Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2015 11:39:31 GMT -5
This post will help clear up some questions we've seen and will clarify our judging process and what we're looking for in a winning course design. We're also wanting to start a list of designers who plan on entering a course into this contest. If you want to enter this contest, you must let us know by MARCH 31, 2015. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please give us your Real Name, Gamertag, and System when signing up. Also, for those that sign up, your course needs to be submitted by MAY 08, 2015. This gives our judges enough time to review all of the entries, select a winner, and will still give you guys enough time to get some practice rounds on it before the US Open begins.
Judging Criteria
Routing - Which directions do your holes play? Does the course allow for every possible wind condition?
Hole Design - Are bunkers, hazards, bushes, trees, etc. placed in a well, thought-out way. Can each hole be set up with various pin placements and tee boxes to vary it round by round?
Risk/Reward Balance - Do some holes allow the player to take a riskier route in order to achieve an advantage? Is the player fairly, but not overly, punished for not executing a riskier shot?
Beauty - Is your course a "visual feast" for the eyes? Is attention and care taken to bunker sculpting, planting, and elevation (both on the holes and around them)? Is the lighting appropriate without being too dark?
Variety - Does your course have a mix of doglegs (left and right), straight holes, long and short holes? Does it require the golfer to use every club in the bag? Does it force the player to play draws and fades when needed?
Continuity - Does your course "flow" and maintain a common theme or does it feel sporadic?
Difficulty/Playability - Is your course a true test of golf without having to be tricked up? Are landing areas narrow in nature without being too strict? Are your greens difficult without being overly sloped or unable to hold shots? Is the player appropriately punished for being on the wrong side of the pin?
Important Dates
March 31 - Final day to enter the contest
May 08 - Final day to submit your course
May 15 - Final 3 courses are announced
May 24 - Deadline for finalists to submit their 4 round course set-ups
May 31 - Winner is announced. Other two courses will be used for US Open Qualifying (more to follow on this at a later date)
June 01-07 - US Opening Qualifying
June 15 - US Open begins
Points To Remember
- Courses that are 7000+ yards and play to 70 or 71 par are preferred
- Only submit one edition of your course. DO NOT submit courses that say Thursday, Saturday, etc pin placement. Only the 3 finalists will be asked to do this
- 3 finalists will receive exemptions to the US Open
- We will NOT consider courses that are designed with the Desert, Autumn, Alpine, or Harvest theme
Judging Criteria
Routing - Which directions do your holes play? Does the course allow for every possible wind condition?
Hole Design - Are bunkers, hazards, bushes, trees, etc. placed in a well, thought-out way. Can each hole be set up with various pin placements and tee boxes to vary it round by round?
Risk/Reward Balance - Do some holes allow the player to take a riskier route in order to achieve an advantage? Is the player fairly, but not overly, punished for not executing a riskier shot?
Beauty - Is your course a "visual feast" for the eyes? Is attention and care taken to bunker sculpting, planting, and elevation (both on the holes and around them)? Is the lighting appropriate without being too dark?
Variety - Does your course have a mix of doglegs (left and right), straight holes, long and short holes? Does it require the golfer to use every club in the bag? Does it force the player to play draws and fades when needed?
Continuity - Does your course "flow" and maintain a common theme or does it feel sporadic?
Difficulty/Playability - Is your course a true test of golf without having to be tricked up? Are landing areas narrow in nature without being too strict? Are your greens difficult without being overly sloped or unable to hold shots? Is the player appropriately punished for being on the wrong side of the pin?
Important Dates
March 31 - Final day to enter the contest
May 08 - Final day to submit your course
May 15 - Final 3 courses are announced
May 24 - Deadline for finalists to submit their 4 round course set-ups
May 31 - Winner is announced. Other two courses will be used for US Open Qualifying (more to follow on this at a later date)
June 01-07 - US Opening Qualifying
June 15 - US Open begins
Points To Remember
- Courses that are 7000+ yards and play to 70 or 71 par are preferred
- Only submit one edition of your course. DO NOT submit courses that say Thursday, Saturday, etc pin placement. Only the 3 finalists will be asked to do this
- 3 finalists will receive exemptions to the US Open
- We will NOT consider courses that are designed with the Desert, Autumn, Alpine, or Harvest theme
