Las Joyas
Course description
Welcome to Las Joyas!
After the windswept beauty of Rugged Dune, I decided to complete a concept that I have had in mind for some time, ever since I moved to Spain in fact! I wanted to create Spanish course with a more manicured. lush look to it. It was to have many lakes and streams but also, unusually for me, I wanted the trees that enveloped the course to be very close to the line of play on many holes. This gives the course a very intimate feel for the most part but the course does open up in places with open views accross lakes and native grassy areas. The trees as well as giving the course it's character, act as aerial hazards which must be flirted with if you are to make the most of your tee shots. Most of my beta testers found the course to be a handful to say the least. Most of them were using the new links modification which improves the ball physics and speeds up the fairways and greens. With that in mind the pins themselves tend to lie on fairly flat areas whereas the slopes, ridges and tiers you must overcome if you are to get the ball close will be your hardest challenge in that area.
This has been the first course where I have used many "terrain" 3d objects. In the past I have made bridges and bulkheads, that sort of thing but never ventured into the making of buildings like some designers have. I always felt that they would take away my time from where I needed to put it most ie into the course. However in Las Joyas I have found the perfect solution, his name is Pat Auge!
Pat first came to my attention when he posted a few pic of a work in progress course he was working on. The simply incredible 3d structures he was making amazed everyone who saw the pics, no one more than me! As time went by I talked to Pat many times and tried to help in regard to speeding his 3d creations up by using lesser know apcd feature. Also we talked about textures and techniques of making them look convincing. When Pat heard I was creating a new course for Links he got in touch and talked me into using his skills to make Las Joyas something really speacial. I didn't need much convincing let me tell you! This is what Pat has to say:
I have been given the chance of a lifetime to work with the master of APCD. We have been chatting on and off for over 9 months and Mike had seen some of the 3D work I was capable of doing. In fact I had bugged him for the longest time to allow me to build him a 3D clubhouse. I believe he was still apprehensive to allow me to help until I convinced him to download the course I have been working on for close to 18 months. When he finally saw my 3D work he was convinced that i should come on board to build all the 3D on Las Joyas. This has been a whirlwind experience and a real eyeopener on how Mike makes his courses. Many of you are wondering how he makes a course in such short order, well the answer is quite simple he is a workaholic and a perfectionist. I have constantly been given deadlines to finish certain parts of my work so he can tirelessly continue working. I hope you will all enjoy this new experience that Mike and I are offering with this course and look forward to doing many more with him.
Pat
From the very first moment we started to work together I knew it was a good decision. The 3d structures you will see around the course, bridges, restrooms, car park, greenkeepers buildings and of course the clubhouse are all Pat's work. I've helped out here and there with ideas and textures from time to time but Pat always had the last call. When you see the work for yourself you will see why I am so enthuisiastic!
As always when I design a course I am never totally sure how it will turn out. I'm pleased to say that it's turned out very much to my liking. I was excited about several of my ideas such as the beautiful, interesting and unique 7th green complex. I would say Las Joyas is a thinking man's course. It cannot be overwhelmed by power alone and you will need to keep your wits about you or you will find yourself caught in one of the many "mousetraps" I have laid for your visit. I can almost hear the cursing from here! However once you have played a few practice rounds you will have an excellent chance of going low here. Enjoy!
Course links
Screenshots
Purchase Las Joyas
My Links 2003 golf courses are available for $6.95 each.
There is a discount if you buy two or more courses at the same time. For current pricing and discount information, please go to the purchase information page.
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