playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 257
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on May 8, 2021 1:57:02 GMT -5
Inspired by the beautiful courses in the verdant, rolling hills of Central Virginia, my third course, Albemarle Farms, is now live. Here's the WIP page - Albemarle Farms WIP - for more pictures and background on inspirations such as Farmington Country Club, the University of Virginia's Birdwood Golf Course, and Keswick Hall's Full Cry. From river to ridgeline, with fairly open, rolling terrain framed by native oak, ash, maple, willow, and pine, among others, hopefully you enjoy the environment and challenge in the farm country hills surrounding Charlottesville (Albemarle County), Virginia. As always, any feedback is welcome. Using Q 's tee manipulation, three sets measure between 7,170 and 7,280 yards. Designed with low wind and 7.5 (162) greens. Here's an overview screenshot to kick things off...more Xbox photos and hole summaries in next three posts. Thank you and enjoy!
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 257
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on May 8, 2021 2:11:10 GMT -5
The par-4 1st on the right and 18th on the left The 2nd and 13th greens with a view down the driveable par-4 3rd to the left (I may have done some azalea planting while watching the Masters) The 4th, with small homage to the popular summer Pony Pasture and Belle Isle rock and rapids playgrounds in the James River in Richmond Approach to the big par-5, uphill 5th The par-4 6th, snug against the lake with multiple short approach options, sharing a fairway with the 13th below it The par-3 7th uphill to the ridgeline saddle
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 257
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
|
Post by playgroundhoo on May 8, 2021 2:23:01 GMT -5
Adding a few from the back 9... The par-5 14th green with the 8th green on the left and 9th fairway behind The somewhat Leven-inspired par-4 15th green, with 16th tee complex behind The downhill par-3 16th, with the 15th going right to left above it The swooping par-4 17th, with bunkerless green 3 pretty even tee sets offering some different angles and experiences
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 257
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on May 8, 2021 2:31:08 GMT -5
For anyone interested, here are some brief hole tips and summaries...and please forgive my lack of graphic artistry and design like the awesome stuff some of you do, but hopefully it works!
Front 1st - Jump into a long par-4, not necessarily a “gentle handshake”. Take the green head-on from the left, where you may encounter a devilish little false-front, or run the bank on the right to rear pin positions.
2nd - Drive the higher lane to a more open approach or to a wider space with a riskier uphill over some tougher bunkering.
3rd - A fun downhill par-4. Do you err left to the bailout bowl or right toward the bunkers above the hole? Or lay up for a short downhill pitch?
4th - A par-3 skirting the river with rocks and rapids evokes the James River. Note the small ridgeline jutting into the green.
5th - A big par-5 back uphill. Split the bunkers for the shorter route or go left to the safer play. Do you carry the deep face bunkers to the wide green, bring it in from the left, or pitch up from below?
6th - Multiple choices on this short par-4 with a green snug against the lake. Navigate the bunkering or stay wider right where the 6th and 13th fairways run together. Whichever tricky pitch you choose, put it in the right spot.
7th - A par-3 up to a saddle in the ridgeline. Hit straight-on or play the banks.
8th - Bite what you like on this par-5 along the lake, but note your stance if you go for the green.
9th - A challenging par-4 to close the nine. Your tee shot choice may play a large role in your success approaching a well-defended, elevated green.
Back 10th - Crank it back to the river on this second driveable par-4. Does that right fairway bank look fun?
11th - Enjoy this sweeping par-5 emulating the curve of the river behind. How much should you cut for a shot to a challenging green set on a slight shelf?
12th - A classic central Virginia par-3 framed by big trees with an idyllic pond and horse-farm.
13th - A multi-option Cape par-4. Depending on wind and tee, bite what you dare or play left of the tree-stand. You probably don’t want to miss the green right.
14th - Hug the lake on this C&C-inspired par-5 or play safer to the right past the bunkers. Set up interesting choices on whether and how to approach a green with some tricky surrounds.
15th - Back across the valley on a Leven-inspired par-4. Play to the right for a more open approach or safer to the left to an approach up over the bunkers, but don’t pull it too far down the joined fairway with the 16th. You may end up blind.
16th - Have fun with this downhill par-3. Take it straight and flirt with a nasty drop-off or bank around the left down to a long green.
17th - Don’t miss right on this swooping par-4. But a right-side drive may give you a better angle and stance to the bunkerless, but tricky green.
18th - The home hole classic is a tighter drive with an uphill, somewhat deceiving approach, framed by two towering trees, to a fun closing green.
Hope you killed it and had fun...
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Post by Steve Baker on May 8, 2021 10:53:11 GMT -5
I grew up across the mountain in Waynesboro and know all the courses that inspired this.....this is pretty damn close to a perfect interpretation of those courses and the area. I can easily imagine taking 250 over the mountain....driving 10 minutes down the road....making a R or L turn and driving 5 more minutes and cruising into the parking lot....well done sir....well done.
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 257
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on May 8, 2021 14:37:24 GMT -5
I grew up across the mountain in Waynesboro and know all the courses that inspired this.....this is pretty damn close to a perfect interpretation of those courses and the area. I can easily imagine taking 250 over the mountain....driving 10 minutes down the road....making a R or L turn and driving 5 more minutes and cruising into the parking lot....well done sir....well done. Thank you, Steve Baker. That's about the best validation I could ask for in representing what I hoped. I still find planting & environment a challenge for a few reasons, but hopefully it works, and I'll keep trying to improve.
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Post by Kie on May 10, 2021 3:24:51 GMT -5
Hi Jonathan, just played a round here - a very pretty course. I scored -5 on Beer League settings off Black tees, Pin 1. I enjoyed the downhill driveable par 4 3rd hole and the river rapids on the 4th hole were beautifully done. I managed an Eagle on the 5th and incredibly stayed out of the multiple bunkers on 6! The 10th is similar to the 3rd being a driveable downhill par 4 but I was happy to see it and try to get my drive to feed down to the hole using the bank and contours of the green. The tricky 18th green meant I finished with a bogey but it was a very enjoyable round and I would be very happy to play this course in the Beer League. Well done and keep up the good work.
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Post by cd06 on May 10, 2021 14:28:15 GMT -5
Really enjoyable course man! Great work
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 257
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on May 11, 2021 0:47:12 GMT -5
Thank you Kie and cd06. I'm glad you enjoyed it and appreciate the notes. Kie, happy to hear you eagled 5 - was hoping to see that happen!
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