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Post by InThisStyle on Sept 4, 2023 12:37:36 GMT -5
This is my entry into the 2023 Meme Team contest. Course Description:Galt is a university course located in northern Illinois running adjacent to the Rock River on the opposite side to where the main campus resides. Once part of a large forested state park, the tract of land the course currently occupies was generously donated to the University in the late 1920s in an attempt to keep up with other prestigious institutes across the nation. Although thousands of trees were removed the plot remains heavily forested and quite wild in spots—that said, players will notice that the layout offers an abundance of stunning vistas, both of other holes, and the scenic shores of the Rock River. Par 72 | 7614 yards Suggested Setup:Tees: There are 2 sets of tees, Gold & Black—Gold is def the longest but they're manipulated. Black, though shorter, is tighter in spots and has some specific hazard challenges as well. Difficulty: This course was intended to be somewhat difficult (pro tours, not CC) and can be played on VF/VF/VF. Setup: I spent most of my time on the 2 configs below, if you wanted 4 rounds pins 1 & 4 basically play opposite of one another so any setup is fine, but here are the go-to's: 1. Gold / Pin 3 (JUDGING SETUP) 2. Black / Pin 2 Designer's Notes:The initial inspiration for the land/look came from some photos I found of Lowden-Miller State Forest (which is itself in northern Illinois): In terms of the golf, I took quite some inspiration from Yale in terms of the surrounds being quite forested and "large", and also being a "template" course while not really being what you typically associate with that terminology—my "templates" are generally loose interpretations. I also spent some time looking at what remains of Devereux Emmet's work—nicknamed "the Naturalist"—specifically, his use/shaping of fairway cross-bunkers, and greens that aren't all artificially propped up. The timing of this course being built around 1930 there would have been less dirt moved and more natural land contours being left in play resulting in blind shots, severe-ish sloping, and fun bounces. Some photos.
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Post by greenlightning on Sept 4, 2023 13:46:07 GMT -5
Very well done.
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Post by sandgroper on Sept 4, 2023 18:13:13 GMT -5
Fun course, I was guessing at what most of the templates were.
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Post by paddyjk19 on Sept 5, 2023 3:13:18 GMT -5
Despite us being in Meme competition against eachother, I have to admit I’ve got a big soft spot for this course and your design ethos!
I’ve always been an older course aficionado and like natural hazards and not over sculpting / designing so Galt hit that spot perfectly, I also like it when I get to the end of a hole and then suddenly realise I’ve actually played a template hole - there’s a certain skill in being subtle with them or slightly revamping the original idea!
Great job here and good luck in the comp!
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Post by InThisStyle on Sept 5, 2023 12:09:03 GMT -5
Despite us being in Meme competition against eachother, I have to admit I’ve got a big soft spot for this course and your design ethos! I’ve always been an older course aficionado and like natural hazards and not over sculpting / designing so Galt hit that spot perfectly, I also like it when I get to the end of a hole and then suddenly realise I’ve actually played a template hole - there’s a certain skill in being subtle with them or slightly revamping the original idea! Great job here and good luck in the comp! Thanks man, really appreciate the feedback, and back at you... good luck in the comp!
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Post by paddyjk19 on Sept 5, 2023 14:46:36 GMT -5
Got round to playing it fully tonight;
The environment is first class, really had those Yale vibes and it's just beautiful. I thought the green sites were excellent, framed nicely, good use of mounding to make some approaches feel harder than they are with scout cam off, very clever stuff.
My only slight gripe was that the front 9 was a bit of a long slog. I know it's geared at Pro tours but every par 4 was 440+ yards, the two par 5's were narrow at 570 yards and the par 3 8th (whilst a great, great hole) is a 220 yard "no misses available" par 3. As a personal preference it would have been nice to see maybe a few short par 4's mixed in, either a risk reward drivable one or perhaps a really strategic 370-420 yard hole just to give a little respite from the long holes, even making that second par 5 under 550 yards might have just softened it a bit with how narrow it was. I think that would then have given you three scorable holes and 6 you cling on for dear life to your card! As is, it felt like I was just clinging on for 9 straight holes!
Everything else I loved, and once again it's just a very personal point from me, others might completely disagree!
It will stand up to Pro Tour players though at 173 green speed, it's a tough tough course that's also absolute eye candy!
