So...Iceland...

[reebdoog]

When Griff's list showed up I immediately saw Iceland and thought it would be one of the more difficult ones to pull off well. I chose it specifically for that challenge because without feeling that PUSH it can be hard to find time for the designer these days. 

I've looked at hundreds of pictures, lots of videos, read articles, and talked to friends who have been to Iceland in an effort to figure out what makes Iceland...Iceland...

I have to say that I'm still stumped. I've designed some holes and terrain and it's a pretty slick start to a course... but there are so many different terrains and features in Iceland that I feel like I'm trying to include too much and the course itself is going to suffer. The other hard thing is that the course feels too familiar. I feel like I've made these holes before even if they are different...they just feel to familiar. 

So... a couple of questions if you guys feel like giving some input:

1) Either in Words or Pictures, What says "Iceland" to you? What terrain or feature or place makes you say "Yep, that's iceland!"

2) If you think of Golf in Iceland do you think of a lovely manicured course simply set into the natural terrain...or of a rough hewn series of holes that simply find there way into the crazy ground of this weird place? 

If you think these questions are somehow cheating or something...ignore them. However, I'm really just looking to see which instinct might be the right one to provide the best experience for the players. Thanks!

[Hootbleet]

Iceland is a volcanic island, constantly shifting. I wouldn't expect a course with nice rolling fairways or nice flat smooth greens. I'd expect lots of lumps and bumps and to see the course work it's way round some rough and sharp looking rocks and crags. Also maybe add some hot springs/geysers, lakes which have found there way into hollows of the landscape, it is a wet island after all.

Hope I've helped, good luck in the contest

[mrooola]

I've only played Reykjavik Golf Club about 10 years ago and although I would have imagined Iceland to be much what hoot is guessing, my experience is that it was fairly flat and well manicured along it's playing surfaces. Edges... Not so much. Not Iceland, but the golf course. The island is volcanic and you didn't need to step far off the actual course for it to become real dirty if you understand me. Not a lot of trees and fairly thin grass and just... dirty. The soil was petty much black on most parts surrounding the course. Maybe it's possible to replicate with burried trees in stead of going with a cartpath surface route.


The picture attached pretty much solidify my memories of the course. Almost tastegw'ish I think.

[mrooola]

Oh.. they have a very British links style approach yo their golf I think.

[reebdoog]

Feb 16, 2018 12:10:40 GMT -5 mrooola said:

Oh.. they have a very British links style approach yo their golf I think.

See...That's what I'm seeing from what they HAVE For golf. I am trying to find a way to PUT a golf course into Iceland without specifically copying their style...but it's really odd. 

I've seen trees, no trees, tundra, volcanic rock, ice, cliffs, what I can only call wetlands, mountains, waterfalls, grass, cliffs, beach, glaciers... there's just a bit of everything and I'm not sure what folks think of when they think ICELAND. The course needs to say "Iceland" 

I know I said no pictures but I'll share a little of one hole or so just to show kind of what I was messing with...but it just doesn't feel quite right yet.  (don't judge yet...still way early...playing with glacier ideas too...) Also no...I don't have waterfalls down the hill. That looks silly so I tried something different. 

[mrooola]

Alright. Well Iceland for me is:

Nature untouched
Free roaming sheep
Wet
Barren
Dark
Beautiful

[welikeitroughnc]

To me it would be a rugged natural course with well tended greens but rough around the edges with the unplayable areas being very untamed

[reebdoog]

Feb 16, 2018 13:51:33 GMT -5 mrooola said:

Alright. Well Iceland for me is:

Nature untouched
Free roaming sheep
Wet
Barren
Dark
Beautiful

Thanks guys. That’s the kind of thing I’m asking. I want to capture an idea and I haven’t so far. I think a new approach is in order. I’ll save the current WIP for future use.

[mrvinegar206]

Looks incredible already, Reeb!

[coruler2]

I’m not worried...it will turn out amazing and will make my course look like strawberry shortcake’s diarrhea

[mattf27]

The way I interpreted the challenge was "If this country was to build a national course (say, as a tourism project) what would it be like, and where would it be?" It doesn't have to be like an amusement park ride where you're capturing every stereotype about the country all in one course, that'd just be overwhelming. Plus, I think you're on the right track with what you have. Maybe you don't have to keep it, but something in that general vein would be amazing. Don't doubt yourself!

Also, it's the wrong country, but if you've ever heard of Lofoten Links, they might make a good jumping off point for the kind of course that'd really work in Iceland.

[reebdoog]

guys...just a heads up...I found it... Two holes into a new idea and I finally got the plot that I needed. WOOT! quite happy so far.

[Deleted]

We are afraid... VERY afraid.


No, seriously, we would prefer that you DON'T find anything regarding your design when you're in a contest. Uncle! Unncccllleeeeee!

[mattf27]

Feb 17, 2018 18:03:17 GMT -5 VctryLnSprts said:

We are afraid... VERY afraid.


No, seriously, we would prefer that you DON'T find anything regarding your design when you're in a contest. Uncle! Unncccllleeeeee!

Yep, it's been fun. See you guys in the next one, drive safe. 

[reebdoog]

One early peek is all I'm sharing just to show I think the plot/look is better now... Then the thread dies for a couple months. 
No real planting or anything. just basic holes gong in with some guiding planting...but no final stuff.