Post by mde103 on Jan 8, 2021 13:50:15 GMT -5
I've just published my first course, Minden Trails! It is a parkland course that plays firm and fast, and the course aesthetic is not based on any real geographic location. There are 13 holes based (sometimes loosely based) on template holes and a few on real holes. It is a relatively easy course to make pars, but good shots will be required to make birdies and eagles. I avoided dramatic hazards such as cliffs, ravines, etc. so that I could focus on learning basic sculpting. Any feedback on the course would be greatly appreciated! I really enjoyed the process of making this course, and it has encouraged me to learn more about golf course architecture in real life.
Hole 1 (Knoll) - The green slopes left to right and is set on a small mound. A drive that hugs the right side of the fairway will give the player an advantage for the left side pin locations. The right side pin locations are much more accessible.
Hole 2 (Alps) - The drive must be in the far left side of the fairway to see the pin. A drive to the right side of the fairway will require a blind approach shot that must carry the alps hill and sahara bunker in front of the green.
Hole 3 - This hole is loosely based on the 17th hole at Bandon Trails. A small mound in the center of the green forces the player to hit the proper section of the green for a reasonable birdie chance.
Hole 4 - Loosely based on the 3rd hole at Bandon Trails. A centerline bunker forces the player to pick a side off the tee. The left side is the advantageous side for most pin locations, but it is much tighter. If going for the green in two, the second shot must flirt with the bunker and land short of the green to hold the green.
Hole 5 (Cape) - Bunkers are used as the hazards instead of water as the original cape hole was. A small spine running from back to front of the green will determine where the drive should end up.
Hole 6 - Loosely based on the 8th hole at Bandon Trails. A drivable par 4 with a green that slopes severely right to left. A drive carried too far onto the green will roll off the back and leave a dicey pitch to get up and down.
Hole 7 (Hog's Back) - A very generous fairway due to the spine that will deflect drives left and right.
Hole 8 (Eden) - Green slopes severely left to right and back to front. The green is not very deep and will require precise distance control
Hole 9 (Long) - A large bunker alongside the fairway will make the hole much more difficult for anyone who finds themselves in it. Small landing zones make full wedge shots into the green optimal.
Hole 10 (Bottle) - The left side of the fairway provides the better angle for 3 of the 4 pin locations but tighter landing area for the drive. Two of the bunkers are not in play but add visual intimidation to the tee shot.
Hole 11 - Inspired by the 6th hole at Pacific Dunes. A drivable par 4 with a tiny green that slopes severely right to left and front to back. A fade that runs onto the green may leave you an eagle putt, but if you lose it right, the deep bunker will provide a difficult up and down for birdie. The more reliable option may be to drive down the left side and pitch into the slope.
Hole 12 (Reverse Redan-ish) - The green slopes left to right. The left hand hole location will be just a stock wedge and an easy hole. The other three pin locations must account for rollout.
Hole 13 (Lion's Mouth) - A drive to the wrong section of the fairway will force you to carry the Lion's Mouth bunker to a green that slopes gently away from you.
Hole 14 (Short) - A massive green with small landing areas.
Hole 15 (Maiden-ish) - Two raised sections of the green provide small landing areas for pins, but will also provide a back stop for front pins. A player can either pull driver and risk hitting in the large fairway bunker to be rewarded with a short pitch, or he can lay back off the tee for a full wedge approach.
Hole 16 (Redan) - Traditional redan, but it may have been too long. I wanted a variety in length of par 3s. It may have been overdone here.
Hole 17 (Punchbowl) - A par 5 with a tighter fairway. Even bad shots will kick towards the center of the green. Slightly raised sections in the back of the green require good shots to hold the tier.
Hole 18 - Loosely inspired by the fifth hole at Pinehurst #2. A drive down the right side will provide you with the best chance to hold the green with your second shot on this par 5. I could never get this hole to play how I wanted it to play. It is easily the worst hole on the course in my opinion.
