Reebdoog - Designer Showcase

hbdeveloper_SS
On November 11, 2015

1. How long have you been playing The Golf Club?
A: I jumped in during early access. Not really early on but from the moment I saw the game show up in Steam I knew I wanted to give it a go.

2. How would you describe your style of designing?
A: Realistic/Visual. I mean several things by that though. I try to stay away from too much fantasy and if I do have a little fantasy in a course I try to make it REALISTIC fantasy. It’s hard for me to force myself into true fantasy design. By visual I mean that I don’t plan things out ahead of time. I look at the landscape…see a direction and then design around what I’ve been given. That does NOT mean that I won’t get into the bulldozer and tear that sucker up…but it always starts with what’s in front of me. Also visual means that I want to take into account what the Player will see from any given point and use that. I’ve said it before and I still feel like I design this way…but I want to make an easy hole that looks hard or a hard hole that looks easy. Rarely will a hard hole LOOK hard or an easy hole LOOK easy for me. Do they slip through? yeah…but that’s the general plan for me.

3. What do you use for inspiration when designing your courses?
A: Usually it’s all about a first hole. If I sit down in the designer and create a plot and then lay down the first hole that will tell me everything else about the course. I don’t look outside for a lot of inspiration but of course we all have memories of golf courses we’ve seen or played so I’m sure that comes into it. I just put down that first hole…and that opens up the gates for me.

4. Which two of your own courses are your favorites?
A: Bison Run is just about my favorite course in the game. I like everything about it. I really do. I wouldn’t mind going in and putting in some more eye candy with regard to the clubhouse and roads and all that jazz…but I just love the way the holes flow around on this one and it REALLY showcases the idea of easy/hard visuals that I mentioned before.

Old Beaver Creek is another good one. I know ADX was involved with this one but I think it’s ok to use it as an answer here and I’m sure he’d be ok with that. The course has a good mix of holes that I really like. The short par 4 third hole is a favorite as are 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14….lots of good holes here. The views from 13 and 14 are just about my favorites. Not a hard course…but a lot of fun to play and you just keep going even after a bad hole because each hole just pulls your forward and you can’t stop.

5. Do you play golf in real life?
A: Not as much as I’d like…but yes I do. Generally my goal these days is to break 80 once in a season. Since I only get to play 6 or 7 rounds I’m ok with that goal. Back in the day I was a caddie and then had a job that allowed me to play almost daily. I broke 70 a few times but nothing consistent. I will say that I have GOT to get some nice blades again. I went back to game improvement type irons three years ago and I’m not liking it. The feel of a nice solid forged blade is just the best and the weight just feels…right… sigh… so expensive though!

6. Besides playing/designing in TGC , what are your other hobbies?
A: I sing/direct/judge classical/sacred choral music which is fun. I hunt when I can (pheasants, turkey, deer, varmints…all that jazz). I like to cook when I have a chance. I read a ton of books.

7. What is your favorite ice cream?
A: Spumoni!!! Cherry Pistachio Chocolate please.