Gold Mountain: Cascade Course (LIDAR RCR)

[albinobluesheep]

Finally formally posting my LIDAR recreation of the Cascade Course at Gold Mountain Golf Course in Gorst Washington.
In-game Name: GMGC: Cascade (LIDAR)
_{(there is an older version, Gold Mountain Cascade (L) that doesn't have as much polish, and as soon as I published it, I noticed some auto-gen trees had appeared in front of the first tee, which was incredibly discouraging)}
 
This was the first course I actually tested out the LIDAR software on, as I felt I had no hope trying to recreate it by hand, and is what inspired me to go back to Allenmore GC and do that in LIDAR as well.

The plot in the game has 36 holes, as I plan to eventually create a 18 hole routing that bounces between the two courses, but for now I focused on finishing up the Cascade half, with Olympic on the way next

Because the plot is so large, the Object meter was a constant battle, 95% of the trees in the game are "auto-gen", with me removing them with the tree removal brush as needed, and replacing with the correct size/density/type where needed, as well as just adding more density to existing areas to match the back drops. Even as much as I wanted to, there was basically no way in-game to match the real life density of the tree line. This course is literally in a forest in the mountains.

I will be submitting this to the Database, if nothing else for feedback as I start working in earnest on The Olympic Course half, which I think is perhaps more deserving.
If you want a preview of the Olympic half, feel free to fly around on the unused half of the course, it's all there! Just lacking in much polish. 

update: 

[Demonondalinks]

I'll give this course a go within the next week. Looks nice, just wish they could upgrade graphics in game. The real thing looks beautiful!

[Flyingsquad23]

Always enjoy playing courses Ive played IRL. This is a quality track and though it’s been some years since I was there your rendering felt spot on.

Played from the back and found it a tougher challenge than I anticipated. Greens were tricky and slick.

I favorited the course and I’m looking forward to a few more rounds. Would love to see it used for CC tournaments.

[albinobluesheep]

Flyingsquad23 Thanks for checking it out and the kind words! I had hoped there were a few people here who had played it in person. It's likely too short for CC tournaments sadly.

[sandgroper]

Solid RCR. Really nicely done visually.
Not to sound harsh, but just a little more sculpting on the bunker work.
I always pull up Google Earth and see how it looks in comparison to the real thing.
When you use OSM for the base course the bunkers are always oversized, so best to go back and check for shape and size.
Might be the difference between approved and tour worthy.
This is an example of the 18th. You can see it extends past the end of the green and closer to the path in your version.

[albinobluesheep]

Really appreciate the video! Glad you enjoyed it. Olympic has even more bunkers for me to practice with, for better or worse.

Dec 10, 2023 18:58:20 GMT -5 sandgroper said:

Solid RCR. Really nicely done visually.
Not to sound harsh, but just a little more sculpting on the bunker work.

Totally fair, as I see it as easily my weakest point right now. It's good to know I'm not irrationally focused on looking at ways to improve it. I do appreciate having it under the microscope, as most of my friends have just said "It's great!"

You noticed right away that holes 1 and 5 were both, surprisingly, par 5s, and that's frankly true even for "normal" golfers. I've had 7i's into the 5th green before (don't usually chip in for 3 though...)