Golf Sim Clubhouse Forum

WorldSwing Week 24
Second Weekly Venue
Island Greens

Where are we?
Hawaii, I think on Maui


Ken McHale, August 1998, created Island Greens for JN5, and here we have a conversion for GBC to play. Its a challenge to play and has an impressive length, with lots of water and sand to contend with on the 7225 yards, par 71. Maybe a bit primitive in variety of trees and may look a bit 'same' at times (well, it is JN5!), however, its a good design which offers a lot of challenge as well as really excellent bird sounds (missing on our last course btw!) and is a solid course. I think the sand was done well to fit the theme.

He doesn't really say where the course is located, but I think Maui looks like a reasonable thought for this tropical paradise, so thats where we are

This is our last course on the Hawaii swing before we journey into Asia for a few weeks, but we will return at least briefly when we celebrate the maestro, Terry Armstrong.

Check out Bear Mountain and Forest Hill for some really good courses Ken did solo.


PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Medium - Soft - Pin 1 - 90% Fog (Its really coming down)
Round 2: Medium - 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://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/j ... greens.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 9
Tarheel's .round files
Hole 9, par 4 from the tee


Approach shot into the doglogged green on the par 4 number 15


A really pretty number 3 green, looking back toward the tee. You can roll off the back of this one...

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

WorldSwing Week 24
PGA Signature Event
The Genesis Invitational: Riviera Country Club

This is our third PGA signature event this season. This time you will be challenged by Scott Antes's 2003 version of Riviera Country Club, which those of you who played my PGA season last year will certainly remember. This course is difficult in length and on the greens. Hard greens and pin 4 are a tough combination. This is the way I played it last year.

This year, the Genesis was won by Hideki Matsuyama, coming back from a back injury, and in style. On the final day, he came from 6 strokes behind to win with a near records setting 62 on the final day. One less stroke would have tied the course record.

Scott did a fine job on this course, and had worked several previous versions before this 2003 was finished.

Good luck out there!

For last years PGA Tarheel visit to Riviera CC go here:
https://golfsimclubhouse.com/forum/view ... 225#p12225

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
ONE ROUND: Medium - Hard - 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://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/j ... a_2003.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 10
Tarheel's .round files
Hole 7


Hole 18


Hole 6

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

WorldSwing Week 25
First Weekly Venue
Emerarudo Ryo

Where are we?
Tokyo, Japan


Our last trip in the Hawaiian islands was interrupted briefly with a trip to the west coast for a PGA signature event, but we return to the tour, flying to Japan from Hawaii.

This course, part of a Golden Bear Den design contest, comes from 2010 by StephenS. Emerarudo Ryo offers really neat views of distant mountains (including Mt Fuji) and cityscapes with fine examples of traditional Japanese architecture from time to time. You will find very tight fairways and approaches frequently obstructed approaches to challenge you to shape your shot or plan better from the tees. It measures 7032 yards and is par 72, but feels quite a bit longer.

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Medium - normal - pin 2
Round 2: Mild - normal - 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://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/j ... do_ryu.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 9
Tarheel's .round files
Hole 18 from the tee. A breath of fresh air after a difficult 17 holes.


Hole 3 seen from the green on this par 4. Notice the obstructed approach


Hole 13, from the tee. This is a classic hole we see on good courses on JN6, an extreme dogleg left, where you either take a luck shot over trees directly to the green to try eagle (which is probably near impossible), or pop a short ball to the elbow on the fairway and chip in for a birdie.

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

Your finding some real gems Tarheel!

WorldSwing Week 25
Second Weekly Venue
Davao Royale National

Where are we?
Mandanao, Phillipines


Taking a hopper from Tokyo, we're heading south to the southern Phillipines, where our adventure joins up with a 2003, HR McLaughlin release. Davao Royal National is 7346 yards, par 72 and you will find it tricky. Its not as refined as other courses on tour this season at first blush. For example, the trees don't have quite the variety to give more realism and there are some uneven tees to beware of. You will also find some roller-coaster fairways and many times your ball will get a lot more run off than expected (especially on the 10th hole!). I also noticed on hole 18 that when you land just past the pin, you will be holding your lob wedge on what appears to be a putt...so make sure to adjust your club choice. Hole overheads aren't artful but they do their job.

