playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 266
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on Jun 16, 2021 2:26:56 GMT -5
Andorra, landlocked between France and Spain, is either high Pyrenees or narrow, steep valleys. In other words, almost no room for golf – and a fun challenge. I gave more background in my WIP thread, deciding to honor (hopefully) one of Andorra’s most treasured places– the high Circ de Pessons - by routing a course right through it. I thought the terrain would be too rough, but after studying the relative distances, elevations, land forms, and ground from whatever I could find, I gave it a shot. If you’re interested in a flyover, here’s the Google Earth link. The Circ de Pessons is left-center below, with the approximate plot outlined. One of two real 9-hole courses is on the bottom right, sitting in the Grandvalira ski area. The Andorran capital of Andorra la Vella is in the narrow valley above it. France is just below the picture; Spain is above it.  Moving through 3 distinct zones and above the tree line, the course starts at the Refugi dels Pessons and winds up the glacier-carved valley to the left through the 5th hole. Transitioning quickly across the middle zone via the 6th, the 7th through 11th holes navigate the upper zone of the beautiful Estany Solana lakes above the tree line. The dramatic 12th, across the perfectly-arrow-shaped Estany Meligar, transitions back down toward the middle zone and lakes, including Estany Rodo. The 13th through 17th move up and down the middle, culminating in an 18th hole finish across the Estany Forcat.   This was fun – my first attempt routing a course in “actual” terrain - with a little creative license. There are definitely elevation changes across the course, so mind your club selection, but only one hole drops 100+ feet. Hope you enjoy the journey in this fusion of a real and imaginary Andorran National Treasure…scenery and screenshots to follow... |
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 266
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on Jun 16, 2021 2:44:51 GMT -5
a few scenery shots - great hiking terrain, an abundance of alpine lakes, and super rocky with big rock faces, embedded rock everywhere, and loose rocks just sitting all over. All while moving above the tree line and back... looking across Estany Primer from the Refugi del Llac des Pessons - site of the first tee shot  looking across Estany Rodo and transitioning up the Circ to the tree line - the 14th tee shot comes down the right side toward the camera. The 15th goes across the lake either between the two rock formations in the middle left or around the far left formation.  the Estany del Solana zone above the tree line. The 10th tee shot goes across the lakes right to left. The 9th comes down below the scree on the right to the rocky area behind the lake on the right.  Estany Meligar - definitely a stretch of a hole across the lake to the far side, but a fun transition from the upper Solana zone back down toward the middle lake zone  Andorra is full of cool stone bridges - I wish we had more choices, but that's why I used the stone bridge in several places  |
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 266
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on Jun 16, 2021 2:54:12 GMT -5
Finally, some course shots. It's not too long given the lack of usable terrain - white, blue and black tees play about 6680, 6700, and 6,870 yards. A handful of par 4's are short given the usable space, and the course has some bumps since it's in the rough circ terrain, but hopefully that just makes it more interesting. Bunkering is generally shallow or fits into natural holes/depressions given the rocky and harder land. Greens are relatively mild and set at 7.7/166. 1st tee shot across Estany Primer  3rd approach  7th approach and green on left, 8th, 9th and 10th tee shot in the Estany Solana zone - I could have put a LOT more rocks, but they actually got distracting - there are plenty!  looking back at the 9th at the little hiker's refugi and scree slopes with the cairn marking the path to the next hole. The plot didn't have quite enough room to fit the high sides/peaks of the cirque, but I fit as much as I could...  |
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 266
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on Jun 16, 2021 2:59:46 GMT -5
Last batch... 12th hole across Estany Meligar  the 13th down the left, 14th behind it across the Estany Rodo, 15th coming back up the middle split by / bordering one of the creeks between lakes (this one comes down from Estany Meligar), and 16th on the right  15th tee shot across Estany Rodo (black tee)  the finisher across Estany Forcat - thanks and hope you enjoy...  |
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Post by karma4u on Jun 19, 2021 18:59:28 GMT -5
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Post by terpshoops on Jun 21, 2021 2:50:13 GMT -5
I’m a big fan of this course. Congratulations on advancing to the main field and good luck with the rest of the contest.
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 266
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on Jun 21, 2021 23:32:10 GMT -5
I’m a big fan of this course. Congratulations on advancing to the main field and good luck with the rest of the contest. thank you terpshoops , I really appreciate it. Btw, I'm a Virginia basketball guy - but please don't hold that against my course! |
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Post by karma4u on Jun 25, 2021 9:36:19 GMT -5
One from the round. Cheers.  |
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Post by b101 on Jun 25, 2021 9:41:40 GMT -5
Really enjoyed my round when reviewing and thought you captured the environment very well. A lot of fun holes and ideas here - best of luck!
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 266
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on Jun 25, 2021 12:34:11 GMT -5
Thanks b101, glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate the good pic as well, karma4u. enjoy the weekend, everyone... |
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Post by cd06 on Jul 14, 2021 6:23:01 GMT -5
how the heck did i miss this? looks stunning  |
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Post by boynsy on Jul 15, 2021 5:28:26 GMT -5
Since you asked, and as promised, you’re up!
You sort of apologised for the layout of this course. I’m not sure why, because I really enjoyed the shorter nature of it, and that’s absolutely fitting of a country that in reality hosts only two nine hole courses in its entirety. In fact, I almost wish you leaned into the short layout even more - maybe par 69 or even less!
Right from the start, I liked the look. The scree slopes were a little awkward in how they blended into the surrounding mountains, but I liked the effect they created. The texture choices were good, fitting of a rural, untamed environment in some scrubby mountain areas.
I think my favourite holes were 2 and 5. I really liked the rocky rough protecting the front of the green on 2, forced me right into the bunker and struggling for a par. I made eagle on 5 after driving right at the pin, not too far from an ace. I also liked the very short downhill par 4, perhaps 12? Although personally, I wouldn’t have hated to see that play as a very tough par 3, which would have also broken up a run of two shot holes.
A couple of issues I noted; 15 played easier from the 14th fairway - completely avoiding the bunker in front of the green and also shortening the hole somewhat. I doubt this was the intended route. The water hazard on the right of 11 didn’t make much sense, as it was higher than the fairway. This would be a nightmare in reality - a definite candidate for flooding.
16 was another of my favourite holes - a lovely view over the course and a tough hole that I was lucky enough to make a good birdie on. It also was the first hole of a tough finishing stretch. I thought I’d played 18 sensibly but then missed the green to finish with a bogey and a round of 67. If you perhaps made 12 a long par 3, 7 into a strong 4 and maybe added a very short par 3 into the mix, I think the course would hold its own a little better and perhaps even stand out more.
Overall, good job! I enjoyed my round a lot and thanks for the course and the recommendation.
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playgroundhoo
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 266
TGCT Name: Jonathan Alford
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Post by playgroundhoo on Jul 15, 2021 10:33:53 GMT -5
Thanks, boynsy ! I appreciate it and enjoy the different perspectives to carry forward. I definitely enjoyed trying to route something through a real landscape popular in Andorra, so the constraints and outcome of a couple shorter holes with varying tees were just a fun part of the process. Glad you eagled 5 - that was my hope depending on conditions and the tee. If anyone has been watching the Tour de France, you probably didn't notice, but Stage 15 went right through Andorra - not far from the Circ de Pessons. Which I never would have known had I not done this contest - so there's another bonus... |
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Post by cd06 on Aug 10, 2021 6:59:55 GMT -5
Comfortably one of the best surprises I've had when looking for courses to play. The holes that climb up the hills were my favourites, and I loved that stretch of short par fours on the back nine (think it was 12, 13, 14?).
Get out there and play this, people!
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