Name TBD, Largely based on Augusta National.

[Deleted]

Augusta, My all time favorite course, never been, never played, dream is all I can do.

My desire since joining "the golf club", was to build a near perfect replica of Augusta National. Every course I published to date have sucked, but they were just practice. Augusta National (Masters Edition) was my first attempt. It sucks, but again, just practice.

The layout, the elevations, the lack of experience playing there, all a hindrance.

So for a few months I have been researching the topic of every nuance of information I can my hands on.

Then the golf club went and released the Boreal theme, I believe it will be almost perfect for Augusta National. So work has begun, the dozers have been called back, and dynamite blasting has begun.

The elevation changes are the hardest to pin down, however a snippet of the information I have gathered is below.

The drop from the highest point on the golf course — the back right of the green on the first hole — to the lowest point — Rae's Creek guarding the 12th hole — is 175 feet. Think Niagara Falls, where the Horseshoe Falls there drops 173 feet. The principal elevation changes the players face can be found on the par-4 10th, where the drop is more than 100 feet from tee to green, including a plunge of 80 feet from the tee box to the flattest part of the fairway; the par-5 second, where the hole plummets 90 feet from tee to green; the par-4 11th, where the drop is 65 feet from tee to green; the par-5 eighth, where the rise is 60 feet from tee to green; and the par-4 18th, where the hole climbs 35-40 feet from the middle of the fairway to the green.

I have made a video of my progress, It's was 16 hours of work laying down hole 1, and hole 1 is all I have done, along with the par 3 and the club house and some various buildings.

The video starts with a view of the clubhouse and the par 3 course, followed by a look through and the tee shot for the first nine holes to give some idea of the look and feel of the place.

Here some famous comments about Augusta, comments that I am considering in this design.

"Until you go and walk the grounds the first time, you can't really appreciate the difference in elevation changes that are there," says O'Meara

"I was shocked at the elevation changes and the magnitude of the undulations," Norman says of his maiden voyage to Augusta in 1981. "I was shocked that you never really had a flat lie unless you were on the tee. That never came across as I was growing up watching The Masters."

I'm a ski nut, and I think 10 is a blue run on any given mountain," 2007 champion Zach Johnson says. "From hole to hole, and from shot to shot in some cases, there are elevation changes. It's a long, difficult walk. The winner that week deserves a pat on the back and a green jacket because the course is so brutal. There is not a flat lie except on the tees."

"It's one of my favorite places in the world," two-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson says. "I love everything about Augusta National and The Masters. And the greens, the terrain, the layout and the elevation changes are something only Augusta has. It's the best full test in golf."

My intent is to build this course as near perfect as I can, the practice is done, the play begins. I'm going to make you sweat when playing this build, the greens and the fairways will be as fast as I can jack the meter.

Here you go, I hope you enjoy.

I thank you for reading thus far, I'm getting better at the designer and work is progressing at a better pace.

I do believe I am creating a master piece here, definitely without a doubt in my mind, my best work to date, by a light year.

Using real life elevations is making this course spectacular, there are a few bunkers that if you go in them you can only see the sky. The 9th hole, I was up to the middle of the night just getting the approach shot and the green sculpting done where, if hit short, with too much spin ends up near 30 yards from the hole, however completely rewarding a good shot with an easy birdie. That was really hard. This morning I went to work on various views and laying stuff down in the empty un-used plot of land, land that is only seen when the ball is hit and the camera follows the ball.

This course will bear no resemblance to my last release of Augusta National (Masters Edition), Jim was bang on right about that, and I wish I could delete, this version will be completely re-done when it's finished. Every tree and fairway and most greens have been deleted. The green and tee placements and the plot have been kept for the most part is all that remains, shapes have been re-done.

Now with all that said, I again thank you for reading thus far, I would like some feedback, but, yes there is a but, limited feedback, I'm sensitive. So for now:

1: The course name, it bothers me a little to call it Augusta National, it's close yes, but it is not the real McCoy, Augusta is far to iconic to take the name, does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking Bugusta National Master Championship Golf Club.

2: Difficulty, yes this version will be tremendously difficult, I want it that way, if it get's received well within the community I will release different versions, shorter tees, slower speeds, less undulations on the greens etc, so please do not ask me to tame this version down or shorten it, I have no intention of such. Every green has been carefully crafted to reward a great shot with an easy par and often birdie. This version will require careful planning and great execution to score well.

In case you have not noticed, I'm trying to create a buzz, a hype a sense of anticipation here. Anticipation if you know what I mean, might help get a good rating you know !

Now without further adieu I invite you to watch the video, because all you can do is watch, I get to play the course, you don't, na...Na..da.. na na, YET!!!!!!

[doug7]

Hi Steve, the course is coming along nicely, i'm not sure if you have seen film of augusta national or played created layouts on other games but one big feature you are missing is the large patches of red pine straw that runs along side most fairways underneath the trees, there is very little undergrowth just mainly this red pine straw, hope this tip helps improve your design:)

[Deleted]

The GNCD does not have that feature :-(

Here is 10-13

[disturbed932]

Isn't the first hole tee shot more of a dogleg to the right?

