FSX Play Course News

[KevFlamingo]

Just been told by Foresight Helpdesk that 3 courses I had on FR1 and FSX 2020 are not going to be converted to FSX Play -
Olympic
Hazeltine National
Dallas National

3 other I asked about were not commented on, so assume that they are in the works -
Portmarnock
Royal Birkdale (probaby delayed now the real thing has been redesigned ready for the 2026 Open)
Vanajalinna

[Willnus]

I'm pretty sure Hazeltine had stopped being Downloadable ages ago on all platforms?

I've got no problem with them losing licensing for courses or whatever, as long as they are bringing new courses.. But given people have paid for those courses, to just not even mention it and offer no kind of compensation isnt great Customer Service. If they said, Hazeltine wont be carried over, but you can download x for free, I'd be more than happy..

[KevFlamingo]

Agree, the lack of communication for existing course owners isn't good and an offer of replacements would be welcome.

[benzopyrene]

Castle Stuart is on this list too. Not coming to play per an email with them last year. They had cabot cliffs and links for maybe a year? was quite strange.

[KevFlamingo]

Just noticed that Doral Great White has appeared on FSX Play.
This course used to be on FR1 and was in my original course library.
Going to try to get it added back to my library, but not holding out much hope - they refused to give me Pebble, Spyglass and 3 other courses for spurious reasons despite having them in my original FR1 library.

[delaloi]

As disappointing as it is that some of the best FSX2020 courses are not being ported over to Play, I thought I would mention a new course that showed up pretty recently (or at least I noticed it recently) on Play -- Fairmont Banff Springs. This is one of the best available on the system in my view. It is a brilliant course IRL and the Foresight adaptation retains much of the playability (a wonderful driving course), and the visuals are great. The first course I have purchased in quite some time.

[tkvaughn999]

The newer course (especially the premium courses) are much much better than the old courses they carried over. The number of older course I have that never seen any playing time are too many. Actually the course I might pla the most is the free Boulders excutive course, its just fantastic collection of shots.

[KevFlamingo]

Thanks for the info, will add it to the wish list.
I bought Serengeti in the Cyber Monday sale ant it seems to share a problem with the Blue Beast course.
The new fantasy courses have a huge range of tees from P&P to tour distance, but both have a 1300 yard gap between a set of tees, going from 5600/5700 to 7000. Raised it with support and on the Foresight Roadmap forum.

[p3eps]

I was on the phone to Foresight this morning, and mentioned my 3 courses that haven't made it to FSX Play (Castle Stuart, Dallas National, Hazeltine National), and they've offered to let me pick any 3 courses from their $150 range, and they'll 'swap' the licences.

Sounds good to me - but what should I pick?

I think first pick will be the Pitch and Putt course - purely as my 5 year old son is starting to take an interest in golf, and I've got him a junior Callaway set for Christmas!

Any suggestions for the other 2? I'm tempted by Magnolia (they told me is a dupe of Augusta, but without the name) and Abu Dhabi to play at night... but if there's anything recommended I'd have a look!

[KevFlamingo]

Don't, repeat don't get Magnolia. Have a look at my comments history where I've explained in full. PnP is a great course, which I use a lot.

[p3eps]

I've gone back in time and read your comments. So it's a decent enough course, just missing the holes that I'd actually want to play?! Sounds like I'll skip that one 👍

Any recommendations on what I should take? I've got about 60 in total - but nothing recently apart from Marco Simone (which I've still never actually played... despite getting it on a Ryder Cup deal!).

My rep recommended The Cradle @ Pinehurst... but it's only a 9 holer.

[KevFlamingo]

If you want another fun course that your son could grow into, try Longleaf. I think it's the home of the US Kids Championship and has a great spread of tees.
I would definitely play Marco Simone, it's a really fun course and definitely a favourite of my friends.

[delaloi]

I'm personally not a fan of Pitch & Putt -- the greens are just too severe, unplayable in some instances. There are other executive courses that are much better IMO (Boulders is good).

[KevFlamingo]

The greens are severe, but there is an element of strategy involved. If you miss the green in the wrong place there are occasions when you can't get close to the pin so you have to look at the closest flat spot. We all know that sometimes you have to play away from pins if you are out of position so there is a little correlation.

[intrinsic]

I'm personally not a fan of Pitch & Putt -- the greens are just too severe, unplayable in some instances. There are other executive courses that are much better IMO (Boulders is good).

I personally like Pitch & Putt. I agree there are some greens that are quite severe and landing left or right makes the ball roll back off the green. But then it gives me a chance to chip it close. The biggest element I appreciate about P&P is how quickly I can get a 'round' of 18 hole golf in. This is beneficial if I want to get a quick round in late at night.

[LordScorpion60]

My favorite executive par 3 paid course is Crooked Cove Executive: https://lordscorpion60.github.io/for...Executive.html

Especially for junior/new golfers, it's my "mini Pebble"

I just picked up Longleaf Golf & Family Club during the last sale cause it is also an official junior course with really short (and long) tee boxes for everyone! Also works in 2020: https://lordscorpion60.github.io/for...ly%20Club.html

[tkvaughn999]

Crooked Cove is so much better than Pitch and Putt its not even funny. Green complexes are tough and if you want to birde you really need to hit it to the correct spot. And yes, it's got the Peeble/Cypress vibe going on. One of my fav short courses.

[p3eps]

I see what you guys mean about Pitch and Putt. I played it yesterday for the first time. I didn't realise there was only 1 tee box... so I played it on my own. The greens are absolutely insane! Sometimes the ball was rolling off the green from landing just off centre. A chip from the fringe quite near the hole, and it would roll off the other side. I had autoputt on - was -3 on the front 9, then +3 by the time I finished. The back 9 greens were nuts!

Crooked Cove is much better!

[delaloi]

I guess some folks are gluttons for punishment. I find it distinctly unfair to be in position where if I don't hole this 6-footer it is going to be off the green 20 feet past, and I'm going to have to do it all over again. Sometimes putting uphill the ball will not even stop at the hole, but will come back to your feet if it doesn't go in. Very hard to convince my kids that golf is fun on this basis. I won't play Pitch and Putt again. It sucks!

[KevFlamingo]

Well, so much for my original post.
To misquote one of cinemas worst and laziest plot twists
Somehow Olympic returned

[delaloi]

I found an update for Oakmont, but no Olympic.

[LordScorpion60]

Interesting. Both Oakmont and Olympic were updated recently (v1.5!)...

Olympic is up to date on the Play download page, but Oakmont is still 1.4 so install that and in game will notify to update through the DM...

https://lordscorpion60.github.io/foresight_sports/fsx_play_courses/The%20Olympic%20Club%20-%20Lake%20Course.html

https://lordscorpion60.github.io/foresight_sports/fsx_play_courses/Oakmont%20Country%20Club.html

[tkvaughn999]

The flyover of Olympic looks pretty good. Still don't see where I can purchase but I see download on update page. Is this a regular or premium level course?