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Post by boynsy on Mar 5, 2021 11:35:33 GMT -5
Originally conceived to be a brutal test of golf to reflect its environment, Splintered Sands winds its way around the layered strata of rocky outcroppings scattered around the desert. However, there are plenty of birdie opportunities for the accurate golfer that can hit the correct portion of the aggressively tiered, quirky greens so don’t think that scoring is impossible! Measuring in at 7,236 yards from the tips, the par 72 course has been shaped by the prevailing but erratic northerly winds carving out cliffs and crags in the sandstone and granite on which it is based. The course itself is a variable grab bag, with features including a natural canyon on 4, a picturesque rocky overhang on 11 and 17, and a large archway protecting the drive on 16. The naturally chaotic landscape is reflected in the course too, with some tiny greens items such as the 5th with barely enough room to swing a club, versus the mammoth 16th and 18th putting surfaces which can completely alter how the holes are played. Hole 8 is a par 3 clocking in at over 265 yards, requiring intelligent play to keep bogey off your card, while its cousin the short par 4 12th hole gives you a chance at redemption. The back 9 in general plays easier (not to mention thankfully shorter) with more of a focus on the breathtaking views and birdies to be had in equal measure. Enjoy your round and feedback is certainly appreciated! Pictures to follow!
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Post by boynsy on Mar 5, 2021 11:55:16 GMT -5
Hole 1: The first shot of your round is a long, downhill drive favouring the right side of the fairway to open up the fairly small green. Par is not a bad score here. Hole 2: The tight fairway of hole 2 presents a challenge off the tee, and accuracy is tested all the way to the pin of this uphill struggle. Hole 3:
On the tee of the third hole, staring over the chasm before you. A clever golfer will use the reverse redan to feed the ball towards pins 1 and 4, but 2 and 3 present their own challenges! Hole 4:
The first par 5 and best birdie chance of your round so far, drive right for an easier but blind second shot at the green, or left for a clear shot but much tougher angle. The canyon is out of bounds. Hole 6 and 6th green/7the tee:imgur.com/wM00oOOA sharp dogleg finishing just in front of the tunnel in to the site, with a massive green that can have almost any club in depending on the drive and pin location. Cut the corner at your own risk. Hole 7: Another odd par 5. It can be easily reached in 2 with even a mid iron but the awkward green shape means that this might not necessarily be the correct option, especially when pin 4 is concerned. Hole 11:
Views over the rest of the course really start to come into play here. A picturesque, downhill short iron needs to find the right portion of the odd shaped green, but at least there’s a pretty view! Hole 12: A driveable par 4, but missing the green could lead to all sorts of trouble. The bunker hugging the left of the green and the rough to the right both present tough pitches to a green sloping away, and going long may lead to chips rolling back to your feet! Hole 16:
The second signature rock formation on the course, an archway guards the right side of the fairway. You can play over, under or around it, but balls striking the rock could go anywhere! Hole 17:
One of the easiest holes on the course - sensible play should be rewarded with a birdie, and anything worse should be regarded as a dropped shot. Hole 18:
Coming home sees the tee shot cut over the end of the driving range, before making a decision. Going for the rock - flanked green in two could lead to disaster, as being on the wrong tier here is a death sentence. Beware erratic bounces too, as the back half of the green is guarded by a large boulder. I hope you enjoy!
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Post by bradleystuart on Mar 6, 2021 8:44:12 GMT -5
Wow...this is your first course? From the pictures this looks really good, friend. I'll have to check it out.
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stubby3596
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 263
TGCT Name: stubby3596
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Post by stubby3596 on Mar 6, 2021 9:59:38 GMT -5
I just played the front nine and I think you did a great job creating a unique vibe and feel that was consistent throughout the holes that I played. The greens were interesting but a fair challenge as well.
My only couple of things to look at:
- There was one cart path which was really bad early on, I think it was on #1 or #2 but it felt like it was literally dropped on the native land. During the later holes your paths looked nice and smooth, but maybe just trace them all back to be sure
- There were two greens on the front that were incredibly small and didn't fit with the rest, maybe just make them a bit bigger
- There was one hole I played with a pin that was on a tiny little tounge that if I was in other parts of the green I would have no chance to get to, maybe just smooth that little tounge out just a bit
Overall, great job and a fun course.
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Post by boynsy on Mar 6, 2021 11:18:34 GMT -5
I just played the front nine and I think you did a great job creating a unique vibe and feel that was consistent throughout the holes that I played. The greens were interesting but a fair challenge as well. My only couple of things to look at: - There was one cart path which was really bad early on, I think it was on #1 or #2 but it felt like it was literally dropped on the native land. During the later holes your paths looked nice and smooth, but maybe just trace them all back to be sure - There were two greens on the front that were incredibly small and didn't fit with the rest, maybe just make them a bit bigger - There was one hole I played with a pin that was on a tiny little tounge that if I was in other parts of the green I would have no chance to get to, maybe just smooth that little tounge out just a bit Overall, great job and a fun course. Thanks man! I was prepared for a couple of the points you made, but I must admit I had missed the cart path issue at the start. Having played it again myself though I will agree that the paths on 1 and 2 could use touching up, not sure how that got by to begin with but that’s my bad I guess. I imagine the two small greens you mention are 5 and 9, and I understand your criticism but I would like to say that my reason behind making them small (especially 5) was to challenge the golfer in a different way, by putting an absolute premium on accuracy with a short pitch shot in, prioritising hitting the fairway, but rewarding a good approach with a relatively easy birdie. Unfortunately it seems I may have missed the mark. The tongue green is probably 7, although there are also similar pins on 11 and 18. Again I understand your feedback, but I will defend all of those pins with the point that they are all short approaches, and by saying that in all my testing, I never managed to leave myself in a position where I had no putt. I took inspiration from the Bad Little Nine at Scottsdale, which is a bit of a joke course but I was certainly going for the challenging vibe! Anyway, thanks for the play and the feedback, I will absolutely take it on board and you’ll be pleased to know that my next project is a much more sensible, realistic course!
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stubby3596
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 263
TGCT Name: stubby3596
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Post by stubby3596 on Mar 6, 2021 13:17:14 GMT -5
Sam, don't get me wrong, it was a really fun course and the vibe was fantastic. The feedback I provided is super minor and just something to consider. I do get the challenge of small greens, I just think they need to be a bit more inline with the rest of the course which actually has really big greens. If the rest wasn't as large the difference wouldn't be as visible.
Btw, I would love to play Splintered Sands in real life!
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