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Post by dmviking on May 22, 2021 22:57:26 GMT -5
  I present my entry into the 2021 National Treasure contest. Set in Azerbaijan, here is Darvaza (meaning “Gateway” in Azerbaijani). I took several different aspects from the diverse country and built the plot around it. Rugged hillside and 23 active mud volcanoes (fenced off for the golfer’s safety) are just some of the obstacles you will need to overcome on this Par 73 course. The greens are fast and poor approach shots will make for inflated scores. The village of Darvaza is nearby with a hotel and shuttle service. The clubhouse has an indoor driving range and conference rooms for any business meetings or events. Contact via our website to inquire on renting.
Caution: The mud volcanoes are fenced off for your safety and will be treated as out of bounds and your ball will be considered lost, even if it is visible. Waivers are present in the clubhouse and must be signed prior to your round. Passing the fenced off areas is prohibited and may result with removal from the course.
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Post by dmviking on May 22, 2021 22:57:40 GMT -5
Hole 1: “Ilk Atis” (First Shot)A mid-length uphill par 5 kicks off your round. Shots long will collect on the fairway collection area behind the green. This will be the first view of the mud volcanoes. 
Hole 2: “Baxis” (The View)A short par 3 will force you to make a decision off the tee. You can take driver but run the risk of running through the fairway or catching a bunker if you try to cut the corner. The green overlooks the majority of the course. Take it all in. 
Hole 3: “Bolun” (Split)Watch out for the cross bunker off the tee. You might want to rethink driver if you have a tail wind as you could run out of fairway. A downhill approach shot to a sloping green awaits. 
Hole 4: “Enme” (Descent)This par 4 can play as long as 530 yds. Don’t let the length deceive you though as the hole plays down 100 ft and plays much shorter. The green runs from front to back so be aware of where the pin position is because you may want to run the ball up.  Hole 5: “Aslan Agzi” (Lion’s Mouth)The first par 3 on the course is an uphill Lion’s Mouth. The center tier is raised so a wayward shot could make for a very interesting putt. 
Hole 6: “Gozetci” (Guardian)
The dogleg left par 4 gives you the option of playing over the bunkers or keep right to avoid them. The approach is uphill with a large hill on the right and mud volcanoes to the left. 
Hole 7: “Qisa” (Short)
The shortest par 3 on the course is only around 120 yds. The green is also the smallest on the course and slopes hard from back to front. Stay below the hole.  Hole 8: “Dar” (Narrow)The par 5 8th has the narrowest fairway on the course. It’s a straight away hole and a good drive could allow you to get home in 2 and have a shot at eagle. 
Hole 9: “Yarim Yol” (Halfway)
Take a moment to enjoy the beautiful view before you tee off. A good drive and an accurate short iron should be the play. The green can be tricky. Remember to refuel at the halfway house before taking on the back 9. 
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Post by dmviking on May 22, 2021 22:57:50 GMT -5
Hole 10: “Goze Carpan” (Redan)
This 250+ yd redan par 3 requires a good tee shot. If the pin is on the left side of the green, you can hit your shot to the middle right and let the ball funnel down. If the pin is on the right, accuracy is required. The bunker in front is deep.  Hole 11: “Od Vadisi” (Valley of Fire)
This hole has the most views of the mud volcanoes on the course. After the last par 3, it’s nice to have a scoreable par 5. Eagle is a definite possibility and birdie should be considered probable. 
Hole 12: “Kor” (Blind)
A short par 4 with a blind tee shot. Aiming markers are provided for your convenience. The fairway is wide so you should end up on the short grass with a pitch into the green. 
Hole 13: “Yamac” (Slope)
This long par 4 requires two good shots. The fairway is wide but it slopes from left to right on this dogleg left. A tailwind could provide the possibility of cutting the corner and shortening up the hole. Being short, long, or right on your approach could be dangerous. Good luck. 
