|
Southern Pines {CE}
by Eddie Schmidt
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 821 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2002-03-15 |
37,669,174 bytes |
72 |
7048 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
WOODLAND |
SouthernPines{CE}.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 7b16faa037ff11d6a1ec0010b55cadae |
d5e8efe886841a6ad3ab9d054638e4ab |
|
LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Joe Turner `Loner' March 2002
A portion of the designer's readme:
Changes from old Southern Pines are as follows;
resloped greens , Cartpaths , Lost Heavy rough ,new pond plantings ,new planting set for forests, Crowds and tourney objects ,changed some holes length and shapes ,lost lake on 2nd-3rd holes ,new sounds ,New splash and Logo screen ,Hole preview s,Tee signs ,custom tees ,New flowers and bushes ,some new cannons,
Island in the middle of huge lake by 12,13,&14.
What and whys of Southern Pines Club Edition;
SPCE is a fictional course located in the Carolinas somewhere ,On some of my many trips to Pinehurst ,I fell in love with the area ,all golf nothing else.
A big thanks to all that helped in this magnificent endeavor, Roger 'Alliegator' Worsham, Unnar for their graphic work and Dave 'DLunatic' for his usual extraordinary pano work. This course from its custom tees, statues, cannon etc., all give you the flavor of true southern hospitality. The colors and the textures of the tee areas, mowed fairways, first cut, rough, greens and fringe couldn't possibly be better. The bunkers, so strategically placed had an excellent finished look to them and even the top views were more complete than most. The trees towering over the course had a layer of pine needles and were dotted with small bushes, while a few color trees and flower beds at the tees added a bit if color to this already beautiful course. The decoration at the water hazards just added to the overall enjoyment.
Between the excellent elevation readings and the caddie the carefully crafted greens were kind even to a poor putter like me. They weren't medium or easy but moderate. The fairways were a touch narrower than average and mixed with the well placed and sized bunkers gave me a challenging game on this course with its moderately shaped holes. They weren't the simple hit and putt type but most gave you a bit of thought before you dared tackle them.
#4 hole, par 5, 540y, with a 26ft drop, a well placed drive as far to the right as possible, 294y. With only 247y left to the pin I chose a flop 3w, 248y and 6.3ft from the cup. If I can get an eagle here can you get an albatross?
#7 hole, par 5, 585y, with a 23ft drop, This long hole with its strategically placed fairway bunkers was a bit challenging, after a 286y drive down the right center I still had 296y left. At this point I had to allow for my stance on a slope and my 3w carried 257y, which left 40y to the stick. A careful lw and I had a birdie.
#14 hole, par 5, 549y, spectacular hole, In order to get past the tall trees to the right of the tee and to also get into a good position for an easy approach a fade is necessary on this drive. I landed at 285y and had 238y left to the pin. It was an excellent placement for a possible eagle on this difficult looking hole. I was standing on a slope again, my 3w flop took me to the far fringe and would have to pitch and settle for a bird.
Someone called this the sister course to Spyglass, it certainly played that way. The holes were imaginative, yet real. It was as I said when I reviewed the first Southern Pines a course that looked and played as if it were a real and not a fictional course. There isn't too much more to say about this very special course except that you will definitely be missing one of our finest additions to your hard drive if you don't download and keep this course. I highly recommend it and look forward to the next surprise he has in store for us.
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James Wood's thoughts..
Course Overview
This is a remake of the original Southern Pines which became a fan favorite in a short period of time. This one has been replanted and the textures have been toned down to a lighter hue. The hole previews are very good and provide a lot of good information. The planting in the ponds is especially good and looks very natural. Good hole signs, and custom objects have been used including the tee markers.
Tips for Playing the Course
The course should play fairly for all swing types. The pins are well placed and the fairways for the most part are generous.
Hole #4 Par 5 541yds
Bunkers at the landing area on either side but the fairway is generous. A 253yd second shot with a downhill lie into a pin tucked into the right hand corner just over a sand bunker. This is a 'sucker pin' placement. The green slopes away from you and the best shot is into the center of the green.
Hole #7 Par 5 585yds
Not reachable in two shots the layup area is tough. Two bunkers narrow the fairway considerably. In order to clear the second bunker a 2I is necessary from a hanging lie. This should leave you an LW into the green.
Hole #9 Par 4
One of the more imaginative holes on the course because of the interesting challenge of the tee shot. A sharp dogleg right you can go at this a couple of ways. Play a safe 3W straight ahead and you're left with a 180yd approach shot. Cut the corner and you can creep within 8I range. If you don't make the corner trees await your shot and if you don't cut enough of the corner a bunker lies waiting. The finishing 18th hole is similar in strategy.
Favorite Hole
Hole #14 an interesting par 5 seems to be almost everyone's favorite. You can play this one a couple of different ways. Play it safe and you have no shot at getting home in two or take a chance and try for an eagle.
Overall
I think this one was worth redoing after the designers success with Spyglass Hill. The new planting and textures are much better than the original and with the popularity of the original this should be a welcome substitution. A good solid layout that seems to get better with each hole it never occurs to you that you aren't really in North Carolina playing at one of the Pinehurst courses. Certainly it is well worth your time to download and I'd like to thank Eddie for the update on one really good looking course.
Reviewer Note
I am a player not a designer and therefore rate a course as a player for other players.
Summary :
Included: readme, cameo, splash, hole previews, signs and numbers, custom flags, custom tees, cart path, buildings, crowds, tourney objects, civil war statues and a recorded round.
Not Included: you tell me.
Statistical Information: Par 72, 7048y, 4 sets of tees, 4-3 pars, 10-4 pars, 4-5 pars. |
|
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Fictional, woodland course |
Location
TBA |
Conditions
TBA |
Concept 9/10
I have to confess that this was a course that shied off my radar for far
too long. It's a beautifully coherent forest run-out; utterly convincing in
the blend of styles and the meticulously created environment. The
beauty of the design is the complete lack of awkwardness or
inconvenience to the golfer - this really is stimulating golf at its most
fluid best. There might certainly be room for alterations; one too many
clichés among the design, but I doubt too many players would be
looking for an improvement. |
Appearance 9/10
Impeccable planting at all levels makes this one of the best 2001 designs, and it's difficult to harp on at the design problems that came
inherent with APCD 1.1. The colour set is inspired and features such as the hazards show promise way ahead of their time. The
isolated woodland is the perfect excuse to focus on the beauty of natural features but there's a wealth of interesting customisation to
go alongside them, including particularly the Civil War objects that have become Eddie's hallmark. |
Playability 10/10
This is effortless golf in the best way imaginable. Hole after hole flies by but - beautifully - isn't immediately lost to the mind's eye
afterwards. By turns, it's reminiscent of your local municipal, a championship venue, and a luxurious fantasy creation, without shoving
any of these down our throats. The overall experience could be a pinnacle from which the game has yet to descend. |
Challenge 3/10
It would be slightly unfair to level accusations of easiness against Southern Pines. Certainly it does its best with some lengthy Par 5s
and some awkward (to say the least) greening. It just doesn't all pull together, though - there's a shortage of genuinely strategic
hazarding, and the strokes are all too easy to pick up. |
Technical 8/10
This is easily among that great, and too-often overlooked, group of courses that set new limits for their time, and Southern Pines has
barely aged at all. In some ways, it doesn't even cry out for an update in the fear that the atmosphere may be spoiled. |
| Overall |
Probably one of the best 'straight' courses out there. A joyful round of golf and an
interesting precursor to the equally-appealing Bull Run. |
39/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
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