Known Issues:
Routing and planning: I just started laying down holes instead of planning a routing. This caused some holes to be near the border of the property and did not provide as many sightlines to other holes as I would have liked. I also should have planned holes based on what the land was giving me instead of forcing the hole I wanted to make regardless of the slopes that were there.
An Imgur album will be posted in a follow up post.
Hole 1 (Knoll) - The green slopes left to right and is set on a small mound. A drive that hugs the right side of the fairway will give the player an advantage for the left side pin locations. The right side pin locations are much more accessible.
Hole 2 (Alps) - The drive must be in the far left side of the fairway to see the pin. A drive to the right side of the fairway will require a blind approach shot that must carry the alps hill and sahara bunker in front of the green.
Hole 3 - This hole is loosely based on the 17th hole at Bandon Trails. A small mound in the center of the green forces the player to hit the proper section of the green for a reasonable birdie chance.
Hole 4 - Loosely based on the 3rd hole at Bandon Trails. A centerline bunker forces the player to pick a side off the tee. The left side is the advantageous side for most pin locations, but it is much tighter. If going for the green in two, the second shot must flirt with the bunker and land short of the green to hold the green.
Hole 5 (Cape) - Bunkers are used as the hazards instead of water as the original cape hole was. A small spine running from back to front of the green will determine where the drive should end up.
Hole 6 - Loosely based on the 8th hole at Bandon Trails. A drivable par 4 with a green that slopes severely right to left. A drive carried too far onto the green will roll off the back and leave a dicey pitch to get up and down.
Hole 7 (Hog's Back) - A very generous fairway due to the spine that will deflect drives left and right.
Hole 8 (Eden) - Green slopes severely left to right and back to front. The green is not very deep and will require precise distance control
Hole 9 (Long) - A large bunker alongside the fairway will make the hole much more difficult for anyone who finds themselves in it. Small landing zones make full wedge shots into the green optimal.
Hole 10 (Bottle) - The left side of the fairway provides the better angle for 3 of the 4 pin locations but tighter landing area for the drive. Two of the bunkers are not in play but add visual intimidation to the tee shot.
Hole 11 - Inspired by the 6th hole at Pacific Dunes. A drivable par 4 with a tiny green that slopes severely right to left and front to back. A fade that runs onto the green may leave you an eagle putt, but if you lose it right, the deep bunker will provide a difficult up and down for birdie. The more reliable option may be to drive down the left side and pitch into the slope.
Hole 12 (Reverse Redan-ish) - The green slopes left to right. The left hand hole location will be just a stock wedge and an easy hole. The other three pin locations must account for rollout.
Hole 13 (Lion's Mouth) - A drive to the wrong section of the fairway will force you to carry the Lion's Mouth bunker to a green that slopes gently away from you.
Hole 14 (Short) - A massive green with small landing areas.
Hole 15 (Maiden-ish) - Two raised sections of the green provide small landing areas for pins, but will also provide a back stop for front pins. A player can either pull driver and risk hitting in the large fairway bunker to be rewarded with a short pitch, or he can lay back off the tee for a full wedge approach.
Hole 16 (Redan) - Traditional redan, but it may have been too long. I wanted a variety in length of par 3s. It may have been overdone here.
Hole 17 (Punchbowl) - A par 5 with a tighter fairway. Even bad shots will kick towards the center of the green. Slightly raised sections in the back of the green require good shots to hold the tier.
Hole 18 - Loosely inspired by the fifth hole at Pinehurst #2. A drive down the right side will provide you with the best chance to hold the green with your second shot on this par 5. I could never get this hole to play how I wanted it to play. It is easily the worst hole on the course in my opinion.
Known Issues:
Routing and planning: I just started laying down holes instead of planning a routing. This caused some holes to be near the border of the property and did not provide as many sightlines to other holes as I would have liked. I also should have planned holes based on what the land was giving me instead of forcing the hole I wanted to make regardless of the slopes that were there.
An Imgur album will be posted in a follow up post.