My interest in course architecture eclipses only slightly my devotion to Star Wars.. Sitting though the latest installment with a theater full of fellow male Gen Xers, my thoughts wandered to the course equivalent of each chapter in the 8 series.
Here's my list, based on order of release, not number. Let's hear yours. I realize this is relevant only to nerds.
1. A New Hope - The Old Course. The one that started it all, introduced us to a "galaxy far, far away". Enjoyable and full of challenge, but in the end the good guys win.
2. The Empire Strikes Back - Pine Valley. A plot twist where it ends with the bad guys handing the rebels (golfers) a defeat, a course meant to be hard and not necessarily fun. But while licking your wounds most say it's exhilarating and the best of them all.
3. Return of Jedi - Sand Hills. Balanced is returned to The Force. Courses are built again to be fun with less land being moved and the ability for mid to high handicappers to play the course with alternate routes.
4. Phantom Menace - Bandon Dunes Resort - A prequel on the history of the cannon, telling us how we got there, especially for those of us in the States who haven't had a chance to play overseas. Backhanded compliment to Bandon since Phantom Menace had a good start and finish, but boring and corny in the middle, while the same isn't true at Bandon
5. Attack of the Clones - Erin Hills - Another modern design meant to tell the story of an earlier era and be accessible to the average income player, but begins to fracture due to a tragic love story
6. Revenge of the Sith - TPC Sawgrass. The Dark Side exacts revenge. Built purposely to be difficult to challenge the absolute best. Oppression for the average golfer.
7. The Force Awakens - TPC Scottsdale. Ok - this is more a critique on a tournament than the course. I had trouble with this one. A new cast of characters with a few old ones, enjoyable, but you eventually realize its just a redo of the original story, without the mystique and spirituality. Aimed at pulling in new fans, less interested in the traditional ones.
8. The Last Jedi - Top Golf. Other than a name and involving clubs & balls, the original spirit of the game is gone. Designed to attract those seeking entertainment value and with little care of the games origins. Doesn't matter if it makes sense, as long as there are plenty of explosions, witty characters, and buys you time waiting for the next Guardians of the Galaxy to come out.
That's my take. As you can tell I'm not a big fan of the Disney-fied versions thus far. Though I did enjoy Rogue One.