Antelope Flats Golf Club
by Lonnie E Lindell & Viv Davies
CLIPNOTES
Description
Fictional, woodland course
Location
TBA
Conditions
TBA
Concept 5/10
Was it wrong of me, I wonder, to expect an imaginative African plains course, given the name and splashscreen? As it is, there's no getting away from the fact that the course is a little disappointing if your expectations run this far. It's not terrible, by any means, and the second half runs to some impressive and fun hole designs, but in so many ways the course does little more than toe the design line.
Appearance 8/10
Very sweet indeed, Antelope Flats ticks all the right boxes. Good texture use and blending, and the forest regions look very nice. Some of the grass and low-level planting, in fact, is superlative; a shame it's let down by some indecision in the rough regions as to whether grass should be planted or not. There are more positives, though, including some well sculpted bunkers and unusual water lining. The main problem with the course is the 'flat' of the title, which means a distinct paucity of spectacles.
Playability 4/10
The front nine, to be honest is almost completely unremarkable. Holes don't particularly stimulate or challenge you. Thankfully, after the turn, there are some entertaining two-route holes and distinctly more to see and do. Overall, though, there's just too much seen-it before syndrome to this course, and it's something of a disappointment.
Challenge 9/10
A good pitch between tough and simple greens, punishing rough and clever escapes, water hazards and bunkers. 'Nothing to excess' seems to have been the designer's motto, and it pays off brilliantly. You'll never - if ever - feel that Antelope Flats has treated you unfairly, and will probably just score one or two birdies above average.
Technical 8/10
A little bit of hardness in the 3D and waterside textures is one of the few downsides here. I think the designer's priorities with the APCD need to be to make decisions and stick to them, and to possible incorporate the spectacular element into his courses that will have designers returning time and again.
Overall
A shame it wasn't the Kenyan game park I was imagining. A competent course without too much to remember it by.
CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson