PGA Tour 2K21 Official RaceOnOz Society

My 4th ace of the season!

Yeah, I've definitely taken a break while giving GT7 a red hot go. I also haven't enjoyed a couple of the fantasy courses. Guess I'm just a purist......lol
I did hit the course this week. Running second for now !

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

DK International
26 May - 1 Jun
Course: Kong Valley
Par: 72
Rounds: 4
Difficulty: 6/10: Some narrow fairways, lengthy Par 4’s and 5’s are offset by some easy downhill Par 3’s. Some holes will provide a stern test, but you should be able to overcome any challenge as long as you keep the ball in the fairway.
Predicted Winning Score: -40

Sadly, we haven’t seen any remakes of golf courses from the Mario Golf series. Not any good ones anyway. However, Kong Valley, one of the game’s most popular fantasy courses, appears to take inspiration from the courses from the classic Nintendo 64 game. Whimsical bunker design, blind approaches, cliffs and amazing water features all combine for a truly unique and enjoyable golfing challenge.

The opening hole is a narrow Par 4 with sand surrounding the fairway and a stream protecting the left. Accuracy is the key on this hole as it is easy to find the beach off the tee. The green is fairly receptive, and slopes from back to front.


2 is a long downhill Par 5 that carries over a valley, where the drive must be smashed hard up the left side if one to reach the green in two. A massive bunker runs all along the right hand side which the fairway slopes perilously towards. The green is massive, and slopes towards the middle.


The 3rd hole is a very long Par 4 with trouble all along the left side. The undulating fairway can make for a very troublesome approach shot with your mid iron, so watch your aim. The green is protected by two bunkers and slopes sharply from back to front.


The 4th is a medium length Par 3 that plays over the valley. This enormous green is 60 metres deep, so club selection can vary tremendously. The green has several varying slopes, so be sure to line up your putt from all angles.


The amazing 5th hole plays between the natural rock formations to create an exciting Par 4. The second shot is completely blind and downhill so choose your club wisely. The green’s unique shape offers many varying pin placements, each bringing the 3 small bunkers into play.


The Par 3 6th shouldn’t be too difficult for most players. Nothing too fancy here, just fire a short iron into this massive green and you should be able to walk away with a par at worst.


The split fairway on the Par 5 7th offers a unique conundrum to the player. The left side makes the green reachable in two, but the approach is blind. But the right side makes this an easy 3 shotter. Whatever you choose, this is an easy Par 5 complimented by yet another massive green that is receptive to low lofted shots.


Number 8 is a short Par 4 with out of bounds on both sides. Tee off with a 3 wood to ensure you find the fairway off the tee, especially if the pin is up front. The green once again slopes towards the middle, making pin placements on either end of the green particularly challenging.


The ninth is a difficult risk reward Par 4 that is quite reminiscent of its original inspiration. The safe play is to lay up on the left fairway, but you’ll have a long second. If you have the power, you can try to bomb it right but if you come up short, you’re hitting 3 off the tee. The green is engulfed by a huge sand dune and contains 3 unique tiers.

Hole 10 is a Par 3 that again plays over the valley. But the danger is more reserved for the bunker that completely surrounds the green. Pins located left are in particular hard to attack, and as a result, birdies are rare. Otherwise, this is a fairly easy hole.


The 11th is a narrow dog left with water coming into play. Do not miss right otherwise you’ll meet a rather wet setback. The island green is receptive, but its varying slopes make putting a real challenge.


This long Par 5 can be reached in two shots, but it requires a huge tee shot. The landing area narrows significantly as you get closer to the green, and several bunkers are placed to ruin your hole. This risk reward hole often favours the brave, so make the 12th hole a memorable one.


The 13th is a downhill Par 3 over water. 3 small bunkers protect the green which is uniquely cambered toward the middle. Another relatively simple Par 3 that offers a great birdie chance.


Number 14 is an exciting Par 4. Take a 3 wood off the tee to setup an approach over water to a horseshaped green. Your second shot will be tricky as the green is protected by a huge bunker at the front and a long bunker all around the back. Be sure to carry the right club into this green.


The 15th is a short but spectacular Par 4. Those looking to make up strokes may attempt to drive this green from the tee, but miss short and you’ll be in the water. The green is huge, but pins at the back are the easiest to attack. This is one hole you’ll want to score low on.


The 16th offers a stunning view of the natural rock formations in the backdrop. This Par 5 is definitely reachable in two if you find the fairway off the tee, but accuracy is demanded into a very narrow landing are. The two tiered green is surrounded by another long but narrow bunker, and long putts are particularly treacherous.


