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Post by pitt1976 on Oct 7, 2020 10:33:32 GMT -5
My project of creating the "new" Fox Chapel Golf Club is now complete. Existing elevation and splines were used as a guide to undertake this major renovation. The entire course and surroundings were rebuilt, replanted and the greens were updated using high definition scans. Major renovations took place on all of these Template Holes with the exception of the #3 "Eden" and #13 "Corner." I will highlight all of the changes later on within this thread. For those who are not familiar with the course: Fox Chapel Golf Club is considered a classic Seth Raynor & Charles Banks’ design. In 1923, Seth Raynor was commissioned to layout and design a golf course for the membership to enjoy, be challenged and want to play every day. Seth Raynor developed a reputation as a premier golf course designer following his work at Fishers Island, National Golf Links of America, Piping Rock and Chicago Golf Club. In traditional fashion, Raynor followed his mentor, Charles Blair MacDonald, by making a golf course that replicated the best golf holes from Europe. Raynor became a sought after architect and designed over 75 courses. Unfortunately, he passed away before he could finish Fox Chapel Golf Club and his protégé Charles Banks completed the remaining holes on the course. Fox Chapel Golf Club is a combination of open fairways with strategically placed bunkers and pushed up green complexes. The most unique aspect of the course remains the challenging and difficult putting surfaces. Through years, bunkers have been taken out and replaced with trees planted to distinguish holes. In 2000 in 2019, decisions were made to reverse course and restore the golf course to its original design. Course Architect Brian Silva handled the work in 2001, notably bringing back the steep bunker slopes and unique shapes. After recent discovery of aerials and plans from the 1930's, many other FCGC original features were found to have been changed over the years. In 2019 the Fazio design team began construction to restore those formats. #4 returns to its original design as a "Road Hole", #9 adds the "Lion's Mouth" bunker at the front the of green complex and #16 reverts to it's original "Bottle" design. Spectacle bunkers were added on #2 and #4. All bunkers were rebuilt and re-placed to distances consistent with today's technology. Along with the 2002 Curtis Cup, Fox Chapel Golf Club has hosted a number of golf tournaments during its illustrious history. In 1997 and 2011, the Club hosted the Lesley Cup, the longest running Team Amateur Tournament in the country. In 1985, the Women’s US Amateur was contested at the Club along with the 1968 US Senior Amateur. Traditionally, the club prides itself in hosting amateur events such as the Pennsylvania Amateur and Open; US Open Women’s Qualifier; Curley Semple Cup, 1st President’s Memorial; Women’s WPGA Four Ball Stroke Play and Western PA Amateur and Open. From 2012-14, Fox Chapel Golf Club was selected to host a major championship, the 30th Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship. Here are a few more screenshots: #1 "Away" (left) and #18 "Glade Run" (right)
#11 "Short" (bottom right) and #14 "Rodger's Field" #5 "Cape" (left) and #6 "Redan" (right)
I look forward to hearing feedback on the changes. Enjoy!
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Post by pitt1976 on Oct 7, 2020 13:58:08 GMT -5
Front 9Hole #1 - AwayFairway was made more narrow and bunkers have been moved closer to the center of the fairway to put a new premium on accuracy on the opening hole. A reverse redan awaits your second shot. Hole #2 - PunchbowlSpectacle bunkers have been added to the center of the fairway and 2 bunkers on the right side of the driver landing area have been added. The punchbowl is now cut to fringe length, so you'll see more opportunity for movement up and down the slopes to access tougher pins. Hole #3 - RedanNo changes took place here. Green severity from prior versions has been increased to replicate real life (consistent with the heat map). I'd advise staying below the pin... Hole #4 - RoadBig changes here as the entire green complex and approach were revised. The "Road Hole" bunker is not extremely severe, but at a length of 485 yards, this par 4 will prove difficult for birdie opportunities. the addition of spectacle bunkers will come into play for the longest drives. Hole #5 - Cape
The approach area was completely renovated to create walk up areas to what was an extremely steep area in front of the green. Hole #6 - RedanOnly an additional front bunker was added, but it won't come into play. The rear bunker was made smaller and less severe. Hole #7 - AlpsNew cross bunkers have been added and the alps have become more severe after the renovation Hole #8 - PlateauBunkers in the landing area have been removed and the right greenside bunker has been made slightly less severe Hole #9 - Lion's MouthBunkers were shifted closer to the center of the fairway creating a more difficult tee shot. The entire front portion of the green was reshaped to add the Lion's Mouth bunker. The rear portion was left unchanged and it still features the dustpan feature. Punchbowl slopes are cut to a fringe length similar to #2.