Hole 14: “Kenar” (Edge)
A lengthy par 4 with an approach shot towards Hotel Darvaza. The green doesn’t give a lot of room for error. Going long could cause the ball to roll down the steep slope at the back and leave a tricky pitch. Hopefully the farmer’s sheep stay out of your way. 
Hole 15: “Uzun” (Long)
The longest hole on the course. It could measure between 560 and 610 yds, depending on where the pin is located on the large green and will make you decide if you want to play it as a two shot or a three shot hole. OB is running all down the right side. 
Hole 16: “Bitdi” (Over)
This par 3 forces you to carry the road that provides the entrance to the course. Please use the crosswalk provided and check for cars before you traverse. The green is a unique double punchbowl as a ridge bisects the middle of it. 
Hole 17: “Uzaq” (Away)
Your shot shaping will be tested off the tee as a left to right shot is preferred on this short dogleg right par 4. Clubbing down might be an idea and will still leave a wedge in. Long and right can ruin your round so be careful. 
Hole 18: “Ev” (Home)
A reachable par 5 finishing hole could provide an excited end to the round. Your second shot will play much different depending on the pin position on this undulating green. 
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Post by Q on May 23, 2021 1:03:00 GMT -5
A Nice relaxing jaunt past the mudflats and geysers, had a 12 mph wind West and ended up playing well with eagles on 8 and 18!
It's nice to play a course that doesnt kick my butt every now and then
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Post by terpshoops on May 23, 2021 4:10:21 GMT -5
Unique looking course. I thought the background areas with the burnt out heavy rough, rocks, and small trees were really well done.
You navigated through some pretty big elevation changes, and for the most part it looked smooth and natural.
Overall, a really enjoyable round!
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ChrizZcE
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 154
TGCT Name: Christian Elsesser
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Post by ChrizZcE on May 23, 2021 4:24:37 GMT -5
Being a fellow Azerbaijan expert I figured you were gonna create volcanos when I first read the title of the course in your WIP thread. Really cool idea.
This is a really nice course and pretty unique. Really enjoyed my round!
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Post by scootmcgoot on May 23, 2021 5:15:15 GMT -5
Very causal round even with the elevation changes and higher winds to contend with. Liked the mud volcanoes, very unique feature. Course played well, greens were solid with nice sloping, nothing out of control even at a higher speed. Liked it...will be back for sure
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Post by meyo on May 23, 2021 5:21:33 GMT -5
An enjoyable course to play. Loved the elevation changes the look and the layout. Great job Dustin and GL in the contest.
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Post by trailducker on May 23, 2021 22:27:21 GMT -5
The round is casual but that's not a knowck on the strategy, it's there just very nicely done in a subtle ways. Love the Mud canoes. Wish I could slop around in the mud for fun but didn't want to be kicked off the course.
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Post by cd06 on May 24, 2021 1:49:29 GMT -5
I had a fun round here - nice work!  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2021 9:34:29 GMT -5
Been looking forward to see what you could with this nation assignment. Gonna give it a round today, and based on the previews above, I know I'll enjoy my round. Good luck in the contest my dude!
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Post by WhatAboutAmeobi on May 31, 2021 6:48:22 GMT -5
Kept it out of the mud volcanoes and had a thoroughly enjoyable round! Great job, viking!
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Post by dmviking on May 31, 2021 18:06:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback and plays and kind words, everyone.
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Post by boynsy on Jul 16, 2021 7:11:22 GMT -5
Next on my tour of the world - the mud flats of Azerbaijan! I played 14 holes of hot garbage before turning it on to finish with 4 straight birdies (not far off three of them being eagles!) to end -5. Very much enjoyed the quite laid back course, not the most difficult but certainly no cakewalk, as I feel like my -5 was actually a below average score. It would be fun to play a match round here and just throw birdies at each other to earn the win.
