Post by weirsy2003 on Feb 22, 2021 16:11:45 GMT -5
Well I asked and I received! I'd say you are right on most points, and certainly thorough. It was my first go and I can already see the rough edges and shortcomings just from my own development. And yes I'm watching videos, but I think us console designers are at a pretty big deficit, so while I'd like to compete at that level, it feels unrealistic. Anyway, I'm deep into my 2nd course so I'll try to learn and make improvements based on all of this. That's why I'm here!
Where I don't quite agree would be the comments on things like fringe size. Who's to say we all have to follow the same aesthetics. Ive played golf my whole life, all over this country and Europe, and seen all kinds of shapes and sizes. I try to match my green size with the approach shot, and in some cases a short flip wedge deserves a challenge with a tight target. 17 is a short driveable par 4, small green but big fringe. So what? Got a hike that looks very similar on my home course. Fringe adds a little forgiveness for the long shots coming in.
And the tree on 8 green, yeah ok I see your point - but I play Harbour Town ( the real one) all the time and there are greenside trees on almost every hole to force you to shape your shots. A shot makers course.
Agree some greens a little too slopey. That may be rookie bravado. Regarding the slit fairway, I watch ghost replays and I'd say 75% of players go right on # 2 when wind not hurting, which makes the approach infinitely easier. I stand by that risk reward. And #10 gives you a shorter path to hitting it in 2, but yes unlikely I'd go for it in the real world as it's so penal when you miss. Maybe #12 you missed the intentional opening of trees to allow you to fade and cut off the whole corner on an otherwise very long par 4. See your point on it being too forced.
I think your most on point observation is #13. Sometimes as a designer, especially rookie, you spend so much time working on a hole that you lose perspective. I was really proud of that island green and the way it looks in the lake below. Sort of lost sight of what could have been obvious improvement as you suggested.
While it hurts a bit to hear so much negativity, I half expected it. Wish there was a way to have feedback prior to publishing.
If you’re interested in feedback pre-publish, start a WIP thread over in the “under construction” sub forum. There, you can post pics and publish betas of your course for other members to critique and offer suggestions. I would highly recommend that you not take weirsy’s feedback as negativity so much but more as good, honest feedback to help you grow as a designer! Honestly, you’re very fortunate, in my opinion, that someone took the time to give you honest, no BS, detailed feedback especially on a first publish. I’m sure his intentions are purely positive. My own recommendation, without playing the course yet (which I plan to😉), is to pick out one or two things that you feel you’re good at (i.e. planting, sculpting, etc.) and try to make those things the focal point of your next design. In that design, pick one or two things that you feel your weak on and really make an effort to improve on those one or two elements. That way, the things you’re good at will be the highlight of the course while the things you’re working on won’t make or break the quality of the course. The most important thing to remember here is that we all have to start somewhere. The beauty of this community, at least from a designer’s perspective, is that the overwhelming majority of us are here to support one and other in pursuit of a hobby we all enjoy. Everyone benefits when we’re all trying to help each other get better at it! Now, I’m off to give this course a go. Wish me luck!
Apologies if my critique came across overly negative. I’m very much an analytical perfectionist (which is partly why I never end up publishing anything) so I tend to be pretty blunt and honest whenever I critique a course. I did give it a second play though to check out a few things again. Having attempted those right fairway options on 2 and 10 they actually play much better than I thought they would and certainly make the holes easier if you pull off the tee shot. My fringe comment was more to do with the relative size of your greens compared to the fringe/runoff areas. I think some of the greens are just too small (16 in particular) although I get the strategy you’re going for. The course has a great variety of holes and I did enjoy the concept and look of the course as well. Keep on designing and one day I’ll put my own course up here for people to rip apart