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Post by gregfordyce on Jul 30, 2016 7:40:28 GMT -5
Thought I'd start a thread devoted to discussing all things related to Scottish Links golf, for those who love it as much as I do. I notice in TGC that there doesn't seem to be as many courses/people who love true links golf vs. typical "parkland" golf; not sure if this is lack of knowledge in general about true links golf or the fact that links golf is such a different type/style, focusing as it does on the ground game. I love the challenge of links courses - the rolling, undulating "crumpled" terrain, turtleshell greens, pot bunkers, dune-side bunkers, etc. The focus on the running game and how you must not only just note the distance of where you hit each shot, but how the ball will behave after it lands, based on the terrain of the landing zone. This frustrates a lot of players used to parkland-style courses, but I think it adds a dimension to the game that makes it funner and more challenging. So any comments welcome on this thread about true Scottish links golf in general, great links courses (both in RL and ones in TGC), courses you've played or wish to see designed in the game, resources for learning more about Scottish links golf, etc. For those of you who love Scottish golf, a great podcast is Scottish Golf Podcast at www.scottishgolfpodcast.com. They discuss different Scottish courses, from the more well-known like St. Andrews, Royal Troon, Prestwick, etc, to the lesser-known gems hidden all over Scotland. Anyone know if there are any RCR courses in TGC for Carnoustie or North Berwick, or Macrihanish? The latter is one of my favorite links courses of all-time, would love to see that one in TGC. Another really incredible course is The Dunes at Barnbougle in Tasmania, designed by Tom Doak. Even though it is not in Scotland, it is a true links course in every sense of the word and has been ranked as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world by various Golf publications. The website has fantastic drone-flyovers of every hole; if you want to check it out here's the link: Barnbougle Dunes. Would LOVE to see a RCR of that one in TGC!
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Post by welikeitroughnc on Jul 30, 2016 7:57:09 GMT -5
Thank god I'm not the only one who loves links it's the roots of the game we play today gotta say love Cabot cliffs old head links and Portrush I'm currently designing my 3rd straight links course it will be old style links golf course rolling hills and deep bunkers. That being said I have played some great links on here Chardon links is amazing Doubtful Dunes is another great course. There are some RCR on links we have Royal Ballyhough, Royal Troon, Muirfield along with others. I have two currently published they're Royal Portstewart and Royal Castlerock. Check all these courses out and you'll have a great time.
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Post by Hootbleet on Jul 30, 2016 14:39:02 GMT -5
Thought I'd start a thread devoted to discussing all things related to Scottish Links golf, for those who love it as much as I do. I notice in TGC that there doesn't seem to be as many courses/people who love true links golf vs. typical "parkland" golf; not sure if this is lack of knowledge in general about true links golf or the fact that links golf is such a different type/style, focusing as it does on the ground game. I love the challenge of links courses - the rolling, undulating "crumpled" terrain, turtleshell greens, pot bunkers, dune-side bunkers, etc. The focus on the running game and how you must not only just note the distance of where you hit each shot, but how the ball will behave after it lands, based on the terrain of the landing zone. This frustrates a lot of players used to parkland-style courses, but I think it adds a dimension to the game that makes it funner and more challenging. So any comments welcome on this thread about true Scottish links golf in general, great links courses (both in RL and ones in TGC), courses you've played or wish to see designed in the game, resources for learning more about Scottish links golf, etc. For those of you who love Scottish golf, a great podcast is Scottish Golf Podcast at www.scottishgolfpodcast.com. They discuss different Scottish courses, from the more well-known like St. Andrews, Royal Troon, Prestwick, etc, to the lesser-known gems hidden all over Scotland. Anyone know if there are any RCR courses in TGC for Carnoustie or North Berwick, or Macrihanish? The latter is one of my favorite links courses of all-time, would love to see that one in TGC. Another really incredible course is The Dunes at Barnbougle in Tasmania, designed by Tom Doak. Even though it is not in Scotland, it is a true links course in every sense of the word and has been ranked as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world by various Golf publications. The website has fantastic drone-flyovers of every hole; if you want to check it out here's the link: Barnbougle Dunes. Would LOVE to see a RCR of that one in TGC! Look in the course wip section, I'm sure someone is working on an rcr of barnbougle. Oh, and yes I love links golf too, I'm just down the coast from Scotland and we have some very nice links courses down the Northumbrian coast
