
I will point out right from the start that this is another fine design by one of the established top designers on the APCD, and there is some stiff competition from others who keep squeezing more and more out of it.
Has it got the feel of a British course? Well to be honest, I am still debating. I am British; I have played golf for years on British courses so I should be well qualified to make a decision on this. My deduction is mixed though, it does have the feel of a British course, but, it also seems as if it could be set somewhere far more exotic and temperate, I have played this several times and I cannot put my finger on it, but if I had to stick my neck out I would say it was more foreign than my native Britain. Probably Lacy's way of trying to get an invite to stay at mine so he can see for himself!!!
Onto the course. Parkland with a hilly panorama that I wanted to be South East of England but kept saying South America! The custom textures are excellent and the course design is excellent, as you would expect. The first tee shot has you flirting with trees to your left which is where, of course, you want to hit your drive.
The fairways are narrow and you are punished with heavy rough if you stray. The tees are beautifully done, as are the greens, which are tough with breaks all over and also small to boot.
The water features are well placed and add to the look, especially the brooks that meander throughout. The bunkers are the usual high standard and placed in strategically tough positions.
The planting is very well done, but it is here that maybe it loses its British feel; I don't know what others think, other than that the planting is excellent and there are some nice new touches like the divots on the tees.
I don't normally mention the sounds, but this has some excellent new sounds, I especially like the sounds of the green keepers machines filtering in and out as you go round the course and the relaxing babbling of water by the streams, there are even bagpipes to pipe you in on the 18th where Stonehenge is in the background!
Best Hole: The par 4 16th which has a split fairway divided by two trees, a downhill sloping drive leaves you with an uphill second to a very downward sloping green guarded by two fearsome bunkers, a great test and very nice to look at.
Overall: Another winner from Lacy, I can't really fault it, except that it isn't British enough in its feel for me, but if you take it as a course on its own merits then it is a must have for your hard drive.
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James Wood's thoughts..
I don't know whether or not this course is representative of an English style course. From my point of view it didn't really matter; I was just playing a very well laid out course that was very well done. I enjoyed this course's challenge and I am always looking forward to this designer's next effort. A very well done course that should be high on your list of favourites.
Course Info :
Cameo Screen?
Splash Screen?
Text file?
Hole Previews?
41mb
Reviewed April 2001 |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, heathland course. |
Location
TBA |
Conditions
TBA |
Concept 4/10
There's a quaint charm about Royal Wessex, almost in the manner of a
Constable painting. The deep greens and links-like fairways are intended
to evoke Britain, although it's almost a cartoon parody at times of the
American vision of Britain. The hole design wavers uncertainly throughout,
mind you; rather like McDonald's, this is really an inferior British version of
a good old American product. |
Appearance 5/10
I'm afraid I really can't get on board with the textures used here. They clash in colour, and the texture seams are glaringly obvious. The
hazards, too are roughly extruded, and only some strong, consistent planting at all levels helps to keep this course's visuals in the
memory. |
Playability 4/10
It would be easy to quickly tire of Royal Wessex. The golf has pretences to being strategic, but really it's mostly a cover-up for having
landing areas and holes that force you around the safe way. The ambient sound is a ridiculous mish-mash; your game will be the same
if the rough has its way. |
Challenge 8/10
Lacy Gearhart is a very clever designer, and with his careful guidance, this course has averaged its way to around about an overall
par. It certainly could be said that individual aspects of the course are variable - sometimes the planting is directly in play; other times
you'd barely notice it, and the same can be said of texture choices - but, through a slightly distorted perspective, this is a decent
challenge. |
Technical 5/10
Some aspects of this early design are admirable. There's a strong layout, and things like gradients have been handled with care. But,
on the flipside, there's far too much reliance on stock (the panorama doesn't even really fit), and even with the best will in the world,
you can't imagine this being where it claims to be. |
| Overall |
Britain through American goggles. Perhaps not the designer's finest hour. |
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. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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