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Post by pitt1976 on Oct 7, 2020 16:07:41 GMT -5
Back 9Hole #10 - SpringhouseBunkers on the right side of the fairway were reconfigured. Tee shots will certainly need more precision Hole #11 - ShortHole was lengthened by creating a new tee that is shared with the 15th. Yardage can be stretched to over 170 yards. Hole #12 - LevenFairway bunkers have been reworked and force a more demanding tee shot Hole #13 - CornerNo changes Hole #14 - Rodgers FieldFairway was widened up to the point of the new left fairway bunker Hole #15 - StepFairway bunkers were reconfigured to create a forced carry on the right side. Length has been extended by utilizing the new shared tee box with #11 Hole #16 - BottleThis was a large project to completely transform the hole. Old aerial photographs from the 30's revealed the original design for this hole, which had a fairway bisected by bunkers. Fairway width was almost doubled here and this is by far the biggest change to the look of the golf course from the clubhouse. #16 was always difficult in real life and it just got harder. Hole #17 - BiarritzBunkers were extended to encapsulate the majority of the green complex, including a restored front bunker Hole #18 - Glade Run
Fairway bunkers were added down the left side of the landing area for tee shots. The fairway across the stream was widened and a more intrusive bunker was added to that landing area
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Post by jeffvadersith on Oct 7, 2020 17:14:10 GMT -5
Just played your course mate, great work I thought it was top class, you can really see the work that has gone into it. I played badly as usual, I havent cracked the new putting yet, but I thought I was gonna finish on a high after birdie on 17. Until I went in the river on 18! The green on 17 was great, I have played one like that in real life at North Berwick in Scotland. Great work anyway mate.
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Post by supergolfdude on Oct 7, 2020 20:08:13 GMT -5
Congratulations on a tremendous job! I just finished playing and added it to my Favorites.
From a person who has been to this golf course, I can affirm the great authenticity of your work. I can’t wait to play it again.
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Post by njackland on Oct 8, 2020 21:05:26 GMT -5
I've given this a few play through's and absolutely love it - I'm a massive fan of the golden age courses and you've done a hell of a job with Fox Chapel!
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Post by pitt1976 on Oct 9, 2020 8:26:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliments. For those that have played it vs. the original, how would you rank the difficulty?
Obviously, we can't use statistics from the game. How it can't decipher between 9 hole rounds and 18 holes is maddening. Top score is -43. Why even have stats?
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Post by blueblood1995 on Oct 9, 2020 10:02:45 GMT -5
Have also played this updated version and loved every hole! A big congrats. Just wondering what the difference between the old Fox Chapel G.C. 2019 and Fox Chapel Golf Club '19 was? Cheers
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Post by pitt1976 on Oct 9, 2020 20:51:57 GMT -5
Somehow the 18th hole became a par 4 on "Fox Chapel Golf Club '19" as I was working on it before the port to 2K. I should have double checked EVERYTHING before publishing.
"Fox Chapel G.C. '19" corrected the error. I've tried my hardest to make that course disappear by reporting it as a duplicate, but it won't go away... There are no other differences that I can remember.
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Post by blueblood1995 on Oct 9, 2020 21:24:24 GMT -5
Sorry I missed this but was your 2019 version pre recent Fazio changes?
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Post by blueblood1995 on Oct 9, 2020 21:45:36 GMT -5
Sorry I may have missed a comment somewhere but was your 2019 version pre recent Fazio changes?
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Post by pitt1976 on Oct 9, 2020 22:02:05 GMT -5
Yes. This ('19) is the original version I built before the latest renovations. Fazio renovation was completed this spring.
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Post by pitt1976 on Oct 12, 2020 7:28:23 GMT -5
The lack of the "more by designer" option doesn't make sense. Is this something that is coming back? The old "flawed" ('19 - par 69) version is getting more plays than this one.
Also is anyone privy to what dictates a course (star) rating? I'll have courses that are rated after 9 plays and some that still do not have any with as many as 90. This particular course is my personal best and is my lowest rated. Go figure.
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Post by pitt1976 on Nov 6, 2020 15:36:07 GMT -5
It was nice to see that this version will be hosting a Beer League event this month. For those that have played both this and the original (Fox Chapel G.C. 2019), which one do you prefer? Fox Chapel G.C. 2019 is getting more plays at the moment but that may be a function of what people had put into their favorites when the game was in it's early release stage.
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 257
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on Nov 6, 2020 18:06:57 GMT -5
Haven't had a chance to play yet, but have been learning a lot more about the Raynor/MacDonald/Banks courses and how they influenced others, so thanks for doing this.
I look forward to playing...the right one, which is "Fox Chapel Golf Club," correct?
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