Now, having criticized like this, I will change course and tell you that this course is fun! Its a challenge to score here, but if you can land the greens you are greeted often with a nicely flat putt to make up for the torture on the fairways. You have variety available that you can grip and rip, but other times you really need to change your club choices to avoid bad landing areas where you will roll off into a waste area or find yourself with a massive uphill shot.

Good luck on your rounds here, and sit back and just enjoy the ride!

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Medium - soft - pin 2 - 30%fog
Round 2: Mild - normal - 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://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/j ... tional.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 9
Tarheel's .round files
hole 10, approach


Hole 14, approach shot seen from green


hole 4, tee shot

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

WorldSwing Week 26
First Weekly Venue
Ha Long Bay, South Vietnam

Where are we?
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam


When you tee off on a course designed by Manuel Kellner, you know you are going to find something special. Its going to be exotic. And its going to be difficult.

Ha-Long Bay South Vietnam is no exception, and I feel like this is one of his best designs. Each hole feels very different, and the challenges each throws at you never feel boring. Attention to little details, such as sounds, custom images, authentic background, and hole setup really could not be done better. You will be asked to handle long irons of sidehill lies on approach, tee a shaped shot to avoid an obstacle, and in general handle about every type of situation a golfer would expect to come across. Its 7401 yards, par 72 and has a release date of 12/2003, but I think was way ahead of its time.

Best of luck on these two rounds, you will need it.

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Medium - normal - pin 3
Round 2: Medium - 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://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/j ... ng-Bay.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 9
Tarheel's .round files
Hole 3 from the green on this par 3


Approach shot on this par 4 number 4


Immersive view from the tee on the 11th

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

WorldSwing Week 26
Second Weekly Venue
Royal Hong Kong

Where are we?
Hong Kong


Royal Hong Kong was made by Jay Strong in 2001 and is 7096 yards par 71. Overall the course looks really nice and realstic. I'm not sure if this is a real course or fictional version, nor can I comment if it looks authentic to the real world geography. At first blush, I think the background is missing a significant highrise skyline if representing the real thing. My first round here revealed really flat greens and wide open fairways where you almost had to look for trouble. All in all, with mild or medium winds, this golf course will give opportunity for a really low score. I don't think Jay made any other courses for JN6, but with this start, he could have given some real keepers.

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Medium - normal - pin 4
Round 2: Medium - hard - 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://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/j ... g_kong.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 9
Tarheel's .round files
Hole 7, from the green, par 3


Approach shot on this par 4, number 16


Hole 11 from the tee, visual realism

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

He definitely had a good eye for textures. They are really different but compliment each other very nicely.

WorldSwing Week 27
First Weekly Venue
Hokkaido Classic GC

Where are we?
Hokkaido Japan


We're back to Japan for play at Hokkaido Classic GC which comes from 'Twilight Express' Honestly, I have no idea what the background of these courses are, who designed them, or why. There were a bunch of courses from Japan in the early 2000's which were typically solid quality but not exceptional by the standards of some of our well known designers. That said, I find them enjoyable. This one is a solid effort which has some interesting holes. You have a great chance to score low though, because you will often be bringing short irons into the greens, and many of these are flat.

Enjoy!

PLAY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS
Round 1: Mild - Normal - Pin 5
Round 2: Medium - normal - 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://www.golfsimclubhouse.com/jack/j ... lassic.zip


Tarheel’s current hcp: 9
Tarheel's .round files
Hole 14, approach from the fairway


Hole 9, approach from the green


Tee shot from hole 17

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

This course layout is well designed!!