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Elk Ridge GC
by Bill Misener

Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 94
Release Date CRZ Filesize Par Course Length
2001-04-11  24,345,244  bytes 72  7541 yards
Type Style CRZ Filename
IMAGINARY  MOUNTAIN  Elk Ridge GC.crz 
Course ID Course Key
e9b3c4c12c0c11d59c5bbab92dfe576d  3a1244db5db8430cd1df37cafb6f1cb2 

LINKS CORNER REVIEW

Reviewed by Lacy Gearheart April 2001

First Impression: This is the 4th or 5th design by Bill Misener. It was listed as a fantasy course, but I don't see how. It looks and plays quite realistically. For this review I will call it a fictional design. It has the same name as a Michigan course, but I am not aware of any similarities. I have not reviewed any prior courses by this designer but have played them all. This by far is easily his best work.

It is a semi parkland design set within a mountain range. The pano is a "Woodbury Special" and is downloadable here at Links Corner. The course plays a very long 7541 yards from the back tees, but is a very enjoyable course to play. The hole layouts are very nice and natural looking. The fairways do bend a bit but are wide enough that it is not necessary to shape your shot for good position. The course is quite full of elevation changes, but they seem to be done is a very professional manner. The shapes used are quite unique except for a few of the greens on the back side. Sounds and images of elk and other wild life are seen and heard throughout your round. Objects are nicely placed, but not in excess. The course can offer a decent challenge and should be taken seriously. Several side hill lies cause you ball to move towards the hazards and it shows the layout was well thought out.

A few streams and lakes are used here as additional hazards and "eyecandy" to make the course look even better. I really liked how the designer used three cuts of rough although I was not a true fan of the 1st cut. The 1st cut texture is good by itself but did not really match the rest of the textures. But then again...it's a personal preference and that alone should not detract from downloading this design.

Custom amenities: Shacks, animals, and ballwashers were common here and they looked decent in the places they were located. Other than an elk 8 feet from one green...this was a good job here. The cart patch seemed good and did not twist that much considering the terrain was hilly.

Greens: They were pretty well crafted in general, but tended to get stock in shape on the back nine. They offered a decent putting challenge.

Fairways: The were very wide and well shaped. The checkered pattern looked good with the main cut of rough but looked odd at times with the texture used as the 1st cut of rough. The undulations were quite good and natural. There were a few holes on the back nine that got a little extreme, but overall a very good job was done here.

Tee Boxes: The were generally stock shaped, but were flat and offered good views of the fairway.

Bunkers and Water Hazards: Both bunkers and lakes were well shaped, but lacked the needed depth to make them even more realistic. The lakes were usually edged with a rocky texture while the bunkers were edged with the same texture as the 1st cut of rough.

Planting: The planting here was good....a good variety of trees were used. I personally would have liked to see more ground level planting, but again...that is a personal preference and wont detract from the overall rating.

Best Hole: There were many to choose from. I chose the unique 18th hole. It is not common you see a short par 3 as a final hole, but this one was my favorite and fit the part very well. I especially liked the large bunker filled with bushes and small shrubs. Nice touch and a great finishing hole.

Overall: A good fictional semi-parkland design that should be looked at. It is by far the designers best work to date. The course offers a quaint look at a monstrous length. I am sure you can also enjoy a round here. Download suggested


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Mick Lenton's thoughts..

Thoughts from the 1st: This is Bill's 3rd course to be reviewed and as I stood on the 1st tee I was thinking that maybe the advice he had been given in the first two, Foothills and Tropicana had been put to good use as the course looked quite good from the tee, but I was soon disappointed as all the previously mentioned faults soon reared their ugly heads. Bad edges, elevations, extrusions and the feeling that the course had not been finished.

The Course: This is a long course, 7541 yards for a par 72!!!!!! six of the par 4's being over 480 yards but surprisingly it does not feel TOO long. Elk Ridge is overrun with........You've guessed it, Elks.

It is built on quite level ground in sparse woodland with quite inviting fairways and a nice set of textures though I am not sure of the fairway texture which seems to go haywire in the distance as if the greenkeeper has had one too many.

There are 8ish lakes and a few connecting waterways on the course and water is at least present on most of the holes if not actually coming into play.

The course itself is quite well designed but is let down totally by the number of what are very basic APCD construction faults. Very sharp edges, texture changes on elevation changes without the protective verts and edges to soften them, untextured extrusions, very poor elevating. In other words, what appears to be a general lack of efficient testing and correcting. Which is a great shame as this could be a good course.

One of the big problems that follows you around the course and once the course has been laid out is very difficult to put right, is the fact that the pano, although a good one, is a bit stark and devoid of trees for a wooded course and the hole run very close to the edge without sufficient planting to mask the changeover.

Playability: The course is definitely playable but not outstanding with no real impossible shots but equally not many really easy ones either. Most drives are comparatively easy with just the seemingly obligatory drive length bunkers to be avoided. As I am a PS'er I would find it difficult, if not impossible to reach any of the par 5's in 2 without perfect wind conditions but I expect a good clicker might manage to reach a couple of them.

The biggest problems on the course are caused by the bad edges and elevations

Good Points: The course is quite well designed and could be d/led by you cable guys for a look but I would not consider it a keeper.

Bad Points: Really it has all been said above, there is more but it is all of the same - construction faults.

Favourite Hole: It would have been the 18th had the green been contoured but as it was left flat I will go with the 3rd. A nice long par 5 that does make you think a bit.

Least Favourite Hole: Difficult as nothing stands out as really bad so I will go for the 6th as a 495 uphill par 4 has got to be voted against. The hole is actually well laid out with a single tree to think about. If it was downhill then............

Final thoughts: What a shame, given good construction this course could have got double the points - or more.

So to wind up - as far as designing is concerned this is a good course and can give you a good round, but the APCD faults mean that I would only advise the cable boys to have a look.

Filesize 22MB

Course Info :

Splash Screen? Yes
Cameo Screen? Yes
Hole Handicaps? No
Attached txt file? No

This course is available as a FREE download.


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