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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 19:51:32 GMT -5
(This is based off of the real life club in Northern California. Look it up, you won’t be disappointed)  CrazyCanuck1985 with a glowing review of the course! Most of the issues he mentioned were patched in the final version. Deep in Northern California miles away from Civilization lies a lonely retreat known simply as The Bohemian Club. Its past mostly a mystery, The Club was founded in 1892 as a Gentlemens’ club of artists and people of “great influence” where mysterious gatherings would be held out in the wilderness. Prominent figures that have since been revealed to be members including eight US presidents and a Canadian Prime Minister.  The golf course attached to the now large hotel was built in the 1920s and was a members only course until the 1970s where it sat, mostly abandoned. Recently, it was bought by a previous benefactor of The Club. Since the requisition, The course is undergoing restoration with most of its original layout intact. Originally a Par 72, This course currently plays as a Par 70 featuring a rather adventurous layout. The course mostly traces through several clearings in the dense forest along the edges of Quiet Creek, which has been dammed to create several small reservoirs which are used to water the course. The Club is intended only to be played by those who are fit enough to walk up its many staircases and is not liable for injuries caused by climbing up the steep, narrow steps featured across several holes on this relatively mountainous course. The course features 66 bunkers, some well over 6 feet deep.  Normally supporting tees from 5,500 to 7,400 yards, the current tees are set up as 4 separate 7,050 yard experiences touting different perspectives for each hole. To truly understand this course, it should be played from all the tees in any order you wish with the suggested order being Green Blue Red White. Default conditions are: Wind Speed: Low Wind Direction: North Time of Day: Afternoon (you’re running out of light) Weather: Overcast Green Speeds: 170ft (Between Fast & Very Fast) Greens: Firm Fairways: Firm Recommended Green Speeds: Fast, Default, Very Fast Tee Strengths: Reds: Hardest Back 9, Hardest Par 4s, Hardest with Wind Greens: Easiest Par 3s, Well-Rounded,Balanced Front/Back 9s Blues: Hardest Par 3s, Hardest Front 9, Easiest Back 9, Longest Whites: Easiest Front 9, Longest Converted Par 5s (9,18), Shortest  |
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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 20:03:56 GMT -5
Hole 1: The Faux Handshake Par 4
R 383
G 391
B 408
W 351
Playing along the main road to the course this short par 4 appears to be fairly gettable. However, the green complex should not be underestimated. This fairly elevated green is both the smallest and one of the most undulating on the course. Off the side of the green is the steep rocky cliff that supports the 2nd tee and is only a mere introduction to The Club’s famous staircases.
Hole 2: The Fingerprint Par 4
R 498
G 491
B 495
W 472
Playing back to The Clubhouse, this downhill dogleg left par 4 used to be the longest par 4 on the course. Sporting a great view of what’s to come, this monster hole features an oddly trenched green that has as many unique ridgelines and breaks as the ridges of a fingerprint.
Hole 3: The Bonfire Par 3
R 168
G 193
B 203
W 200
The green complex sits in a clearing where large bonfires used to be set. Similarly this seemingly harmless par 3 appears to burn brighter and more dangerously every day you play it with the White tees tucking you way back and more over the upper reservoir of Quiet Creek playing you upward towards this three tiered green. You better hope you land on the same tier as the flag or expect to get burned.
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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 20:04:14 GMT -5
Hole 4: The Gambit Par 4
R 477
G 470
B 412
W 413
Featuring a new elevated tee box used for the Green and Red tees, this hole seems to do the opposite of the last by getting shorter everyday. However, as the tees get shorter, it further brings the bunkers and the reservoir into play. Do you lay up off the tee and face an incredibly difficult longer shot to an uphill two tiered green that slopes away from you or do you take a risk to get into wedge distance?
Hole 5: The Hero Par 4
R 314
G 320
B 344
W 351
The shortest par 4 on the course, this reachable uphill test once again poses a question. Going for the Green involves maneuvering through the most heavily bunkered green on the course but laying up leaves you blind, vision of the pin blocked by the same bunkers. No answer is an easy one.
Hole 6: The Illusion Par 5
R 550
G 555
B 621
W 520
From all but one tee box, this is a short par 5. After hitting a shot in the fairway dodging several bunkers and Quiet Creek’s ravine which splits hole 6 and 7, you might think you have a downhill shot towards the green, but you would be wrong. The green being below your feet is merely an illusion. This hole sports a rather generous bailout right and long allowing for risky plays at this green.
