Preview misternic thompson preview (feedback needed)

[misternic]

I posted a preview of my course. It is complete and playable. Working on a few scenery and foliage updates as well as smoothing and detail work.

As many of you know I have produced a couple of well recieved courses recently, but they had a minor flaw here or there (green size, speed, etc). In general my courses (Hills of North Pointe, Gregors Firth v2) get good marks from Pocketscout, HB forums, this site and in game, but I have yet to find that breakthrough course. Not sure this is going to be it, but please give me as much info good and bad as you can on this one.

course name: misternic thompson preview

Will probably try and publish the final with its actual title in about a week
Will post pictures as I have time.

I think this is a good course in the West virginia resort rural feeling. Think the Greenbrier or similiar.   I really think this could be a tourney type course.  Fair and balanced.  (ie good shots equal birdie, bad ones equal bogey)

As much feedback as you can so I dont have to make any minor tweaks after the release would be awesome. Thanks everyone.

[minerproblem]

Hey misternic, Just played your course. Thought I'd do a detailed hole by hole review to help you out.

1. Like the pin position. Really favors a drive on the right side of the fairway. The fairway bunker seems like it might not really be in play unless there is a strongish headwind? Par
2. I had a really hard time finding a landing area. The pin seemed to be on a ridge. I tried to get cute and had a 50 ft putt over some serious undulations. I'm assuming they are there to protect the hole from being to difficult with a big green. Anyways, 3 putted for bogey :-P
3. That drive had me clenching! In a headwind that will be a very strategic gamble. Par
4. that fairway bunker on the right is... strange? Guessing that's detail work. I like the strategy on this hole (how much should I try to cut off). par
5. perhaps there could be a touch more landing area uphill of the pin? even with a fade, it would be hard to get the ball to climb that slope. par
6. I'm noticing a trend, big greens, but tough putts. I think I've had a double breaker on 5/6 holes.
7. Hit a 91% 3w and had to punch out from under the big tree on the right. I would never have even noticed it if I hadn't been behind it, but it ended up being a tough recovery. par
8. I keep thinking I'm going to have an easy shot, only to be fooled. I like the design. not gimmicky, but easy to miss the subtleties. My second shot was only a 3i to the green, and it landed exactly where I wanted it, but I missed that the pin was on its own tier. had a long putt for eagle that I missed short. birdie.
9. The mound just to the right of the green (by the bunkers) has a pinball effect if you hit it. not sure if that is intentional? I got the unlucky bounce. par.
10. I like this hole. still forgot to hit 3w even though I knew it was downhill. If approach is past the hole that is a very serious downslope, thankfully the slower greens mean you can stop it close if you pay attention. par.
11. Land it right of the flag! par.
12. Precision on the approach yielded a nice birdie. I like the plantings in the rough. they spice it up a little. birdie
13. Accidentally hit a good shot. Landed well short of the flag with a 7i, but it ran out like crazy to about 4ft. I really need to start paying attention to landing areas. birdie
14. I am officially naming this hole 'aircraft carrier' for the shortcut landing area. It's always a challenge to get the ball close with the woods due to their lack of loftability. Nice wedding gazebo on the left! birdie
15. Ran a 3i up from off the green to 20ft past the hole. 2 putted for par. I keep finding myself worrying about runout. It's a fun challenge. par
16. Went through the tall pine but ended up on the fairway anyways. left me with a short approach. birdie
17. The pin is on a tricky slope but still ground out a birdie.
18. Instead of strategizing whether to go for it in two (not an option). I found myself trying to figure out which club would leave me with the best angle for my layup. hit a 5i to LW for a birdie.

Really great course. I like the theme and the realism. I hope it gets even better.

Pros
    Interesting Layout.
    Lack of gimmicks.
    good scenery.
    deceptive difficulty. Greens look huge and inviting but require precise approaches to have scoring opportunities.


Cons
    Could use a little more difficulty on the back 9? I'm an average player and I shot even on the front but -6 on the back
    a few details missed, but you'll get those. I don't have a lot negative to say.


Hope this helped!

[misternic]

Awesome. Thanks! All great comments, so hard to see some of the issues when you are in the trenches.

6. I'm noticing a trend, big greens, but tough putts. I think I've had a double breaker on 5/6 holes.

If you are close to the pins you should have single breaks, but yes wanted it to test the irons (close) and the putter (not close to the pin).      Let me know if you think this is a good thing (the double breaks from distance) or if it should be minimized. 

[minerproblem]

I think it's a good thing, especially when you are aiming for a championship level course. Having undulations without getting red gridlines on the greens is really a challenge, and you did it well. Which of your other courses do you recommend most?

[misternic]

Gregors Firth v2 has smaller greens but otherwise is really solid (and beautiful). Give it a try.

[misternic]

Here are some photos I promised.  please run through this course and let me know if there are any major concerns (speed, fairway width, green slope, layout). I got all the minor stuff covered (visuals).

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

[Sassy Lady]

Is that water in the middle of that bunker in the 1st photo? I've had that happen when I'm sculpting bunkers. I always hit undo when it does, but it might be nice to have one like that every once in a while.

[Sassy Lady]

I just played this course and it's a good one.

The green on 7 is ENORMOUS. I 4 putted that green but that isn't that unusual for me after I shank it into the weeds, which I did here. Still hit the green in 2 but then took 4 putts to finish. Landed about 50 feet or so from the hole. I elected to use the left fairway on 14. Kind of good news/bad news there. The retaining wall kept the ball from getting wet but the ball stopped up against it. 2nd shot was a straight swing (on my part) but because of the wall (I assume) it hooked hard right into the tall weeds. Still managed a par, though, so it's not all bad. I finished with a +4. Actually that's a decent score for me. My average is +8. And it's my fault. I couldn't putt in real life and I can't putt in the game. Only reason I never tried for an LPGA tour card.

Great course playability wise. I did notice some minor cosmetic defects but you said this was a preview. Can't wait to see the finished product. Thanks for all your hard work.

[misternic]

Looking at publishing later this week. Probably 20 hours in since this last preview... Think it will be a good one. Thanks to Sassy, minor and jw fickett for thier reviews.

[misternic]

This preview is finally complete and the new Thompson Field is published.
Will post pics and my customary video tomorrow, need to head to bed.

If you liked Gregors Firth but thought the greens were too small, then you will probably love Thompson Fields

Par 72, 7274 yards, resort setting in Ohio. Special thanks to JW Fickett, Sassy Lady and Minerproblem for their review/advice with the preview builds.

See more indepth write up in the completed section. Will post my pics and video there tomorrow.

Thanks

MisterNic