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Ckerokee Valley v2
by Brad Schulz
| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 826 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2002-03-19 |
37,742,574 bytes |
71 |
6922 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
FICTIONAL |
MOUNTAIN |
cvgc2.2.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 407926697a2b46758fe81bddc04d8525 |
7ba1ad7eaf483e759127215dd42b5a29 |
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LINKS CORNER REVIEW |
Reviewed by Mike Nifong March 2002
Course type: Ckerokee Valley, Version 2, is (still) a fictional, mountain-valley style course. The read-me file included with the new version confirms (as I speculated in my previous review) that it is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Historical perspective: Apparently unhappy with the initial response to the initial incarnation, Brad set out to improve Ckerokee Valley very soon after the initial review was posted. He sought advice on potential changes through the web board, and he also submitted an open beta for testing (both of these steps, in my opinion, are the right way to go). Version 2 was released on March 19, 2002, and has thus far been better received than its predecessor (three stars from 9 users at the time of this writing, and it spent a little time at the 4-star level).
What is included: In a package that, at 34.8MB, is somewhat more compact than the original, Version 2 manages to include a little bit more. There is now a read-me file that contains a brief and general description of the changes made, along with a short 'history' of the course and some general advice on playing strategy. Although there are still no hole previews (a moderate disappointment), there is a new cameo and a new splash screen. The cameo is (unlike its predecessor) very pretty, but (like its predecessor) it bears no discernible relationship to the course: the mountain depicted is quite obviously not in the Great Smokies, or any other part of the Appalachian chain. The new splash screen, on the other hand, is both more attractive and, despite an autumn color scheme that differs from the actual course, better suited for the purpose.
What has been changed: The most noticeable changes from the original Ckerokee Valley are cosmetic, and they are confined largely to the tee areas. The edges of the tee boxes are now extruded slightly, and the extrusions are rounded, which makes for an attractive appearance without causing any bad shadows in the top view. Somewhat surprisingly, it did not appear that any of the relatively few (and relatively minor) mesh shadows in the fairway and green transitions had been cleaned up, but since they are not visible in the main view anyway, this is not a major shortcoming.
In addition to the new extrusions, many of the tee areas have been replanted (or perhaps I should say 'unplanted'). This is all to the good, as I felt that the multitude of flower beds in the original took away a lot more than they added. Some of the larger flower beds are removed (#2, #10, #12, #17 and #18), or have had the flowering trees removed from them (#4, #15, #16 and, again, #18), or have been replaced with ornamental grasses (#13). Flowers were actually added on #9, but the more-distracting shrubs have been removed. Moreover, the flowers that remain maintain a more coherent color scheme - no more color for color's sake. This new found restraint has a couple of benefits: the course now fits more naturally into its setting, and the reduced clutter around the tee boxes really opens up the sight lines.
Anyone who was hoping for significant redesign, on the other hand, will be disappointed. Insofar as I could tell, no modifications were made to any of the layouts, and none were noted in the read-me file. Brad does indicate that some fairways have been widened slightly and some greens enlarged, but any such changes were effectuated very subtly, as none were obvious to me in a hole-by-hole comparison, and I attribute virtually all of the more open feeling to the replanting of the tees. You may notice that Version 2 is listed as 19 yards shorter than the original; that difference is attributable to #10 and #16 being shortened by ten and twelve yards, respectively, and #14 playing three yards longer. Again, no drastic changes are obvious, so the new distances may be artifacts of the way the APCD measures distances if, for example, the greens are enlarged.
Certainly nothing that I have mentioned so far will have appreciable effect on playability, but one significant change has been made in that regard that should make this course more palatable to those who play at the more difficult levels. In the original version of Ckerokee Valley, the areas off the fairway were quite generous in size, but the texture played as deep grass, making extraction following a missed snap often difficult and always unpredictable. In Version 2, those areas retain their generous proportions, but now they play as mere rough. For this course, given its abundance of bunkers and water hazards, the consequent reduction in the punishment of wayward shots was very much the appropriate choice and is, in and of itself, sufficient justification for giving Ckerokee Valley another look.
The bottom line: Ckerokee Valley, Version 2, is unmistakably an improvement over the original, both in appearance and in playability, but the enhancements realized are rather modest in scope. In other words, if you did not like the first version, you may not be too much happier with its replacement. But if you have not yet tried either version, or if you thought the original just missed being a great course, then Version 2 is definitely worth a download. I still believe it to be underrated in the user reviews, but at least its rating has taken a step in the right direction.
Course Statistics :
Par 71; 3 sets of tees (5 distances are available using different combinations); 6922 yards from back tees; holes are not handicapped. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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