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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 4, 2018 5:50:26 GMT -5
My contest entry is Lions Gate Resort and C.C., set near a fictional city in the Canadian Rockies. The front nine is routed through woods bisected by a river that flows swiftly in places. The back 9 is largely routed around a large glacial lake and has a more open feel than the front, with many views across the lake. This is definitely the "wateriest" course I've done, with water in play on at least ten holes. The imposing resort hotel is visible from a number of holes. The vitals: Fairways = Firm Greens = Firm Green Speed = Med. Fast (160) Yardage = 7,114 (Red)/6,752 (White)/5,856 (Green) Par = 37-35=72 Theme = Swiss Enjoy your round! I feel like I really took some risks with my design choices, but it makes for an enjoyable test. Will be updating this post regularly with hole-by-hole descriptions and pictures as we approach the first 19th hole matchup!
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Post by staypuft39 on Jul 4, 2018 6:17:37 GMT -5
Looks and sounds very Banff-y/Thompson-y thus far. Soooooo....I love it! Can't wait to check it out and good luck in the contest, Dan.
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 4, 2018 8:21:00 GMT -5
Thanks, Matt. Couldn't do a Canadian mountain course without some homages to Banff, Jasper Park, and Capilano. I'm sure you'll be able to pick out several of them! Looks and sounds very Banff-y/Thompson-y thus far. Soooooo....I love it! Can't wait to check it out and good luck in the contest, Dan.
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Post by greenlightning on Jul 4, 2018 16:18:32 GMT -5
Just played this one. Pin Set 3 offers some tough approaches requiring almost perfect shots to stay on the shelf with the pin. Loved this course. 5 stars and a favorite.
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 5, 2018 6:22:29 GMT -5
Hole 1 (Spray) - 453 yardsThe downhill opening tee shot over the rushing river is meant to evoke the 15th hole at Banff Springs (which used to be that course's opening hole). Play as close to the right side fairway bunker off the tee for the flattest lie and the best angle in. The bunker long left can catch fast downswung drives with a bit of a tailwind and also blocks the view of the green for those who bail left off the tee. The green slopes quite severely from left to right, with a bank falling away on the right. When the pin is on the right side, firing at the flag runs the risk of catching the bank, leaving a tricky uphill shortsided chip. Playing for the heart of the green, however, leaves a tricky two putt.
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Post by Terry Grayson on Jul 5, 2018 9:20:58 GMT -5
Really enjoyed this track Dan... Absolutely loved your planting style around this course.. That 10th hole was absolutely masterful
beautiful work, thoroughly enjoyed.. Best of luck in the contest
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 5, 2018 9:47:38 GMT -5
Thanks, Terry. Best of luck to you, too. Really enjoyed this track Dan... Absolutely loved your planting style around this course.. That 10th hole was absolutely masterful beautiful work, thoroughly enjoyed.. Best of luck in the contest
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 6, 2018 6:52:17 GMT -5
Hole 2 (The Twins): 553 yardsA reachable dogleg left par 5 with water threatening the entire right side of the hole. The large meandering fairway bunker is not in play if you hit a good drive, but can be in play from the forward tees or on you second if you have a bad lie in the rough. The green is protected by a bunker on the left and the creek to the right.
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CapEm
Caddy
Posts: 36
TGCT Name: Matt Freez
Tour: CC-Pro
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Post by CapEm on Jul 7, 2018 1:35:17 GMT -5
PithyDoctorG - Really great job!!! I live only about an hours drive from Banff and I could really see the Banff/Jasper inspirations throughout the course. Really well done capturing that Rockies/Bow Valley feel. Because this is literally on my doorstep, I am a bit biased to what "I feel a Rockies course should be", so take this with a grain of salt, but I felt the city was out of place in the environment. I would have loved to see a town that resembles Banff/Canmore on the hillside as opposed to the cityscape. A designer in the future might draw inspiration from Scarpacci's Hellenic Republic course, and transplant a town of the same ilk into the mountains *wink wink*. On the other hand, the hotel immediately made me think of Banff Springs Resort or Chateau Lake Louise, and I thought it was one of the best buildings of that size and scale that I've seen in this game. Awesome job - 5 stars! Oh, and I played pin set 1 and on the 8th hole I had this little gem... Beers all around, boys!!!
