Tullarney Beta

[photokevie]

I've definitely felt with my last few courses that I'm getting familiar/comfortable in the designer, I'm open to critiques and really trying to learn to not only make things look nice but have some playability substances to the holes I'm designing. I definitely struggle with the clubhouse area and I feel like most of my courses get pretty close to being something nice but just can't seem to break through to really taking my designs to that next step.  I was trying out this idea with the tree line being lower to the course almost like the course was lifted up and molded and tweaked around the trees.  It's Tullarney Beta 

[Bob334OH]

Hey photokevie,

Just enjoyed my round on your beta. Like it - nice planting and layout. Bunkers nice and visible and green contours well done.

some general observations:
*tees are too close to each other yardage wise - would atleast double the spacing between them, with the front tees atleast 30 yards ahead of next closest. Put some tees off to the sides so they are not in line of sight even.
*several greens have fairway around portions of the green - think its a better look if its all the way around it
*some bunkers cut across 2 surfaces (example #9 & 15 also)
* I know you're going for the tree lined fairways but some would frown on branches overhanging the fairway, but that's personal preference
#3 driver landing area kind of narrow
#6 drivable par 4 - needs some kind of risk/reward off the tee.
#11 tee shot. framing needs work here on the left side maybe - reduce size of closest trees on the left by tee

all meant to be helpful. can't wait to see final publish. Keep up the good work. thanks, Bob

Norf Roo Island play and feedback if you get a chance. thanks

[sroel908]

Just played the beta...default conditions, blue tees, pin 4.

Agree about the yardages...there are less than 500 yards separating the forward red tees from the back blue tees - and there are two other tee sets between them. Might need to space them out a bit.

Hole 1 - sculpting near right side bunkers is harsh. The fairway steeply sloped right into the sand. Bunker sculpting is OK, but could use some finer touches. Green is like a turtle's back here...slopes off on all sides. Not my favorite. Collection areas do make sense.

Hole 2 - don't mind the blindness here off the tee. Framing of the hole doesn't really pop, and the wide open space behind the green feels like it could use more planting or something.

Hole 3 - extremely pinched driver landing zone on a 470-yard par-4. Trees also hang over the landing zone, too, so even if you do find the short grass up there, you may have tree trouble. Surface transition between fairway and green here is a bit odd - there's fairway all around the green, except where red slopes funnel the ball off into rough near the bunker.

Hole 4 - trees are overhanging the fairway both off the tee and when in the fairway on the approach. My drive landed on the right side of the fairway, and I have trees straight ahead of me. Plus, this is a 530-yard par-4...I have 212 yards into the green and have to hit a massive slice to try to reach the green in regulation. A bit too much for me here. Pin here is also on yellow slopes and was tricky to putt thru. It's 176 speeds, so turning up to 187 might make them unplayable.

Hole 5 - love the view off the tee here. Some lag on the drive, however. Some harsh sculpting on the right side of the fairway, 220 yards from the green.

Hole 6 - a drivable par-4 with zero danger. The fairway also starts just 90 yards from the back tees. This hole has no sand, no water, there's a wide open line to the green, and there's never a reason not to take dead aim with driver 100% of the time. The green, while pretty well sloped, is large for a 320-yard hole. This one needs something to give the player pause on the tee, making them think about going for it or laying up. As it is, this is honesty just a really long par-3 hole to me.

Hole 7 - not too bad. My only issue is the heavy red slopes that run off the green into rough.

Hole 8 - the fairway bunker here is huge compared to others seen on the course this far. It basically takes driver out of play, which is fine. The sculpting of the green and fairway collection areas is a bit harsh...my approach went toward the fairway area on the left of the green, and rolled right off it because of how small it is and how steep the slope is. So it doesn't really serve its intended purpose.

Hole 9 - this one's OK, too. The bigger fairway bunkers are back, so it seems we might see more of those.

Hole 10 - another par-4 that's 470 yards long, just like Hole 3. Fairway is extremely sloped, and the green is again a turtle shell style.

Hole 11 - Decent par-3 here...the tree to the left of the tee box looks a bit too oversized. The branches and leaves seem huge compared to the others around it.