[Deleted]

golfcourselayouts.co.za/courses/augusta/index.html

www.golfview.ca/index.php?page=map_augusta

Not that I'm aware of, above is a couple of the 30 plus sources I'm using as a guide.

[doug7]

That undergrowth under the trees just doesn't look right (Augusta wise), it would look better clear, maybe with some rough, slightly longer than the fairway, otherwise it's coming along nicely

[Deleted]

Nov 2, 2014 13:37:19 GMT -5 doug7 said:

That undergrowth under the trees just doesn't look right (Augusta wise), it would look better clear, maybe with some rough, slightly longer than the fairway, otherwise it's coming along nicely

I agree, I like it, but not for Augusta. I'm considering changing the name to something else mainly because of that. I thought of sand as well, but it's to light, but it might look better.

I have to 15 done, but I learned something in the back nine regarding laying fairways, so I may re-do the front nine fairways.

I just noticed the video's are not doing this thing any justice.

[Deleted]

Published as GP126 for feedback.

Thank you all for being gentle in advance.

[Deleted]

New version, Published as AN143.2, been tamed, medium green speeds.

List of changes done for version 2, Beta course named AN143.2

Easter egg ship in far off unused land is gone.

Yardage markers are removed.

Bridge on 13 was missed, now there.

Hole 14 pin moved to left, and proper RL sloping applied.

Bridge on 13 inserted.

Edge smoothing and rough sculpting.

More grass used as fake pine straw has been trimmed.

Bathroom on 5 was supposed to be shelter, now a level shelter. Shelters have been placed on some holes where scoreboards are normally.

To be done for full release.

More grass trimming.
More edge sculpting.
Any other suggestions that pop up.

Thank you all for your help and assistance.

[snapdecks]

Played an143.2. Can see how much went into it. Thanks

[Deleted]

Nov 8, 2014 0:48:24 GMT -5 snapdecks said:

Played an143.2. Can see how much went into it. Thanks

Thank you, up to 143.8 now.

Going to do a last run through of comparison with RL aerial flyover, working on getting the lighting just right as well and I think I'll be done till they release me some stuff I can use.

[silap]

Hey Steve ... really like what you're doing here. Just played AN143.8 for the first time. The course seems intimidating at times but it turned out to be very playable. John (the voice of HB) advised me to visit a more difficult course. Shockingly enough cause I just played Augusta National ;-) Scored -12

I'm not a Masters specialist... but hole 15 put a smile on my face. I immediately thought ... yeah this is the par 5 where Zach Johnson has to lay up. (and made an easy birdie one of the years he won the trophy I believe)

The greens, allthough they seem fast, played rather easy. Maybe you haven't touched 'em yet and are planning to do so in the next version.

Today.. AN143.8 felt like a walk in the park.I'm sure that isn't what you're aiming for. I would be more happy to shoot 70 and feel good about it than score 60.

I truely hope it will turn out just the way you want it to be!

Good luck!

[Deleted]

Thank you for your valuable feedback.

In the various versions firmness was being experimented with. .8 had medium firmness and fast greens making it a puppy dog, very easy course, but as you said visually intimidating, Perfect, I love that.

The last step, this step, I have spent the time since doing a final run through using the aerial flyovers from the 2013 masters, Photos etc placing the trees and bushes more accurately and sloping the greens fairway's etc , in addition widening the fairways now appropriately.

From the outset of this project I knew I did not have a presently accurate re-creation, not even that pretty in the noon day sun where every pimple is displayed for all to see. But, it was always intended to be done in stages, I was getting valuable feedback and ideas. But I was focussed early on in getting elevations, layout and doglegs etc just right. To be honest I was not even confident I was capable to do it honestly, however all the various releases and the feedback have helped a ton, but I was learning more and more and more the use of the tools etc. Just making a smooth edge early on was quite a challenge for me, now, it's old hat. LOL

The next version is the most changed of the lot, everything is in place now.

I'm going to play it in the designer and do some final tweaks, but it's now finally and essentially finished.

My intention is to release only 2 versions, 1 version (Members Version)with conditions such as you played, it will be a visually intimidating course but yield good scoring making the golfer feel good I hope, give them a sense of accomplishment. The other version, (Masters Version) will unleash the beast Bobby Jones and Dr. Alister Mackenzie envisioned.

I have played the other prettier versions recently put out, Yeti version was an instant favorite, very nice, only concern I had ie. was when the hole has a 75 foot up elevation in RL and I stand on the tee and see 25 foot down, yes visually it looks better, however to me that is not real. I was hoping for real, I'm hoping when you play my release version when it comes out, you will be able to compare to photo's and documentation and not only see pretty, but see, for the most part real. However I do not see this as a competition, it's more of what the intent of the designer was, my intent has always been accuracy.

I think I have more knowledge now of Augusta the I will ever need. I know more about the breaks of Augusta then the track I am a member of with 2000 rounds played. LOL

I hope you will enjoy, It will be out full version shortly, you will not recognise it from previous versions, you likely will not shoot 60 on the masters version either.