real fun to play, has a different look but pleasing on the eye, really enjoyed my round , many thanks for sharing

The gorgeous snow-capped mountain panorama blends in very well with this links style course, very well designed by barrylb37 and great fun to play.
As expected, there are plenty of elevation changes and bunkers, not to mention high rough, enough to make you think twice about going for broke on some approach shots.
Even though the views from every tee are breathtaking, I prefer the front 9 with quite a few challenging holes. It starts with the downhill par-4 1st, slightly curved to the right, with big bunkers guarding the green, and continues with the very nice par-3 2nd and its elevated green with a big bunker in front of it.
The right dogleg par-5 4th hole needs a very steep donwhill tee shot, has nicely-spaced bunkers on the right of the fairway and a steep elevated green, requiring a blind approach shot. After two more dogleg holes, down right and up left, you will reach the very scenic par-3 7th hole, with bunkers guarding the green and a gorgeous view of the mountains behind. As for the long left dogleg par-5 9th hole, even with a big downhill tee shot, you won''t be able to reach the green...
The back 9 has some tough holes too, mainly the two long dogleg to the left par-5 11th, with big bunkers near the green, and 16th with its split fairways.
However, you won''t be out of the woods yet, until you see the very tough (and beautiful) downhill par-3 17th hole, with its tiny green and deep bunkers around it, and the easier and nice uphill right dogleg par-4 18th hole.
Barrylb37 did a beautiful job with this course where bunkers, even without their "lips", will give you fits should your ball land into them.. and I am not even talking about the high rough...
So, if you like nice mountain views and links courses, then hurry to download this beauty : you won''t regret it !

I just had the chance to play this course for the first time. I too thought it to be a great layout and appropriate for the area. Having grown up in Denver, I have camped out at the Sand Dunes more than once. I found myself looking at the area between the course and the pano to see if I could spot the dunes...LOL. As far as the colors, it is my belief that you hit them perfectly. Anyone who has been to this area knows that the valley floor between the mountains is a dry desert like environment. Not much green in this area of Colorado. One thing I missed, was the sound of the howling coyotes that hang around the campground...especially at night. Then again, I don't know how far away the campground is from the coures.. ;)

You got the bunkers right this time Barry, an excellent effort.

Thanks for the comments. Foreleft, don't know why you are having trouble with my courses. You have twice the rig I do, and they play fine for me. But I did push this one to the edge, point count was up there and the tall grass didn't help either. Still, this is the first complaint I've gotten about frame rates on this one. Try turning the trees to low. And please try my next one, I'm using only stock textures on that one. Maybe that is the problem.

Swatmizer - The bunkers were "lipless" by choice as they were not intended to be formal bunkers, but more like "blowouts" which occur naturally in the sand hills of Nebraska and Colorado. Search "Sand Hills Golf Club" on flicker, you'll see what I mean. Not saying I did them right, just that that's why no lips.

Thanks again for the feedback,

barry

It is a stunner from what I saw of the first three holes. The frame rates were soooooooooo sloooooooow that I could not bear it any more.

It always puzzles me why certain courses do this to my rig. Used to be the trees or the grass. No trees here, and no difference when I shut the grass off (play at low as it is and its just fine for me).

Any ideas from the designers out there? Something like the point count (whatever that is) being high? I just miss out on designs like this and I would like to know why.

BTW, system specs are Intel P4 3.00GHz, 4GB RAM, ATI Radeon 3850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 AGP XP Pro SP3.

This course seemed a different style than anything I've ever seen. It was a mountain setting but also a links feel. All in all, it was a very tough course. I really liked the textures. As usual, great job overall.

very nice course to play think the rough shoulda been little greener though it just dont look right but apart from that good Job Barry thx ^5