WorldSwing World Tour 23-24/Recorded Rounds with Tarheel

[tarheel]

WorldSwing Week 38
First Weekly Venue
Sun's Lake CC

Where are we?
A lake on the Canadian border


Jeff Sundin blew my mind with Sun's Lake CC. Its really hard to believe that this course was made in 1999, because its a marvel. Beautiful backdrop of snow covered mountains greet you as you make your way through this forested golf course. Probably the one feature that lets you know its from the early days of JN GBC is the short length of the course at 6863 yards. I've found during my journey that courses created in later years have needed much more length to challenge the players, forcing mid to long irons. This one lets you exercise your lob, sand and pitching wedges.

Jeff also gave us Bunker Hills and Giants Ridge.

Sapphire Ridge is a course that evolved from Sun's Lake and adds the work of Timothy Yates.

Enjoy!

One more course in Canada and we'll have a short tour of Dirk Ephlin's work.

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Medium - normal - pin 2
Round 2: Mild - soft - pin 4

No gimmes (recommended)
No mulligans (recommended)
BLACK tees
Medium or faster meter
I am playing each round once and taking what I get


-------> https://golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/jn6/f ... ake_cc.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 10
Tarheel's .round files

Suns Lake CC - Tarheel - medium - normal - 2 - round 1.round

(26.1 KiB) Downloaded 224 times

Suns Lake CC - Tarheel - mild - soft - pin - round 2.round

(24.84 KiB) Downloaded 219 times

Pin 4!!




368 yard par 4 number 5, seen from the green back to the approach


The lake greets you to the right on this approach shot to number 7 green over water hazard, 474 yard par 4


Number 17, 245 yard par 3. You will take out your driver or 3w on this one.

Return to season schedule: http://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/forum/v ... 217#p13217

[tarheel]

WorldSwing Week 38
Second Weekly Venue
Sapphire Lakes CC (Oaks)

Where are we?
Just a bit outside of Toronto


Anyone out there know Brad the Dad? Ha! Well, not only is he the best JN GBC golfer still around, but he also makes a really really fantastic golf course. This one, Sapphire Lakes CC (oaks course) was designed 2010, and its well designed, decorated and finished --you will want more than two rounds here. You'll enjoy the layout of the course, and each hole. There is no repetition. Each hole offers a unique challenge. And you will need to shape some shots...witness me putting it straight into a tree mid first round.

Brad...you said this is a golf course with two courses...don't you think its high time to give us the other course???????

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Mild - hard - pin 2
Round 2: Medium - normal - pin 3

No gimmes (recommended)
No mulligans (recommended)
BLACK tees
Medium or faster meter
I am playing each round once and taking what I get


-------> https://golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/jn6/f ... kes_cc.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 10
Tarheel's .round files

Sapphire Lakes Country Club - Tarheel - mild - hard - pin 2 - round 1.round

(24.88 KiB) Downloaded 260 times

Sapphire Lakes Country Club - Tarheel - medium - normal - pin 3- round 2.round

(24.88 KiB) Downloaded 231 times

Number 9, 414 yards par 4, from the tee


Par 5, second shot, 527 yards from the tee. You have a nice landing area and with power can get to the green in two


The Par 3's here are highlights...this is a dangerous short one with slopes to the water. 199 yards number 5

Return to season schedule: http://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/forum/v ... 217#p13217

[Sundance]

Very nice design Brad!!

[BradTheDad]

Thanks for the nice comments, Gents. I did start doing the second course, but never finished it. Perhaps, when I get back from our trip, I may find the time to get back into designing, as I have several unfinished courses.

Cheers

Brad

[tarheel]

WorldSwing Week 39
First Weekly Venue
Designer Break: Dirk Ephlin
The Links at Waterchase

The next two weeks will celebrate Dirk Ephlin, our resident Texan designer of many great courses. His name also comes up in cooperative designs with other talents in the GBC archives. I'm not sure if this is accurate, but seeing as he designed many courses for the Fort Worth area and surroundings, a quick google search would indicate he may have passed on to the greatest golf course of eternity in July of 2020, in the midst of the covid epidemic. If true, he died at a young 61 years old, and his talent is missed.

