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Post by virtualgolfer65 on Dec 27, 2020 23:44:37 GMT -5
Welcome to my thread for the WIP of my course Lighthouse Falls. Holes 5-10 on this were created for the TGC Design League #4 a few months back and I decided to extend it to a full 18 holes. For those interested in seeing my writeup from the contest you can find it here: tgctours.proboards.com/post/606495I used about 90% of the plant meter for the contest 6 holes and am reworking some of the trees, etc, while adding additional features & waterfalls/water features. I've included a few pictures below to start and will be adding additional ones in the coming days. There are some template greens, drivable par 4s, big waterfalls and more to experience.
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Post by virtualgolfer65 on Jan 2, 2021 18:10:35 GMT -5
No new pictures, but I have posted a beta of my Lighthouse Falls project.
It's called Light181 (that's Light and the numbers 181) You'll know it's the right one when the screenshot for the course is part of a trunk of a tree buried in a green island.)
My meter is almost full and I may change a few things, so I can add walking paths. The only place carts are allowed on the island are from the clubhouse to the practice area and to the helopads. Walking everywhere else!
For those interested, holes 5-10 were the holes I entered into the Design League #4 contest. My goal was to provide a variety of holes, including the high elevation and low elevation changes. Please note that there are clearly correct sides of the fairways to give the optimal view of the hole & shots in.. If you grip and rip then you'll find it more difficult to score. There are also holes that require shot shaping to be on the correct part of the fairway or green.
Default settings ar
Greens: Firm Fairways: Firm Green speed: 7.3 (can dial it up to 8.0 fairly)
Any and all feedback, positive or negative is appreciated. The more information you can provide the better, so I can use it for my future courses.
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Post by virtualgolfer65 on Jan 3, 2021 23:58:12 GMT -5
More inside info and hole-by-hole strategy guide. Pictures coming soon.
Background: There’s rumored to be a golf course on the remote island known as Lighthouse Falls, but no one is for sure. The scuttlebutt is that you need to know a member who will sponsor your trip to the island and then vouch for you on the golf course. This is a golf club with a single clubhouse, one mansion and four fully running lighthouses. Guests are flown in via helicopter to play their rounds of golf and then whisked back to the nearby mainland where a luxury hotel is located. The lighthouses protect ships in the night from being crushed by the rocky shores.
The good news is that I’m the designer and I’m pleased to offer you an unlimited pass to play the newly released 18 hole course! So, pack plenty of golf balls, as I welcome you to Lighthouse Falls!
Note from the designer: Holes 5-10 on this course were created for the Design League #4 contest (published as Lighthouse Falls 6 V1) Working with the huge, rocky cliffs and raw landscaping, the course rises and falls hundreds of feet. Huge waterfalls and features are found throughout the island, which is sandwiched between the two working lighthouses on each end. Players may recognize a variety of template green configurations and holes demanding a variety of shot types. Here’s a little more information for your round(s):
Beta published name: Light181 (Light and numbers 181)
Course designer/creator: CragleRock65 but go by virtualgolfer65 on forums
Location: Somewhere in the southern hemisphere between Hawaii and Australia.
Season: Late Summer/Early Fall
Suggested Winds: Low or Medium setting. South & Southwest winds will play the easiest, North & Northeast tougher.
Green speeds: Designed for 7.3 (158), but can go to 7.6 (164) for the brave and 8.0 (175) for the truly insane.
Tees: Four tees offered for varying levels of distance, but the teeth of the course are bared no matter the one you choose. Might we suggest you play your first round on the black tees and pin 1 for your first round?
Pins: The pins are set in major order, that is, if the course ever held a major tournament, then play would be pins 1 for round 1, pins 2 for round 2 and so on. Pins 3 & 4 are set in fair, but very difficult locations. Of course, we suggest you play each of the pins to see the strategy and beauty of each hole.
Hole by hole from the designer::
Total length: ⚫ 7,558 ⚪ 7,429 ⚪ 7,093 🔴 6,929
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Hole 1 - ⚫ 420 ⚪ 414 ⚪ 405 🔴 398
The opening hole is a medium length, dogleg left, par 4, where the further left off the tee, the better the angle to the green. Aim at the further bunker down the left side with a slight left-to-right shot. Shots hit the right will be blocked by trees. The approach will depend on the location of the pin on the lion’s mouth green. Birdie is possible, but walking away with a par is a great start!
