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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 7, 2020 1:43:17 GMT -5
You've known it's been coming. For four hours, you've been anxiously anticipating this moment, and you can no longer avoid the beast. Tied at the top, with the leader already in the clubhouse, a birdie sits between you and the Championship; a bogey, a crushing defeat. "Just get it through the swale," you tell yourself. "Just get it to the front and let it run through. It will run through, right?" After a last-minute check with your caddie, your eyes focus on Biarritz green as you grip your club. You take a deep breath and relax your shoulders. You rotate your shoulders and your club pulls back to the top of your swing. This is the moment of truth. Welcome to The Excelsior Club! This Par-71, 6919-yard layout combines geometrically-shaped greens with free-form fairways, culminating in the Par-3 Biarritz final hole.                     |
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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 7, 2020 14:01:33 GMT -5
A little more about each of the holes, now that I'm alert enough to describe them.
1. Narrows - In most winds, a full driver runs the risk of rolling into the bunker along the right side which further encroaches upon the fairway. Very long hitters have the option to carry the bunker with a stiff tailwind, and conservative players can find the generous landing area short of the bunker.
2. Prize Dogleg - The longest hitters will have the option of reaching the green in two by cutting the corner of the dogleg, bringing the ocean into play. The second shot must carry both the ocean and the creek that fronts the green. Conservative players have the option to leave a wedge, or a short pitch to the green.
3. Eden - The first par 3 features a downhill tee shot to a green heavily sloped from back to front. The change in elevation across the green surface is a full five feet, so putts from above the hole can be extremely quick.
4. Knoll - Long hitters can carry the creek and leave a pitch to the green, while conservative players must avoid the bunker on the left side to have a full wedge or short iron approach. The green plays smaller than it appears, as it runs off on all sides.
5. Short - The shortest hole on the course requires a wedge or short iron approach. Players must navigate the wind and the thumbprint impression to find the correct portion of the green where a tricky putt awaits.
6. Long - The 6th is the longest par-4 hole on the course. The best play is to work the tee shot from left to right, avoiding the deep bunker beyond the corner of this dogleg. An approach from the left side of the fairway is preferable.
7. Bottle - Players have several options from the tee: Play short of the centerline bunkers (better angle, longest approach), play to the right of them (widest landing area, worst angle), play to their left (narrows the farther you go, better angle to the green, brings water into play), hit beyond them (requires aggressive clubs, best angle, shortest approach, water in play).
8. Alps - Playing farther down the fairway leaves the best angle from which to approach the punchbowl green, but brings water and sand into play.
9. Plateau - Reachable in two only for the longest players, the par 5 9th requires a precision tee shot. From there, players have the option to take aim at the green or to find a safe layup area. The green features a pronounced plateau to the front-right with a run-off behind the plateau's right side.
10. Lion's Mouth - finding the correct side of the generous fairway is key on the par-4 10th. A spine bisects the green from front to back.
11. Valley - Players looking for a level approach must lay back between the creek and the crest of the hill and avoid the bunker on the right. Players who drive it farther down the fairway are left with an awkward, uphill approach.
12. Leven - Aggressive players must avoid the diagonal creek and bunkering, but will be left with a short pitch as a reward. Conservative players can lay up short of the creek and have a short iron approach instead.
13. Redan - Atypical of the Redan template, the par-3 13th features a front section of the green that does not feed to the back-left. For pins located in the back-left, players must clear the crest and allow the ball to follow the slopes.
14. Cape - The par-4 14th features one of the narrowest fairways on the course and a short-iron approach. Players playing farther down the fairway will earn a better angle of approach.
15. Double Plateau - Players have three options: lay up short of the Principal's Nose, find the landing area short of the green (leaving a short pitch to the green), or go for broke and take aim at the green from the tee. The green sits atop the hill, features three small, distinct tiers and is heavily bunkered.
16. Maiden - Players must challenge the bunker on the right side and work the ball from left to right for the best angle to the green for all pin locations, except back-right when it is preferable to approach from the left side. The green features two raised tiers at the back of the green.
17. Punch Bowl - Second shots on this three-shot par 5 that come from the left side of the fairway are blocked from the mouth of the punchbowl by a tall copse. The green is obscured by the punchbowl and a "volcano" bunker for third-shot approaches coming from the right side. Players finding the front-left green apron will have a clear view, the best angle, and the shortest approach.
18. Biarritz - A spline splits the back section of the green in half, directing good approaches towards the hole and poor ones away from it. Players must play through the swale to attack front pins, but can play entirely over it to attack the back pins.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2020 19:18:30 GMT -5
Ahhhhh yeahhhh! Red Team! This one was great to watch shape up. Overall solid design here sir. The template approach to each hole worked well. The overall environment is really well made. Great job man.  |
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Post by virtualgolfer65 on Dec 7, 2020 23:34:14 GMT -5
Just finished my first round and for those who have read my reviews already know that I love template courses and especially ones that are well done!
