Post by nonusehki on Sept 24, 2020 23:01:18 GMT
I'm finally proud to present my work, RCR of my home course in Tali, Helsinki. I became so obsessed with planting and "getting it right" that I didn't feel the course was finished, eventhough I actually finished the layout and main sculpting a couple of weeks ago
The course is Helsingin Golfklubi (Helsinki Golf Club, or "Helsinki GC, Finland" in game), the oldest golf club in Finland (originally founded in 1932 as a 13 hole course, expanding to 18 holes in 1952). The greens have since been renovated to comply to USGA standards, but the layout has been pretty much untouched since 1967. Old trees and beautiful manor environment create an unique atmosphere in this parkland course, but it's still situated very near the city central, only a 20 min drive away from the Helsinki central railway station. Another fun quirk is that the lands are city owned and considered as public space, so there are several public paths going through the course.
It is a par 71 and plays 5856 metres (6404 yards) from the back tee. The course still hosts one of Europe's oldest and most important amateur golf tournaments, the Erkko Trophy. It has also hosted numerous Ladies European Tour competitions in the past. By modern standards it's not that long of a course and the most of the greens are also fairly easy to read, but the holes still challenge your shot-making ability and strategic thinking. Many consider it a straightforward course to play, but a difficult one to shoot low, especially in difficult weather conditions.
I know you guys like to play it as realistic as possible, so here's my look on all the holes, hopefully giving you some insight when playing a round. (Sorry for the low-res quality of the pics, had to crop a lot when taking screenshots with PS4).
1. Par 5, 478m
A gentle start, a straight par 5 for a good chance for a birdie. There's a big ridge on the right side of the green splitting the green into two tiers.
2. Par 4, 370m
Tough dogleg par 4, usually played into the wind. If you have to miss the fairway, miss left, you don't want to be blocked by the trees on the right. Par is a good score here.
3. Par 3, 162m
Par 3 with elevated tee shot, easy green to two putt.
4. Par 5, 491m
Another good chance for a birdie early in the round, even if you're laying up for your third shot. If you're thinking about going for it in two, left side of the fairway gives you optimal angle for the next shot. Plenty of room and big slopes on the green, just don't shortside yourself.
5. Par 4, 365m
A slight dogleg par 4 to the left rising back to the clubhouse to complete the "opening 5 loop". The approach shot is one few semi-blind shots on this course. Two tiers on this long and narrow green, but still easy green to read.
6. Par 4, 340m
A good driving hole. Lots of room to miss it onto the 18 fairway on the right, but OB on the left.
7. Par 3, 148m
There's a small opening in the trees behind the left side of the green that you can't really see from the green, but the sea breeze pushing through it can suprise players experiencing this par 3 for the first time, as you can't really feel the wind when standing in the tee box. (This obviously won't really translate into the game, but still a nice short par 3.)
8. Par 4, 381m
Medium length par 4 with a tricky tee shot. Long corridor to shoot through from the back tee, ideal shot shape is a small slight right to left draw. Terrifying teeshot in real life if you're having problems with shotshaping. Any shots pulled even slightly left will be catched by the overhanging trees.
9. Par 3, 151m
Par 3 into a slightly elevated green. Easy green to read, but difficult to get close to the pin if it's tucked on the left side.
Front nine ends at the "Piccadilly" area, where there are three tee boxes and three greens situated very close to each other. Nice area to enjoy your drinks at the halfway house or spectate during competitions, as there's always action nearby.
10. Par 4, 300m
Short par 4, but again a tricky one. Tee shot has to be far enough down the fairway so that the tall birch guarding the dogled corner won't block you second shot, but watch out OB on the right side if you go too long. Only par 4 at HGK where a hole in one has been recorded (!).
11. Par 4, 310m
Interesting dogleg right par 4 where the pin position can play a big role how you play this hole. Sensible strategy is to play a medium iron off the tee, aim at the round trees and leave yourself another iron into the green. If you'll be attacking and cutting the corner though, remember that the fairway slopes right to left and the green is guarded by a deep bunker on the left side. Two-tiered green slopes severely from front to back and from right to left.
12. Par 5, 456m
Straightforward par 5 with no fairway bunkers, once again giving you a good chance to lower your score. The further you drive, the more the fairway slopes from left to right. Watch out for the OB on the right. Green slopes from front to back so take that into account when planning the approach.
13. Par 3, 205m
A long par 3 where par is always a good score.
14. Par 4, 333m
Short but strategic hole, fairway slopes from left to right. Ideal position is the left side of the fairway for your approach shot. If you hit it too far into the right side, you'll risk bringing the trees near the creek into play.
15. Par 4, 275m
Short drivable par 4 arriving back to piccadilly, good birdie chance however you decide to play it. The closer you get to the green, the more bunkers you have to avoid.
16. Par 3, 199m
Second long par 3 on the back nine, just stay out of the bunkers. One of the easiest greens on the course.
17. Par 4, 422m
Long par 4, usually into the wind. The greenside bunkers won't usually come into play, but missing the green right usually leaves you with a very difficult up & down. Par always feels great here.
18. Par 5, 470m
Hitting the fairway on this signature par 5 hole gives you the option to go for it in two, only the green is greatly elevated from the fairway and fairly shallow front to back. Popular area to lay up is the corner of the fairway, leaving you with a full wedge shot. After finishing the hole reward yourself a drink on the terrace overlooking the 18th green.
I've enjoyed the process of trying to recreate it now that I've discovered TGC and the course designer. I spent a long time going through my harddrives trying to dig up photos for reference material, I also took hundreds of pictures of the course while I was playing the next round since I started this project (I won't need to tell you what that did to my concetration and my score)...
I used Google Earth for triangulating distances (happy to find out Google Earth had this course in 3D, not the case with most courses here...). I spent a lot of time on planting the trees as accurately as possible, as I find they are crucial to the look and feel of the course. Although I had to rely on my memory and reference photos for the overall height differences, I'm really happy how the course turned out and I feel it plays very true in the game to how it is in real life. Any advice what to improve in future course designs are very welcome!
I'm planning on posting this also on the TGC forums, but if you have any idea for additional communities that would be interested in created courses I'd love to hear. Have a great round!