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 7, 2018 5:38:17 GMT -5
Thank you! Your point on the city is well taken. I went back and forth on whether to put it in there. I ended up doing it because I was trying to recreate the views of the Vancouver skyline and the Lions Gate bridge at Capilano. While set in the Rockies generally, this particular setting was completely fictional. Awesome putt on 8. I holed an eagle putt on 10 using a similar strategy (though it wasn't quite as spectacular as yours). PithyDoctorG - Really great job!!! I live only about an hours drive from Banff and I could really see the Banff/Jasper inspirations throughout the course. Really well done capturing that Rockies/Bow Valley feel. Because this is literally on my doorstep, I am a bit biased to what "I feel a Rockies course should be", so take this with a grain of salt, but I felt the city was out of place in the environment. I would have loved to see a town that resembles Banff/Canmore on the hillside as opposed to the cityscape. A designer in the future might draw inspiration from Scarpacci's Hellenic Republic course, and transplant a town of the same ilk into the mountains *wink wink*. On the other hand, the hotel immediately made me think of Banff Springs Resort or Chateau Lake Louise, and I thought it was one of the best buildings of that size and scale that I've seen in this game. Awesome job - 5 stars! Oh, and I played pin set 1 and on the 8th hole I had this little gem... Beers all around, boys!!!
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 7, 2018 5:45:24 GMT -5
Hole 3 (Oblivion): 333 yardsThis has to be one of the most steeply pitched greens I have ever designed, perched on a bluff over a rushing river. If the player can clear the bunker on the left with the tee shot, a straightforward pitch shot is the reward. However, playing it safe off the tee (which is often necessary when the hole plays into the wind) gives an awkward second shot that is blind and uphill to a green that slopes away from you. When playing to pin 1 in the back right, guard against a slow down swing as your ball may get gobbled up by the river.
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 8, 2018 5:45:09 GMT -5
Hole 4 (Perdition): 226 yardsThis long par 3 plays over a valley to a green benched into the hillside containing several tiers. This is a hole that rewards distance control with the longer clubs--intelligently using the slopes that are there may bring you an unexpected birdie opportunity! This hole was one of the first ones I spotted when I surveyed the plot, as I was reminded of the 17th at Merion, the long par 3 playing over an abandoned quarry.
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Post by Celtic Wolf on Jul 8, 2018 16:13:44 GMT -5
I've got to echo what others have said about the Banff feel to it and how the building reminded me off the Banff hotel. I found the fairways quite wide but with the lack of light rough makes it a logical move. I wasn't too sure about the fairway at the back of the greens, but then I realised it would make the players more wary of over hitting as I done. Rough at the back of a green will stop the ball where as the fairway will let the ball roll more.
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 9, 2018 5:11:07 GMT -5
Hole 5 (Gibraltar): 549 yardsThis downhill reachable par 5 gives you a chance to regain the stroke you may have lost on the fourth. For a level lie and the shortest shot for your second, a fade around a pair of bunkers that sit at the foot of a rocky ledge is required. A pair of cross bunkers threaten the second shot of an overly aggressive player who has missed the fairway. The second shot can be played short of the cross bunkers (safest), over the cross bunkers to the generous fairway to the left (safe), or right at the green. The latter option requires that the second shot be threaded between two bunkers guarding either side of the green.
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Post by PithyDoctorG on Jul 9, 2018 14:30:42 GMT -5
Played some real golf today at Architects Golf Club, where each hole is designed in the "style" of a different architect. Since most folks are seeing the connections to Banff, I thought I'd post a couple of (crappy) pictures of the Stanley Thompson-themed par 3 17th hole that I took today. I suppose it's appropriate that I've birdied this hole the last two times I've played it!
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