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Post by gregfordyce on Jul 30, 2016 16:19:38 GMT -5
Thank god I'm not the only one who loves links it's the roots of the game we play today gotta say love Cabot cliffs old head links and Portrush I'm currently designing my 3rd straight links course it will be old style links golf course rolling hills and deep bunkers. That being said I have played some great links on here Chardon links is amazing Doubtful Dunes is another great course. There are some RCR on links we have Royal Ballyhough, Royal Troon, Muirfield along with others. I have two currently published they're Royal Portstewart and Royal Castlerock. Check all these courses out and you'll have a great time. Excellent glad to hear that! I have played some of those you mentioned, but I am off right now to try Castlerock and Portstewart. Awesome to meet one of the (few) true links designers on TGC. You're right - it is the roots of the game. More golfers need to learn more about it, absorb it, play links courses. I think it gives you a deeper appreciation for the game overall. Thanks for the course suggestions - will come back here after I've played your two and comment.
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Post by gregfordyce on Jul 30, 2016 17:31:45 GMT -5
Darnit, it wiped out my last comment. Will try this again: played both Portstewart and Castlerock, my putting was absolutely horrendous today - -5 on Portstewart and -3 on Castlerock - but loved both courses. Especially Castlerock, what a great links course, really felt like I was out there on the links in Scotland. Looking forward to playing your next one, be sure to post on this thread after you've published it. Published my very first links course 3 weeks ago, Pilsnoch at Bryn Mawr - give it a play sometime and let me know what you think. Didn't find Barnbougle over on Works In Progress yet Maybe I'll have to make that my first RCR attempt!
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Post by gregfordyce on Jul 30, 2016 18:01:56 GMT -5
Well I did find 3 Barnbougle Dunes on TGC, but they all utterly reek and are not even remotely like the real thing. Found Carnoustie, too - 2 versions of it - played the "New Carnoustie" course. Pretty lousy, half the greens were not contoured at all - flat as pancakes - and only vaguely like the actual Carnoustie. Bummer
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Post by Hootbleet on Jul 30, 2016 19:44:03 GMT -5
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Post by welikeitroughnc on Jul 30, 2016 21:00:01 GMT -5
Thank you so much for the plays and the kind words glad to see its appreciated the work I do in the designer if you want a preview of the new design play SSL Preview it's the opening 3 holes would love feedback..
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Post by gregfordyce on Jul 31, 2016 9:32:54 GMT -5
Ahhh, he spells it "barnbugle" that's why I couldn't find it Hope he corrects the spelling when he publishes it. Thanks mate!
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Post by gregfordyce on Jul 31, 2016 9:42:58 GMT -5
Thank you so much for the plays and the kind words glad to see its appreciated the work I do in the designer if you want a preview of the new design play SSL Preview it's the opening 3 holes would love feedback.. Just played it; gorgeous 3 holes. Love how you chose early morning as the time of day, really makes the fairways glow. Love the big links-style greens and the country around the course has the rumpled hilly links look, with stunning water views. Two suggestions: change the color of the fairways/greens, they have that somewhat "fluorescent green" shade that I have always found to be a bit fake-looking. The one you used for Castlerock was perfect. And add a bit of contour to your fairways, for that true links "crumpled" terrain. A bit on the flat side as is. Other than that, I found it fantastic and can't wait to see the whole course! Nice job!