The 17th is another easy Par 3 that requires just a wedge onto the green. Once more, the green is protected by an enormous bunker, but it shouldn’t come into play. Go for the birdie and charge to the 18th.



You can’t really ask for a more stunning finish to this course. This Par 5 runs parallel to the 1st hole, and offers a generous landing area for the tee shot. But should you opt to go for the green, you must be accurate as your ball will end up rolling off the rock face and into the water if you miss the sweet spot. The narrow green also makes for tough reads for the putt.

Fallen Angel Championship
2 - 7 Jun
Course: Falling Water Golf Club
Par: 72
Rounds: 4
Difficulty: 5/10: This is a fairly open course where finding the fairway on most holes should be easy, especially if you can comfortably shape your shots. The greens can be quite undulating however.
Predicting Winning Score: -42

Falling Water GC is a fantastic fantasy course which was one of the most popular created courses for The Golf Club 2. Remastered for 2K21, this course winds its way through the Canadian Rockies, and takes inspiration from the works of one of Canada’s top architects, Stanley Thompson. Doglegs, undulating greens and expansive bunkers are a common occurrence on this course.







Make sure your finish your rounds on Tuesday, as we have another Par 3 Contest incoming!

The opening hole is a double dogleg, first to the left then back to the right. A well placed tee shot must avoid the bunker approximately 260m from the tee but mustn’t roll down to the rough. Those looking to reach the green will need to cut the dogleg and land a fairway wood onto a very unreceptive and undulating green.


The 2nd is a difficult Par 3 over the stream. A mid iron must be struck into the heart of a green that has two distinct tiers, protected by the water and / large bunkers. Pins tucked to the left are usually the hardest to attack.


Hole 3 is a tricky Par 4 where the fairway narrows significantly if you wish to take driver off the tee. The green is small, and the uphill approach shot is protected by 3 bunkers and very deep rough.


The Par 4 is another double dogleg hole, and requires a long tee shot to avoid the cluster of fairway bunkers. The extremely deep but narrow green creates a variety of approaches, meaning the hole will never play the same twice. Watch out for the bunkers protecting the green, or you’ll be whistling bogey in no time.


#5 is a dogleg Par 4 with a number of alternatives. A 3 wood off the tee is safe, but leaves a long second. A driver off the tee will need to take on a tree and the bunkers. The uphill approach shot can be tricky so watch your aim, as long putts will be difficult on this very undulated green.


Hole 6 might be the hardest hole on the course. You’ll need to draw off the tee to reach this green in regulation with an iron in hand. The approach must carry a series of bunkers into a narrow green that slopes off in all directions.


The 7th is a neat Par 3 with a triangular green. Several large bunkers flank the green to punish any mis-hit but the real danger is over the back, deep rough and a steep upslope will make up and down for par a real challenge.


The 8th is a long Par 5 and once again, is a double dogleg. The tee shot must be struck well to have any chance of reaching this green in two. Laying up is also made tricky due to the cluster of fairway bunkers on each side. This green slopes off in all directions, so pitching the ball in close for a birdie putt may yield the best results.


The Par 4 9th is an exciting short Par 4 that depending on the wind, can be drivable from the tee. But you’ll have to contend with the bunkers and steep drop offs if you miss the green. This putting surface is fairly easy but don’t go over the back, or you’re toast.

The back 9 begins with a spectacular Par 4 that plays along and across the stream. Your tee shot must be precise along the right side of the fairway as it is very easy to end up in deep rough if you are too aggressive, and the green is unreceptive to low lofted approach shots.


The uphill 11th rewards the brave off the tee with an easy approach shot, but you have to carry a cluster of bunkers just waiting to gobble up and ball with not enough power. A birdie is the reward for the long and accurate player.


The stream come back into play on the Par 3 12th, a downhill and inviting hole. Several large bunkers protect the green at the rear, however landing in one of these is far superior than landing short and in the creek. Club selection can vary wildly depending on which direction the wind is blowing.


The 13th is a fantastic dogleg right over the the stream with trees blocking the view of the landing area from the tee. Your second shot will have the ball below your feet so make sure to aim a tad left to compensate. Of course, this brings the deep cavernous bunkers into play. The triple tiered green makes long putts a real nightmare. This gem of a hole can really punish you if you’re not concentrating.


Step on the gas on the 14th and clear the bunkers off the tee. The further right you end up, the shorter your approach will be. The perched green can make for some tricky approach shots, but attack with confidence and you could walk away with a birdie.