Hole 12 - this par-4 is 487 yards, but many of these similar-length holes are feeling a tad repetitive. Another green here that runs off on all sides with red slopes, mainly into heavy rough.

Hole 13 - I like the look of this hole. The green does run off on all sides again with red slopes.

Hole 14 - sculpting to the left of the green here is quite harsh and looks a bit unnatural. I get the idea and the strategy, but the slopes need to be smoothed out a bit more.

Hole 15 - not a bad par-3...surface transitions around the green and the greenside bunker could be a bit more polished and even.

Hole 16 - this one's not too bad either. Just some surfacing and sculpting to smooth out.

Hole 17 - don't really mind this one, either. Some red slopes that run off the green into rough, but that's it.

Hole 18 - another green here that runs off in all directions with red slopes into rough.

General thoughts - some sculpting here is aggressive. I'd say to smooth out some of those really bumpy and unnatural spots I called out. The greens that run off in all directions with red slopes aren't ideal. They were repetitive and don't have a lot of interest to them. Hole lengths are all very similar, too. Par-3s here are 212, 215, and 202 from the back tees. A lot of the par-4s are similar as well - aside from three shorter ones and one really long one, they are 469, 492, 482, 446, 492, 498, 434, and 472. They basically all required the same shots. And one of the shorter ones is that 321-yard hole that has no danger at all. I would spice that one up with some kind of danger for the player to consider. In general, some hole framing could use work, too. It's not a huge deal or anything, but the holes just kind of all look the same off the tee in most cases.

I think there are some decent strategies in play here, and the look is not bad. Just some polishing and tweaking will go a long way here!

[photokevie]

Thanks @sroel908 I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to give me some solid input, I will definitely rework your thoughts into my course and work out some new tweaks and post another beta

@bob334oh Also much appreciated I like that I saw a few trending feedback ideas and will make the adjustments on the next build out of this course. I need to read up on Tee Boxes, I never put too much thought into them other than just placing them closer than the previous set so I will definitely make them a focus on this next build of this course.

It's funny how after designing a course I swear I go through that mental checklist and all seems like I've got it, and really didn't even think that those tee shots were starting to feel repetitive but seeing the numbers it definitely makes sense. I'm glad we have this community and I greatly appreciate any and all input. The only way to get better is through the help of others and different perspectives. Thank you again!


I'm going to go through some of those B101 videos talking about the different par4s, I watched them early on, I'm sure now after a few designs under my belt I'll pick up some new things.

[sroel908]

Apr 22, 2022 13:28:11 GMT -5 photokevie said:

Thanks @sroel908 I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to give me some solid input, I will definitely rework your thoughts into my course and work out some new tweaks and post another beta

@bob334oh Also much appreciated I like that I saw a few trending feedback ideas and will make the adjustments on the next build out of this course. I need to read up on Tee Boxes, I never put too much thought into them other than just placing them closer than the previous set so I will definitely make them a focus on this next build of this course.

It's funny how after designing a course I swear I go through that mental checklist and all seems like I've got it, and really didn't even think that those tee shots were starting to feel repetitive but seeing the numbers it definitely makes sense. I'm glad we have this community and I greatly appreciate any and all input. The only way to get better is through the help of others and different perspectives. Thank you again!


I'm going to go through some of those B101 videos talking about the different par4s, I watched them early on, I'm sure now after a few designs under my belt I'll pick up some new things.

I would recommend the short par-4 video of b101's...that will help with the drivable hole you have here. The green slopes make sense on yours, but there is no danger for the player willing to try to reach in one.

As far as tee boxes...when I place them, I look first at the angle of attack they offer. The forward tees should give the player an easier angle, since anyone playing those tees is likely a shorter hitter and a higher handicap (in real life, that is...I know video game golf is silly and everyone is a super-low handicap pro).

And yes, the distance is shorter, too. But to me it's all about the angle. For example, the forward tees might take a fairway bunker or a water hazard completely out of play, while the back tees are set at such an angle that might force the better, longer player to carry the water and factor in the sand on their drive, too.