Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2019 10:57:41 GMT -5
Group E Results
1. Ocean Perpetual 2-0-1
2. Tempest Strand 2-0-1
3. Blue Gums Elk Reserve 0-2-1
4. The Wolf at Copper Lake 0-2-1
Ocean Perpetual vs. Tempest Strand
JUDGE 1
Ocean Perpetual:
Possible award winner to best looking opening tee shot. One of the few courses where the additions don't feel like an addon... I could see the neighborhood behind #4 as part of a normal course. Front 9 plays super long and is a bit boring.. but the back 9 is filled with great holes and tons of fun. Almost feels like two different courses for me.
This course could be a contender depending on its matchup. Plays solid, but the lackluster front side may hold it back.
Tempest:
Possible the shortest from the tips of all of the contest courses? The minimal planting fits this course perfectly... adds to its clean cut look. 5th hole could be one of the best par 3's in the contest, and 7 could be up there for short par 4 of the contest too. 18th is a favorite of mine... feels like a finishing hole with the lighting and environment. Wish the green was a bit better, the pin on pinset 1 is a bit funky.
Overall, this is a sneaky course. Technically pretty solid, even if it does feel a bit minimal.
Have to get super picky here to pick a winner. They even split 2-2-2 on the categories.. so can't award a winner based off of that. I'm going with the course that I thought had the best overall holes. Some of the holes on the front side on Tempest are just excellent. 5 and 7 came to mind while I was thinking back. Ocean may have more "better" holes, but if I could only play one course out of the two again, in my heart, I know which one it'll be. So by the slightest of margins.. and probably a bit of an upset…
Winner: Tempest Strand (and I hope they both make it through anyway…)
JUDGE 2
Ocean Perpetual:
Very little to criticise. Maybe too many similar length 440-460 yard par 4 holes. I like the way the course ebbs and flows between the dramatic, spectacular areas and the softer, more natural joining holes (like 3, 11 & 14). An enjoyable and at times challenging course set in a beautifully crafted landscape.
Tempest Strand:
Great beach and bunker work. Well blended textures except for the thin strip of dark green light rough around each hole that looked a little unnatural - like each hole had applied eyeliner. The last few inland holes started to blend into each other and were not very memorable. Overall a well-constructed, pretty and relaxing course that plays a little on the easy side.
Conclusion:
Two really enjoyable courses. The losing course narrowly edged the winning course on playability and technical areas but the winner came back stronger with aesthetics and memorability and that winner is ...
... Ocean Perpetual
The Wolf at Copper Lake vs. Blue Gums Elk Reserve
JUDGE 1
The Wolf at Copper Lake:
Nice clean environment. Colors and lighting are good. Cart path is clean and makes sense. Several nice visuals off the tee. The mulch/rock areas are done well, but seemed way too big and overdone to me. Very consistent, though. Bunker style is inconsistent. Hole 5 is a nice strategic par 5. I'm not a huge fan of the area right in front of the green, though. I think if you shrink that bunker complex to about half that size, and then bring the fairway in around the bunkers from either one side or the other, but not both, you've got a better look there. I didn't really like 6. Green is huge, and I didn't care for the retaining wall work. I thought the front 9 played pretty well, but then 10 and 11 really took me out of the round. I didn't like 10 at all, there's a giant snaky fairway bunker that splits the fairway, but I don't see much benefit in trying to hit the narrow right side, and then the green complex just doesn't fit the land well. There's also a rock in the bunker in front of the green. Then 11, another huge fairway bunker, and the right side snaky fairway doesn't make any sense to me. I tried several ways to hit a shot that made use of any of that right side, and I just couldn't find one that made the risk worthwhile. I just did not get those 2 holes. 18 is a nice finishing hole. Do you challenge the water off the tee for a short iron/wedge in, or layup and leave a long iron? I liked the front nine much better than the back 9. I still think it's worthy of a tour spot somewhere, but I remember more about the holes I didn't like than the ones I did.