The 15th is the signature hole, a long dogleg left Par 5 with water all along the left hand side. Drive the ball past the large bunker if you dare. There is little room to lay up, so your approach shot will be difficult, no doubt about it. The green slopes sharply towards the water and is protected by 6 bunkers and features a false front. An unforgettable Par 5 that ranks among the very best.


The 16th is another Par 4 that will penalise the overly aggressive player. Lay your tee shot up before the natural hazard but not too far otherwise you’ll struggle to hold the green on the approach. Pins tucked to the left bring bunkers and steep slopes into play, so save the pin hunting for those on the right.


The 17th is an exciting Par 3. Long but downhill, the contours of the green allow for some fancy rolls up to the pin. Club selection is everything here, you don’t want to face a long putt back up the hill.


And so the 18th, a Par 5 that combines all of this course’s defining features into one hole. Clear the bunkers on the right side of the fairway but avoid the rough if you want to reach this green in two. If carrying the stream appears too challenging, bail out short of it. The 3 tiered green is protected by the stream and bunkers. A fantastic ending to a magnificent course.

RaceOnOz Major Event
Amazon Open
9 - 14 Jun
Course: The Predator
Par: 73
Rounds: 4
Course Difficulty: 10/10: Trees, trees and more trees. You’ll need a machete ready to take on this Brazilian monster course. Avoid gorges, ravines, water hazards and bunkers on your way to some of the most undulating greens you’ll ever come across. Plan each shot accordingly and don’t be afraid to play for a bogey, it’s better than walking off with a / on the scorecard.
Predicted Winning Score: -10

The Predator is another classic from the Tiger Woods PGA Tour archives first seen in the 2003 edition of the game. Often regarded as the most challenging course in the game’s history, it’ll take all of your skills that you have developed up to this point to avoid going over par during this tournament. With big cash on the line, The Predator takes no prisoners, and only rewards those who can manage the course’s many hazards with aplomb.

The opening hole is a short Par 4 with plenty of space to land your tee shot with a 3 wood. Despite only needing a wedge the approach shot is difficult as it’s all uphill and the green slope is significant. 3 putts are not uncommon as going for the hole from anywhere other than left of the cup is challenging.



Hole 2 is the first of many holes one could describe as unfairly challenging. A long tee shot to the right will require a sharp draw around the tree to reach the green, while a short tee shot may provide a straighter, but longer approach over the OB hazard. The green is relatively flat but features a gentle tier, favouring approach shots with back spin.


The 3rd is a difficult Par 3 with OB protecting the narrow green front and right, and a bunker on the left. Aim for the fat part of the green on the left, a 2 putt par is better than a guaranteed bogey or worse.


The infamous 4th hole could be the most difficult Par 5 in the game. You must plan each shot accordingly, as the expansive foliage on this triple dogleg hole can spell doom to your round if you try to take any shortcuts. The safest play is to treat this hole like a Par 6, and place the ball at each corner of the doglegs. Overhanging trees are an issue on every shot. Reaching the green in regulation is possible but this requires sheer bravery and luck. Thankfully, the green is relatively flat so putting should be a breeze. Birdies are extremely rare, and par is a very good score.


Hole 5 offers a real birdie chance if your tee shot is accurate. Long bombers can try to go in between the narrow gap to leave a wedge approach, or they can use the bail out area to the right to bit over the trees on their second. The green is large and is shaped like an upside down fruit bowl, make sure your approach is on target to avoid a difficult time with the putter.


At 735 yards, the 6th is the longest hole on the course by a considerable margin. The tee shot must clear the water and avoid the pesky fairway bunkers. Your lay up area is dependant on wether or not the tree is blocking your view of the second fairway. Play it smart so you can have an opportunity to reach the green safely. The green is huge and its 3 tiers all slope heavily from back right to front left. A good birdie hole if you play intelligently.


The gorgeous 7th is all carry over the water into a small green with a very unique bunker fronting the putting surface. This bean shaped green slopes from front to back, but don’t be fooled, it is still very easy to go long and into the water off the tee. An unquestionably tough hole, can you find the plane wreckage before its too late?


The 8th hole features two seperate paths to the green. The left path is narrower and longer, but takes the greenside tree and bunker out of play. The right path is safer, but the approach shot can easily find trouble. Not an easy hole by any stretch of the imagination, and is not helped by a green that slopes severely towards the bunker.


The ninth hole is another zig-zag through the rainforest. Depending on the wind, it can be very easy or very hard. If you can cut the chicane, you’ll have a much easier approach shot, but most players will have to lay up before the bunkers. This results in a very difficult second shot where a draw is necessary to clear the foliage. The large green slopes from back to front and is protected by two large bunkers.