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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 20:04:31 GMT -5
Hole 7: The Hand Par 4
R 468
G 435
B 472
W 476
Featuring the strangest fairway on the course, this hand shaped fairway looks as if it is grabbing at the ravine sporting three crater bunkers for knuckles. Once again offering a difficult choice, do you challenge the ravine and go left of the bunkers for a better angle to this narrow green or do you aim to the right of the bunkers and deal with a much riskier approach shot.
Notes: Make the creek area OB?
Hole 8: The Bear Par 3
R 159
G 153
B 163
W 170
Featuring the largest bunker on the course that completely envelopes the hole and a left to right tiered green, this short par 3 most days plays the shortest on the course and does not allow for much room for error. Missing left is the only safe answer. Entering the bunker can mean not even being able to aim directly at the pin. The green plus the bunker leaves an impression like a great bear paw upon the ground and the tee boxes are at the highest point on the course. r
Hole 9: The Fall Par 4/5
R 497
G 501
B 520
W 528
Originally a short par 5, this hole features a 90 ft drop off the tee box down to the fairway below allowing for long drives that make the hole play shorter than it may look. The fairway cuts over Quiet Creek towards a relatively receptive green. You now have a short stroll over to The Clubhouse or you can continue onto the Second Layer.
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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 20:04:48 GMT -5
Hole 10: The Pit Par 4
R 435
G 435
B 429
W 442
The turn offers no respite as you must now go over The Pit, a monstrous gully that eats golf balls and god knows what else. The teasingly heart shaped green is trenched through the center to signify the many heartbreaks on this hole.
Hole 11: The Bull Par 3
R 203
G 197
B 218
W 223
What normally plays as the longest par 3 on the course, this hole intimidates with a deep bunker dead center to the green and offers many sucker pins luring you on to your own demise. The green offers some forgiveness with its many slopes.
Hole 12: The Villain Par 4
R 372
G 365
B 336
W 330
This hole is the shortest par 4 on the back 9 and is the perfect counterpoint to Hole 5: The Hero.
While the Green is Driveable, Quiet Creek runs straight down the center of the hole bisecting its fairway and leaving all shots at risk of getting wet. The safest plays are aiming far right or far left of the green leaving different angles into the sometimes tucked pins.
Hole 13: Lone Fir Par 4
R 414
G 409
B 403
W 420
Lining up to the lone fir tree out in the distance proves to usually be a successful endeavor. You can always trust The Trees. The green lies even further up, perched at the highest point on the back 9.
Hole 14: The Chute Par 5
R 580
G 584
B 576
W 618
Playing as the longer of the two par 5s from most tees except the Blues, This downhill Dogleg offers some of the hardest to gauge shots on the course. Cutting the corner leads to large bounding 350 yard drives but hitting a bunker can force a layup. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of a downward lie when assessing your approach shot.
Hole 15: The Two-Face Par 3
R 194
G 188
B 216
W 161
This par 3 can play as the longest or shortest par 3 given the day with an extensive tee complex that was extended backwards with the blue tee box being shared with Hole 12’s Red and Green tees. This green might be receptive, but taking this hole to lightly can lead to some disastrous results
Hole 16: The Cape Par 4
R 436
G 442
B 458
W 465
Being the only bunkerless hole on the course, it makes up for it by sporting Quiet Creek’s lower reservoir practically hugging the fairway and surrounding the green on 3 sides. Be aware that the fairway also slopes towards the water so make sure not to bite off more than you can chew with the drive around the corner.
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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 20:05:05 GMT -5
Hole 17: The Amphitheatre Par 4
R 370
G 412
B 331
W 351
Right after one dangerous tee shot, we lead into what most likely is the most dangerous tee shot on the course. From the Greens, if there is a severe wind in your face, clearing all of Quiet Creek to hit the narrow stretch of fairway is a huge ask. On the opposite end of the spectrum, from the Blues this hole plays nearly 100 yards shorter, bringing the second largest bunker on the course, a two tiered bunker complex known as The Amphitheatre into play off the tee. Above The Amphitheatre lies the largest and most complex green on the course.
