| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 600 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2001-06-02 |
16,420,645 bytes |
74 |
7852 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
PARKLAND |
TheRiversEdge.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| d397f262576d11d584f600e029510ffb |
957584426aa66a1f7bc79fc64a84c460 |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Chuck Clark
January 2002
Background: This is the eleventh and possibly last course by Joe Stellema (one with Jeff Sanders). Unfortunately this course review 'fell through the cracks'. Sorry Joe! It was done back in June of 2001, but we are just getting around to the review now. I can't give an excuse why this happened; it was just one of those things. As for Joe's previous courses, they have not been well received. Most of his courses were done and released back in the early days of the APCD (November, 2000). But even for then, his courses were not well done. Like I said above, this was the last one he has released, so maybe he has given it up. I hope not, because it is obvious that he has some good ideas for golf holes. There is no read-me with this course file, so we have no expectations during loading.
Overall Impression: This is a parkland/mountain course using the Whistler pano (again!). Like the name (and the movie) says, 'a river runs through it'. This river comes into play a lot and there are quite a few interesting holes based around it. It is pretty flat despite the 'mountain' pano. It must be in a valley. While the course is loading you see on the splash screen the words: 'A Clueless Design'. This doesn't exactly fill you with confidence that the course you about to play is any good, but it is obvious that the designer is just poking fun at himself. I appreciate a sense of humor like this, so I applaud him for putting this here. I got a chuckle out of it at least.
This course is quite interesting and different. You have to really think your way around. I would recommend playing this course with the top view on. You will be driving into water a lot if you don't. Unfortunately there are too many contrived features and mistakes to make you want to come back and play it again. The textures used are pretty strange in places, the tee markers change color on almost every hole, the planting is bizarre to say the least and the namesake river is not very well done. The course is also 7852 yards long, which to me is way too much. Many of the trees are stretched way out of scale. This is not necessary and very distracting. It really takes a big bite out of the realism factor for me. I guess the key word to describe this course would be 'inconsistent'. There are so many bizarre and strange things on this course it is hard to describe.
Good Points: Well, Joe definitely has some good ideas for fun and strategic golf holes. There are many holes which dog leg around or over the river which keeps you thinking all the way. Some of the holes are almost boomerang in shape. You play around in a circle. I also think he has some good ideas on planting in general, but he needs to stick to a theme for the whole course. Not change it on every hole. There is also some good fence work here and there. Call me weird but I also liked the heart shaped bunker in the middle of one green (see below).
Not So Good: There are quite a few things about this course that were not done well. Like I mentioned above the planting is weird. The trees are stretched way out of proportion, the planting is very repetitive in places and the under planting changes from hole to hole. On one hole there are bright flowers everywhere you look, but on the next hole you may see deep grasses and bushes. There are stumps sticking out of the river bottom, which would be ok, but he uses the same ones over and over. They are not realistic looking at all. As mentioned above this course is too long. It is a par 74 which is very unusual to say the least. The fifth hole is a 514 yard par 4! But the eighth hole is a 482 yard par 5! I don't know why, your guess is as good as mine! I also don't care for the blowing desert sand texture used in the bunkers either. This looks out of place in a mountain kind of course. Everything about this course is inconsistent.
Summary: To summarize, this is an interesting golf course to say the least. There are a bunch of unusual holes which keep you thinking. However, this golf course is bizarre and inconsistent. The planting is strange and there are too many distractions to your senses. The layout is interesting and fun, but too many things pop up to make you wonder. I think that some people may really like this course and its quirky holes. I can't really recommend downloading it to fast connection guys though, there are too many better courses out there. But it is a pretty small download. For slow connection guys it may be worth a try.
Filesize 16MB
Included/Not Included:
Cameo: Yes
Splash Screen: Yes
Hole Previews: No
Tee Signs: No
Custom Tee Markers: No
Custom Flags: No
Handicaps: No
Custom or Added Sounds: No?
I am both a player and a designer. I review courses primarily from the standpoint of fun and playability. I appreciate courses that are beautiful to look at, but first and foremost I want a fun experience. I have spent many hours designing courses myself, so I understand the blood, sweat and tears that go into the design process. Any critical comments made here are meant to be constructive and helpful. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
|
|
Download course
|
Please support Links Corner
|