Hole 10 is another hole with multiple routes to the green. The upper fairway leaves an easier approach, but it is a very risky tee shot over the water. The right fairway is much easier, but you’ll be forced to hit a wood or hybrid into an unreceptive green. The approach is downhill to a green that is hard to hold and slopes harshly from left to right.


Your tee shot is critical at #11. You must carry the trees between the first two fairways but avoid the bunkers and out of bounds which is easier said than done. Don’t be tempted to bomb it off the tee, you’ll gain nothing from playing aggressive on this hole. The approach is a very tricky fade over the trees into a landing area with more undulations than country road. 2 large bunkers protect the green from any errant shots. Like with any hole at the Predator, par is a good score.


The 12th hole is a genuine 3 shot Par 5 with a ravine splitting the two fairways. Most players will aim for the corner on their second shot to setup an iron into a huge green with a steep drop off to the left. However you can cut a significant portion of the hole if you can find the shortcut to the green. You’d better nail it though, as you wont like the result if you miss.


Hole 13 is a unique Par 4 with two ravines splitting the fairway, so club selection is of the utmost importance off the tee. If you can land on the second fairway, you’ll have a much easier second shot. The green is very receptive, and only two bunkers protect it on each side. One of the few birdie holes at The Predator.


The stunning 14th is a completely blind Par 3 with a large green and a collection of small bunkers. Knock down a short iron and try to not let your ball roll down into the false front to the right, or get stuck in the foliage that fronts the green.


#15 is a very difficult Par 4 with a claustrophobic tee shot featuring many trees and bunkers blocking the ideal landing areas. The second shot must be perfect to clear the large bunker fronting the green and remain on the putting surface. Birdies are extremely rare here.


The 16th is another long Par 5, this time its major feature is the gorge on the right that will eat up any slice off the tee. The green is reachable in two if you can find the fairway, but most players will lay up to leave a wedge into a relatively unprotected green. Putting isn’t easy though, so you’ll want your approach to be nice and close if you want a birdie.


The Par 3 17th is aided by its elevated tees, but it is still all carry to the green with a hybrid or fairway wood. In tournament play this is a very difficult hole as it is hard to stop the ball on the green and avoid the large bunker thar surrounds the green.


The 18th used to be a long Par 4, however it has since been converted into a Par 5, so it is now a great birdie chance. The fairway on the right mat provide a straighter shot into the green, but most players will take on the hazards on the left to setup a shorter shot to the green. 2 massive bunkers protect this equally massive green with 4 tiers and more undulation than you can poke a stick at.

Dystopian Cup
16 - 21 Jun
Course: SS’s Dystopian - Redux
Par: 70
Rounds: 4
Course Difficulty: 6-10/10: This truly insane course will be fairly easy for those who can hit the ball straight and stay out of trouble. For those that can’t however, they will find themselves taking drop after drop after drop as their balls land in the water features or barren wastelands below. My advice? Put the power clubs away and replace them with ones with high forgiveness and/or swing plane stats.
Predicted Winning Score - I haven’t got a clue, sorry

Dystopian:
/dɪsˈtəʊpɪən/
adjective
“relating to or denoting an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice.”
-The Oxford Dictionary

How does a golf course encapsulate such grim terminology? One playthrough and you’ll understand. From the designer who brought you Woodlands Creek, comes Dystopian Redux, one of the most popular courses from The Golf Club 2019. Remastered for 2K21, it lacks the post apocalyptic haze, and with society itself rebuilding from the ‘incident’, crowds have returned to the only golf course left. You’ll be hopping from building to building on this course set in an abandoned city block, avoiding the wastelands at every turn. Every hole is a test of target golf, and will humble even the finest golfer. Love it or hate it, Dystopian Redux is one course you’ll never forget.

The opening hole is a drivable Par 4 but only the bravest will attempt it. The sensible path on this hole is to place the ball on the fairway and attack the pin with a wedge. Don’t land it short, or you’re looking at a certain bogey.


Hole 2 is a long Par 3 that’s downhill all the way. You’ll need to clear the water feature just short of the green to have a chance here, and be sure to avoid the 3 bunkers that eat their way into the green.


Hole 3 is another drivable Par 4, but it’s all carry over the wasteland to reach the green. The fairway is small as well, but you should only have a small pitch to the green. A tricky little hole that shouldn’t be underestimated.