There is something magical about these holes and the strategy involved with each.
I was thankful for the course strategy guide for each hole and I played black tees and pin 1 placements.
Each of the holes is accessible for birdies or big numbers. The pin placements can dictate on whether to attack or be cautious.
None of the holes were unfair and depended solely on the right strategy and right shot execution for that chose strategy.
I have favorited this course and will return again and again to play the different pin placements and revel in the tremendous green & bunker sculpting.
Don't sleep on this course or face getting cut down by the might Excelsior!
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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 8, 2020 17:04:47 GMT -5
virtualgolfer65Thanks for playing and the complimentary comments. Glad that you enjoyed the round! Thanks!
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Post by trip4563 on Dec 8, 2020 17:14:28 GMT -5
Very hyped for this template design, few weeks ago I was complaining about the lack of this style course in the game but since it seems several are being released, heard nothing but good things about this one so cant wait
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Post by charliehustle on Dec 8, 2020 18:26:06 GMT -5
Excelsior Club felt like modern contemporary art meets traditional sensibilites. It was really well thought out in terms of strategy and fun to play. I felt that most of the bunkers were placed with purpose with a minimal amount that were there for the visual aspect. It was also mostly a treat visually, sans all of the yellow grass against the dark green. I think the grass was a little bit too thick at times and it didn't look good on MY monitor (key word: MY). The creek definitely could have used some greenery, but outside of that the water was done really well in terms of placement...or should I say that the course was routed really well in relation to the water.
This course is probably my favorite of the courses that I have played in the last month or so. I just can't wrap my head around how well executed the geometry was. The short par 4 #15 hole stood out to me as the most stunning. But I also loved my approach shot on I believe it was #17, the shaping of the bunkers mixed with the punch bowl green contrasted really well. I love how you balanced heavily planted areas with areas that weren't as heavily planted... and oh, yeah, the view of my putt on #2 looking out into the ocean was also magical. The tri-bunkers that were placed mid-fairway on one of the doglegs that wrapped around the water....man. I guess I can say that there is a lot of things that are memorable about this course.
Your course is some serious competition to the others. I'd like to see this course go "TGC official."
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Post by ddixjr509 on Dec 8, 2020 18:26:22 GMT -5
Awesome take on the Raynor template. #17 was my favorite... I love the strategy of the S shaped par 5 with the punch bowl combo.
I also had an interesting wind direction, so it seemed that all my shots were coming off the lake/creek or corners- good stuff!
thank you!
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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 9, 2020 0:08:03 GMT -5
Very hyped for this template design, few weeks ago I was complaining about the lack of this style course in the game but since it seems several are being released, heard nothing but good things about this one so cant wait Hope it lives up to the hype! |
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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 9, 2020 0:09:53 GMT -5
Excelsior Club felt like modern contemporary art meets traditional sensibilites. It was really well thought out in terms of strategy and fun to play. I felt that most of the bunkers were placed with purpose with a minimal amount that were there for the visual aspect. It was also mostly a treat visually, sans all of the yellow grass against the dark green. I think the grass was a little bit too thick at times and it didn't look good on MY monitor (key word: MY). The creek definitely could have used some greenery, but outside of that the water was done really well in terms of placement...or should I say that the course was routed really well in relation to the water. This course is probably my favorite of the courses that I have played in the last month or so. I just can't wrap my head around how well executed the geometry was. The short par 4 #15 hole stood out to me as the most stunning. But I also loved my approach shot on I believe it was #17, the shaping of the bunkers mixed with the punch bowl green contrasted really well. I love how you balanced heavily planted areas with areas that weren't as heavily planted... and oh, yeah, the view of my putt on #2 looking out into the ocean was also magical. The tri-bunkers that were placed mid-fairway on one of the doglegs that wrapped around the water....man. I guess I can say that there is a lot of things that are memorable about this course. Your course is some serious competition to the others. I'd like to see this course go "TGC official." That's high praise. Thanks! |
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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 9, 2020 0:10:29 GMT -5
Awesome take on the Raynor template. #17 was my favorite... I love the strategy of the S shaped par 5 with the punch bowl combo. I also had an interesting wind direction, so it seemed that all my shots were coming off the lake/creek or corners- good stuff! thank you! Thanks for playing it and leaving comments. Glad you enjoyed it! |
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Post by b101 on Dec 10, 2020 17:12:43 GMT -5
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Post by prettygreen1 on Dec 12, 2020 3:53:53 GMT -5
Loved this course man,the geometric shapes for the greens and bunkers are very cool..top level course for me.
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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 12, 2020 15:37:11 GMT -5
b101 - thanks for the playthrough and the feedback. That's probably the most constructive feedback I've gotten on any project, so it's very welcome. Cheers!
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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 12, 2020 15:37:45 GMT -5
Loved this course man,the geometric shapes for the greens and bunkers are very cool..top level course for me. Thanks for the compliment! Glad you enjoyed the round. |
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