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Post by DoubtfulObelisk on Jul 31, 2016 10:23:16 GMT -5
Thank god I'm not the only one who loves links it's the roots of the game we play today gotta say love Cabot cliffs old head links and Portrush I'm currently designing my 3rd straight links course it will be old style links golf course rolling hills and deep bunkers. That being said I have played some great links on here Chardon links is amazing Doubtful Dunes is another great course. There are some RCR on links we have Royal Ballyhough, Royal Troon, Muirfield along with others. I have two currently published they're Royal Portstewart and Royal Castlerock. Check all these courses out and you'll have a great time. Thanks for the plug of Doubtful Dunes, Mitch. I agree that it is the best of my courses, but I'd recommend Doubtful Moor Golf Links if you're looking for a more linksy experience. It plays quite well, IMHO, but it does lack some aesthetic polish. I'm currently reworking it a bit, actually, in the hopes of increasing its chances of hosting a tour stop. With that in mind, I'd love some feedback, especially from a fellow links-lover like you, Greg.
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Post by theduke21 on Jul 31, 2016 15:21:07 GMT -5
Links golf has always been my favorite style, even though I grew up just 45 minutes away from East Lake and Augusta National.
I've created two links courses, the first one, The Revival at Crestmont, is a little more highlands style than links but still has the elements.
My second, The Revival at Brooklime, is very much a links style course with a lot of the elements you mentioned. I'd still consider it a bit more Irish links than Scottish. Either way, it should be one of the most challenging links courses on TGC, as I made it for the Open qualifier tournament.
I saw you mentioned Carnoustie, the ones already made aren't accurate at all. It's my favorite links course in the world. I created a works in progress thread for it last month. I'm only two holes in and thinking about waiting for TGC2 to do it because of the benefits of the new features including the water table.
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Post by gregfordyce on Jul 31, 2016 17:51:33 GMT -5
Just played Doubtful Moor, Obelisk - fantastic links course. Especially the huge, undulating greens - very true to links greens, with elevation changes as high as 4 feet in places. Also loved the deeeep pothole bunkers with steps, and the large fenced-in practice area was a great touch. Faved it, and am going to play it (and Royal Castlerock) with some buddies later on. I can't think of any suggestions playability-wise for your rework of it, Obelisk - I think it would make a fantastic links tournament course as-is. I see several of the people on my friends list in TGC playing Castlerock and Portstewart after they saw me play it So hopefully that will be another benefit of this thread is not only a revival of interest in Scottish links-style golf, but also some additional plays/interest in some great links courses in TGC that haven't received as many as they deserve. Obelisk, Doubtful Moor hasn't been played in weeks (darned 110,000 courses!) so hopefully you will see some more plays on it shortly! It certainly deserves it. Duke, I've played your Revival at Brooklime course on the qualifier, loved that one. Great course, and you're right, incredibly challenging. I think it is GREAT that you are doing an accurate RCR of Carnoustie! (You're right, the ones in TGC already are horrible) What a fabulous course that is. My own favorite links course is either Barnbougle or Macrihanish, but Carnoustie is definitely up there on my top 5. I personally would love to see you publish it before TGC 2 comes out for purely selfish reasons But waiting for the enhancements to the Designer in TGC 2 is a great idea, don't blame you if you decide to wait. I imagine a lot of designers are struggling with that same decision. Would love some feedback from all you great links course designers on my own links course, Pilsnoch at Bryn Mawr. Thanks!
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Post by gregfordyce on Jul 31, 2016 18:22:53 GMT -5
Tyler, just played your Crestmont course - wow. Can't believe I've missed that one! What a great links course. In fact, it is easily my favorite links course in TGC. Stunning views off of every tee, beautiful rolling fairways and some really unique and memorable holes - 12 and 17 stand out as my faves. Classic links greens and bunkers. Just an incredible playing experience all around. Can't wait to play this one again with my buddies. Well done!
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Post by welikeitroughnc on Jul 31, 2016 19:57:32 GMT -5
6 holes in first par 5 one bunker on the course so far color scheme change and is that hilly enough for ya lol
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