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Post by b101 on Jun 5, 2020 2:57:01 GMT -5
They made a liar out of me apparently, so close. I wrote this quote after playing this course once and hadn't played any of the other entries yet. It was revolutionary, the greens were brutal but you always had a good option and the rest of the course made you think hard to set yourself up properly. This is absolutely the difficulty that the pro players need to be playing on because it forces you to be a better golfer. Mediocre golf is unacceptable on this course, good golf is unacceptable on this course only exceptional golf is rewarded. It forces you to aim for perfection with all of your shots, to use critical thinking about your strategy and how to calmly adapt to the unexpected. This is the only way to truly achieve mastery in anything and this course is the best example I've seen in this game. Much respect. Thanks Jaron - sums up my own thoughts pretty nicely. As mentioned throughout, I knew this was polarising as people dislike hitting what they think are good shots and not being rewarded - the challenge of this course was to reassess your definition of what a good shot is and accept the consequences if you are not on. From that point of view, I never expected it to win, but it was a really fun course to build. My aim was to be really difficult without sacrificing width, angles or options. I'm proud that I've achieved that. |
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Post by ohheycat on Jul 28, 2020 21:28:57 GMT -5
I'm way behind I know but I'm just getting around to these courses and I'm here to say good job.
These days I'm a beginner club loser so with that in mind, from the ladies tees I found the holes to constantly demand exactly the maximum precision that is possible which is pretty much the idea.
I played pin 1 major version. Had a couple gripes. Hole 2 can go die. Three times I played to adjacent fairways to turn crazy sidehills into helpful backstops. I'm sure that was done or will be by whatever pro tour played or will play this unless it isnt an option from other tees.
I ended up with a -10 which I am pleased with considering the rust I play with, but had 2 more that I would've made back in the day. Stayed out trouble, bogey free.
Anyway, good job here. Best one yet.
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Post by notaburneracct on Jul 28, 2020 22:55:46 GMT -5
I'm way behind I know but I'm just getting around to these courses and I'm here to say good job. These days I'm a beginner club loser so with that in mind, from the ladies tees I found the holes to constantly demand exactly the maximum precision that is possible which is pretty much the idea. I played pin 1 major version. Had a couple gripes. Hole 2 can go die. Three times I played to adjacent fairways to turn crazy sidehills into helpful backstops. I'm sure that was done or will be by whatever pro tour played or will play this unless it isnt an option from other tees. I ended up with a -10 which I am pleased with considering the rust I play with, but had 2 more that I would've made back in the day. Stayed out trouble, bogey free. Anyway, good job here. Best one yet. Who's this guy? |
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Post by b101 on Jul 29, 2020 1:06:44 GMT -5
I'm way behind I know but I'm just getting around to these courses and I'm here to say good job. These days I'm a beginner club loser so with that in mind, from the ladies tees I found the holes to constantly demand exactly the maximum precision that is possible which is pretty much the idea. I played pin 1 major version. Had a couple gripes. Hole 2 can go die. Three times I played to adjacent fairways to turn crazy sidehills into helpful backstops. I'm sure that was done or will be by whatever pro tour played or will play this unless it isnt an option from other tees. I ended up with a -10 which I am pleased with considering the rust I play with, but had 2 more that I would've made back in the day. Stayed out trouble, bogey free. Anyway, good job here. Best one yet. Ha! Good to see you back and glad you enjoyed. It won't surprise you to know but given the contest, I never bothered testing this from anything other than the back tees with Master Clubs so I'm honestly a bit surprised it held up well. Can tell you that one of the shortcuts eluded me when playtesting but you need a favourable wind and the balls to cross a lake to do it. And yeah, hole 2 is a mean one on pin one. Early sign of what's to come there - don't get cute, make sure you're long and under NO circumstances leave it short. You can funnel it close off the mound to the left of that pin, but it's definitely not worth it. Play long and leave a chip back up, take four. If you go for a birdie, you likely leave yourself a tough par putt. |
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Post by b101 on Aug 29, 2020 7:26:12 GMT -5
Ported into 2K21. I've toned default green speeds down to 177 but still...
May God have mercy on your souls.
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Post by 15eicheltower9 on Aug 29, 2020 8:17:23 GMT -5
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Post by jivesinator on Aug 30, 2020 10:33:55 GMT -5
Gave it a play. Experienced pain. Will come back for more.
