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Post by PithyDoctorG on Apr 7, 2019 6:45:56 GMT -5
The North Course at Los Angeles Country Club was recently host to the 2017 Walker Cup and will host the U.S. Open in 2023. The North Course was originally laid out by Herbert Fowler in 1919, but was completely redesigned by George Thomas and Billy Bell in 1927. The course underwent a successful restoration by Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford in 2010. The course is laid across a hilly piece of property and features a sandy barranca that cuts right across the property. One of the main reasons that I chose this course for my first LiDAR design is because it demonstrates how much Thomas was willing to push the envelope. There are some greens on this course that not many of us designers would be willing to try (3, 6, and 15 spring to mind most immediately). You’ll also find a couple of blind tee shots (6 and 12). I hope it helps germinate some original ideas in this community of talented designers. The course has five sets of tees (7407, 7131, 6744, 6287, 5704), with the two front sets potentially of interest to the simulator crowd, and plays to a par of 70 (with five par threes and three par fives). The gold tees are yardages from the USGA website from the Walker Cup and give an idea as to which tees will be used at the U.S. Open (I wouldn’t be surprised to see them add in another back tee or two before then). However, some of these back tees present a serious challenge (two of the par threes are 280+ and the course ends with three straight 500+ yard par fours). The black tees are probably the most enjoyable and play the best (especially the par threes) with Master clubs, but if you’re up for a challenge… Also, the default speed (173) is about as fast as these greens can go and presents quite the challenge; I've racked up many a three-putt when playing on "auto-pilot." You may want to dial it back to "fast" if you're just looking for some casual fun. I'd like to thank my pals in the Dirty Ankle Mafia for help with rangering pins. Finally, a huge shout-out to chadgolf . I've wanted to recreate this course ever since I watched the Walker Cup played over it in the Fall of 2017. I never could have done this course justice without this amazing tool. Any of you who enjoy playing this course and have enjoyed many of the other excellent LiDAR courses, please throw a few bucks Chad's way, if you are able, so he can keep making this tool better!
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Apr 7, 2019 6:46:22 GMT -5
Brief Front Nine Hole Descriptions (Yardages refer to Gold and Black tees): Hole 1 578/578 Par 5 - A gently downhill opener that is readily reachable in two unless into the wind. You may notice that you are teeing off from the practice putting green! Indeed, that’s where they teed off from at the Walker Cup. Hole 2 500/490 Par 4 - A long par four with a carry over the barranca on the second shot and a second straight par 4.5. Think of the first two holes playing to a par of 9. Hole 3 401/398 Par 4 - Uphill par four to a steeply canted fairway. You’re pretty much guaranteed an uneven stance as you approach the largest green on the course that is shaped like a tooth. The two pins down in the “roots” of the tooth (3 and 4) are probably the most fun. Hole 4 230/208 Par 3 - Downhill par 3 to a green perched above the barranca. Par is a good score. Hole 5 483/483 Par 4 - A long uphill par four. Which side of the fairway to play for depends on the hole location on the vaguely boomerang shaped green. However, the left side of the fairway is a bit higher and gives you a better chance at a flat stance. Hole 6 334/334 Par 4 - Okay, this hole is just weird (but in a cool way IMO). There is an extremely generous fairway down in the valley below and the extremely shallow green is reachable from tee (except when into the wind). However, you’ll be surprised how often you walk away with par here. Missing long is dead and the bunker short of the green is also very penal. Hole 7 284(!)/241 Par 3 The hole plays about 22’ downhill from the back tees, so it doesn’t quite play the full yardage, but be sure to pack your 2 wood if you play the gold tees! If the pin is on the right side of the green and you miss right...well, good luck. Hole 8 551/528 Par 5 A very reachable par 5 with the green guarded by a serpentine bunker that grows out of the barranca. If playing the black tees be careful--if your drive hits too high up the slope of the fairway it will roll all the way down into the rough. Hole 9 180/177 Par 3 A medium length par 3 to deep multi-tiered green.
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Apr 7, 2019 6:46:52 GMT -5
Hole 10 409/409 Par 4 The fairway banks steeply from right to left. Find it and you’ll have a wedge in. Definite birdie hole, though a couple of the pins are tricky. Hole 11 288(!)/242 Par 3 Doesn’t play nearly the whole yardage since it’s about 56’ downhill from the gold tee. You can use the slope short left of the green to kick your ball onto the surface. Hole 12 384/384 Par 4 A straightforward blind tee shot up the hill opens up a view of another weirdly shaped green. Another birdie hole, though the green can give you a quick bogey if you fall asleep at the switch. Hole 13 508/466 Par 4 The green is best approached from the left due to both the bunkering on its right side and the pronounced bowl on the right side of the fairway leading to a blind shot and uneven stances. Hole 14 615/602 Par 5 A three shot par 5 most of the time, nevertheless it can be reachable in two. To get there in two, the fairway bunkers on the inside of the dogleg must be carried (the further right the better). The hole location on the unusually shaped green will dictate where to best place the second shot. If you go for it in two, be sure not to miss right, as there’s a 40 foot fall off to the right of the green down to the driving range (which is out of bounds). Hole 15 133/133 Par 3 I swear I did not make this hole up. The green is shaped like an elongated comma surrounded by bunkers. You’ll probably be shaking your head looking at Pin 1, but they actually put the pin there one day at the Walker Cup (they played the hole at 79 yards that day; I figure 112 yards on TGC is doable). Hole 16 507/507 Par 4 Plays 60’ downhill. The best angle into the green is from the left, which is guarded by a bunker and a valley. Getting the right angle is crucial due to the slope of the green. If the pin is up front (especially front left), you may have to bounce your approach on from short of the green. Hole 17 527/456 Par 4 Plays about 52’ downhill from the gold tee. This tee shot is probably the most challenging on the course. The green is angled to better accept an approach from the right side of the fairway, which is guarded by trees and the barranca. At the Walker Cup, many of the American players actually played way left into the second fairway--they didn’t want to mess with that barranca! Hole 18 495/495 Par 4 Plays about 45’ uphill. Very wide fairway, but look ahead where the pin is before whaling away with the driver. Most of the pins are best approached from the outside of the dogleg, except when the pin is back right (pin 4).