The Links at Waterchase, Dirk indicates to be a real world course he ported to GBC in October 2002 and its 7475 yards, par 72. Its a tricky design, with sloping fairways, that try to carry you into hazards or thick grass. You must be very accurate and plan your shots to stay out of trouble. Also, once on the green, you will find a variety of slopes to make you want to be close to the pin. Any hole with water is not going to be a 'grip it and rip it' as he likes to say...its going to be an exercise in patience. Plan your shots, spare the power if you aren't on the lines by habit, and enjoy the scenery and especially the wildlife. The course is teeming with life.

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Medium - Normal - Pin 3
Round 2: Mild - Hard - Pin 1

No gimmes (recommended)
No mulligans (recommended)
BLACK tees
Medium or faster meter
I am playing each round once and taking what I get


-------> https://golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/jn6/f ... rchase.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 10
Tarheel's .round files

The Links at Waterchase - Tarheel - medium - normal - pin 3- round 1.round

(26.13 KiB) Downloaded 190 times

The Links at Waterchase - Tarheel - mild - hard - 1 - round 2.round

(25.18 KiB) Downloaded 216 times

Par 3, number 14, 226 yards from the tee.


Number 6 seen from the green at a second shot trying to come in for eagle attempt on this 564 yard par 5


Lots of danger available to play in on this golf course. For example, too much power and you might end up in instead of short on this par 4, 445 yards, right in the hazards surrounding the fairway

Return to season schedule: http://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/forum/v ... 217#p13217

[Sundance]

Dirk was involved in our Group Designs and designed or co-designed many very good courses. He was also a very nice person and very easy to work with. A huge member of our community!!

[BradTheDad]

I often wondered what had happened to Dirk, as he disappeared from the scene all of a sudden. If indeed he did pass away during COVID that is very sad, for, as Steve said, he was a valued member of our GBC community.

Cheers

Brad

[tarheel]

WorldSwing Week 39
Second Weekly Venue
Designer Break: Dirk Ephlin
Pecan Valley River Course

Pecan Valley River Course is one of two paired real world courses in Benbrook, Texas. This one is 7180 yards and par 71, offering a lot of water to play around, much like the other course this week. This is also a 2002 release, with the Hills course release following only by a month in 2003. Dirk again makes a challenge, demanding exact placement off the tee.

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Medium - Soft - Pin 4
Round 2: Medium - Normal - Pin 5

No gimmes (recommended)
No mulligans (recommended)
BLACK tees
Medium or faster meter
I am playing each round once and taking what I get


-------> https://golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/jn6/f ... _river.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 10
Tarheel's .round files

Pecan Valley River Course - Tarheel - medium - soft - pin 4 - round 1.round

(25.18 KiB) Downloaded 212 times

Pecan Valley River Course - Tarheel - medium - normal - pin 5 - round 2.round

(25.49 KiB) Downloaded 151 times

Par 5, second shot, seen from the green with contours showing on pin 5. Number 17, 555 yards. Its a really long second shot, but if you are perfect, you can cozy into that flat area near the pin for a well earned eagle.


Number 6, 423 yards, tricky tee shot with danger to the right, which must be shaped to the left to catch a good angle to the green.


Tee shot on the 203 yard par 3 number 8

Return to season schedule: http://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/forum/v ... 217#p13217

[BradTheDad]

Just shows what a thoughtful designer Dirk was.

[tarheel]

WorldSwing Week 40
First Weekly Venue
Designer Break: Dirk Ephlin
Iron Horse GC

Iron Horse GC is another real world GC converted to GBC by Dirk. This one also was released in 2002. Its 6580 yards and par 70, but don't take this to mean that its easy. You must take care to avoid going too long or you will wind up behind obstructions that you otherwise would have been able to play over from a shorter drive. This course is certainly a keeper. You may enjoy the various train engines along your 18.

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Mild - Normal - Pin 3
Round 2: Medium - Soft - Pin 2

No gimmes (recommended)
No mulligans (recommended)
BLACK tees
Medium or faster meter
I am playing each round once and taking what I get


-------> https://golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/jn6/f ... _horse.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 10
Tarheel's .round files

Iron Horse Golf Course - Tarheel - mild - normal - pin 3 - round 1.round

(24.54 KiB) Downloaded 128 times

Iron Horse Golf Course - Tarheel - medium - soft - 2 - round 2.round

(25.17 KiB) Downloaded 135 times

Number 11, par 5, from the tee


Number 8, one of a couple of long drives to par 3's, this one will need a 3 wood and some shaping, 235 yards


Number 7, 330 yard short par 4, with a very narrow landing area and then a chip to the green

Return to season schedule: http://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/forum/v ... 217#p13217