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Post by kennyd2411 on Jan 14, 2022 16:03:42 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
My entry for the rookie contest - Valle Del Oso has now been published!
The course is set in the Andalucian region of Spain, taking inspiration from the cork trees and dry hilly landscapes found in the area. Given the Spanish heat, the greens are fairly firm and fast. Accuracy off the tee is paramount, given the fairways verge on the narrower side.
The course has a par of 71, featuring 5 par 3's and 4 par 5's of varying lengths. The routing is an interesting one, with the front 9 winding its way around the boundary of the property, gradually rising until reaching the high point at the 8th tee. The 9th and 10th encircle one of the four lakes, before heading up the hill to the short par 5 11th with its signature green positioned menacingly above the rock waterfall. From there you play back down towards the centre point of the course, where a number of tees and greens sit in close proximity. Ideal if you can't quite face a full 18. The closing stretch is more tightly routed, with most holes offering tempting views of what's to come, or reminders of what has passed.
Routing17th Green & 18th Tee
4th Green
11th Green
3rd Green
14th Fairway
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Post by Bob334OH on Jan 15, 2022 23:38:06 GMT -5
Hey KennyD, Enjoyed my round at Valle Del Oso. Very nice design and landscape you built it in. Good routing with a nice balance of uphill, downhill and various directions and sight lines of other holes. Course played tough in 14-17mph winds. I really like hole No. 8. On No. 10 I took the bait and tried to drive the green and ended up with a triple bogey - nice risk/reward there. I am a Rookie contestant also, so this is novice feedback at best and is meant to be constructive: * I felt some of the fairways were a bit too narrow. * #9 - the bridge being in the center kind of dominates the framing - might have been better off to one side maybe * #15 - pin #2 (front) was tough to get close with a tail wind and rough right in front of the green - maybe 5 yards of fairway to land in and roll on would have been an option
Very solid course. Good luck in the contest and look forward to more courses from you. Thanks, Bob
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Post by kennyd2411 on Jan 16, 2022 16:48:17 GMT -5
Hi Bob,
Glad you enjoyed your round, and thanks for the feedback.
Best of luck in the contest!
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Post by kennyd2411 on Jan 18, 2022 9:00:47 GMT -5
Delighted to say that the course has now been approved as tour worthy Please do give it a play and let me know your thoughts and feedback!
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irishgolf
Weekend Golfer
Posts: 126
TGCT Name: Nick Geiman
Tour: Elite
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Post by irishgolf on Jan 18, 2022 21:13:27 GMT -5
Very cool course. I especially liked the planting throughout and the rolling waterfall protecting the green on the 11th. Hard to pull off something like that but you nailed it. There was one severe dogleg par 4 over water (I think # 9) that I was not a huge fan of, but overall really liked this track. Good luck in the competition!
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Post by trailducker on Jan 19, 2022 11:00:30 GMT -5
Nice enviornment created here. Some quirky hole designs I like that you took on. One critique is maybe a bit too many cut off fairways, but that's a minor one. 18 is probably your best hole here. Bottle that type of risk reward for future courses for sure! Good job!
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Post by sandgroper on Jan 20, 2022 3:32:10 GMT -5
Really lovely layout with the mountains as the backdrop i.imgur.com/5rYzjwF.jpgNice little clubhouse i.imgur.com/P4pMhtg.jpgI like the feature tree and planting in the lake by 2 and 18 i.imgur.com/ul9JlXR.jpgRipper sightline off the first tee. Didn't quite have enough on the first two holes to the green. Nipped my splash on the 2nd a little too well, it may have gone in. Tricky little pin on par 3 third. The approach into the mountains on 4 looks good. Couldn't decide left or right on 5 so went middle. The nearly drivable 6th was so close. Went to pull the trigger on 10 and realised I had a 3W in my hand. Stepped up to the big dog and gave it full beans. One of the things to watch is "climbing sand" i.imgur.com/uZCu9tK.jpg. You can see it here in the background, and judges take points off. The rockwork around the waterways was done very nicely. Strong finishing hole with a tricky approach. Enjoyed my round and great course.
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Post by kennyd2411 on Jan 21, 2022 14:58:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the playthrough sandgroper! Noted the tip about the bunkers
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Post by geordieboy85 on Jan 24, 2022 18:10:48 GMT -5
Nice track, some good holes in there, the stream was nicely done, good luck in the comp
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Post by jimgem on Feb 7, 2022 18:58:19 GMT -5
Very nice course....
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Post by MEIKA94 on Feb 8, 2022 9:12:53 GMT -5
Played this last night. Tough course with a 16 MPH wind, but we enjoyed the round. Nice job on the mountains. It's not easy to get that natural look, but they fit into the background nicely. The waterfall on #11 was a sight to behold. Good luck in the contest!
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Post by kennyd2411 on Feb 14, 2022 15:33:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the playthrough Jim! Nice comeback after the disaster on 10
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Post by mpad on Feb 21, 2022 13:23:54 GMT -5
I have just played this. Super course, looks great and plays very well. There are a couple of holes where the fairway is, for me, just a little too narrow to reward the risk you invite us to take, but I would hope this course will do pretty well in the competition.
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Post by InThisStyle on Feb 22, 2022 18:53:28 GMT -5
Just finished up here, really enjoyed this one. To echo a couple others—lovely waterfall, and some good looking stream work. That short dog leg with the 2nd across the water in principle I think is cool, you could have maybe started the fairway a little earlier so those who want to lay up for 8/9 iron can do so. I didn't mind narrow fairways, I mean, tour is playing on Pro now—I played this on masters and still hit 90% of fairways with a bunch of fast/slows. Overall, really fun track, nice work. 🍸
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