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Apr 7, 2019 6:47:36 GMT -5
George C. Thomas was an advocate of creating "courses within a course," or multiple set-ups for a particular course to create day-to-day variety, especially for inland courses that don't enjoy the same variety of conditions that a seaside links normally does. Nowhere did he carry out this idea as whole-heartedly as at Los Angeles Country Club.
Thus, I have published an alternative set-up for the North course called "LACC (Alternate)." The course plays 7208 yards to a par of 71 (with two pins). On greens of sufficient size, I tried to place pins on parts of the greens that don't have pins on the "regular" set-up. Hole yardages are below, and the most significant changes in this set up are noted.
Hole 1 - 514 yards - Par 4: Plays as a par 5 in the regular set-up.
Hole 2 - 550 yards - Par 5: In the regular set-up, plays as a long par 4 to the newly restored Thomas green. However, the "old" green on the hillside to the right is still there. In the alternate set-up, this green is used.
Hole 3 - 401 yards - Par 4
Hole 4 - 208 yards - Par 3
Hole 5 - 483 yards - Par 4
Hole 6 - 334 yards - Par 4
Hole 7 - 323 yards - Par 4: plays as a long par 3 in the regular set-up. In the alternate set-up it plays from a further back tee, potentially bringing the barranca into play depending on the wind. Most interesting with Pin 2 in the back right, a hole location that isn't really fair when the hole plays as a long par 3.
Hole 8 - 551 yards - Par 5
Hole 9 - 169 yards - Par 3: played from a lower tee than in the regular set-up such that the hole plays more uphill and slightly shorter. Pin 1 somewhat resembles the Sunday pin on 16 at Augusta.
Hole 10 - 409 yards - Par 4
Hole 11 - 242 yards - Par 3
Hole 12 - 384 yards - Par 4
Hole 13 - 466 yards - Par 4
Hole 14 - 602 yards - Par 5
Hole 15 - 507 yards - Par 4: This is hole 16 in the regular set-up. The alternate set-up skips the short par 3 15th, replacing it with another short par 3 that is by-passed in the regular set-up (17 Alternate).
Hole 16 - 456 yards - Par 4: Hole 17 in the regular set-up.
Hole 17 - 115 yards - Par 3: A tiny little green hidden off in the trees and protected by the barranca and a couple of bunkers. Tee off from behind the previous green. Pin 2 in the back could drive you mad...
Hole 18 - 495 yards - Par 4
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2019 21:34:15 GMT -5
This is a fantastic LiDAR, I highly recommend everyone give it a go. Crank up the green speeds a little if you dare.
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Post by toddfather on Apr 7, 2019 22:17:17 GMT -5
Love this course! Dan, great job with it!
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Apr 12, 2019 19:52:28 GMT -5
An alternative course set-up titled "LACC (Alternate)" has been published. See the edited reply above for a description!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2019 8:32:26 GMT -5
Stunning RCR, and a serious challenge, we're putting it on next week's Ultra Sim schedule. If I finish better than +5 I'l be happy
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Post by TreeWood on Apr 15, 2019 18:17:22 GMT -5
Ooooooh.....more golf porn! Gotta get my sticks together for a round here... looks fantastic!
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Post by TreeWood on Apr 21, 2019 14:05:35 GMT -5
Finally got my tee time here... WELL worth the wait! Excellent golfing experience to be had here. Wide variety of hole types, with plenty to think about out there as to approach angles, etc. One of my faves to come out recently. Great course, Dan!
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Apr 21, 2019 14:36:23 GMT -5
Finally got my tee time here... WELL worth the wait! Excellent golfing experience to be had here. Wide variety of hole types, with plenty to think about out there as to approach angles, etc. One of my faves to come out recently. Great course, Dan! Thanks, Rob. Among the reasons I chose to recreate this course was because of all the great quirky holes (e.g. 3, 6, 15) and also how the holes make use of the hilly topography. I'm hoping this course gives this community's designers the courage to take risks with their hole ideas and just overall provide some inspiration. It certainly has for me.
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Post by Australian on Apr 23, 2019 4:04:09 GMT -5
Great course this one. Lots of fun. Hole 7 hit me hard. But I loved it. One of the better recreations I have played.
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Post by ezzinomilonga on Sept 25, 2019 7:20:30 GMT -5
This course is a masterpiece. I played it tonight..You did an amazing work on it. Really. And you're right, there are a pair of beautiful ideas about architecture, in this course. Obviously i played from the tips with pro clubs, cause i'm a stupid arrogant. And playing with all default, the wind was also high.
My butt will never forgive me.
Thank you for this.
(for the course, i mean. Not for my butt) 👀
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Aug 23, 2020 7:41:43 GMT -5
The course has been ported to 2K21. From the tips it's a beast on the new game. I would recommend playing from the black tees. Some of the par threes and fours aren't very reachable unless you have souped up sticks.
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Post by PithyDoctorG on May 29, 2023 5:26:55 GMT -5
LACC has been ported to 2k23. Published as a "members" version without the tourney infrastructure or stupidly narrowed fairways. Made some minor planting adjustments and re-positioned the fairway bunker on #2. Also had to move some pins to easier spots given how they play in the new game. Will publish an "Open" version after the US Open with the tees and pins the USGA uses.
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