fernnn1g
Caddy
Posts: 17
TGCT Name: FERNNN1g
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Post by fernnn1g on Nov 20, 2020 15:39:17 GMT -5
Good day all! The Isles of Shelter Cove is only my second ever published course, but the pandemic has allowed me to spend some extra time perfecting my craft in Course Design, along with hours and hours of watching videos from the design community. The course sits on the edge of shelter cove, winding is way through all of the naturally created islands of this tropical paradise. Different wind conditions and tee box selection can make the course play vastly different. The clubhouse is situated at the top of the property, and each nine makes its way down to the water and then back toward the clubhouse, resulting in different types of elevation changes throughout the round. I will continue this thread with a hole by hole description, but any feedback is welcomed. Thanks in advance. Paul "FERNNN1g" Carlson
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fernnn1g
Caddy
Posts: 17
TGCT Name: FERNNN1g
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Post by fernnn1g on Nov 20, 2020 15:43:37 GMT -5
Hole 1 is a downhill par 4 with a generous landing area near the 150-yard stake. Be sure to check the wind before you hit, or a downwind drive may carry into a small but deep creek. The two-tiered green slopes from back to front and left to right, and is protected by 3 bunkers.
Hole 2 is a medium length dog-leg left par 4 with bunker and tree smack dab in the middle of the fairway. The left half of the fairway cambers toward the left rough. A fairway hit should yield a good scoring opportunity with a short iron or wedge in hand. Approach shots short and right will find the false front, with a ridge to hold up any balls hit past the hole. The trio of bunkers around the green should not be in play with a drive in the fairway.
Hole 3 is a par 5 that can play vastly different depending on wind direction. Into a strong headwind, this hole turns into a 3 shot hole, along with any drives that don’t find the fairway. The tee shot landing area is nearly 30 yards wide. Players attempting to reach the green in 2 need to be wary of the deep bunker that protects the front of the green. A large bunker is also there to collect anything left of the green. The wise play is a lay-up to the 50-yard-wide fairway just 60 yards short of the green. All pin positions are either middle or back.
Hole 4 starts the front 9’s visit to the ocean. This par 4 tee shot plays nearly 60 feet downhill depending on which tee is being used. The fairway in pinched in for those not confident in hitting driver, and protected by a bunker on either side. A FIR will leave you with less than 150 yards into a relatively flat green. But beware the long and left shot, as the water is much closer than it appears.
Hole 5 is a short par 4 for everyone not trying to play the tips. A bunker runs the length of the fairway down the left side of the fairway. The small mounds on the right will help anything left out to the right bound back towards the fairway. The green has a natural backstop with the left tier being slightly lower than the right. This is another great chance to get a birdie.
Hole 6 is again short for those not playing the tips, but offers a much more decision filled tee shot. There are 3 distinct landing zones: one short of the large bunker on the right leaving a mid-iron into the green, one left of the bunker on the right, but short of the bunker on the left, leaving a short-iron into the green. If you are feeling good with the driver, a carry over the large bunker on the right will leave less than 100 yards into the “island” green
Hole 7 is a short par 5 and an excellent scoring opportunity. The sharp dog-leg left will reward aggressive drives with less than 200 yards into the slightly elevated green. The green is tucked behind tree from the fairway, so a left to right or high shot may be required to navigate the natural hazards. There is a large collection area for any balls that go long and right trying to avoid the bunkers that are stacked on short, left and long of the green.
Hole 8 is the first part 3 on the Isles course. This medium length par 3 is protected by bunkers short, right, and long left. The green is 35 yards wide, but only 15 yards deep, so be careful with club selection. Long right will also net you a gift to the golfing gods.
Hole 9 is a par 4 that sees us move back inland and up-hill. The fairway is generously wide (40 yards) with 150 yards to go, and continues to pinch in, the further your ball goes off the tee. The first bunker on the left should not be in play for even the shortest hitters. The bunker on the right will collect golfers not confident in their tee shot, and the second bunker on the left will collect any bombers who are sacrificing accuracy. Make sure any approach into the green can carry the false front.
Hole 10 is the longest par 3 and plays slightly uphill. The distinctly two-tiered green is well protected by 3 bunkers. The front pin placement is the most difficult but the slope in the middle of the green can be used to get the ball close. The other 3 pin placements all reside in the top shelf, with contours near the back to hold the putting surface.
Hole 11 runs parallel to 2 off the tee, but that is where the similarities stop. This long but downhill par 5 will see even the longest hitters struggle to reach the green in 2. The tee shot will play 40 feet downhill, to a generous fairway with bunkers flanking on either side. The second shot will then play uphill to a green that invites players to get the ball as close as possible to the green. Trouble off the tee will require a layup to the flattest area of the fairway just beyond the 150 stake. Each pin position will require you to think of where you want the ball to land.