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Post by jeffbdvs on Sept 1, 2020 11:49:15 GMT -5
After reigning back my anger I fell this course is a beautiful piece of art. Absolutely loved everything about the layout and the planting. The greens however (for me) were just too wild and I may lean more toward liking them more if they were not so damn big. I love some green character on courses, I just wish this was toned down just a bit. Pin placements were not "xbox tempo" friendly. I will play this again on my own however because its like a train wreck....I just cannot look the other direction.  Yeah, a quick word on the greens. Giant and crazy undulating is 100% deliberate and I know will piss people off. A couple of reasons for this: 1) Streamsong Black inspiration. Check those greens out - they are HUGE and really undulating. Reasons outlined in a previous post. 2) Difficulty. When the best players in the game are great at chipping - how do you challenge them? Put them outside of the green grid, give them mad putts and make them really question whether going for it is a good idea. Make two putts at times damn near impossible, where a chip would have been trivial. I wanted this course to change the way you approached it and make you really, really think about where you miss. In short, yep, the runoffs in the greens are super severe, but it's a Major course that is simply not designed for 90% of the people playing this game. They are all there for a reason and it is not a friendly reason lol. My rationale was always that I wanted and needed this course to be polarising. With that in mind, you have no idea how pleased your post makes me, because it means I nailed what I was after - a good-looking, fun course that pisses you off and gets you back for more. P.S. The members' version and a slightly softened Tour version are in the works. Understand your logic and agree that you have achieved your objective 100%!  |
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Post by blueblood1995 on Jan 26, 2021 8:04:43 GMT -5
Just got around to playing Black Salt Valley (Major) and right up there with the more brutal courses I've played to date. -3 from the tips, Beer League settings and can't remember anything else except holding on on every hole! Absolutely loved the challenge though and the killer greens were the highlight. Drive for show putt for dough no more apt than on this course, although I could coin a new phrase ending in "approach and putt for dough". b101 any reason you did not port the Members and Valley versions? I'm suspecting time yes? Apologies if this was mentioned earlier in this thread but have not read the preceding 5 pages only the intro on page 1. Anyway a 5-star favourite for me. Played real, loved the course aesthetic, and the challenge will have me return again and again. Thank you. |
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Post by b101 on Jan 26, 2021 9:09:24 GMT -5
Glad you enjoyed it! Honestly, I probably won’t port the others. The KF version was very specific changes so it could be used on that tour without compromising the major version. Might bring the members version in at some point but it’d have a relatively small audience anyway.
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Post by scootmcgoot on Jan 26, 2021 9:43:29 GMT -5
I need to start a list of courses I want to play. Not just a list in my head because that doesn’t last very long. Lol. This one looks stunning and if it’s anything like Ben’s others, it should be an absolute thrill ride
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laladiesman
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 267
TGCT Name: David Paul
Tour: Platinum
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Post by laladiesman on Jan 26, 2021 23:04:03 GMT -5
Thanks for bumping this course. KF flashbacks. Took me 6 months to shake it off. 😉 It’s a great course just bring 4 putters. And if you like Bens designs I recommend his alternate dimension White Pepper Dunes. And turn up the wind if you love that challenge.
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Post by blueblood1995 on Jan 26, 2021 23:17:06 GMT -5
Thanks for bumping this course. KF flashbacks. Took me 6 months to shake it off. 😉 It’s a great course just bring 4 putters. And if you like Bens designs I recommend his alternate dimension White Pepper Dunes. And turn up the wind if you love that challenge. White Pepper's on the list for sure. Need to rid myself of the Black Salt funky green nightmares. I've just realised now Black Salt... White Pepper... Nice! Next course... Brown Mustard? Ugh! |
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9ironanon
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 168
TGCT Name: Jackson Quagmire
Tour: Challenge Circuit
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Post by 9ironanon on Jan 28, 2021 16:27:24 GMT -5
After playing Carolina Mantis and following it up with its Par 3 routing halfway through the Par 3 round the thought crept into and has now stuck in my head that I need to attack every green here off the tee on a Par 3 course, I'd play the hell out of those greens, I know its probably not in the cards Ben, but it would be lovely if it happened. This along with a dozen plus other courses I've played again recently have some amazing green complexes that could be complimented by a Par 3 routing.
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Post by cd06 on Jan 28, 2021 16:45:11 GMT -5
If I can't break par on Amateur I definitely won't break par on Master. All I'll say. |
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