courteneyfish:A new course beats a set of pins for me. Don't like to see you judging something without trying it Alanti. Technically Bandon is the best course WGT have made in my opinion.
I do not believe I was judging the course, just merely stating I have not played the course, nor actually have the intention to do so.
Whilst it may be a great course, I cannot comment but think WGT have not maximised the potential to profit from this release.
Edit: IMHO I think the way WGT release the US Open course it the way to go. Have a Virtual Qualifier as players grind out round after round - and very quickly offsets a lot of those initial development costs. So have two full courses per year and call them both WGT Majors like the VUS Open. And have the Virtual Open over 4 rounds (single play).
Yes both unlimited qualifiers (although I don't like this aspect) as it generates revenue via ball sales - and I would guess a lot!
Having a "novelty" course will get most players playing it, but not as often when there is an incentive such as a good prize and the Kudos of qualifying. But it is played as a subsitute course, generating minimal increased usage.
Personally I would like the "majors to have two sets of pins from the outset - one for qualifiers, the second to be released for start of the Open (s).
To comments about Kia, I think WGT have learned from those days and take a lot more photos to allow for accurate green mapping of several locations.