Lifeonaboard WIP thread. The alternates alternate.

[Lifeonaboard]

So after months of planning and prep work, I failed to qualify for the main field and missed out on being an alternate by one place. Never one to be deterred by such setbacks I have been hard at work on my course since the design window opened. I've reached a point where I have a playable 18 holes (some of which will most likely change as I do more playtesting) and I have a lot of the visual elements figured out. I won't say much about the style of the course but this photo should be enough to raise some red flags.

Now all I need is to convince 4 more of you other contestants to drop out...
Do it! Drop out! Let someone else be the loser in your group of death.

[mctrees02]

Don't think we don't notice your floating bush on the horizon...

[jswift]

Is that a green for ants!?

Looks good, the flying bush adds whimsy

[Lifeonaboard]

Ah good you guys have spotted the red flags. I believe the floating plants are just the xbox not rendering their trunks. Damn draw distance.

[hallzballz6908]

Hah! And here I was thinking the red flag was the cactus on the left that looks like it’s flipping the bird to everybody!

[Lifeonaboard]

One of the things I wanted to try on this course was a par 3 opener. Normally I like to start a round by crushing driver, the downside to this is that the first frame you see when the course loads is generally the start of a fairway with maybe a green in the distance. While this is fine in most cases, how much better would it be if every single aspect of the course's design is easily apparent while standing on the first tee or during your first shot? I think that having the green right in front of you as you step onto the tee works far better to accomplish this. Combined with the cinematic aerial view of the plot as your ball sails helplessly towards its fate make for one hell of a course introduction. 

Also if any of you other contestants are still unsure about the course you are working on, feel free to quit. There's no shame in it, we all understand the pressure you're under.

[cd06]

These bunkers are making me nervous.

Looks crazy. Just like any Jaron course should be. Can't wait to see it finished.

[Lifeonaboard]

February was a bit of a slow month for me design wise. But since it's March and the contest window is open I'm ramping up the planting grind. Most holes have been finalized with only a few minor sculpting tweaks as I do more playtesting. So it's mostly just working on the visuals at this point. This is a view from the 7th tee looking back across the plot. I'm keeping the planting fairly sparse with a pretty wide open feel and some nice long sightlines.

[cd06]

This looks too good man. Can't wait to see it finished!

[Lifeonaboard]

I'm not sure if anyone else has done this before but I have successfully jerry proofed the lighting on my course. That's right if you select noon as the time of day you will get default lighting and all the shadows will fall exactly where they are supposed to. I also did a few tests and it looks pretty sexy with dawn lighting as well. My full course playthroughs have been really fun and the course is playing how I want. I'm still making some minor tweaks to greens and bunkers but the course is essentially done so I'll spend the last few days filling out the planting in a few more areas. Get ready to play Parched Parrot next week. Here is the 15th split green with a creek going between them.