Hole 2 - ⚫ 482 ⚪ 473 ⚪ 438 🔴431
This par 4 can be extended from 431 yards to a very long, 482 yards off the tee. Players can choose from two paths off the elevated tee; the left side is safer off the tee, but leaves the player needing to shape a right to left shot around trees to reach the green. Players who challenge the right option will face a 291 yard fly across the water, but the reward is straight shot to the green that rolls slightly front to back.
Hole 3 - ⚫ 614 ⚪ 610 ⚪ 605 🔴 603
While this is the longest hole on the course, it plays further than it’s yardage due to the punchbowl green being almost 30 feet above the tee. This is a three-shot par 5 where birdie is possible, but only if you hit three great shots and sink a medium to long range putt. There are no hazards surrounding the green and shots, even wayward ones will still feed toward the middle. A ridge separates the middle of the green, so being on the correct side will make putting that much easier. Nothing tricky here, but just hit accurate, bruising shots and try avoid the big number!
Hole 4 - ⚫ 398 ⚪ 391 ⚪ 369 🔴 359
A generous fairway and green invite the player to relax, but don’t. While not a long hole, the long biarritz green can create havoc, if the player is on the wrong side of the deep dip in the middle of the green. Going long may result in the ball going down the runoff area and into the water. A great chance for birdie if you play your shots right!
Hole 5 - ⚫ 223 ⚪ 217 ⚪ 212 🔴 205
After a walk across a narrow, bridge high over the water and past one of the four lighthouses, you arrive at #5. This is a slightly uphill, long par 3, across the water to an elevated Eden green. A severe false front catches any balls hit short, while large bunkers surround the sides & back. A throwback hole where par is a great score!
Hole 6 - ⚫ 445 ⚪ 437 ⚪ 405 🔴 397
This is a solid par 4 with the water left and two fairway bunkers right, which is the optimal place to hit the second shot from. A prominent “principals nose” with two bunkers sits about 60 yards from the double plateau green. A large bunker grabs any stray shots from those guarding against going into the water left. A middle-right tee shot opens the approaches of 155-175 in. When the pin is on one of the two plateaus then a running short on one into the slope would be optimal for staying on top. Birdies are accessible, but so is double-bogey!
Hole 7 - ⚫ 596 ⚪ 582 ⚪ 542 🔴 529
Standing on the tee one might see the beauty and peacefulness of the trees and not realize the danger ahead. A long par 5 that sweeps left and downhill to a three-tiered Cape green. A generously wide fairway, also offers slopes for some truly long tee shots and just might make the player consider going for the green in 2. Bite off what you want, but a second shot in front of the green leaves a short wedge to pins on one of three levels. Shorts hit too short can roll back down and possible off the end of the green. The “Diablo Cinco” awaits.
Hole 8 - ⚫ 463 ⚪ 456 ⚪ 449 🔴 443
Hole 8 is a beastly, uphill par 4 to a elevated & sideways “Biarritz” green. Water surrounds all sides of the generous fairway to gobble up any wayward shots. This is also your first look at the biggest waterfall on the island and is rumored to actually be used to drive the under-island hydro generators that provide electricity to the island residents and a few other local countries. The first order of business is to hit the fairway with a long drive, but be aware of the tiers for pin 2 (left) and pin 4 (right) as you’ll want to miss on the correct side. A great chance to play angles and use the slopes to ones advantage, unless you’re on the wrong side.
Hole 9 - ⚫ 226 ⚪ 226 ⚪ 226 🔴 182
Another long par 3 to a heart-shaped green that’s lovingly surrounded by bunkers and water. The roar and power of the waterfall will be evident and take a moment to soak in the beautiful lighthouse to the left. Three shots and run to the elevator for the next hole.
Hole 10 - ⚫ 480 ⚪ 453 ⚪ 425 🔴 417
After a ride up the water powered elevator hidden in the mountain side, you stand on the 10th tee. Behind you a 5 level, smaller waterfall and in front of you a brutish, dogleg right par 4 across “Endless Lake” to an elevated fairway. Players wanting to cut the dogleg will face the real possibility of a penalty and re-teeing. The optimal aiming target are the two red maple trees in the distance, but don’t leak your shot further right or face a watery grave. Club down for the downhill approach shot to a Biarritz green that on some days is pinnable in the middle. Use the slopes to your advantage and don’t get near the unfenced right-side cliffs. Plan your shots and use the slopes to your advantage and birdie is possible.
