Real Life Course information

[Deleted]

Hi Guys, 

I'm looking to recreate one of my local courses for my first course.

Does anyone know a place to get very in-depth course information, possibly online? I'd like it to be as accurate as possible.

Course is in the UK if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

[Han]

Haven't tried doing a real course myself so not sure on best sources of information, but as it is a local club the first things I would do if it was me would be (in no particular order) :

1. Try the course itself for course planners with yardages etc.
2. Have a walk around the course and take pictures (if they will allow it) to see elevation changes and such like
3. Check the course's own website for both of the above plus any other info
4. Download Google Earth if you don't have it already ***essential I would imagine***

After that I have no idea sorry, hopefully one or more of the designers that has already recreated some real courses might pop in with some better information for you.

There is a thread somewhere by the creator of Magnolia (Augusta recreation) about how he goes about the process of recreating real courses, if I find it I will post a link here for you (it may be on the official HB studios forums, I can't remember)

From what I have seen and read about trying to recreate a real course it is no easy task and requires a LOT of patience and dedication (much, much more than doing a fictional course) so I wish you good luck with your project.

[edi_vedder]

I'm far away from being a top designer on this site. But I have tinkered around with the GNCD quiet some time and have also published a few courses (actually not submitted to TGCT). I'd not recommend to recreate a real life course as your first course.

Try something fictional first, get used to the tools provided by the GNCD. When you feel really comfortable with them, then you might wanna try doing some recreation of your local course(s).

[mcbogga]

TheCLV has an awesome write up in his merion thread over at the HB forums. I have some tips in my Tobo WIP thread. Patience is important. It takes time to measure and trace fairways, bunkers etc. try to get the main elevations of the plot right first as this will help you immensely with any sloping holes.

Google earth is the main tool - but nothing beats knowing the course well from lots of plays.

[Deleted]

Thanks guys.

I know the course very well as I was a member during my teenage years (from about 11 to 16) and played it once or twice every week.

I managed to actually find a website here: www.golfview.ca/index.php?page=map_royal_birkdale

That map is for Royal Birkdale but my course is it's next door neighbour. You can click points on the map and it will tell you the yardages between the points, so should help a lot too.

I think I might try a fictional course to get used to the tool though, as it seems rather complicated. I only have the game on PS4, and have heard it's easier to design on PC too.

[boo_stik]

The two tools I mainly use apart from a scorecard is Google earth and golfshot GPS which is available from the Google playstore. Google earth gives you a rough idea of the layout but any golf app with GPS pin points key distances to start of fairways and bunkering.

[cool79breeze]

Is the course you're talking about by any chance Hillside? If so, it's a damn shame you can't have others test play your course before it's published as guess what I'm currently creating... ?