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Gentle Hills
by Richard Latanville
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 799 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2002-02-28 |
30,973,442 bytes |
74 |
7700 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
WOODLAND |
Gentle Hills v. 2.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 46cd9ba48c9b40bab88edfa8bf4b02a6 |
211b69ead6399db3e7e0c71147cf937a |
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LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by
Mike Nifong
March 2002
Course type: Gentle Hills is listed on the course page as a fictional course, so this is presumably the designation of the designer. (Although that description is not entirely off base, there are some aspects of this course that you would likely never see in a real course, making this design one of those borderline fictional/fantasy courses.) I would further describe it as a woodland course. As you might gather from the title, the setting is not flat; on the other hand, the landscape is not what I would consider gentle, either, but I suppose that Abrupt Hills did not sound like a very fetching title.
Historical perspective: Gentle Hills is the second design submitted to the Links Corner by Richard Latanville. His first course, The Eagle's Nest, was released on December 28, 2001, to less than enthusiastic response (LC official review score of 35, and the dreaded silver star from only two respondents). Obviously, this is not the first version of Gentle Hills: the original was released on February 19, 2002, then replaced by this version on February 28. I was unable to find any mention of the course (either version) on the web board, so the only clue I have as to the reason for a version 2 comes from the read-me file: 'If you have trouble with the bricks on fringes but treasure my layout, no fear, i (sic) replaced the bricks with real fringe.' To little effect, it would appear, as both versions have garnered silver stars on minimal response.
What is included: In addition to the (very brief) read-me file (its other two sentences identify Richard as the designer and say simply 'Enjoy'), there is a splash screen. There are also hole previews, although they are less useful than most because they do not show a suggested line of play. Paradoxically for a course that includes hole previews, there is no cameo.
First impressions: While we are on the subject, I find it absolutely unfathomable that a designer would release a course these days without including both a cameo and a splash screen. Furthermore, since those two images will contribute greatly to the first impression your course will make, I cannot imagine that a designer would not spend the time to ensure that they convey something of whatever it is that makes the course special. When, as here, I am treated first to no cameo and then to an undistinguished splash screen, I begin to suspect that there is simply nothing special to show.
What comes next: Those suspicions are quickly confirmed.
Gentle Hills is a veritable compendium of what one does not want to find in an APCD golf course: bad mesh shadows, sharp edges, unrealistic elevations, texture transitions corresponding exactly to elevation changes (both the 'tablecloth' and the 'inverted bowl' effects), painted-on water textures, repetitive planting - you name it and it is here. The bunkers in particular are absolutely dreadful.
#4 is an especially noteworthy example of how much is wrong with this course. From the back tee in panoramic view, you will find that the lower right hand corner is 'sky' - too close to the plot boundary, I suppose. As you approach the green, you will notice an absolutely ridiculous series of small 'wells' (for lack of a better word) - round holes with stone walls (presumably so your ball can enter only on the fly or on a bounce), filled with water - protecting the front of the green; protruding from one of them is a jagged tear in the mesh, jutting toward the green. Once you are on the green, things get even more bizarre. I had a 25' putt one time for which no hole was visible on the green in the main view, although it was visible in the top view (that, of course, is not terribly unusual, although it is always regrettable). I putted and missed (again, not terribly unusual, but certainly regrettable). When the screen redrew for my second putt, the hole was visible in the main view, but my ball was nowhere to be seen. I was able to knock my invisible ball into the cup, but by that time I was ready to characterize this series of events as unusual. And no less regrettable.
For anyone who is still interested, I will tell you that the course offers very little in terms of risk/reward. Those poorly done bunkers are pretty easy to avoid, as are all of the water hazards. Only one of the par-5's is reachable from the back tees, but the par-4 #12 is almost drivable. The par-5 that is reachable, #2, plays in a counter-clockwise arc around the base of a very steep hill that was presumably intended to force you to hit a lay up off the tee; I discovered that a 3W draw would not only miss the trees, but would also get a nice kick off the back side of the hill, putting the ball in the fairway for a 5I draw to the green - not a very challenging setup. And from the front tee, it plays at only 392 yards, or about a drawn driver and a SW or PW to the pin.
But the most troubling aspect of this course for me is that it could have been released as a version 2 with all its obvious flaws. What, if anything, was fixed from version 1? Did Richard really think this course was suitable for public consumption in its present form? I appreciate that the designers are giving the rest of us something for free, but the designers need to appreciate that the mere fact something is free does not make it desirable, and that the quickest path to APCD ignominy is the foisting of haphazardly executed golf courses on an unsuspecting public: they don't remain unsuspecting for long, but they can be unforgiving for an eternity. From all appearances, that lesson has yet to be learned here.
The bottom line: This course should not have been released. The fact that it was should in no way persuade you to download it. Not recommended.
Course Statistics :
Par 74; 3 sets of tees; 7700 yards from back tees; holes are handicapped. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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