Hole 11 - ⚫ 187 ⚪ 184 ⚪ 177 🔴 174
A medium-length par 3 fronted by two bunkers left and one on the right, with a two tiered green moving left to right and front-to-back. A bunker sits across the fairway about 40 yards from the green, which can skew the distance to the heart-shaped green. Shots far left and long face a watery grave and far right bound down a long hill. Tip: air short and bounce the shot into the green.
Hole 12 - ⚫ 362 ⚪ 354 ⚪ 303 🔴 296
It’s only 355 yards long and plays shorter due to the elevated tee, but this hole can create just as many big scores as birdies. This is the first of three consecutive par 4 holes that measure less than 380 yards each. The safe play here is a fairway wood, which leaves about 140-150 yards into the good sized green. Hit driver and you can have a short wedge in for a better chance at birdie. Don’t go long or left, else you face the water that awaits.
Hole 13 - ⚫ 371 ⚪ 365 ⚪ 350 🔴 344
Another seemingly short par 4, until you realize you’re a few hundred feet above the clubhouse and there’s nothing, but water to the right and left. Hitting into the wind means that players using the back two tees will not be able to reach the fairway unless they’re hitting a driver off the tee. Birdie is accessible, but so is double bogey or more. Par is a respectable score here.
Hole 14 - ⚫ 373 ⚪ 369 ⚪ 358 🔴 352
The drive is the most important shot on this short par 4 and an accurate one is required. If you don’t hit in the water then you’ll face a short wedge into a sloping green. The green has a sharp slope toward the fairway, so shots need to carry far enough on or they’ll roll back off. A birdie is a bonus, but run off this hole with a par and be happy.
Hole 15 - ⚫ 551 ⚪ 547 ⚪ 542 🔴 535
A first look you see the fairway in front of you, but further exploring will show a fairway to the right that leads to chance to hit this green in two. You’ll need to fly it over a tree and keep in the narrower fairway. Those who want to play safe can hit down the left fairway. Water protects the left side of the large green, which rewards great shots, but can also result in very long putts and 3-putts or more. Roll the dice if you dare, to lower your score in the final few holes.
Hole 16 - ⚫ 502 ⚪ 501 ⚪ 482 🔴 474
The longest par 4 on the course, this dogleg left hole demands the tee shot be played left of the center of the fairway for any chance to hit the green. Airm at the reddish tree in the middle of the fairway and keep it left of that. Approaches will normally be a long iron or hybrid into the large, double-plateau green. Treat it like a par 5 and you’ll likely score better than if you attack it.
Hole 17 - ⚫ 444 ⚪ 437 ⚪ 419 🔴 412
Take a moment to enjoy the view of the final waterfall cascading down the cliff to your right before facing the drive. Water down the right side and over the undulating green tests the player’s nerves.A successful drive leaves a short wedge to the green. Know where the pin is to ensure you’re on the correct side into the plateau green.
Hole 18 - ⚫ 421 ⚪ 413 ⚪ 386 🔴 378
You stand on the tee of the final hole, which is a dogleg right par 4. Note where the pin is on the 3-tiered green, so you know which side of the fairway gives the best approach shot. Use the slopes to move the ball toj the hole best. Once your finally putt drops then head to the clubhouse for a pint and to share your stories of the day.
We hope you enjoy your round and ask your host to arrange a tour of one of the island lighthouses, either before or after your round.
Thank you for visiting Lighthouse Falls and feel free to embellish your stories, as no one will believe any of it anyway.
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Post by virtualgolfer65 on Jan 20, 2021 15:25:44 GMT -5
After some hole re-arranging, after great feedback, including Q I'm proud to say that Lighthouse Falls, my first, full 18 course has been published. You can find it listed as Lighthouse Falls and search for it also in the Completed Course area for a full writeup, hole-by-hole strategies and a little about the mysteries found on the course. There's mysterious rock groupings and a hedged maze too solve on one side of the island, behind the 10th tee. Let me know what you think and thanks for all your support!
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