Blue Gums Elk Reserve:
Really nice work with the cliff/shore/beach areas, except for the area to the left of the range, which just stops abruptly. Also, off to the right of the first hole, there is a large flat land mass with one semi-rectangular section of grass, that also ends abruptly at the edge of the plot. Is that intentional or an oversight? Looks like you ran out of time before finishing some things. A few areas got a little inconsistent with walkway/light rough widths, and some of the paths/steps/tee boxes are more finished than others. Some of the fairways where a little bumpy to my eye, but I think that was your vision rather than lack of execution. I don't like all the bushes in this theme. To me, they just make the course look sloppy in places. I didn't care for the "dirt" path and/or road meandering across the course. I like the multiple options off the tee, but don't like the fact you are hitting over adjacent fairways and even greens on a regular basis. There are several routing issues as well, the course is a maze. That doesn't affect playability though. Hole 6-7-8 is a cool stretch of holes. On 8, I don't like the look off the tee, partly in shadows and can really only see scrub brush and some sand. It is a really creative and fun hole to play, though, you just can't see much from the tee. Overall, this is a good course that just lacks some finishing polish that would make it great. It has a high replay value, lots of holes with multiple ways to approach, and would set up well for a 4 round tournament.
Two good courses, but both had some issues as well. In the end, one had bigger positives and smaller negatives to take the win.
Blue Gums Elk Reserve wins the matchup.
JUDGE 2
NOTES TO COME
Wolf at Copper Lake wins
Ocean Perpetual vs. The Wolf at Copper Lake
JUDGE 1
Ocean Perpetual:
Great attention to detail. Questionable routing at times. Nice variety of shots
Wolf at Copper:
Some good ideas that needed more follow through with sculpting/planting to bring it alive. Bunker sculpting needed work. Some holes a little "wacky.” In saying all that i still enjoyed my round.
Winner: Ocean Perpetual
JUDGE 2
Ocean Perpetual:
Wide-open, dune-covered hills and valleys, and vast stretches of grasses and pine trees are the setting of this course, which wends its way along the ocean atop steep cliffs. Wide, expansive fairways offer lots of variety and choices on approach shots, with the rolling nature of the terrain and significant elevation changes requiring care to be taken if the golfer wants a good lie. Although bunkering is excellent – both strategically and sculpturally – and used especially effectively guarding green complexes – it is minimal due to the heavy dunes present throughout, which serve as excellent hazards. There are many options on routings, with some being merely aesthetic and others offering good risk/reward play. Greens – slightly smaller than ideally in some cases, but compensated with good roll-off areas – are excellently sculpted, rewarding close approaches and punishing poor ones, although they seem to be geared towards players of average ability, being very forgiving. Aesthetically, this is an absolutely gorgeous course. The object meter had to be close to maxed out, with oceans of lush grasses and vegetation surrounding every visible aspect of the course, and rugged coasts dotted with beautiful rockwork. The designer has a keen artist’s eye for framing his holes, and sightlines are key on every hole. Every teeshot is a panorama of photographic beauty, with only a couple of blind tee-shots. A small coastal town and farms complete the picturesque setting. Overall a stunning course that is as much a work of visual art as it is a strategic and fun round of golf.
The Wolf at Copper Lake:
Right off the bat, you notice the clean lines of the fairways, and beautiful sculpting and contouring of the terrain on this course. Fairways, bunkers, and the surrounding land is all extremely natural and smooth-looking. The cart-path, which wends its way throughout the course, is the same – perfectly curved and smooth. The designer obviously knows the tools and has an eye for clean lines. Sightlines are clear and offer up beautiful views. Holes are framed very well. Routings are good, although not extremely memorable in most cases, with distances well-planned out to create challenge, depending on wind conditions. There are some holes with multiple choices off the tee, which creates some options for the golfer on approach shots, but for the most part play is dictated by the routing of the fairways. Bunkering is flawless, and well-placed, although there are some fairway bunkers that are unnecessary as they do not come into play (although these are minimal, #11 for example). Greens are very well-sculpted, extremely challenging and offer a variety of strategic pin placements, rewarding good approaches. Planting is very minimal, and this works well on this course, although in some places (like atop the retaining wall on #6, or the rock gardens off the tee on #8 and #10, for example) rather repetitive and artificial-looking with the same flowers being used over and over. Aesthetically, the natural beauty of the surroundings and trees and lake are quite attractive, and the designer lets these elements speak for themselves, with the only “man-made” element that is repeated throughout the course being the rock-gardens scattered here and there. This is an extremely challenging course, and although many of the routings and bunker-surrounded green complexes are fairly typical, it is memorable in its attractive and extensive bunkering, beautiful framing, play along the lake, and clean, smooth lines.
Winner: Ocean Perpetual
Tempest Strand vs. Blue Gums Elk Reserve
JUDGE 1
Tempest Strand:
Pros: Nice contrasting textures and planting. Realistic setting for a course. Nice village / beachfront. Cons: Several slopey tees - while the rest of course has very minimal elevation changes - would have liked a few more changes in heights. Seemingly all waypoints put a 2 wood in my hand - everything seems set up for pro clubs, no challenge at all on most holes for master clubs.