Hole 12 is not the shortest par 3 in terms of distance, but the more than 30 feet downhill tee shot will require less club than you may think. This beautiful par 3 is built right on the edge of north-west side of Shelter Cove. Any shots hit short and right will have a chance of making it all the way down to the water below. There is a collection area long left, that can aid in your club selection. Par is a good score here.
Hole 13 is the last of the par 5s. From the island teeing area, the hole looks to play uphill, but is generally flat when looking at it from tee to green. The massive bunker on the left side of the fairway is shared with the 14th, and will force an unintended layup. Once in the fairway, the downhill approach will see even balls 20 yards short reach the green for an attempt at eagle. There is a grove of trees that bisects the fairway 100 yards short of the green, so if a layup is required, short left or long right of the trees is the prudent play. The green is one of the largest on the course, and should gather approaches toward the pins.
Hole 14 is a straightforward par 4 with bunkering again right and left of the tee. The bunker shared with 13 on the left runs away from the fairway and will leave a difficult approach to any shot that find it. Beyond 300 yards from the tips, the fairway widens and runs downhill, so any downwind conditions will dramatically shorten your approach shot. The green is protected by a single bunker on the right side. The left pin is the most inviting, but the 3 right pins will have the flattest putts.
Hole 15 is an island par 3, with one of most photogenic looks out into Shelter Cove. This medium length par 3 has two distinct tiers, but shots that find the incorrect one don’t make the next putt impossible. Any shot on the correct level will make birdie very possible. The small but deep bunker, and the island nature of the green are it’s only defenses.
Hole 16 is a medium length par 4 that will play very different depending on which tees are being used and the direction of the wind. The safe play is down the fairway leaving yourself from 150-170 yards into the green. Those big hitters trying to cut the corner must be absolutely certain that they can carry the water, or bogey and even double come into play quickly. The banana shaped green is nearly 40 feet deep and protected by a bunker along the right side. A collection area long left will catch any wayward approaches.
Hole 17 is a true test of your ball striking. This drivable par 4 can be the difference-maker in your round. The bunker on the right side of the fairway will even make any lay-up be precise. With water left, right and long, any approach (whether it be from the tee or the fairway) must factor in any wind if you are looking to score on this hole. The three-tiered green will offer unique looks depending on the pin position.
Hole 18 also offers some risk and reward for players trying to steal another stroke off the course. Another massive bunker awaits anyone making mistakes off the tee. This closing hole plays nearly 60 feet uphill, so be sure that you choose your shot wisely off the tee. The approach shot will also play uphill and more than likely a sidehill lie from the fairway to a green that is again well protected by bunkers. The green is two tiered, with a false front short of the front pins. Anyone who attacks the right side off the tee will be rewarded with a much flatter, 100 yard approach into the green.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2020 23:54:50 GMT -5
Enjoyed my round. For a second publish, this is pretty good. I can't wait to see what you can pull off on the next course! Well done!
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LucasEatWorld
Amateur Golfer
I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.
Posts: 225
TGCT Name: LucasEatWorld
Tour: Platinum
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Post by LucasEatWorld on Nov 23, 2020 13:59:56 GMT -5
Very fun course!
First tee shot is a bit blind, but it still plays well. A bit of the same thing on 8. Wish we could see that green complex from the back tees! Still looks nice though with the yacht in the background. Big fan of the 15th hole and transitioning over to the 16th tee. Really nice area. Best on the course. Overall, no big complaints at all. If I had to nitpick anything, a few landing spots in some of the fairways were a bit narrow and some of the green slopes were a bit inconsistent from green to green, with some having massive slopes and others not having much in them at all. But that's being picky and pretty much just down to preference. Good job, especially for a second course.
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Post by stack on Nov 23, 2020 15:47:12 GMT -5
Nice work! I like the planting and sculpting, the course has a unified vibe that feels immersive and cohesive. I like the hole variety, with each playing and looking sufficiently different to keep me engaged. Playing the black tees and pin 1, I felt some of the greens were too punitive. It's frustrating to land an almost hero shot 18 ft from the hole, then nail the putt speed but slightly miss the line and watch the ball roll 10 yards off the green. It happened a couple of times. But overall an enjoyable course.
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Post by trfoisy on Nov 27, 2020 23:33:11 GMT -5
As someone else said, really amazing for your 2nd course. Wonderful environment and felt like a real course. Challenging but not overly difficult.
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Post by Yaboy_Barry on Nov 29, 2020 0:26:56 GMT -5
I just played a round here, and I thought it was really solid, especially for only your second publish. I am about to release my second publish as well, and while I think it’s pretty good, your’s is definitely better. My only real complaint was the blind tee shot on 1. While I’m okay with blind tee shots, especially in a game like this because of how you can still see the rest of the course, but I feel like on the first hole you want to show off what your course is all about. I also thought that the green on 12 was a bit too small, but thats more a personal preference thing. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!
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