Post by metatropic on Mar 2, 2024 3:14:14 GMT -5
fransslabak suggested I attempt a RCR of this legendary Jack Nicklaus Ryder Cup and Major venue, host of this year's USPGA Championships, with a view to using it as a TST major venue. I am most grateful to Frans for his suggestion, I've had a blast making this course.
The course has been recently renovated ahead of the PGA in May. Lengthening of the 1st, 12th and 14th are the major gameplay changes. The fairways have all been resurfaced as well, making the course firmer. Cosmetically, the signature 13th greensite has been refurbished with a really cool water feature. I've incorporated these changes.
As LiDARs go, this course is pretty testing; very long, fairly tight fairways and tricky greens. You can get brutally punished for taking on the 13th from the tee. The lengthened par 3 14th is now really really tough.
I've added in some manipulated tee sets to add some variety on the par 3s and two short par 4s (4 and 13). Default greens are 173ish. They are playable at very fast as well. Prevailing winds in Kentucky are from the SW. You need to set them to NE in the game to recreate.
I have some suggested pin/tee/greenspeed combos for a 4 round tourney:
Pin 1 Blue Default
Pin 2 White V Fast
Pin 3 Gold Default
Pin 4 Black Fast
My gratitude to fransslabak for testing the beta and to mmallahan for helping with the polish and texture choices.
Here are the pics!
Brutally long par 4 2nd. It's a par 5 for the members, par 4 for the pros.
The pretty par 3 3rd.
Shortish par 4 4th; manipulated tees invite an attempt at the green.
Famously nasty par 4 6th. A lay-up drive is enforced meaning the second is always long, to an unreceptive green.
The par 5 7th; there's a second fairway to the left off the tee which can shorten the second shot, provided you don't run out of fairway.
Love this view off the tee on the 9th. Very typical Nicklaus hole, with spectator mounds all round. Reminiscent of the 9th at St Mellion.
Tiered green on the long par 5 10th. Rory made an incredible eagle here in his final round on the way to the 2014 USPGA.
Same evil trick on the lengthened 12th as the 6th,enforced lay-back drive and looong approach.
Valhalla's signature 13th. The new water feature is very pretty.
The 14th is now a brutal 250 yard par 3 with small sloping green. Not approved!
Tight and pretty par 4 15th.
It's a long carry to the start of the 17th fairway. I often fail to reach it in golf +....
The closing par 5 18th with Lion's mouth bunker. Plays shorter than it's length, good eagle opportunity if you get the right tier.
Hope you enjoy this course. Wonder if it might disappear from servers once EA publish their take? I've got it backed up!
The course has been recently renovated ahead of the PGA in May. Lengthening of the 1st, 12th and 14th are the major gameplay changes. The fairways have all been resurfaced as well, making the course firmer. Cosmetically, the signature 13th greensite has been refurbished with a really cool water feature. I've incorporated these changes.
As LiDARs go, this course is pretty testing; very long, fairly tight fairways and tricky greens. You can get brutally punished for taking on the 13th from the tee. The lengthened par 3 14th is now really really tough.
I've added in some manipulated tee sets to add some variety on the par 3s and two short par 4s (4 and 13). Default greens are 173ish. They are playable at very fast as well. Prevailing winds in Kentucky are from the SW. You need to set them to NE in the game to recreate.
I have some suggested pin/tee/greenspeed combos for a 4 round tourney:
Pin 1 Blue Default
Pin 2 White V Fast
Pin 3 Gold Default
Pin 4 Black Fast
My gratitude to fransslabak for testing the beta and to mmallahan for helping with the polish and texture choices.
Here are the pics!
Brutally long par 4 2nd. It's a par 5 for the members, par 4 for the pros.
The pretty par 3 3rd.
Shortish par 4 4th; manipulated tees invite an attempt at the green.
Famously nasty par 4 6th. A lay-up drive is enforced meaning the second is always long, to an unreceptive green.
The par 5 7th; there's a second fairway to the left off the tee which can shorten the second shot, provided you don't run out of fairway.
Love this view off the tee on the 9th. Very typical Nicklaus hole, with spectator mounds all round. Reminiscent of the 9th at St Mellion.
Tiered green on the long par 5 10th. Rory made an incredible eagle here in his final round on the way to the 2014 USPGA.
Same evil trick on the lengthened 12th as the 6th,enforced lay-back drive and looong approach.
Valhalla's signature 13th. The new water feature is very pretty.
The 14th is now a brutal 250 yard par 3 with small sloping green. Not approved!
Tight and pretty par 4 15th.
It's a long carry to the start of the 17th fairway. I often fail to reach it in golf +....
The closing par 5 18th with Lion's mouth bunker. Plays shorter than it's length, good eagle opportunity if you get the right tier.
Hope you enjoy this course. Wonder if it might disappear from servers once EA publish their take? I've got it backed up!