Blue Gums Elk Reserve:
Pros: 18th hole is awesome - lots of options. The course feels exactly like a real life course on that terrain would be. Nice framing / bunkering. Cons: As with Tempest - far too many waypoints set up too short - or into bunkers! There are some issues with semi rough being all over the place on a few holes. There is a weird sandy / grass 'island' out in the sea to the right of the 2nd hole - think it might have been meant to be removed - but wasn't! The fairways did feel too wide a lot of the time - I know you are offering angles - but they had no challenge at all at times.
Winner: Blue Gums
JUDGE 2
Tempest strand:
Very polished design. Great playability and really easy on the eye. Gread technique to boot. Crisp sculpting and overall sweet track. Although not overly difficult.
Blue gums elk:
Really enjoyed the playability, even if slightly rough round the edges. Great course tho and really enjoyed it on the whole
Tempest takes the round but great courses to boot. Just the polish that nicked it
Ocean Perpetual vs. Blue Gums Elk Reserve
JUDGE 1
Both these courses play well and offer good views of the course, but I'm not a big fan of the all the tall grass on ocean perpetual. Looks unrealistic to me and way over done. Blue elk lacked in overall planting and the sculpting could have been cleaner although blue elk brought me back more. Ocean perpetual just had more polish.
Winner: Ocean Perpetual
JUDGE 2
NOTES TO BE SAID IN A VIDEO POSTED AFTER CONTEST IS OVER
Ocean Perpetual Wins
Tempest Strand vs. The Wolf at Copper Lake
JUDGE 1
Tempest Strand:
Tempest Strand is a really solid entry to this competition. A simple thing like lighting could polarize opinions and make or break its success.
From a technical standpoint it is a very good course. You never get the feeling that something wasn't done on purpose. To put it simply it's a well polished resort type course. It seldom wows me, but I thoroughly enjoy every part of it.
So while I can see that everything is done on purpose I at times fail to see what the purpose actually is. There are a few design decisions I just don't understand. The separation of the fairway on #11 or the hiding of fairway bunkers on #14 to name two examples. To get full marks in each category things like that should make more sense. I'm not saying that you can't have hidden hazards or blind shots, but I would love some sort of warning before I find my ball in a bunker in the middle of the fairway. Favorite Hole #12
The Wolf at Copper Lake:
My first thought when playing this course was that this was designed by someone who has listened to a lot of feedback given to other designers, but never had much feedback given on his/her own design.
The course gets better and better the farther we get into the round. It's for sure one of the tougher courses I've had the opportunity to judge and while difficulty is not a good or a bad thing on its own the way we get there is of great importance.
Early on in the round we get presented by a few holes that despite multiple plays in different wind conditions always seem to punish the golfer at every turn. If there is a dogleg you have a hazard pushing you the opposite direction and if you decide to take the long way around and really nail that shot you get presented by a even worse second shot. If you try to play it safe and lay up you get a much longer approach to a guarded well tucked pin that is impossible to reach. I for one don't enjoy always having to thread a needle only to get punished for it.
Let me add something extra to try and make sense about my opening statement. It's perhaps not easy to explain this, but when I look at the planting. where it's done and how it's almost as if you've listened to feedback as of what is missing in other designs. It's all there, but whats missing here is everything else. Like someone got feedback that you should try and have some sort of grass or bushes in and around ponds. On this course those sort of spots are the only places you find much additional planting and everything else was left barren. Hope that made some sort of sense. Favorite Hole #16
Summary:
I don't know who these designers are, but it feels a bit like a David vs. Goliath scenario where sadly David got smashed. There is potential in both courses and I wish both designers good luck moving forward.
Winner: Tempest Strand
JUDGE 2
Tempest Strand :
I am quite impressed by this course. It is one of the most realistic courses I have played in this game. Bunker sculpting is done well. Might be the best set of green complexes in the contest. I wish I could play it IRL! However, it plays too short for the game. I had a wedge or pitch into many of the greens. I wish there was some more variety in hole length. If this course was longer, it would be up there with the favorites of the competition.
The Wolf at Copper Lake :
There were a ton of good ideas, but none of them were done very cleanly. This goes for green and their complexes, bunkers, planting, almost every facet. This designer is close to breaking out, but they just need more practice in the designer to make his vision pop.
Winner: Tempest Strand