|
Pagoda Run 2
by James Wood
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 552 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-08-26 |
17,503,593 bytes |
72 |
7127 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
PARKLAND |
pagoda2.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| b46aab609a6d11d5bffb00c0f055fe70 |
d67d7a935191fa793d3c228736e513b7 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Dave Campbell
Expectations: I have played and reviewed the original Pagoda Run and have always liked it. I'm expecting even more from this revamped version.
First Impressions: Pagoda Run 2 is the seventh of eight designs posted to the Links Corner by Jim Wood and was made available on 8/26/01. His other in order of release are; The Reservoir, Highland Lakes, Black Crater, Six Lakes, Pagoda Run (the original), Blue Heron and the recently released and critically acclaimed AlabamA (designed with wife DeLinda). It is a fictional, parkland par 72 playing to 7,127 yards from the longest of three tee choices. As mentioned I have always liked, and reviewed, the original Pagoda Run. I was thrown a bit of a softball when given this review, I knew it would be a course I'd like. Let me talk about some of the goodies in this very nice design.
Playability: This course has a distinct oriental flavor judging by the Asian style of trees, the bridge visible on several holes during the back 9 and the many pagoda buildings. I particularly like the pagoda clubhouse, surrounded by golf carts. If you like the feel of Phoenix C.C. then you'll like this one. It looks very open from the tees but that is a bit deceptive as bunkers, water or both pinch most of the landings. The textures are much improved and even though the layout is virtually identical it feels like a new course. Planting is great and looks very natural. Good ground level planting going on too, as would be expected from a Wood course (either Jim or DeLinda).
The tee box shapes are all custom with a nice faded, light green texture used. It is noticeably open and free of foliage for your tee shot and as mentioned, the landings are often tight at the 250-275 yard range. All fairways have a nice 1st cut of rough before you get into the heavy rough or green brush (which is OB in many areas, maybe all). I clubbed down a few times to minimize the danger but could use the big dog most of the time.
The bunkers are something special on this course, the first with black sand. Not only is the texture black, but it also has a sparkly look that is most pleasing to the eye. Jim has placed many throughout the course and sand could come into play on almost every shot. I only hit one greenside bunker during my test round so they can be avoided if you play smart.
I think I would call the greens moderate, no large elevations but always a slight break in your line. In fact the elevations throughout the course are very subtle and slight. Most greens are of average size and offer a fair target. The textures used here are very nice too, as are all the textures in the design.
There is some water on this course. Three of the par 3's have water involved and you will need to account for it on several tee shots. The 562-yard par 5 9th hole has water on both sides of the fairway on the tee shot. I'll talk about the par 5 18th later. All the water looks great and is planted up nicely.
As expected there are many pagoda structures with the largest serving as the clubhouse (visible from the 9th and 18th green approaches). A nice cart path is woven through the course in a very realistic way. Ball washers and waiting golf carts are near the tees. There is a beautiful oriental looking bridge visible from the back 9 and the signature Jim Wood hot air balloons. Combined with great foliage planting all over makes for a very realistic looking cyber course.
Drawbacks: I've never been a big fan of the 'green brush' texture. Not only is it tough to play from (or in the case of PR2 OB) but I've just never cared much for the look. This is surely my own personal thing but everyone will need to avoid it in this design. It is used sparingly.
The back tees use red markers, which doesn't affect playability at all but just looks different. Would a real life course use red as the back tee markers? I not really sure but universally the red's are the ladies tees. Just mentioning it, to be honest I didn't even start noticing until the back 9 J
Another aesthetic thing is the lie indicator for the sand. The bunkers in this design are black and the lie indicator shows pure white sand. I'm not even sure if this can be changed but it really jumped out at me when I saw it, being that I was surrounded by black.
Best Hole: I think the prettiest hole (and one of the nicest looking APCD holes period) is the 165-yard par 3 7th. It is a fairly short par 3 with water fore and aft, two greenside bunkers and a gorgeous view. For all intents and purposes this is an island green. I love the open look and how you can see several other holes on the land plot. Check out how Jim set the panorama up, you're teeing off right into that gorgeous mountain. And how could I forget, you get the best view on the course of the hot air balloons. My screenshot is a view from behind the tees on this hole.
I also want to mention the par 5 18th, a great finisher. It measures a mere 475 yards from the back tees but is fraught with danger on the drive. The fairway is very skinny, miss left and you're in a lake, miss right and you're in a large trap. Stick the drive (even with a 3W) and you're left with a 200 yard or less approach shot and a chance to score big. Great risk/reward and a hole that could swing many a match.
Test round stats: -5 83% FIR 73% GIR 24 putts. Putting stats were helped by back-to-back chip in birds on the 16th and 17th. Missed some putts early on though so the score should be pretty accurate of a normal game for me.
Comparable courses: Phoenix C.C. by Microsoft, Pagoda Run by Jim Wood
Overall: As you know by now I really like this course, as I did the original. The new textures used and black bunkers make this one of my favorites. The challenge is dictated by superb layout and not tricked up conditions (i.e. the 18th hole). All par 3 yardages varied, no overuse of doglegs, great r/r opportunities on the par 5's and great knowledge and application of the APCD on Jim's part. As far as a download recommendation, it's a no-brainer at a scant 14 meg. Go get Pagoda Run 2 and enjoy a fun round of Links golf, I know I did.
Course Info :
Cameo Screen? Yes
Splash Screen? Yes
Text file? Yes
Hole Previews? Yes
14mb
Reviewed October 2001 |
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CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, mountain course |
Location
TBA |
Conditions
TBA |
Concept 6/10
Credit is due to Pagoda Run for going out of its way to be something
different. The intention is to create a Japanese course, and this has been
pulled off reasonably successfully. The custom 2D buildings, the black
bunkers and the wide open holes all lend a certain ambience to the place,
and the round passes without too much offence. |
Appearance 7/10
The magnificent panorama is a welcome distraction from the golf, and the use of some unusual custom textures - particularly the jet
black bunkers - helps to lend this course a distinctive tone. The cypress trees that make up the planting are suitably underplanted,
although there is rather too much by way of cloning. It's different; it's unusual; and, frankly, it ain't half bad. |
Playability 6/10
There's a subtle but pleasant natural variety to the different holes, and although it won't provoke deep thought, Pagoda Run is open,
inviting and generous. Inasmuch as this provides a change to the more arduous designs on the market, the designer's forethought is to
be applauded - there simply aren't enough good courses that will allow the player a breather or two. |
Challenge 4/10
The fairways are huge - some of the widest and most inviting on the game, but without sacrificing reality. All holes offer pretty good
chances at birdie, and some gentle greens - unusual in a course of this age - will let you convert many. While the bunkers are great to
look at, I shot through the first seventeen holes without being troubled by them. |
Technical 5/10
An impressive amount of customisation, or at least use of objects and textures we don't see very often, goes hand-in-glove with pretty
low file size and the designer's credentials are on the up for that alone. Tucked away, though, there's some pretty poor cloning, an
amateur bit of elevating and perhaps a lack of coherence to the whole course. |
| Overall |
We're not exactly overladen with Japanese courses, and that's a good enough
reason to get this. Don't be surprised if - when opening it up - you find a few other
good reasons. |
28/50 |
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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