| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 368 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-01-17 |
2,575,415 bytes |
71 |
6456 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
REAL |
UNCLASSIFIED |
Bountifu.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 04ae961cea274731b9592a7b07403fc8 |
beff1d276f0ce4ccce50279eef088441 |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Real, mountain course |
Location
TBC |
Conditions
TBC |
Concept 9/10
Nestling in the foothills of a large mountain, Bountiful provides a rolling landscape dotted with shallow bunkers and generous greens. The course re-creation as a whole keeps that pretext very well. Individual hole design is gentle but subtly challenging and no golfer will leave feeling that they've been short-changed. |
Appearance 7/10
Generally, this is a very good-looking course. Microsoft's designers have removed any sharp edges, and thrown in a ton of extras - golf carts, wire fences, and a stunning panorama - that hold the attention. Bunkers fit in beautifully with the landscape and look utterly natural. Planting is sparse but looks effective; my only downside is the houses by the course edge, which sometimes lean over perilously and look very amateur close-to. |
Playability 8/10
This course whips you round on the basis of open but sloped fairways, generous greens which give you some makeable-looking birdie putts, and a range of subtly different options on every hole. It's one of those rare courses where you can't wait for the next hole to render just to see what's in store for you. I enjoyed my round at Bountiful very much. |
Challenge 8/10
The challenge of this course is all in the fairways. Humped, hollowed and laterally sloped, they provide a variety of difficult lies for every approach shot. The greens are easy to hit but hard to read, and it's easy to get putts running away from you. Bunkers are shallow and will counter these last two problems to some extent: indeed, on some fairways it's better to be in the bunkers than on the grass. All put together, this is a very well-pitched golfing test, and will throw up a wide range of scores depending on the conditions. |
Technical 8/10
Thankfully, Microsoft's team brought their A-game to this version of Bountiful. Some of the seams are harsh but are well disguised, and the lack of blends (even around the bunkers) doesn't detract from the beauty of the course at all. The course is superbly well contoured and looks utterly natural - not an easy feet on a layout such as this. Only the aforementioned problem with houses lets it down. |
| Overall |
A lovely and utterly playable course, made all the more refreshing for its lack of gimmicks. |
40/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
The download of this course has been suspended.
|
Please refer to the course notes above for more information. |