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Post by InThisStyle on Sept 5, 2023 17:38:52 GMT -5
Got round to playing it fully tonight; The environment is first class, really had those Yale vibes and it's just beautiful. I thought the green sites were excellent, framed nicely, good use of mounding to make some approaches feel harder than they are with scout cam off, very clever stuff. My only slight gripe was that the front 9 was a bit of a long slog. I know it's geared at Pro tours but every par 4 was 440+ yards, the two par 5's were narrow at 570 yards and the par 3 8th (whilst a great, great hole) is a 220 yard "no misses available" par 3. As a personal preference it would have been nice to see maybe a few short par 4's mixed in, either a risk reward drivable one or perhaps a really strategic 370-420 yard hole just to give a little respite from the long holes, even making that second par 5 under 550 yards might have just softened it a bit with how narrow it was. I think that would then have given you three scorable holes and 6 you cling on for dear life to your card! As is, it felt like I was just clinging on for 9 straight holes! Everything else I loved, and once again it's just a very personal point from me, others might completely disagree! It will stand up to Pro Tour players though at 173 green speed, it's a tough tough course that's also absolute eye candy! Yeah, totally get it, I've received that feedback as well. The front is definitely long, and fairly tough, while the back has the 2 short 4s and 3s. I think the 5s are all gettable though unless a massive contrary wind is in play. That said, protecting par has been mentioned to me, although I didn't go in with that intention. I did go in with the intention of building a difficult course, which it seems I may have succeeded at, lol (I did have a plat guy play it on toughest setting and he still shot double digits under). I do think the wind has a big impact on the length, but overall, you're right, I could have made the difficulty more spread out to make the round more up and down. Anyway, appreciate your feedback bud. Cheers!
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Post by paddyjk19 on Sept 5, 2023 18:27:51 GMT -5
Got round to playing it fully tonight; The environment is first class, really had those Yale vibes and it's just beautiful. I thought the green sites were excellent, framed nicely, good use of mounding to make some approaches feel harder than they are with scout cam off, very clever stuff. My only slight gripe was that the front 9 was a bit of a long slog. I know it's geared at Pro tours but every par 4 was 440+ yards, the two par 5's were narrow at 570 yards and the par 3 8th (whilst a great, great hole) is a 220 yard "no misses available" par 3. As a personal preference it would have been nice to see maybe a few short par 4's mixed in, either a risk reward drivable one or perhaps a really strategic 370-420 yard hole just to give a little respite from the long holes, even making that second par 5 under 550 yards might have just softened it a bit with how narrow it was. I think that would then have given you three scorable holes and 6 you cling on for dear life to your card! As is, it felt like I was just clinging on for 9 straight holes! Everything else I loved, and once again it's just a very personal point from me, others might completely disagree! It will stand up to Pro Tour players though at 173 green speed, it's a tough tough course that's also absolute eye candy! Yeah, totally get it, I've received that feedback as well. The front is definitely long, and fairly tough, while the back has the 2 short 4s and 3s. I think the 5s are all gettable though unless a massive contrary wind is in play. That said, protecting par has been mentioned to me, although I didn't go in with that intention. I did go in with the intention of building a difficult course, which it seems I may have succeeded at, lol (I did have a plat guy play it on toughest setting and he still shot double digits under). I do think the wind has a big impact on the length, but overall, you're right, I could have made the difficulty more spread out to make the round more up and down. Anyway, appreciate your feedback bud. Cheers! Totally get it, back 9 was superb, I think if some of the back 9 holes had been mixed into the front it’d have balanced nicely so it’s probably a routing thing to consider next course. Can’t fault the individual holes, just perhaps the ordering of them for sure
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Post by blueblood1995 on Sept 5, 2023 18:30:19 GMT -5
Played this the other night. Love what Paddy said up and above. Felt like a course that had been around for a long time. Simple and natural but with with enough strateic intent where I really enjoyed my round playing Legend with no grids. Your best work to date IMO. Looking forward to your next design and thank you.
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Post by brehtas23 on Sept 5, 2023 20:00:43 GMT -5
Just a masterful creation. Realistic and play’s deceivingly tough. Turn up the wind and you are facing a challenge. The sky, although gray is perfect for the subtle hints of autumn. What a treat.
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Post by InThisStyle on Sept 11, 2023 9:28:31 GMT -5
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strangi17
Amateur Golfer
Posts: 158
TGCT Name: Ben Strang
Tour: Kinetic
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Post by strangi17 on Nov 17, 2023 7:11:49 GMT -5
Played this on Kinetic this week and really enjoyed it. Was delighted I made the weekend so I could play it a couple more times. Was really immersive, and had some good tactical golf. Nicely done.
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Post by InThisStyle on Nov 18, 2023 13:46:50 GMT -5
Played this on Kinetic this week and really enjoyed it. Was delighted I made the weekend so I could play it a couple more times. Was really immersive, and had some good tactical golf. Nicely done. Thanks bud, appreciate the kind words.
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