Ok I have an update on this project. I have mapped the Top 100 using Google Earth data now and incorporated that into a spreadsheet. This is extracting out the PV Show Profile Line (which is the line one walks straight down the fairway and GTTT) overlayed onto Google Earth. This has presented some very interesting data.
Some disclaimers first as this group is persnickety.
- The Top 100 is actually 98 as St. Patricks and Les Bordes courses aren't in the Google Earth system yet to map.
- PV was a great start and a view into what data is out there from publicly available sources. We realized the data from the Elevation Profile for each course is based on SRTM data, which isn't the most accurate perhaps, but a start.
- When doing the 2D/3D tour of a course you get EPQS data for US courses, which is an improvement, but you don't get the GTTT's.
- Google Earth data when overlaying the PV Show Profile Line yields data for all courses in the world in the same methodology. However, we DON'T know exactly what that is and how accurate it is compared to the SRTM/EPQS data. We do know it is standard around the world for all courses (as best we can tell) and would be surprised if it isn't as good as EPQS data.
- What I have is the SRTM data vs. the GE data. We know SRTM isn't the most accurate and the imaging of the GE is very good as we all know. So I'll present the findings so far below.
I'm having a zoom call later this week for anyone interested to discuss what is/isn't important, just PM me if you want to join.
Here are some quick take aways and I have posted the top 10 courses full data below (although we know the formatting sucks).
- The total elevation difference of highest to lowest varied very insignificantly only .28m for all the Top 100 so this doesn't vary much between SRTM and GE.
- Where there is ALOT of difference is the total ascent. Some of this isn't surprising as the SRTM doesn't include GTTT. On average GTTT is about 15-20% of the length of a course. However GE finds that the Total Ascent is 84% higher than the SRTM data. BIG jump.
- The biggest outlier for a huge jump in total ascent is Ballyneal. SRTM has it at 65 and GE at 184. Again SRTM doesn't include GTTT for total ascent calculations so not a surprise for it to be higher, but 322% higher. I think this is magnified due to the poor mapping of SRTM data in the middle of nowhere as well. Whereas GE is much more detailed.
- Total walking distance (course plus GTTT) was another area I compared and SRTM to GE which isn't significant. SRTM was on average .4% longer in it's distance. In PV course elevation profile they list the entire SRTM data including GTTT, it is only ascent where GTTT aren't factored in.
- An area I want to explore more is the average slope of a course which GE captures. Not sure how to use it yet, but it will be handy I think when trying to do a Rigor Factor algorithm. Average slope X distance = who knows what. If anyone has ideas let me know.
Thoughts?
| 21-22 Golf Mag Top 100 | | | | | | | Provisualizer - SRTM Data | | | | | | | | | | | Google Earth Data | | | | | Comparisons |
Rank | Course | Total Ascent | Elev. Diff. | Ascent > Elev. | Play Dist. | Walking Dist. | Tee Dist. | % over | High | Low | Diff | Ascent | Descent | Max + slope | Max - slope | Avg + slope | Avg - slope | Dist. KM | Dist. Yards | Diff. Dist. G-T | Dist. % Diff. | Elev. Diff. D-L | Total Ascent Diff. C-M | PV Ascent % less X3/E3 |
1 |
Pine Valley [/t][/t]
29 76 7165 8191 1026 114%
27 27 156 154 20.1 15.3 3.8 3.4 7.45 8147
2 -51 -67%
Cypress Point [/t] 152 50 102 6588 7610 1022 116% 45 2 43 217 220 26.2 36.8 4.9 5.8 6.97 7622 -12
7 -65 -64%
St. Andrews TOC[/t] 40 7 33 7292 8616 1324 118% 9 1 8 44.3 39.9 3.8 3.9 0.9 1.2 7.81 8541 75
-1 -4.3 -13%
Shinnecock [/t] 97 19 78 7473 9083 1610 122% 25 2 23 126 134 15.9 20.2 2.5 3 8.27 9044 39
-4 -29 -37%
NGLA [/t] 70 17 53 6932 7924 992 114% 18 0 18 125 124 17.6 13.3 2.9 3.1 7.2 7874 50
-1 -55 -104%
Royal County Down[/t] 54 10 44 7124 8513 1389 119% 14 6 8 54.3 51.9 7.3 5.5 1.3 1.2 7.73 8454 59
2 -0.3 -1%
Royal Melbourne West[/t] 60 12 48 6655 7790 1135 117% 43 27 16 107 107 15.6 11.3 2.7 2.7 7.09 7754 36
-4 -47 -98%
Oakmont[/t] 125 27 98 7286 8842 1556 121% 307 275 32 187 190 28.5 27.8 4 3.8 8.06 8814 28
-5 -62 -63%
Augusta National [/t] 136 55 81 7558 8897 1339 118% 104 51 53 196 202 14.3 18.3 3.9 4.7 8.1 8858 39
2 -60 -74%
Sand Hills [/t] 92 22 70 6955 7993 1038 115% 1024 1001 23 172 173 17.6 22.1 3.8 4.1 7.3 7983 10
-1 -80 -114%