Right from the start, I really liked the unique environment. I must admit that all I know of Azerbaijan is from the Baku Grand Prix, so initially I was sort of expecting a city course, but was pleasantly surprised. I stopped to check out the mud volcanoes on 2, and loved the view across from the tee and then down over the rest of the course on the approach. Probably the best hole on the course visually, in my opinion.
There was good variety to the holes - par threes ranging from 123 to 249 yards. Maybe lacking a genuinely drivable par 4, but there’s no rule to say that every course needs one, and with 5 par 5s maybe one of them should have been a true three shotter? But I certainly never felt like I was just playing the same hole over and over again.
The sculpting was good - fairly substantial elevation changes were handled nicely without looking weird. The planting around the course was also nice - understated but highlighted the mud flats and volcanoes, and I really liked that. Maybe would have enjoyed even more mud flats, winding holes between them rather than just on the fringes of the course?
Beyond the limits of the course, though, I thought it felt quite empty. Maybe adding a dense tree line, or a city skyline, or something that fits the region, both to designate the edge of the course and provide some visual appeal beyond fields.
I enjoyed the greens - they felt like a decent challenge to hit and make birdies. Something I definitely wasn’t up to at the start of my round; I couldn’t make a putt to save my life so the greens definitely weren’t too easy, but I always felt like I could make them so they certainly weren’t too hard either.
Bunkering was good. I found a couple of them and was certainly threatened by plenty, especially around the greens.
All in all, a great job on creating a unique and enjoyable environment and an engaging experience, I definitely enjoyed my round. Also came desperately close to acing 16 to cap off a fun day out!
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Post by dmviking on Jul 16, 2021 7:33:36 GMT -5
Next on my tour of the world - the mud flats of Azerbaijan! I played 14 holes of hot garbage before turning it on to finish with 4 straight birdies (not far off three of them being eagles!) to end -5. Very much enjoyed the quite laid back course, not the most difficult but certainly no cakewalk, as I feel like my -5 was actually a below average score. It would be fun to play a match round here and just throw birdies at each other to earn the win. Right from the start, I really liked the unique environment. I must admit that all I know of Azerbaijan is from the Baku Grand Prix, so initially I was sort of expecting a city course, but was pleasantly surprised. I stopped to check out the mud volcanoes on 2, and loved the view across from the tee and then down over the rest of the course on the approach. Probably the best hole on the course visually, in my opinion. There was good variety to the holes - par threes ranging from 123 to 249 yards. Maybe lacking a genuinely drivable par 4, but there’s no rule to say that every course needs one, and with 5 par 5s maybe one of them should have been a true three shotter? But I certainly never felt like I was just playing the same hole over and over again. The sculpting was good - fairly substantial elevation changes were handled nicely without looking weird. The planting around the course was also nice - understated but highlighted the mud flats and volcanoes, and I really liked that. Maybe would have enjoyed even more mud flats, winding holes between them rather than just on the fringes of the course? Beyond the limits of the course, though, I thought it felt quite empty. Maybe adding a dense tree line, or a city skyline, or something that fits the region, both to designate the edge of the course and provide some visual appeal beyond fields. I enjoyed the greens - they felt like a decent challenge to hit and make birdies. Something I definitely wasn’t up to at the start of my round; I couldn’t make a putt to save my life so the greens definitely weren’t too easy, but I always felt like I could make them so they certainly weren’t too hard either. Bunkering was good. I found a couple of them and was certainly threatened by plenty, especially around the greens. All in all, a great job on creating a unique and enjoyable environment and an engaging experience, I definitely enjoyed my round. Also came desperately close to acing 16 to cap off a fun day out! Thanks for the review. I'm glad you liked it. When I made the plot, I decided to create the mud volcanoes and work around them. As for the outskirts, I took inspiration of a certain part Azerbaijan that had very little in the way of trees. That was certainly a challenge for me. Hole 15 can play as a three shorter depending on the pin position since the green is so long. Wish you would have got that ace on 16. Cheers! |
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