Hole 18: The Ridge Par 4/5
R 499
G 490
B 467
W 516
What was once an easier finishing par 5 has now been converted into what might be the single hardest hole on the course. Built into a ridgeline, this brutishly long par 4 leaves little room for error. To the left of the fairway is nothing but thick brush, but if you miss right you might be lucky and get a bounce back into the fairway. The two tiered green aggressively slopes away from you and going long on the second shot leads to almost certain death as it steeply drops off towards The Clubhouse.
There you have it! You finished and survived playing at The Bohemian Club. Make sure you don’t disappear on your way to The Clubhouse.
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Post by hallzballz6908 on Nov 17, 2020 20:15:35 GMT -5
Love the write up! Looks like I hav a course to play tonight...
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Post by hallzballz6908 on Nov 17, 2020 21:08:37 GMT -5
Played from the reds and had a blast! You did an excellent job of blending challenge with playability. Your bridges and overall environment that you created were also extremely good. I look forward to playing the other 3 tees!
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Post by mctrees02 on Nov 17, 2020 21:31:45 GMT -5
Did you create everything from scratch or integrate Mackenzie’s 9 hole Northwood Club (which sits next door to Bohemian Grove) into this course?
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adx321
Weekend Golfer
Posts: 101 
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Post by adx321 on Nov 17, 2020 21:41:07 GMT -5
This is going to sound so petty but I have to say it. I assume the real course is like this but... I love this course - BUT HATE THE WALKING PATHS. It's like you have this beautiful contrast of dormant rough and green playing surfaces and the walking paths totally take away from it. I actually found your beta version of this and played it before you released and really liked it. Just not those paths  IT makes little sense a walking path would be watered. growing etc. |
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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 21:56:50 GMT -5
This is going to sound so petty but I have to say it. I assume the real course is like this but... I love this course - BUT HATE THE WALKING PATHS. It's like you have this beautiful contrast of dormant rough and green playing surfaces and the walking paths totally take away from it. I actually found your beta version of this and played it before you released and really liked it. Just not those paths IT makes little sense a walking path would be watered. growing etc. One of the unique things about california's grasses is that if you cut it down it tends to make it green, they tend to only yellow when they grow out. the yellow grass tends to be unpleasant to walk through IRL so that's why I included it. |
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adx321
Weekend Golfer
Posts: 101
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Post by adx321 on Nov 17, 2020 22:01:48 GMT -5
This is going to sound so petty but I have to say it. I assume the real course is like this but... I love this course - BUT HATE THE WALKING PATHS. It's like you have this beautiful contrast of dormant rough and green playing surfaces and the walking paths totally take away from it. I actually found your beta version of this and played it before you released and really liked it. Just not those paths IT makes little sense a walking path would be watered. growing etc. One of the unique things about california's grasses is that if you cut it down it tends to make it green, they tend to only yellow when they grow out. the yellow grass tends to be unpleasant to walk through IRL so that's why I included it. Fair enough - I love the design, would like to play it irl for sure and you did a masterful job. I'll still keep it on the rotation of 5 or 6 courses! |
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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 22:05:47 GMT -5
Did you create everything from scratch or integrate Mackenzie’s 9 hole Northwood Club (which sits next door to Bohemian Grove) into this course? This started as a northwood project and ended up being something different so it is completely from scratch. I found "Muir Woods Golf Club" in the database and it already does that idea with the "redwood trees" pretty well so I felt I should do something a little different. Being able to blend Boreal and Delta themes into a more accurate Northern California look was appealing |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2020 22:13:47 GMT -5
My dude. This course is solid. I watched the video Andre made, but actually playing the course is a really fun experience. The unique approach to the tees increases the likelihood of multiple plays and society rounds. I liked the simplicity of this course, but enjoy that you spent so much time on the details. You've pulled off a pretty cool, unique concept here. Keep up the good work sir! Looking forward to your future publishes.
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Post by Q on Nov 17, 2020 22:22:29 GMT -5
@babybull Thanks a lot! I actually ended up making the lighting more overcast and foggy after seeing how good Connor Falls looked with that lighting, I think it made this course really Pop too. Tbh a lot of the simplicity is due to me just sticking to what I'm good at and avoiding what I'm bad at (I am afraid of waterfalls), just tried to make the course fun because I know I'm not great at planting yet.
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IT makes little sense a walking path would be watered. growing etc.