#4 is a medium length dogleg left Par 4. Those looking to take off some distance can risk bouncing the ball off the car park to reach the second fairway. The green is large but watch out for the water feature fronting the green, and a lone bunker at the back.


The Par 4 5th is a short Par 4 with trouble lurking at every turn. The fairway is narrow and protected by two bunkers. The second shot turns back on itself and is towards a microscopic green surrounded by a pond. The green is reachable from the tee but it is not worth going for.


This tough Par 4 demands a tee shot along the right hand side of the fairway. If the tee shot is too far left, you could be blocked out by the building at the back of the green. Do not miss the green long, or you’ll be OB.


The amazing 7th hole is another downhill Par 3 that starts atop the building next to the previous green. It’s all carry to the putting surface, which is large and receptive to fairway woods. But don’t miss left, or you’re toast.


Another drivable Par 4, this hole is well protected by a pond fronting the green. Again, the risks of going for the green outweigh the potential rewards. Just stick the tee shot in the fairway, attack the pin with a wedge and you’re home free.


Hole 9 is a tricky Par 4 with more emphasis on tee shot placement. Be sure to land it on the first fairway as going for the green will only leave you in the deep rough or worse. The large green is protected by bunkers at the rear and water to the right.

The 10th is a dogleg right Par 4 around the tower. The longer hitters will be able to avoid being blocked out on their second shot by the tower, so make sure your tee shot is long and up the left. The narrow green brings OB into play, make sure you pick the right club for the uphill approach.


The 11th hole is a staggering 780+ yard dogleg right Par 5, yet, is almost reachable in two. The tee shot will bounce along the top of a building to the fairway some 400m away. The second shot needs to be played to the isolated fairway fronting the green and those bold enough can try to bounce the ball off of a sunken building, but you risk finding trouble. The green is protected by 7 bunkers on either side.


The 12th might be the most difficult hole on the course. Once again it’s all carry to the green from the tee but anything short or long will be OB. A bail out area to the right can save your blushes if going for the green proves to be too much of a challenge.


A narrow fairway awaits you on the 13th, with OB all along the right side. Although you should have an easy approach should you find the fairway. This is one of the more difficult greens on the course, make sure your ball lands on the correct tier in relation to the flag.


This dogleg right Par 4 demands accuracy on the tee shot. OB surrounds you every step of the way, so make sure you avoid the bunkers and remain on target off the tee and for the uphill approach. Missing the green is almost a certain bogey.


#15 requires a fairway wood to reach an isolated fairway. This sets up a spectacular mid iron approach over the wasteland to a tiny green surrounded by water. Club selection is everything here, you don’t want to waste shots here.


The 16th is a real doozy, another downhill Par 3 but the green is surrounded by water, so your long iron tee shot must be dead on to avoid a watery setback. Once again there is a bail out area to save your blushes, but you’ll be greatly rewarded if you can find the green here.


The 17th is a short Par 4 with a narrow landing area off the tee. The approach must carry the slab to reach this small green with out of bounds to the right, and a few small but deep bunkers on each side.


And so to the 18th, and what better way to end it with a long Par 5? And it’s reachable too, but it requires some sneaky shot placement and 2 perfect shots just to have a chance. For most players though, a tee shot that finds the fairway will setup a tight second shot parallel to the tower at the apex of the corner. The third shot will be a wedge or short iron into a large green protected by water and several small bunkers.

Another Par 3 contest next week, this time at the incredible Jidda Dunes complex!

I’ve just received some news that the designer of the current course (Dystopian Redux) and Woodlands Creek, Brett Johansen (aka SpeakingStones), has sadly passed away. A legendary designer across the series, his courses have provided myself and thousands of other players hours of challenge and entertainment on his catalogue of courses. May he rest in peace.

RIP Brett

Antarctic Invitational
23 - 29 Jun
Course: Penguin Falls
Par: 72
Rounds 4
Course Difficulty: 7/10: A fancy track with some bizarre fairway pathing, steep greenside drops and plenty of rock face obstacles all combine for a worthy challenge. Draws and fades are the order of the day, as full utilisation of your shot shaping ability and course management skills are the key to shooting low here.
Predicted Winning Score: -30

Originally billed as Tiger’s Dream 18 in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002, the course was given its proper name in 2004. Designed as the ultimate cold course, Penguin Falls is a unique fantasy design situated on the only continent blanketed by snow. Luckily for you there has been a warm front so the snow has melted away. A course full of scoring opportunities, risk reward holes and some of the most visually epic conclusions to a nine, Penguin Falls always provides an amazing round of golf.